ajsoma

Is there any???

ha..are there any small bucks in IL? I am from VT and sick of seeing baby bucks...wanna try out of state? Could I harvest one on public land in IL??

Bowflex

You can but you have to apply now for gun season. For bow you can buy tags over the counter later on.

For gun seasons, go the the Illinois DNR website. You have to apply for a specific county, or hunting area. Then wait. If you draw a tag theywill mail it to you.

Good luck. This is the worst state when it comes to gun hunting for deer. Bowhunting, thats another story, buy all the tags you want and take all the does you want.

Good Hunting,
Bowflex

BTBowhunter

If you're thinking of hunting for bucks, non residents can't apply for shotgun tags till August and the NR Archery tags are by lottery in June. The only thing a NR archery hunter can buy over the counter are doe tags. Much of the public land that is available to a few non residents is by drawing and many of them are over for the year. It varies from place to place. There's some public ground near our lease and the drawing deadline for non residents was April 1

ajsoma

So basically what you guys are telling me is that there is very little public land open to bow/gun hunting in IL? And if any NR wants to shoot a buck in IL they need o apply for a permit...am I getting all of this correct?

midsouth_hunter

To hunt public land that is correct. You have to apply and draw a permit for a specific WMA or county. If you do not get one of these permits, the only way to hunt is either know someone with private land, lease or go with an outfitter.

duckhunter669

You do not have to draw for a specific wma in illinois for resident or non resident.There are thousands upon thousands of acres in southern illinois to hunt.All you have to do is get drawn which is pretty much a give in since everyone who applied last year got a permit.

Bowflex

True in thesouthernparts of the state, but up here it gets crowded early and often.

ahunter55

Born & raised in North West Ill & now live in N.E. Iowa one hour from Ws..
Ill.-South-Shawnee National Forest. Crap Orchard.

Go to Ill. DNR web site & look at public areas for the section of the state you want to hunt.
Bowhunt is your best bet-lots less pressure for sure.
Don't let the word public scare you. If you don't get an Ill. permit go to Ws. Plenty of excellent Deer Bowhunting there-been traveling to Ws. many years & always public ground. Lots of National forests.
I usually Bowhunt the upper 1/3 of the state.
I have never gun hunted for any biggame animal & this is the start of my 51st year Bowhunting. Good Luck.

DUMB BASS

Yes. You can kill a good buck on public land in IL, and agree w/ the others... your chances and the amount of land available is good down south... I live within an hour of 40,000 acres all public, and half of that is 4 on a side restriction.

uncle matt

Worst state for gun hunting deer?!

Adios! There's good roads that lead in all directions out of the state.