RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

Big G check out www.huntnshack.com

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

Well after looking at outfitters and the websites for public
land, I think the best thing for me this year would be to go
with a outfitter. The main reason is time. A good friend of mine
is going to go with me. I think we are going to drive out. I
would like to check out the land and talk to people when we get
out there. I can do this with my truck out there and still get in a
quality hunt. I would like to check out the southern counties such
as Pope and Johnson as well as the public land in that area.
There is just not enough time for me to drive out and scout and get set up in the short time we have.

Don, do you have the site on the outfitters, the one where you
can review input. I have checked about a dozen or so and I think
I have it down to two. Funny thing is the wide range of shot
opportunities that each have. Some say 90% and others say 35%.
From what I gather there is about a 30% success rate with a outfitter.

HC, is there anyway I can get a map of the Shawnee National Forest before I get out there? Maybe we can check it out while we are out there.

Thanks for all the info uncle mike, HOSS and all, it really helps.

G

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

Big G,

The site is http://www.huntinfo.com/

They have a section in there where people leave reviews on outfitters they have used.

You can call the Shawnee office and ask them to send you a information packet. Also mention your interested in buying maps. They send you the information you are looking for.

800-699-6637 or 618-253-7114

"Im not a guide, but i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express recently"

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

big g,iknow a guy who owns some land in pope county right next to the ohio river.i hunted there last year and got an 8-ptr. scoring mid 130's.all you do is pay a trespass fee and you do your own thing.he does give you a place to stay.he also has some food plots planted.you can hunt for seven days for $800.he will allow groups of up to 6 per session.he only allows archery hunting and no one hunts once the first gun season comes in.if you're interested post your e-mail and i will give you more info.i liked it so much i'm going back next year.

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

Big G, just a regular Illinois state map will show you the Shawnee National Forest, but a plat book comes in handy because there is a lot of private land mixed in and not all of the Shawnee is marked with signs.
If I were you and I was gonna spend the money for an outfitter I would definately check out the ones in West Central Illinois. They seem to be the more consistent producers of trophy bucks.
Good luck.

HC4runner
MO. bowhunter

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

Hi Big G,
I book hunts for a guy in Greene Co. Ill. I may have what your looking for. I was going to email you with some info, but I see you don't have an email address listed. If you would like to email me I would be happy to send you some info on his operation. He runs a top notch hunt that I'm sure you would not be disappointed in. He had a 70% success rate for archery last year. They took bucks ranging in size from 130 to 180 class.

If this sounds like what your looking for, drop me a line.

God Bless & Good Hunting
LM/NAHC
Member NRA
Member P&Y CLUB
Member QDMA
Member Ducks Unlimited

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

Bowhunting North America Videos has a informational video WITH maps package covering public Bowhunting in Illinois, Iowa & Wisconsin. Public access of areas "Managed" for trophy Bucks & public access. They seem to have covered all the bases for out of state Bowhunters. Tons of information for the do-it-yourselfer & for less than $30.
1-563-243-7877

always thankful

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

I would hunt at Siloam springs state park in Brown county. It is public land with huge deer (I have seen them). this county borders adams and i believe pike county as well.

I tried access illinois and never got a call. In fact, I called up the DNR on numerous occasions and even after DNR told me they would get someone to call me, noone ever did.
I guess the state got my ten of fifteen bucks for nothing!

There are plenty of state parks to hunt in and if you do your homework, find a state park next to a hunting outfitter and hunt the border areas!

beej

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

I' ll second Siloam Springs. It' s a beautiful area. However, NR' s are draw-only at that site for certain times of the season now.

JRW

RE: ? about Bowhunting ILL.
 

Yo Big G.....I live in southwestern part of Illinois and we got gobs of public hunting around here that is free hunting and light pressure. I will tell you right now plan to be here the first two weeks in November.......the bigguns will be ruttin and there is no firearm deer hunting until the 3rd weekend in November. You can usually catch me in the chat room at nite if you want to ask any questions. I can hook you up with a friend of mine who owns a bed and breakfast and he has lots of deer on his property and it borders around 200 acres of Nature Conservancy Land. He won' t charge you a dime to hunt just for the room.

Be sure to get your tags ordered......they only sell x amount to out of staters and they usually sell out by August. If you decide to try this area I' ll be glad to show you around. I am in Union County about 15 minutes south of Carbondale.

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