Illinois
 

Hey guys i will be moving to illnois from wyoming and was just curious how the deer hunting is out that way i will be living in ofallon 20 miles east of st louis

RE: Illinois
 

I replied up in the small game forum

RE: Illinois
 

Best in the world. Were you looking for better?

RE: Illinois
 

lol thanks im excited to hunt there it sucks you cant use a high power though

RE: Illinois
 

Just get you a good centerline muzzle loader. Some of those things are so powerful that you might as well be out there with a 30-30.

RE: Illinois
 

Welcome,

Truth be told, their is not a Booner behind every tree here.....Just every other one!
The deer hunting up and down the river is great. Nothing but agriculture and big fat deer.

As far as no rifles, get your self a short-range rifle (slug gun or muzzleloader) and get used to short and intense gun seasons. Better yet, if you don't already shoot a bow buy one. Our bow season is plenty long with no limit on does.

Good Hunting,
Bowflex

RE: Illinois
 

The hunting is great.
Downside--private land access is getting tougher every day. If you want alease get ready to break out the check book

RE: Illinois
 

Thats the truth. [&o]

RE: Illinois
 

And that check book had better be well stocked!!!!!

RE: Illinois
 

Actually leases aren't that bad once you get off the beaten path. Leasing has only really started to take off in the area where I own land and $20 and less per acre seems to be common.

RE: Illinois
 

Lease prices tend to be a little steeper around here-we get help from outfitters driving the price up [:@]

RE: Illinois
 

I should have been more clear. I was talking aboutthe counties pretty much straight east of O'Fallon.

RE: Illinois
 

There are still some guys around here that seem to be lucky and get some real steals on leases.I would hate to guess what the average rate is around here.But I know of a guy getting $4000 for an 80 acre and on the other hand I know of some guys who leased about 500(about 200--250 huntable)for $2000. I just dont seem to be lucky enough to come across one of those deals.
An outfitter i know of is offering landowners$50 per acre.

RE: Illinois
 

Yes, the lease prices are getting steep in illinois but dont forget you have some good public hunting close to ofallon around cofeen lake and carlyle lake

RE: Illinois
 

There def. is some great hunting to be had, if you know where to go. 20 miles east of St. Louis and you'll have the Shawnee National forest within a few hours and thats over 250,000 acres. Plus Crab Orchard is around there which is around 20,000 acres as well. There is some great deer hunting and small game hunting in there if you know where to go. I know of a guy who kills monster bucks out of Crab Orchard pretty consistantly but you can't be one of those "100 yards off road" hunters.

I agree that leases are getting ridiculous. These outfitters are killing hunters who want to put in time to scout rather than pay $3000 to take a buck. Hopefully with this recession outfitters won't get as many hunters this year and will be forced to give up leases and make them more affordable to normal hunters

RE: Illinois
 

i assume all the public land is hunted preety hard around there?

RE: Illinois
 

Don't forget about Horseshoe Lake. A ton of hunting pressure, but that place holds some true studs and few hunters who are willing to put in the leg work are lucky enought to pull some giants out of there every year.

RE: Illinois
 

yote killer they prolly see alot of pressure but like all hunting you cant kill one off the couch worrying about other hunters.this is illinois its not like we have a shortage of deer. good luck

RE: Illinois
 

Folks in Illinois are pretty friendly and can be fairly generous about allowing access to their land. An outgoing person who is willing to put some effort into it could likely find some private ground a lot closer and convenient than public ground. In the small game thread you mentioned wanting to do a lot of coyote hunting. Lots of folks should be willing to let you do that, which would be a good way to get permission to hunt the same ground for deer.

RE: Illinois
 

There is plenty of public land in Shawneenational forest that is great for hunting and not hunted hard...

I hunt public land and rarely see another hunter...

RE: Illinois
 

how far is the national forest from ofallon? what are the rules on public lands with stands and such? my girl friend will be hunting with me and she just got started a year ago so she is not yet comfortable hunting bye her self