Was considering going back to Illinois this year after Christmas. What is the hunting usually like in Pike County around that time? Have never been there that late in the year.

I usually like to concentrate on food sources in mid December when I make it out. Bucks are usually trying to build up what they lost in the rut. Last year we still had a couple hot does in Mid January so we had bucks chasing two does both mornings I was out. I was baffled to see it that late and wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. You won't see all day activity like the rut but you should get some decent morning/evening hunts.

Mid December through early January is my favorite time to hunt. Bucks are more predictable, very little hunting pressure that late in the season, and if you have a good food source to hunt it's game on.

What are you hunting with? I will be bowhunting from 12/27- 12/30 but that is also the late season fire arm doe CWD hunting dates. You will need to wear orange if you plan on hunting then and if there is a lot of action where you are hunting the deer could go noctural. If you are hunting with a bow and still have a buck tag you can take a buck but if you are hunting with a gun it is anterless only. Last year I was seeing large buck groups moving into the fields to feed in groups of 8 or more but when the guns started even though the bucks were not being hunted I never saw another buck again that season. It all depends on the pressure in your area, I saw bowhunting only on my property but my neighbors were using guns. Good luck either way