prepping for 2014 Illinois deer season
 

I havn't been bow hunting in 8 years. But my boy just turned 12 and is wanting to hunt. So we are starting our prep for next archery and shotgun season. I have some property to hunt, but we intend on hunting Eckards woods near carlyle lake. I am hoping to get a little advice from someone that hunts this area. Not your secrets just get us around some of the learning curve.

Good luck, I tried the same thing when I went to Ohio and not much help came my way

I see that. But im not going there i live within 10 miles

Nothing beats boots on the ground. I hunt that area for waterfowl. But mainly on the river or when the area floods out. You see quite a a few boats tied up and hunting the area from the river.

If you can get aerial maps of the area, that would be a good start. You need to walk the area one section at a time. I have tried this in the past but no one would help when it comes to deer hunting. When you find a good spot don't tell anyone where it is. Park in a different area and walk to it.

Go check it out at the end of March. You can shed hunt, scout at the same time before everything turns green

I've never hunted in that area but checked out the aerial maps to see what it looked like. From the looks of it, you'll have some walking to do to get to some good spots away from the beaten path. Looking at the topo maps too it looks like there are small patches that have some slight elevation changes as well. I'd pick those type of areas out and scout them this spring. I think while people are hunting field edges where there is probably a lot of night time activity, if you get back in a little ways and scout some of the elevation changes and funnels you will have much better luck. Good Luck!