New Hunter in IL. Turkey Permit Clarification
#11
Spike
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3
Dekalb Turkey Hunting
Hi,
Anyone hunt in Dekalb - Kishwaukee River? I picked Dekalb for my first lottery choice because it's close to me. Now, I'm thinking that may not have been the best choice. Not a ton of options. Anyone hunted turkey there? Any other recommendations for Dekalb?
Thank you for your help!
Patrick
Anyone hunt in Dekalb - Kishwaukee River? I picked Dekalb for my first lottery choice because it's close to me. Now, I'm thinking that may not have been the best choice. Not a ton of options. Anyone hunted turkey there? Any other recommendations for Dekalb?
Thank you for your help!
Patrick
#13
Spike
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 67
I've never hunted Kishwaukee, but have met hunters who have. I've been told that place gets pretty crowded. Generally speaking, all public land anywhere near the Chicago land area has way too many people. The farther away from Chicago, the better. I've tried some public land before, but have also gone to private land with buddies. With public land, NEVER hunt on weekends and pay attention to your surroundings. Good luck.
#14
For almost all public land, you need a site-specific permit -- a county permit does you no good (there are a couple exceptions-none in DeKalb County, to my knowledge, and things may be different downstate). County permits are for private land. I live in DeKalb County, and I typically try to draw public-land tags west of I-39. There have been two lotteries already, so pickings are getting slim,but there are still some public land tags left. Next lottery deadline is early February (I think the 11th).
This link lists remaining tags:
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/...y01DEC2011.pdf
Public lands are listed at the end, in abbreviations that are not always obvious. The abbreviations can be found on the paper application -- here:
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/...PermitForm.pdf
Unless you can get access to private land, the DeKalb County tags may not do you much good. If you want to get out this year, check out the public land tags. It'll cost you an extra $15, but at least you'll be hunting (you can buy up to 3 tags).
This link lists remaining tags:
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/...y01DEC2011.pdf
Public lands are listed at the end, in abbreviations that are not always obvious. The abbreviations can be found on the paper application -- here:
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/...PermitForm.pdf
Unless you can get access to private land, the DeKalb County tags may not do you much good. If you want to get out this year, check out the public land tags. It'll cost you an extra $15, but at least you'll be hunting (you can buy up to 3 tags).
#16
In Illinois, most (almost all) public land requires a permit specific to the site. County tags are for private land (at least in the northern part of the state). I'm not sure if there's much public land in Lake County anyway. So I guess if I were trying to hunt turkeys there, I'd be trying to make contact with some land owners. In the future, you may want to look to southern Wisconsin since your right near the border anyway. Wisconsin isn't too hard on nonresidents in terms of fees, and I know there's public land between the border and Milwaukee.
#17
Spike
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Illinois
Posts: 35
In Illinois, most (almost all) public land requires a permit specific to the site. County tags are for private land (at least in the northern part of the state). I'm not sure if there's much public land in Lake County anyway. So I guess if I were trying to hunt turkeys there, I'd be trying to make contact with some land owners. In the future, you may want to look to southern Wisconsin since your right near the border anyway. Wisconsin isn't too hard on nonresidents in terms of fees, and I know there's public land between the border and Milwaukee.
#18
Call Marseilles Fish & Wildlife Area, I think it's one of the exceptions to the rule and you can hunt there with a LaSalle County tag -- hours are very limited -- and people that hold site specific tags get preference (they only let out a limited number), you might be able to get on there, and I know they take some birds out of the place. I'm working off memory here, so check with the site, if no one answers at Marseille, try calling Illini State Park. Good luck.