MObuckhunter

IL-Cornfed has it just about right.Buy a TC encore with a 20ga slug barrel ,Then buya muzzleloader barrel for the encore.I am not sure which is better.Both are deadly, 20 ga has never missed yet.

formula1

I use a ML in GA alot, but this year is my first time go to Illinois for ML. I just applied for ML tag yesterday, which will give me the opportunity to hunt 2nd seasonfirearm (4 days) and the ML only weekend(3 days). I'd have to buy the firearm permit to hunt the first 3 day season and being a Non-Resident, I couldn't justify the extra cost.

I concur that the Encore is a great choice. It is what I have and I am bringing to IL. I have a 3x9x40 Leupold on it and I will shoot .458 caliber 300 grain Nosler Partitions from a Sabot. I can shoot them pretty well out to 175 yards.

whitetailcrazy

I have both a ML and aH&R USH, and can't say enough about each gun. I have the original Knight Disc and a T/C Omega with Thumbhole stock in .50 cal. I also have a 12 & 20 ga. H&R USH, each of my guns shoot exceptionally well.
As far as the Illinois seasons go, I love the fact that they are short 3 and 4 day seasons, I think it helps the Bucks in Illinois reach maturity. Look at our neighboring state of Indiana, the topography is nearly identical, yet they do not produce the quantity of big bucks as Illinois. Although I think Indiana has great potential, they have the 1 Buck rule.The only thing negative is that their season is so drawn out...........
As far as the seasons go, duringthe first firearm season you can use either a ML, slug gun or hand gun. The second firearm season you can use either firearm again, unless you have a ML only tag. During the second firearm season the 1st muzzleloader season starts. The following weekend is the 2nd muzzleloader season in which you can only use a ML. If this confuses people, all the state of Illinois is doing, is enabling people who get turned down for a full season fiearm permit, the option of getting a full season with a muzzleloader.(full seasons are 7 days of hunting)

whitetailcrazy

I would just like to add that with each one of my USH's and ML's I have taken deer in excess of 125 yards.

il coyote

Thanks everybody for the input. This goes to show that you don't have to make 50 posts in a day to have a good topic.

I went out with a friend of mine and his 3 yr. old son yesterday(see earlier post) with the plan of doing some fishing and some muzzleloader testing after that. Long story short, the muzzleloader never got fired, we kind of forgot about it after we had to pull off a 'baywatch' style rescue of the little guy when he fell off a boat dock. All 3 of us were within a few feet of each other at the time it happened, so it wasn't THAT big of a deal. It's just amazingthat in weedy/mossy/dirty water and while not wearing 'waterwings', kids sink like a brick.He wasn't under for 10 seconds and everybody is fine, thankfully.