East Central Illinois deer herd decimated by EHD.
12-05-2012, 02:05 PM
#21
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, Illinois
Posts: 396
I'm sure there are some shooters left(not saying this disease targeted 150+" bucks), just not in the numbers we're accustomed to seeing. I saw 1 shooter in approximately 160 hrs. on stand (which is terrible). What worries me is how few does I've seen. I was used to seeing 10-15+ does a day while on stand, now I'm lucky to see 1.
12-05-2012, 05:34 PM
#22
Spike
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
I keep hearing how devastating EHD has been in Illinois. However, opening day of first shotgun season, I heard 137 shots before 9 AM. There are still lots of deer running around my area, and i hope to put one down Saturday with my bow. Plus, i saw harvest numbers for first shotgun season, statewide,, are up 6,000 deer over last year. If this disease was so devastating, why would there be so many more taken this year? Second gun season report isn't out yet, that will be interesting. No doubt some areas were affected more than others, but i just think folks are blowing it way out of proportion.
12-06-2012, 07:13 AM
#23
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,926
The State of Illinois gave fair warning
Illinois DNR
News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 6, 2012
IDNR Reports Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Outbreak in at Least 51 Illinois Counties
SPRINGFIELD, IL – An ongoing outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in white-tailed deer in Illinois has resulted in reports from concerned citizens of more than 700 deer mortalities in 51 counties through August, according to data compiled by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
******
Any out of state hunter would have had sufficient warning. It's good to start checking the internet for possible problems starting months ahead of time. Saves on time, money and travel.
News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 6, 2012
IDNR Reports Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Outbreak in at Least 51 Illinois Counties
SPRINGFIELD, IL – An ongoing outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in white-tailed deer in Illinois has resulted in reports from concerned citizens of more than 700 deer mortalities in 51 counties through August, according to data compiled by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
******
Any out of state hunter would have had sufficient warning. It's good to start checking the internet for possible problems starting months ahead of time. Saves on time, money and travel.
12-06-2012, 02:18 PM
#24
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, Illinois
Posts: 396
I keep hearing how devastating EHD has been in Illinois. However, opening day of first shotgun season, I heard 137 shots before 9 AM. There are still lots of deer running around my area, and i hope to put one down Saturday with my bow. Plus, i saw harvest numbers for first shotgun season, statewide,, are up 6,000 deer over last year. If this disease was so devastating, why would there be so many more taken this year? Second gun season report isn't out yet, that will be interesting. No doubt some areas were affected more than others, but i just think folks are blowing it way out of proportion.
My whole point in posting this, was to find out what areas were hit and which were not. I certainly do not think that people are blowing this out of proportion...
Which county is it that you hunt?
As for the state claiming that numbers were up from last year... I think that may be a talltale... This state is all about revenue generated by permits and licensing, even if numbers were down drastically they would not post -numbers. This state is all about money and how they can spend it in other ways then in conservation. Illinois is a pretty expensive state in which to hunt whitetails, did the thought ever cross your mind as to where the money goes? I can tell you one thing for certain, not into conservation, they even outsourced permit Issuing for the 2013 Turkey Season to a company in California... thats, a great way to put money back into the state..eh?
12-06-2012, 03:00 PM
#25
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,462
While I think some counties were hit pretty hard, a think a majority weren't hit too bad. Again, I think it all depends on what county you were in and how bad the midges were.
I think the state is correct with the higher deer count this year. If you remember last years first gun season the weather was brutal. It was windy and nasty across the state. Everyone I knew who hunts at all ends of the state had a bad year in 2011. This year the weather was almost perfect. Just a touch of wind and blue skies. Better weather to hunt and better weather for hunters to stay out longer.
I do feel bad for everyone who was hit hard by EHD this year. I think it was just bad luck if you got hit harder than others. Lets hope that everyone who did get hit hard has a quick recovery in the deer herd.
I think the state is correct with the higher deer count this year. If you remember last years first gun season the weather was brutal. It was windy and nasty across the state. Everyone I knew who hunts at all ends of the state had a bad year in 2011. This year the weather was almost perfect. Just a touch of wind and blue skies. Better weather to hunt and better weather for hunters to stay out longer.
I do feel bad for everyone who was hit hard by EHD this year. I think it was just bad luck if you got hit harder than others. Lets hope that everyone who did get hit hard has a quick recovery in the deer herd.
12-06-2012, 03:31 PM
#26
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, Illinois
Posts: 396
Here's a great article in Heartland Outdoors about EHD for everyone to read. It even discusses how the IDNR tends to down play diseases. A must read.
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/tim...tting_started/
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/tim...tting_started/
12-06-2012, 04:12 PM
#27
Spike
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4
It all depends in where you hunt in Illinois, not all of Illinois has been affected and some counties are much worse than others.
My whole point in posting this, was to find out what areas were hit and which were not. I certainly do not think that people are blowing this out of proportion...
Which county is it that you hunt?
As for the state claiming that numbers were up from last year... I think that may be a talltale... This state is all about revenue generated by permits and licensing, even if numbers were down drastically they would not post -numbers. This state is all about money and how they can spendable it in other ways then in conservation. Illinois is a pretty expensive state in which to hunt whitetails, did the thought ever cross your mind as to where the money goes? I can tell you one thing for certain, not into conservation, they even outsourced permit Issuing for the 2013 Turkey Season to a company in California... thats, a great way to put money back into the state..eh?
My whole point in posting this, was to find out what areas were hit and which were not. I certainly do not think that people are blowing this out of proportion...
Which county is it that you hunt?
As for the state claiming that numbers were up from last year... I think that may be a talltale... This state is all about revenue generated by permits and licensing, even if numbers were down drastically they would not post -numbers. This state is all about money and how they can spendable it in other ways then in conservation. Illinois is a pretty expensive state in which to hunt whitetails, did the thought ever cross your mind as to where the money goes? I can tell you one thing for certain, not into conservation, they even outsourced permit Issuing for the 2013 Turkey Season to a company in California... thats, a great way to put money back into the state..eh?
In the three counties I have hunted and/or have spoken with many hunters in this year, Bond, Edgar, and Coles, EHD just hasn't been much of a factor. I'm not trying to downplay your particular area, and understand some specific, small range areas were significantly hit by EHD. I'm just trying to reassure those folks that feel like the whole state's deer herd is decimated, and that it will take a decade or more to recover. I just don't believe that.
At any rate, we are all on the same team, and I sincerely hope your area has a good hard freeze this winter, to help kill off the midge's and disease. I hope you see a quick and full recovery of your herd. I know how passionate I have become about this hobby/sport, and wish everyone else that is in it for the right reasons, the best of good fortune.
12-06-2012, 05:58 PM
#28
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,834
I keep hearing how devastating EHD has been in Illinois. However, opening day of first shotgun season, I heard 137 shots before 9 AM. There are still lots of deer running around my area, and i hope to put one down Saturday with my bow. Plus, i saw harvest numbers for first shotgun season, statewide,, are up 6,000 deer over last year. If this disease was so devastating, why would there be so many more taken this year? Second gun season report isn't out yet, that will be interesting. No doubt some areas were affected more than others, but i just think folks are blowing it way out of proportion.
12-07-2012, 02:08 AM
#29
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, Illinois
Posts: 396
While I whole heartedly agree with you that IL is a sneaky, crooked state when it comes to politics and revenue. But, I just can't believe that they would alter harvest numbers. I just don't see the benefit worth the trouble and risk. I don't recall the source I viewed, but it wasn't the IL DNR that put out the report (even though they would have supplied the count).
In the three counties I have hunted and/or have spoken with many hunters in this year, Bond, Edgar, and Coles, EHD just hasn't been much of a factor. I'm not trying to downplay your particular area, and understand some specific, small range areas were significantly hit by EHD. I'm just trying to reassure those folks that feel like the whole state's deer herd is decimated, and that it will take a decade or more to recover. I just don't believe that.
At any rate, we are all on the same team, and I sincerely hope your area has a good hard freeze this winter, to help kill off the midge's and disease. I hope you see a quick and full recovery of your herd. I know how passionate I have become about this hobby/sport, and wish everyone else that is in it for the right reasons, the best of good fortune.
In the three counties I have hunted and/or have spoken with many hunters in this year, Bond, Edgar, and Coles, EHD just hasn't been much of a factor. I'm not trying to downplay your particular area, and understand some specific, small range areas were significantly hit by EHD. I'm just trying to reassure those folks that feel like the whole state's deer herd is decimated, and that it will take a decade or more to recover. I just don't believe that.
At any rate, we are all on the same team, and I sincerely hope your area has a good hard freeze this winter, to help kill off the midge's and disease. I hope you see a quick and full recovery of your herd. I know how passionate I have become about this hobby/sport, and wish everyone else that is in it for the right reasons, the best of good fortune.
12-12-2012, 01:24 PM
#30
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lansing, Illinois
Posts: 396
Check this out... SOUTH DAKOTA actually buys deer tags back due to EHD outbreak.. You'll never see this in ILLINOIS... Wow, says a lot about South Dakota and its DNR..
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/sca...ack_deer_tags/
http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/sca...ack_deer_tags/