Spring Turkey Draw
Contributors to this thread:Illinois
From: Fish
14-Dec-18
Anyone know when (date) the spring turkey 1st lottery draw is? Cant find any info on Il DNR site.
From: 1boonr
16-Dec-18
i think it’s in June or july
From: Reload
16-Dec-18
Deadline for 1st lottery is @ December 1st. Results posted prior to 2nd lottery deadline. FYI, Deadline for 2nd lottery is @ January 11th
From: Fish
16-Dec-18
Thanks
From: Zim
26-Dec-18
Draw results just posted. This surprised me as this is exceptionally early. Not only that but I drew my 1st choice for I think the first time ever. JEPC 2nd season. I think last two years I drew my 8th & 9th choices.
From: Zim
28-Feb-19
3rd lottery results just posted. I drew one of my lower picks, a 2nd season at Hamilton County CA in southern part of the state. One of the few I've never been to, but looks like they have a nice campgrounds and lots of birds harvested. Good turkey habitat. Will by my wife's first time hunting with me in the field.
From: Zim
05-Mar-19
Does anyone know how the leftover turkey tag OTC works? There's only a few available for the hunt I want. I thought for sure in the past I went online and still filled out a request list just like the first three lotteries? But the regs say "Remaining permits will go on sale over the counter at License Vendors on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning March 12, 2019, at 8 a.m.". Sounds like you can't buy them online. I guess I'll just go to a Walmart at 8 AM and try to buy one there.
From: Dusktildawn
06-Mar-19
Aren't you hunting in the State you live in now? ( Indiana) Head to the Indiana site for your State info. Bye--------->
From: Zim
06-Mar-19
Thanks Eustis!
From: BOHUNTER09
09-Mar-19
Yes you have to go wait in line at a vendor at the 8 am on the 12th.
From: Zim
09-Mar-19
Hmmmm first problem. I'll be 50 miles inside Indiana on the 12th. Will have to call to see if there are any alternate methods.
From: jpinkerton
10-Mar-19
Don't think you'll find one. It's a true "over the counter" just like shotgun county permits.
From: Zim
10-Mar-19
OK thanks. Not a big deal as I already have two IL tags and will have two in Wisconsin as well.
From: buxandbass
12-Mar-19
This morning OTC sales of remaining spring turkey permits was to begin. This has been planned and advertised for long a time. No surprises here though as the state is not prepared and the sales have been delayed to TBD. How predictable. Hopefully we'll all still get what we wanted but I doubt it. At least JB and co. have gotten the tax increases in flight though. I'm guessing Rauner is to blame.
From: BOHUNTER09
12-Mar-19
I went in this morning to get my permit. Totally screwed up. Who knows what will happen next
From: Windmill
12-Mar-19
I had an easy and friendly experience for deer firearm OTC. I went to an ace hardware store. I try to stay out of big box stores when I go in for hunting licenses/permits.
From: jstephens61
13-Mar-19
Available on 3/19
From: Zim
13-Mar-19
There’s no money left for even basic services. Only DNR site in the Midwest without an interactive GIS mapping feature of it’s public land. 1990’s technology. Now this. Very sad.
From: Windmill
13-Mar-19
Yea, some of our DNR dept. seems mismanaged, or not concerned with the tools and resources that should be available for hunters. But that’s a whole other rant.
From: jstephens61
13-Mar-19
Can you find anything else to complain about? You have to be the most unhappy, dissatisfied person I’ve ever had the displeasure of listening to.
From: Highlife
13-Mar-19
Screw em he's just some NR whiner now. Lol
From: Zim
14-Mar-19
I’m sorry but I call a spade a spade. It is what it is. What you want? For posters to put lipstick on a pig?
I’ve often said the ILDNR website sucked compared to other modern day states sites. Due to all the bought and paid for politicians and bloodsucking state employees & pensions. So what happens? Turkey OTC sales postponed one full week. So who is proven to be correct?
From: Zim
14-Mar-19
OK scouting season! So now let's go on the ILDNR website and check out the GIS interactive public land page for my next hunt...................oh, oh ya I forgot they don't have one.
Just bloated pensions.
From: Dpat
14-Mar-19
Zim, You are just a ahole! Just one of those people that make others happy when you leave a room or a state. Beginning to see why wife #1 got rid of you. Bitch and complain is all you do.
From: Zim
14-Mar-19
There's a flip side to every coin. The real problem is those who gain great personal profit from a corrupt system, acknowledge the problem, but choose to continue actively participating while blaming others (union reps and politicians). They want to fly under the radar and not talk about the problem, or downplay the severity. While they majorly inconvenience guys like me who are forced to uproot their families and leave the state. And you have the audacity to call us complainers??? Really???
From: Windmill
14-Mar-19
I would call ya a dummy, that’s what it sounds like to me. Or a follower, not a leader. Or a sad bitter soul. Or a punk
From: Montgomery
15-Mar-19
Guys lets face it. He is just far more intelligent than everyone from Illinois. I mean who else thinks to put their ss# on a public forum.
From: Fish
15-Mar-19
Welll... I started this thread asking a question,and I've followed all this without comment (as I have in the past when Zim has posted his opinion of Illinois) but now I need say,In this day and age if your foolish enough to post a picture of a document with your social security number on it on a public forum.....you may want to let the better half proof read your post's.
From: jstephens61
16-Mar-19
BTW, the delay in the permit sales had nothing to do with DNR. The new vendor for the tag sales machines sent out the units with no instructions on how to set them up or when to do it. I’m sure Kenny will find a way to blame the blood sucking state employees.
From: Zim
16-Mar-19
Been crazy busy moving in last few days. Lots of tastes.
The greed is going to lead to default in 2021. Who pays 12% on borrowed money to pay it’s bills in this day and age of 4% rates? Oh ya Illinois. Indiana has had a budget surplus for years.
From: awh302
16-Mar-19
Wait what, where did that SS # and all the personal information go? Not as smart as you think.
And to be on topic I'll be out 2nd and 3rd season turkey hunting this year. It's been about 5 years since I killed one so I'm due.
From: Zim
16-Mar-19
Rush job hiding from hail storm!
Rush job hiding from hail storm!
It’s more like a result of being too exhausted moving to squeeze in 5 minutes to post. But luckily had my wife available to take over for me.
From: Zim
16-Mar-19
Even these guys were getting nervous about being taxed to death.
Even these guys were getting nervous about being taxed to death.
From: Zim
16-Mar-19
Got a DNR response to my email. It seems anyone can buy an OTC turkey permit in my absence. Only a DNR customer number needed.
From: BOHUNTER09
18-Mar-19
Hope to be able to get a permit tomorrow. March 19. Let’s hope the system works this time.
From: awh302
18-Mar-19
Where are you guys trying to get a permit, private or state ground?
From: jstephens61
18-Mar-19
Talked with the girls at the office today and they said that the vendor had the issues worked out. Sales start at 8:00 sharp and don’t be late, you may miss out. Good luck.
From: BOHUNTER09
18-Mar-19
Public 3 rd permit
From: Zim
19-Mar-19
Also just read on the ILDNR website that you can just phone in as well. No need to go in person. Lines will likely be tied up but definitely worth a shot for me.
Also just got some potential great news. Went to meet my new Indiana neighbors today and the guy to the north of me is the manager of an 80 acre farm which he claims is choked with deer and turkey and he wants them eradicated. Was virtually begging me to get out there and help myself. Checked out the farm & surrounding land and it looks slammer. Lots of timber and swamps included in the 80 acres and lots more surrounding. He said he counted a flock of 80 birds today. Seems too good to be true.
From: Ridgethunder
19-Mar-19
I got rejected at Walmart and Academy Sports wouldn’t sell me one. Finally got a tag over the phone after many attempts of calling and getting denied. What a great system.
From: Zim
19-Mar-19
Ya I'm 50 miles into Indiana, so wasn't going to drive that for a POS vendor, so relied on the phone. About gave up but after one hour and 100+ calls I got through. To my amazement they still had one of the only 12 Alexander County 1st season permits remaining. I had no second choice so I was pretty surprised. Probably the only reason I got it was because nobody else could get through either.
Also picked up a leftover in Wisconsin this morning, so ended up with 3 IL & 2 WI all public, and one Indiana, which I'll likely use on the new private I secured yesterday. Kicks off April 8th in far southern Illinois. Ends May 28 in southern Wisconsin. All expenses paid for due to my job travels.
From: BOHUNTER09
19-Mar-19
I was 26 th in line at Rural King. They were organized with numbers handed out. Got my 4th season permit
From: awh302
19-Mar-19
I'm not to on the up and up with turkey hunting because I get my landowner tag which covers all seasons so I don't put in for anything else. Are you guys getting more tags for the same area or do you guys hunt different spots throughout the season?
From: Ridgethunder
19-Mar-19
awh302 more tags = more time in the spring woods! Mine are for a couple different public tracts.
From: Zim
19-Mar-19
I always try to get several tags for a few reasons. More time outdoors. The challenge of trying new spots, or fine tuning my favorites. I start by checking where I have work assignments statewide, and pick places nearby those. In the first lottery I normally just list my best quality properties. Then for the third lottery I always view what is left and list some new ones I would like to try for the challenge. Just pick them based on good habitat and demand. For the OTC leftovers I go back to my known county favorites and know the place well. I still enjoy public turkey because you can easily find great unpressured property in remote areas as the demand is so much lower than for deer. For deer it's all different, folks crawling everywhere especially with 3 months of crossguns. With this strategy I always end up with two dependable tags to fill the freezer, and one new adventure.
