Hunting
Contributors to this thread:Illinois
From: Sandman20
02-Oct-19
It’s finally here!!!! Anybody been out yet? Keep us updated on movement. I will be out for 4 days oct11-14
From: RMhunter
03-Oct-19
Been hunting past two days and just stuck a big doe. My buddy saw 7 yesterday evening and 4 bucks and I saw 6 and one small buck and it was in the 90s, so it shocked me that they moved that well. Supposed to cool down some this evening so maybe one of the big boys will show up
From: Sandman20
03-Oct-19
Congrats on the doe. Are you hinting field or woods. I’m guessing they should be on acorns pretty well right now
From: Dusktildawn
03-Oct-19
Will be out all day sat in one of my favorite public spots that usually produces. Funnel between food and bedding area in morning and corner of corn field not far from major bedding area. See what happens with this cold front coming in. Saw this little spike in a nearby bean field yesterday afternoon.
From: RMhunter
03-Oct-19
Sandman we been seeing about all the deer on the ag fields, but all the crops are still standing here so makes it tough. I checked most of the oaks on the farm and only found one that had good acorns. Good luck to you
From: Sandman20
03-Oct-19
Thanks man. Only one makes it easier to pinpoint a good stand location. I’ll be out next weekend
From: awh302
04-Oct-19
I was out for the first time this evening and scored on a really nice 11 pointer. They were coming into the acorns.
I’ve never killed one this early in the season so I guess I’ll be bored for a little while.
How do I flip the picture?
From: LBshooter
04-Oct-19
Beauty there , nice buck.
From: RMhunter
05-Oct-19
Nice awh302. That's a great buck, congrats bud. How hot was it when you killed him. I about burnt up this week
From: awh302
06-Oct-19
I was in Northern Illinois so it wasn’t bad. It was in the upper 50’s.
From: Sandman20
06-Oct-19
Nice buck awh! High 140s?
From: Dusktildawn
06-Oct-19
Got my doe meet sat
From: jpinkerton
07-Oct-19
Sat my IRAP property in Marion County on Sunday morning. Kicked up several does on the way in and out, nothing from stand but the trail cam footage shows I'm right on them. Gonna grind hard until the 15th and maybe stick one.
From: Dusktildawn
11-Oct-19
Will be out again tomorrow. Hunting will be even better than last weekend when 2 of us saw 15 does and 2 small bucks. A frost would be welcomed but not sure we will get it. Good luck!
From: DozRdeer2
11-Oct-19
Don't forget your orange this weekend - Saturday thru Monday, Oct. 12 -14.
From: RMhunter
12-Oct-19
My buddy is hunting this morning and is seeing great movement. Just sent me this pic
From: jstephens61
12-Oct-19
Son and I ran out to check a couple cams and we counted 29 deer in the 10 miles we drove. Nine of them were bucks, so things are looking good around the house.
From: jpinkerton
13-Oct-19
Sat this morning. Last sit on the IRAP property. Had a 5 point at 7 yards. Beautiful morning. The rain late in the week flipped my plans upside down. So goes hunting! Good luck to everyone. I'll be off to PA for a week beginning Friday.
From: Sandman20
13-Oct-19
Got a doe this morning.
From: Dusktildawn
14-Oct-19
Nice eater Sandman!
From: RMhunter
14-Oct-19
My buddy got a 150" 10pt Saturday. They saw great movement all day. Southern Illinois
From: Sandman20
16-Oct-19
That’s a stud. Congrats
From: Sandman20
19-Oct-19
Haven’t been out in awhile. Are they starting to use fields again? Rutting activity(rubs scrapes chasing) picking up yet. I’ll be out Thursday-Sunday. Weather looks good
From: awh302
21-Oct-19
Things are fair in Northern Illinois. I have been seeing a lot of deer but most seem nocturnal compared to earlier in the season. I’m seeing more and more scrapes and rubs but the rut has not started and will not for another week or two.
From: buxandbass
21-Oct-19
Have been hunting Southern Illinois Randolph county for the last week. Not many scrapes or rubs. activity has been mostly at night. Seems like things are a couple of weeks behind. Trees still full of leaves. Crops almost down but still a factor in some places. Need some cooler weather and more time I guess. Have not seen any chasing or even small bucks bumping does yet.
From: Medic88
25-Oct-19
New to bow hunting this year. Looking for some decent spots on public lands. Ive tried Jubilee College State Park but a lot of people around here say its over pressured. Any thoughts? Was thinking of going to spoon river state park as well.
Any help is appreciated.
From: Dusktildawn
27-Oct-19
Between swamp and beans this morning. See if they move after all the rain yesterday
From: Dusktildawn
27-Oct-19
From: Dusktildawn
27-Oct-19
From: DozRdeer2
28-Oct-19
Medic88 - you can check current site archery deerr harvest at the location, below. Use drop down arrow and scroll to desired site. https://dnr2.illinois.gov/dnrdirectmonitor/Deer/DeerArcherySHAs.aspx
From: Sandman20
28-Oct-19
Hunted the past 4 days. Saw some does. 1 nice 140 inch ten. Came by at shooting time but couldn’t get a shot. My main 2 spots suck but my 3rd spot is holding a bunch of deer. Won’t be out till nov 7. Hope it’s good by then. Good luck
From: Sandman20
28-Oct-19
Here’s the one that walked by. Nice deer. Looks to be 3 1/2. Kind of hope he stays away till next year
From: Dusktildawn
03-Nov-19
Arrowed a doe for the freezer friday.
From: Sandman20
03-Nov-19
Nice doe congrats!
From: Sandman20
08-Dec-19
Well missed an absolute damn giant tonight. He stood at 400 yds on a field and didn’t move. Finally he followed a doe to 200 yds from. I was able to crawl to get within 160. Got a shot with the savage 20 at that distance and whiffed. Long shot but have faith the savage can make it. Giant 10 with long long bladed tines and I’m guessing 20-22 wide. Guessing 160-170. Stupid lol
From: Dusktildawn
09-Dec-19
Ouch!
From: Sandman20
09-Dec-19
Yup I’m an a-hole. Thankfully it was a clean miss my pride will heal lol
From: RMhunter
09-Dec-19
I hate that sandman but at least it was a miss, unfortunately I shot one like that in archery and lost it
From: jpinkerton
09-Dec-19
Took a similar shot last year with my Savage that had the same results. Tough shot, but the firearm is definitely capable of making it. Sorry to hear.
From: Sandman20
10-Dec-19
Way worse when you lose one RM.
From: Sandman20
10-Dec-19
Found a picture of the little guy I missed
From: RMhunter
11-Dec-19
OUCH. Great buck and I hope you get a chance at redemption
From: Sandman20
11-Dec-19
Me too lol
From: jstephens61
12-Dec-19
Shot this guy 2 days after the first gun season.
From: RMhunter
12-Dec-19
Congrats, that's a great buck
From: Dusktildawn
13-Dec-19
Nice Buck congrats
From: Sandman20
02-Jan-20
Had a nice hunt last Friday during CWD. 150.5 and 157 5/8
From: Dusktildawn
02-Jan-20
Gun or Bow?
From: Sandman20
02-Jan-20
Gun. I know it would be way cooler with bow but it was still fun
From: Dusktildawn
03-Jan-20
Same hunter 2 bucks with a gun?
From: Dusktildawn
04-Jan-20
Curious how it went when you registered 2 bucks taken with firearm? What county was that
From: Highlife
04-Jan-20
I have an enquiring mind also.
From: Dusktildawn
04-Jan-20
.....crickets???
From: Dusktildawn
07-Jan-20
Hey sandman get anymore bucks?
From: awh302
07-Jan-20
Correct me if I’m wrong but you can take 2 bucks with a gun. I don’t know how the cwd season is but I thought you were allowed only 2 bucks the entire season regardless of the weapon.
From: Dusktildawn
07-Jan-20
Only allowed 2 bucks for the season and only 1 with firearm, thus making the last 2 Buck kill Illegal as hell!
From: awh302
07-Jan-20
Because this peaked my interest, page 16 of the rules and regs says antlered deer killed during the special cwd season do not count towards the antlered buck limit. Maybe this is why? Kind of a bs rule.
From: Dusktildawn
07-Jan-20
Guess we learn new rules every day. My bad if that is in fact the truth.
From: Sandman20
07-Jan-20
Sorry for the delay lol. You can shoot a total of 2 bucks gun or bow doesn’t matter. I had 2 either sex gun tags so I shot 2 bucks. Also it was a cwd season. Carroll county so it doesn’t count towards my 2. I have no interest in shooting anymore bucks this year but if the rules allow me to kill 2 then I’ll kill 2. I try to shoot over 140”. Judge away I’m ok with it
From: Dusktildawn
07-Jan-20
10-4 learned something new. Did not realize Illinois allowed any hunter to kill more than 1 buck with a gun during season. Guess that's why websites like this are a good thing. Congrats
From: Sandman20
07-Jan-20
Also an update I have not killed anymore bucks since this post. I harvest 1-2 does per year and about every 3rd year I shoot a buck. Helps to know rules before you cast stones.
From: Dusktildawn
07-Jan-20
Have NEVER and would NEVER shoot 2 bucks with a gun in same season, so I guess not knowing that rule was o.k. I imagine Most guys on BOWSITE have never done that either.
From: Sandman20
07-Jan-20
You’re free to do whatever you want. I bow hunt and gun hunt. I’ve never shot 2 during any season. This is the first season I’ve ever had 2 either sex tags for gun. And these were the first 2 nice bucks I’ve seen all year. So for the first and most likely only time I ever harvested 2 in one sit. The problem I have is you’re the one judging me and telling me I’m doing illegal stuff. I’ve always enjoyed chatting with you on here however get your facts straight before you do judge me you don’t know me or the rules in Illinois. Maybe I am a dick for shooting 2 at one time but that’s my decision.
From: Dusktildawn
07-Jan-20
Said earlier "My Bad" that is an apology! Never belittled you in any way for doing whatever you choose to do, or how you do it. Grew up hunting before CWD & late winter seasons when you were only allowed 2 bucks. 2 with bow or 1 archery and 1 firearm. As I stated before, good thing forums like this exist to clear the air on current rules. Be well.
From: Sandman20
07-Jan-20
Oh well now I see your “my bad”. All is forgiven. Happy hunting buddy
From: Sandman20
13-Jan-20
Anybody hunting this weekend. Weather sounds nasty in northern IL. Could be really good or really bad
From: Highlife
13-Jan-20
Nope freezer is full see no need ;)
From: awh302
13-Jan-20
Filled the freezer yesterday. I still have an either sex tag left but I don’t think I’ll go out.
From: Sandman20
13-Jan-20
Congrats. Last few days get out! Lol. I miss it already
From: BOHUNTER09
19-Jan-20
And now it’s over. Hope you all had an enjoyable season
