Illinois Public land
#11
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Elwood Indiana USA
Posts: 59
RE: Illinois Public land
Man i would Love to come over and Hunt Illinois, Can you buy over the counter tags, how does that work? I may plan a trip for Illinois next year. Indiana Is starting to get some Monster Here, So its going to be a tough call?
#12
RE: Illinois Public land
My comments were only about Shabonna and not public land in general.I think if you hunt public land it needs to be big enough that you can use the movements of other hunters to your advantage or big enough where other hunters are not a factor at all.Shabbonas' archery area is too small for the number of hunters that use it and too confined and the deer just move over to the parts of the park that you can't hunt.I've pushed those deer back and forth from the creek /camground end and the dam end and they won't leave the no hunting area.The will just keep doubling back.I wasn't hunting while doing this,just hiking around with a camera.Lowden Miller would be a good example of public land that is big enough to use other hunters movements.If you look at everybodies stands,most are not far off a trail.There are quite a few good places to set up that the deer use to go around the heavily hunted areas.I hate crowds.I would rather hunt on private property when ever I can.The only real good public spot I like is the Necedah Wildlife Refuge/Meadow Valley Area in Wisconsin.Non-resident tags are expensive(ridiculous) but what a beautiful bow hunting area.Thousands of acres to wander around on.
#13
RE: Illinois Public land
ORIGINAL: Misster Tiny
bowman15: Nice buck, bigger than the ones I've seen so far. Do you hunt on state land up north? (Shabbona, Silver Springs,etc)
bowman15: Nice buck, bigger than the ones I've seen so far. Do you hunt on state land up north? (Shabbona, Silver Springs,etc)
Thanks. He's the biggest body-wise that I've seen this year. 7 times out and he's the 4th buck I've seen. I have yet to see a doe. That's weird for where I hunt.
I haven't hunted Silver Springs in years, and I've never hunted Shabbona. My boss hear's alot about Shab. but he also says it gets tons of pressure. I hunt a state park that's starting to get popular. Lots of guys there this weekend.
#14
RE: Illinois Public land
ORIGINAL: heavy hitter
i have really good luck on public land and there are some really nice deer. you just need to scout a little harder and think a little more.
i have really good luck on public land and there are some really nice deer. you just need to scout a little harder and think a little more.
I NEVER park at the "hunter parking" spots, I ask permission from farmer's who own land that a joins public land....MILES from "hunter parking" and access it through there, that way I am almost assured to be alone, I don't think many hunters will walk 3-4 miles to there stand.
#15
RE: Illinois Public land
ORIGINAL: solocamcan
that way I am almost assured to be alone, I don't think many hunters will walk 3-4 miles to there stand.
that way I am almost assured to be alone, I don't think many hunters will walk 3-4 miles to there stand.
You're absolutely right. I walked in the woods last week and there was this bone-head setup in a tree not 200 yards from the parking lot on a trail that everyone walks to get into the woods. And he was pissed that everybody was walking right by him!
Good thing for some of us is that alot of 'hunters' are pretty lazy. I get there early (usually the first or second to sign in) and I go way back and let everyone else push them towards me. I see more deer than most everyone I talk to in the parking lots. (and I don't tell them this either! Let them think there's no deer there)
#17
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pike County Illinois
Posts: 61
RE: Illinois Public land
ORIGINAL: DoubleHH
Man i would Love to come over and Hunt Illinois, Can you buy over the counter tags, how does that work? I may plan a trip for Illinois next year. Indiana Is starting to get some Monster Here, So its going to be a tough call?
Man i would Love to come over and Hunt Illinois, Can you buy over the counter tags, how does that work? I may plan a trip for Illinois next year. Indiana Is starting to get some Monster Here, So its going to be a tough call?
#18
RE: Illinois Public land
Today,Thanksgiving,I photographed this 10 pointer at Shabbona.Good luck,He's a wary one.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/IMG_9344.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/IMG_9341.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/IMG_9338.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/IMG_9344.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/IMG_9341.jpg
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/IMG_9338.jpg
#19
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 12
RE: Illinois Public land
Nice 10 pntr! I hope I'm there when he crosses out of the campground area. I have a few days off next week, maybe I'll go hunting with my camera to see what else is hanging around at Shabbona.
#20
RE: Illinois Public land
There are about 20 to 30 does that were going back and forth in the woodsup the hill from the boat rental.There were a couple of small bucks with them.The big one did cross into the archery area the last time I saw him.He went into the pines on the west side before the parking lot by the dam.He was with the does originally but split off.The does stayed in one small area most of the morning.
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/?action=view&current=IMG_9431.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/?action=view&current=IMG_9350.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/?action=view&current=IMG_9429.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/?action=view&current=IMG_9323.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/?action=view&current=IMG_9431.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/?action=view&current=IMG_9350.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/?action=view&current=IMG_9429.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/trackerlab/?action=view&current=IMG_9323.jpg