#1947928 - 06/03/10 10:40 AM
Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3510
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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I will try to condense as much info. as I can here.....
I am looking for 3(possibly 5) people to join my group in Illinois this Fall. There are three of us already, and two more potentials.
I have been hunting Southern Illinois for 10 years now and have made some great friends up there. This opportunity is a "new" concept, if you will. I have a friend that lives up there in Wayne county, who is an outdoor consultant. He and I have already secured (made downpayments) on several smaller farms. The idea is this: Since Wayne and the surrounding counties are prone to flooding, we are leasing smaller, somewhat higher ground parcels that show tremendous promise for quality bucks. We will be gun hunting ONLY. Nothing against bow hunting as I enjoy it myself; but we want/expect everyone to get a crack at a quality buck. Allowing the extra tags associated with bow hunting will no doubt result in increased pressure, but may also affect the long-term potential of the properties. We (my group) don't want to be constantly looking for new properties every year, rather be able to cull 1 or 2 if need be, for more productive properties. In other words, it is a lot easier to give up say a 100 acre tract and pick up another, when you already have a few more to fall back on.
Each member will contribute at least 2 stands to the club and my friend the consultant (Dustin), will contribute at least 1 more per person. That doesn't mean that you will be isolated to these 3 stands only; it does mean that we want many options for the group. Food plots will be planted everywhere that we can. The properties will be posted and watched. Now, in case you are wondering, Dustin will make a little money off of this, since he will be planting the plots, helping hang stands if needed/wanted, helping secure properties, etc.(BTW, Dustin will not be hunting). But, if this goes over as well as we think, he will be expanding on this in the future. However, our initial group will have the first chance at any new properties in the future.
The initial cost is $900 a man. I already have 3 double rooms reserved, w/2 rollaways in Fairfield. There are only 2 motels in Fairfield, and trust me on this, you don't want to stay in one of them. LOL
We will all split the cost of the motel rooms. Your meals and getting their will be your responsibility of course. The only other expense will be to apply for the firearms tag ($300) by the mid-August deadline and purchase your hunting license ($50) and habitat stamp ($5).
I'm very excited about the upcoming season and the possibility of meeting some of you. I can't help but think that this will be the best chance for a group of people to have the best odds available to take quality animals. Hunting is still hunting however, and there are no guarantees.
I am looking for responsible and ethical folks. If I(we) here you shoot, then we expect that you not only have taken your one and only buck for the season in Illinois, but you have also taken a deer that you will be proud of for years to come. There will be no size limit. Take what makes you happy, but realize that after you harvest that animal, you will be done for the season.
Wayne county is about 3 1/2 hours from Nashville. A couple of us will be going up there either one day this coming weekend or the next. I wouldn't expect anyone to jump in without seeing for yourself, but I would expect you to be relatively serious about the opportunity, because I can't go up and show the properties that often (not to mention the application period for the gun tags is getting close). Please, feel free to pm me for my contact number if you are interested. I apologize for the lengthy post. Thanks for your interest.
Kevin
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#1947943 - 06/03/10 10:45 AM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: BigSatt]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25338
Loc: TN
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If it was for Archery or Gun I would be interested, but Gun season in Illinois is very few days afield IMO!
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#1947955 - 06/03/10 10:50 AM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: Winchester]
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3510
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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True Winchester. Only 7 days.
But remember, we are hunting smaller farms ( 50 to 125 acres or so) and want the long term possibilities.
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#1948058 - 06/03/10 12:23 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: BigSatt]
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Good time Charlie
TnDeer Old Timer
12 Point
Registered: 10/08/99
Posts: 6568
Loc: Tazewell
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Go to the last post on the 08 09 kill thread on the top of this forum,and you will see what a shotgun hunt can get you in ILL.They see giants every time they go.I am probably going this year
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#1948088 - 06/03/10 12:45 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: BigSatt]
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3510
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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Here's an example Winchester: For 5 years I was on a 1,300 acre lease in Wayne County. This farm had some awesome potential. In fact, I took my biggest buck to date on this farm. It started out with 8 of us and when the price went up, we added 2 more people to offset the costs. All of these guys were close friends of mine and we never had a cross word, much less any drama. But, after about three years, a couple of issues surfaced.
1. After we pretty much flooded out the entire month of November the third year (1,300 acres dwindled down to 150 for 8 people), we found out that we could expect a certain amount of flooding every 2 to 3 years. As a group, we decided it was worth the chance. Especially since we had taken several deer above 140" (a couple in the low 160's and one 180" stud). But, after we flooded again two years later, I had had enough. You see, Wayne county is predominately farm ground. To find plenty of cover on bigger acreages, you just about have to lease ground in the river bottoms.
2. The 4th year of the lease, 4 of the guys on it lost their job due to Peterbilt closing down. They used this to their advantage and bow hunted 3 to 4 weeks solid prior to the firearms season (I really don't blame them, I probably would have too). And they were fairly succesful too. The problem surfaced when the firearms season opened. The effect of the bow hunting pressure became obvious very quickly. We(the entire group)went from an almost always 100% opportunity (not to be confused with a 100% kill rate) during firearms season to less than 40% the last 2 years that I was on the lease. You would think that having 1,300 acres, you could find an undisturbed area. Not the case. Even leaving some of the stands unhunted during bow season, the pressure just proved to be too much for the area.
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#1948140 - 06/03/10 01:27 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: Snake]
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hunter drew
14 Point
Registered: 06/16/07
Posts: 7794
Loc: henderson county TN Lexington
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If I didn't already have plans brother I would be all over this. Really really wanting to get to Ill to hunt. Good luck this year
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#1948201 - 06/03/10 01:58 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: hunter drew]
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Winchester
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Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25338
Loc: TN
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Its definitely whatever floats your boat! I myself however would much rather have 2 weeks (14 days) of Bow hunting during the middle of November, and just forget the 7 days of gun hunting! Thats just me, and I see your point. Good luck with it however it goes!
Go to the last post on the 08 09 kill thread on the top of this forum,and you will see what a shotgun hunt can get you in ILL
LOL, there are more and bigger bucks killed each year in IL with a bow than there are a gun! The short 7 day gun season that occurs after the peak chasing/breeding phase of the rut, is one reason IL still has the quality of bucks that it does, many reach maturity! IL bucks also grow a lot of antler per age class which helps many peoples desires as well.
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#1948211 - 06/03/10 02:03 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: Winchester]
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3510
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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Hey Scott,
If you are looking for some land up there and still have my number, then give me a call and I'll put you in touch with Dustin. He has a bunch of properties in several different counties in the southern part of the state. I'm sticking to Wayne county, because it normally has more non-resident firearms tags available each year and we have always been successful in the draw.
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#1948223 - 06/03/10 02:08 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: BigSatt]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25338
Loc: TN
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Hey Scott,
If you are looking for some land up there and still have my number, then give me a call and I'll put you in touch with Dustin. He has a bunch of properties in several different counties in the southern part of the state. I'm sticking to Wayne county, because it normally has more non-resident firearms tags available each year and we have always been successful in the draw.
Thank you sir, I may just do that. I think I do still have your #. Im still working on my Pike co. farms but im always looking, especially closer to home.
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#1948882 - 06/04/10 06:46 AM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: Winchester]
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3510
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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TTT
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#1949497 - 06/04/10 06:34 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: Winchester]
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3510
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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Dang, I would have thought several people would have been interested in this. Oh well.
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#1950019 - 06/05/10 07:32 AM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: BigSatt]
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102
10 Point
Registered: 08/01/02
Posts: 3681
Loc: Tennessee
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BigSatt,
What you are saying makes little sense to me. I have been a public land, Southern Illinois hunter since 1999. I have taken several P/Y class bucks and have enjoyed EVERY hunt. I have never gun hunted because I do not wish to be limited to a few days. It is possible to get TWO buck tags in Illinois and unlimited doe tags if you have the cash. And the hunting license for non-resident is 57.00 while the habitat stamp is 5.00. Doe tags went up this year to about 25.50.
We bought land there in 2001 and built a cabin. If I had it to do over again, I'd head to Ohio. Illinois is simply TOO un-friendly to non-residents and has RIDICULOUS prices for their LOTTERY drawing permits.
But I completely agree with Winchester...I would MUCH rather take my chances with a bow for the WHOLE season than a few days with a shotgun.
I SERIOUSLY doubt that a 2 year observation of successful gun kills makes for a HARD truth that those bow hunters altered your success rates. Unless they killed ALL the bucks with their bows, which I doubt.
I guess if they were COMPLETELY wreckless about their scent, sound, and disturbance of the hunting areait would be possible but then, more than likely, they weren't very good bowhunters anyway.
Our experience has been that the RUT brings bucks and does from ALL OVER the place. IT seems that deer show up that NO one has seen before during the chase phase.
I believe, knowing a thing or two about the rut in Illinois the last several years, that a more accurate answer to why your gun kill was down, is because the rut has been REALLY weird the last few years. In fact, we have had a VERY hard time "hitting it right". And according to everyone we know up there in Illinois, they have all had similar experience. ANd these are the LOCALS.
We aren't sure, but the local biologists tell us that EHD hit harder than first expected. THis really hurt our BIG buck sightings and noticably dropped our large doe harvest. THis seems to be supported by the fact that EHD tends to affect the more MATURE deer in the herd.
I guess the good news is that it has been a few years now and hopes are, the bruisers will be "grown up" this season.
We'll see, I just put in my app. and got my license for 2010.
Anyway, good luck to you guys, let us know how it goes.
102
p.s.-I would allow bow hunters during at least ONE of the gun segments, I believe the muzzle loader segment allows archers.
Besides, this will be after the first shotgun hunt. Then you might allow a December bowhunt.
And BTW, if you are concerned about killing next years crop...put limits on the bucks.(age is best)
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God, Family, Job, Bowhunting
Luck is where Opportunity and Preparation MEET!
When in doubt...back out!
SCAPAS.stay calm and pick a spot.
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#1950177 - 06/05/10 01:18 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: 102]
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3510
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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I appreciate you input 102, but I will have to disagree with a few of your points and I will attempt to explain why we are gun hunting only.
First off, one of the guys that has already committed, is a close friend of mine that happens to be a high school football coach in Franklin Ky.. He simply will not have ANY time to bow hunt, nor do very little (if any) scouting. The other guy is a friend of mine who is fairly high up the ladder of a local 7 county public utility. He is unable to get more than 5 workdays off at any one time; hence he can't justify paying the high price for the bow and gun tags both. And, yours truly, stopped bow hunting up there three years ago when the tag prices skyrocketed. Now the other two potentials, as I referred to them (lol), are both very good friends of mine. One of them lives in southern Alabama and his job requires him to work 2 weeks on/2 weeks off, so he can't hunt both weapons seasons during November to start with; and the other buddy lives just outside of Atlanta. He is self-employed, so he does not have time to hunt with both weapons either.
Now, having explained our personal situations, let me explain our main reason. Remember, our goal is for everyone to have an opportunity at a buck that makes them happy and maintain the future productivity of these properties. If, let's say, we have 8 people in this club, and we hunt 4 or 5 small farms (that are spread out around Wayne county) that collectively contain 450 to 500 acres; then we just might realize our goal. But, if we allowed bow hunting as well, then the number of tags available just doubled, thus jeopardizing the long-term (year in...year out) potential of these properties. Some of the high end 2 1/2 year olds that most likely would get a pass during the firearms season, just might get whacked with a bow, not to mention that you might wined up taking MORE than 8 bucks. No, I would like to see everyone in the club possibly have an opportunity with one weapon, as opposed to having a "mixed" bag if you will; and hopefully maintain the quality level on these farms for many years to come, instead of constantly looking for "new" properties each year.
As for the rut, Winchester is primarily hunting in Pike county, which is almost half a state away from Wayne county. The rut up there may indeed be the first two weeks of November. I have no way of knowing that for sure, as I haven't hunted up there before. I have confidence in Winchester's ability, so I am sure that he knows what goes on there. But, we are talking about the southern most 1/3 of the state. In 10 years of hunting there, the transition from peak chase phase to the peak of the rut has ALWAYS occurred during the first segment of the firearms season (Friday, Saturday, Sunday BEFORE Thanksgiving). I've hunted many different states throughout the midwest, and I have yet to see a more classic rut than what occurs in southern Illinois during this time frame.
As for the example that I gave in the earlier post about the effect of the increased bow hunting pressure. That 1,300 acres was primarily made up of CRP/weed choked river bottoms fields. What little timber there is, that is suitable for tree stands, is along the Elm river and its tributaries. I agree that many unseen before bucks show up during the rut, especially along the river systems. I am sorry that you "SERIOUSLY doubt our 2 year observation on successful gun kills"(....you'll just have to take my word on it I guess), but the "effect" that I am referring to wasn't just on bucks. In fact, I was MAINLY referring to the number of buck attracting does that inhabited the property. During that time frame (rut), it's hard to have rutting bucks with out estrous does. No ,they didn't kill all the bucks with their bows; and yes, they are very good hunters in general. It's just that, with the limited ambush locations along the rivers and the HEAVY increase in time afield, BEFORE the firearms season, by the guys that were laid off, resulted in higher pressure on the local deer herd, which definitely reduced the amount of daylight activity by the resident deer(doe)on that property.
I hope this helps to answer a few of your questions 102, and I wish you the best of luck this year as well.
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#1950191 - 06/05/10 01:55 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: BigSatt]
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BoneHead1
4 Point
Registered: 09/15/09
Posts: 199
Loc: East tn
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All this talk of Illinois is making my blood run hot! We have been gun hunting public land in southern Illinois for the past 5yrs.Ehd has had an effect on our sighting as well.Ohio is allot cheaper with some awesome bucks. I have always wanted to bow hunt Illinois, but never had the time or $.The way vacation fell this yr was perfect for us. We are going up for 10day this yr.We are going to bow hunt the 7 days before the first gun then pull out the slug guns!!! Tags are high, but it should be an unforgettable trip. No matter what plays out this year we plan on shifting back to Ohio after this trip...we shall see. Good luck to you guys!!!
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#1950206 - 06/05/10 02:51 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: BoneHead1]
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3510
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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All this talk of Illinois is making my blood run hot! We have been gun hunting public land in southern Illinois for the past 5yrs.Ehd has had an effect on our sighting as well.Ohio is allot cheaper with some awesome bucks. I have always wanted to bow hunt Illinois, but never had the time or $.The way vacation fell this yr was perfect for us. We are going up for 10day this yr.We are going to bow hunt the 7 days before the first gun then pull out the slug guns!!! Tags are high, but it should be an unforgettable trip. No matter what plays out this year we plan on shifting back to Ohio after this trip...we shall see. Good luck to you guys!!!
Good luck to you, BH1!
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#1950219 - 06/05/10 03:26 PM
Re: Illinois Deer Hunting Opportunity
[Re: BigSatt]
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102
10 Point
Registered: 08/01/02
Posts: 3681
Loc: Tennessee
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BigSatt,
I understand your situation. I only wish to help you attain your goal of filling the spots. I see NO REASON not to allow ONE BUCK tag per hunter. PERIOD. THe ONLY limitation on the buck should be that:
*THERE is only ONE buck per hunter per year
*The buck must score a MINIMUM P/Y NET to kill it.
I just don't get your problem. If you want 8 hunters, and allow these guys to choose gun or bow, then the bow hunters...in YOUR words...do NOT get the best of the rut. THe gun hunters DO!
So you have your memberships, you have happy hunters because though the bowhunters get there first, the gunnies get the best RUT!
This is all just a suggestion. I REALLY don't care. I hope yall have fun and maybe I'll see you traveling up/down 24 E/W.
102
_________________________
God, Family, Job, Bowhunting
Luck is where Opportunity and Preparation MEET!
When in doubt...back out!
SCAPAS.stay calm and pick a spot.
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Wish I was able to go , thanks for sharing the info Big Satt 
