Illinois Gun

[Tuckbass]

Anyone else going up for the gun (shotgun / ML) opener this weekend in IL? My first time and the weather couldn't be any better. Gonna be missing some good weather here for the gun opener, but who knows, maybe I'll get it done Friday and catch the gun opener here too? It can't hurt to be a wishful thinker can it?

 

[TnKen]

Headed up today.

 

[Pinwheeled]

I'm planning on heading up Friday. I won't be hunting but just hanging out with my uncles and a bunch of our friends at deer camp. Usually 8-10 of us make an annual trip to Shawnee National Forest and camp together. It's such a good time I don't mind missing a weekend here a bit.


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[Tuckbass]

How is the Shawnee? I saw it on a map and it looks really good. I'm sure there's a bunch of pressure, but there ought to be plenty deer too with a 1-2 buck limit for so long. This year I was lucky to be invited to a pretty good lease @ Vienna, but you never know what next year could bring.

Good luck to all you guys.

 

[Blackdog]

I bought my son a gun tag this year, so we are heading up Thursday afternoon with my brother and another buddy.

 

[gobblinfool]

Shawnee is immense in size...I hunted it a couple years ago....and got turned around!

 

[LESSGOVERNMENTMOREFREEDOM]

Anyone else going up for the gun (shotgun / ML) opener this weekend in IL? My first time and the weather couldn't be any better. Gonna be missing some good weather here for the gun opener, but who knows, maybe I'll get it done Friday and catch the gun opener here too? It can't hurt to be a wishful thinker can it?

What county will you all be hunting in the Shawnee National Forest?

 

[LESSGOVERNMENTMOREFREEDOM]

I'm planning on heading up Friday. I won't be hunting but just hanging out with my uncles and a bunch of our friends at deer camp. Usually 8-10 of us make an annual trip to Shawnee National Forest and camp together. It's such a good time I don't mind missing a weekend here a bit.


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What county do you hunt in Shawnee?

 

[Tuckbass]

Ill be in Johnson Co maybe ill try shawnee next year.

 

[Pinwheeled]

How is the Shawnee? I saw it on a map and it looks really good. I'm sure there's a bunch of pressure, but there ought to be plenty deer too with a 1-2 buck limit for so long. This year I was lucky to be invited to a pretty good lease @ Vienna, but you never know what next year could bring.

Good luck to all you guys.

We actually hunt right down the road in Golconda. We have pretty much only hunted Pope County since I have been going with them. It's always a great time. Numbers have always been good and we always see at least one or two giants every year. Here's a few pictures from camp the last couple years.

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[fredfred]

Anyone else going up for the gun (shotgun / ML) opener this weekend in IL? My first time and the weather couldn't be any better. Gonna be missing some good weather here for the gun opener, but who knows, maybe I'll get it done Friday and catch the gun opener here too? It can't hurt to be a wishful thinker can it?

LOL If you hit it right you'll never want to hunt here again.

 

[AT Hiker]

How is the Shawnee? I saw it on a map and it looks really good. I'm sure there's a bunch of pressure, but there ought to be plenty deer too with a 1-2 buck limit for so long. This year I was lucky to be invited to a pretty good lease @ Vienna, but you never know what next year could bring.

Good luck to all you guys.

We actually hunt right down the road in Golconda. We have pretty much only hunted Pope County since I have been going with them. It's always a great time. Numbers have always been good and we always see at least one or two giants every year. Here's a few pictures from camp the last couple years.

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Man thats some awesome camp pics! Lots of memories there too.

Is that the national forest you guys hunt and camp on? Ive hiked in the Shawnee, mainly around Garden of the Gods area just outside of Metropolis.


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[Pinwheeled]

AT Hiker,
It's all national forest ground we hunt and camp on. You're right about the memories from camp. I don't even hunt now that I'm a TN resident. I'm just there to hang out, eat backstrap off the campfire, drink beer, share hunting stories, and help drag out deer. Can't beat it.


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[AT Hiker]

Thats awesome! I love the wall tents too.


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[REM7]

My experience of opening in Shawnee, was like a war zone. With people running around and shooting everything. And I was on a Lease at same are as you.

 

[Tuckbass]

Wow, that looks like a heckuva a lot of fun.