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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: ranger 3 on October 07, 2014, 08:38:00 PM
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How is your season going so for in IL. I myself haven't been out yet.
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I got out Sunday for a couple hours. It was some public land that is very very crowded.
Found a good spot, was set up and 10 min before legal shooting got busted by two does 15 yds away. When it got light enough to see there was a guy in a tree 30 yds away, I moved out and just sat by some persimmons. Say some movement on down the line 70 yds.
On the way out I found a blood trail and a gut pile.
Fun hunt, but alas I don't get to get out too often so I'm hoping the next time I do get out I'll see some more.
Where in IL are ya.
From down around STL
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Went to shabbona Sunday. First outing. Great to be out, but didn't see anything until I was leaving in my truck.
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I'm in the north. Not going to be able to get out until early Nov. Rut should be peak then. Gonna sit in Chain O' Lakes state park. Park Ranger said he has seen a fair amount of deer in there so I am hoping I get a shot.
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Brianlocal3, I in Mackinaw it's between Peoria and Bloomington and I hunt state ground. You
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I finally got out Saturday, saw three. I found some persimmon trees that were loaded down so I decided to stay there for a while and had a spike come walking by me at about 5 steps. Very exciting when your at eye level with them that close.
I'm down in extreme southern IL. right on the Ohio river in Massac County.
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Collinsville , it's right across the river from STL , Mo
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I went out on the opener which was a little too warm for my liking. ESE wind was very odd but I had a stand that would allow my scent to travel down the creek only. Right before dark I heard a deer blow and knew I was busted. You guessed it. She came right up that creek edge and that was it. Last night however I had a fun thing happen. I was in stand and looked up and to my right and see a baby raccoons butt and tail sticking out of a hole in a tree. Hahaha. About 20 min later I look up at the same place and two small coon faces are staring at me. No other parts are out of the hole...just heads. They were maybe 1/3 the size of an adult. Made me laugh outloud.
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Brianlocal3 I have a good friend down there that is a very good taxidermist if you ever need one.
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I hope I need him!!!!!
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I got out saturday for half a day, didnt see any movement. Talked to some other hunters in the area, they got three does the previous evening and didnt see any movement until evening. I hunted to 1pm.
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I've hunted Southern Shawnee behind my house every day morning or afternoon or both but Sunday and have seen deer from my stand one time. A little 4pt or so and couple of doe and fawns a couple mornings ago...all about 40 yds.
Deer population where I'm hunting is really down.
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I've been out three times and the final tally is 0 deer seen - and 11 hunters seen... Not the ratio I'm used to seeing!!!
I'm in the St. Louis area too... Hunted Peabody, Horseshoe, and Frank Holden... Thought I'd did my pre-season scouting but did have my reservations...
Still looking for some decent hunting land...
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I'll start out by saying I've been out once this year and scored! I hadn't shot a deer in 9 years and 11 months. But who's counting? :coffee:
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I've been out once. I'm running trail cameras right now mostly. One pre rut begins about the third week in Oct. I'll be hitting it hard.
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Jeremy - Awesome experience in Des Plaines! Thanks for sharing. PM'd you back my contact info. Can't wait for November!
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meatCKR - not seeing the p.m. :dunno:
-Jeremy
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Hi Jeremy - sorry about that. Tried to reply this morning to your PM from my smart phone(that is apparently not that smart). PM'd you from my pc now so should go through. Looking forward to talking strategy with you!
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I was out Sunday morning on our property and in the Shawnee,saw one doe but she was feeding away from me and the wind was wrong for a stalk.
I have a stand set on our property, and picked up my trail can on my way back Sunday, lots of does and a few decent bucks in the pictures. I won't hunt the stand until late Oct. early Nov.
Good luck out there, Pat
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I'm in Troy, IL , close to some of you guys but hunt mostly in Mo. Just been out once in MO so far.
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Went out once last weekend, sat for 3 hours but didn't see any deer. Took a shot at a squirrel but missed. I was sitting in a ghilllie suit and boy, was that squirrel surprised! He still doesnt know where that arrow came from!
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I was out for 3 days in Central IL. Saw 3 small bucks, one decent buck, and thousands of Mosquitoes. I was smart enough to take a thermacell was I ever glad I had it. Even on the windy nights the bugs were bad.
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Outstanding, Jeremy! Congratulations!! :thumbsup:
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I have taken my bow for a short walk only one time so far. I have several "spots" here at the house that are good for me as I can not walk the way I once did... Damn COPD.... so I toured those spots.... slowly.
I must admit I cant get to up when the temps are high.
I have been seeing deer for the last few weeks but nothing I am really interested in. I hope cooler temps will prevail as my schedule opens up at the end of the month. Just the right time.
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Went out last night and right before the end of shooting time, I had bucks chasing does all over the woods. It was crazy! Ive never seen seeking and chasing behavior this early in the season.
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Was out on public land last night from 1:00 to sunset, saw nothing...
Jeremy
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Been raining here since Thursday night, it's stopped now, heading out for a quick evening hunt. Gonna leave the seat and do some still hunting as the ground is plenty wet!!!!!!!!
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Ran into 4 hunters, no critters
The joys of il public land!! Fun outing though
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I have been out 5 times & seen a a total of 19 deer from the stand. 5 were antlered & 5 have been within my range but I chose not to shoot or they did not offer a shot.
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I hunt just south of Marengo, IL in McHenry County and have only been out once. Was on a 2 week cruise in the Mediterranian and just got back on Sunday. And now I have to go baby-sit for a week in St. Louis. When I get back next week, I'll finally be able to hit the woods in force. That first time out, saw only a squirrel and a few flocks of geese, but I did acquire another farm to hunt on.
Good luck everyone!!!!
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Can't do much hunting for the rain around here. Went one morning in Shawnee behind the house a couple days ago and had a little 4 pt chase a doe by me before I could get a shot at either.
Scrapes and rubs everywhere ..earliest and most I've seen around here. Think it's because doe numbers are down.
A break in the weather and cold front should really be good.
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Rain, rain, and more rain. Crops are way behind being harvested and will prolly be well into nov. around here. Fields super muddy and temps. still warm. Looks like better weather later this week maybe will trigger better movement. So far been very slow! :banghead:
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Been out 4 times now. Its looking like another slow year for me. One deer sighted at dark-thirty. Im planning a Matthesion hunt later on. Maybe during rut? Ill be camped at Starved Rock if anybody wants to visit.
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I spent Friday and Saturday morning in the treestand. Friday morning, I was at my stand an hour before shooting light and wouldn't you know it, the deer were right there. I bumped them out. Once light came, I didn't see a deer all morning. I should have known better. My game camera was telling me the deer were there then, but I thought somehow I would get by with it. I think I'm going to try it in the afternoon. Saturday morning, I tried a different stand. I did see two year and a half forky twins. They were carrying their tails up, so that's a good sight. It was a nice encounter. Sunday, I had the dreaded south/east wind. None of my stands are right for that wind, so I passed on going out.
Rut is upon us and I have November 1st-4th off. Bring it on! Good luck to everyone!
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Hunted my honey hole last Friday eve, perimeter scrapes are just now starting up. Saw a mature doe at five come by my stand. Her tongue was hanging out and she kept looking behind at her backtrail. Got ready but nothing ever showed, obvious though that something had been chasing her. Young doe and this years fawn showed up right at dark. Watched them lick each others face for five mins. Then doe walked out in front of my stand at fifteen yards broadside and I couldn't bring myself to kill her. Ha, man I am getting soft in my old age. But had a solid time! :thumbsup:
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Pretty good, got a Doe, seen plenty deer, got a chance to chase turkey too
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Got out for the first time last night and never seen a thing.
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Hunted Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Yesterday morning, seeing Deer every day.
Had a spike tempt me Saturday morning but I'm not ready to burn my Buck tag just yet.
I think the activity is just getting started and will pick up in the next weeks.
Pat
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Here's a tree that is 20 yards out from my setup on the ground.
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t384/MeatCKR/COL_Setup3.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/MeatCKR/media/COL_Setup3.jpg.html)
That was about two weeks ago when I was scouting out that part of the Chain O' Lakes State Park - not a mark on it. Now, here is that same tree yesterday:
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t384/MeatCKR/BuckRub_COL.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/MeatCKR/media/BuckRub_COL.jpg.html)
Man - just seeing that Rub got my juices going! Man, I love this time of year! Hung out there all day yesterday and nothing showed up. But there are good bucks to be had in there - I just know it.
Good luck everyone!
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I went out last Saturday morning and didn't see anything from the stand.
Changed tactics and went to public ground, stalked into a ravine and came upon two does ahead feeding slowly, a small buck was trailing them.
I stalked them for about three hours. Setup two intercept points and was busted both times by swirling winds. Still a good day in the field.
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Must be lull didnt see anything last few nights, but alot of scrapes appearing
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Went out this morning and had 8 point in the bean field, grunted and he came in and a little down wind and it was all over.
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Just wanted to bring this back up, wondering how the season is going for everyone. Haven't heard great news coming from other hunters in my area. Seems like the herd is smaller... or smarter.
-Jeremy
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I am done for the year after no shots and the red army. Second gun season going now, I hunt public land and after guns you are just twiddling your thumbs going there.
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Hey all im in godfrey across from stl...been hunting copperhead hollow public this year...almost 1k acres. Great place anyone close pm me and we can get together. Passed on several smaller guys early and have come close to some big guys too. None taken but im close. Also check out illinois traditionl archery on fb. Good luck all
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Hi David. I'm in Collinsville, about 1hr from you
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Look me up on facebook at Illinois traditional archery...got several of us joining and trying to plan a shoot next year or this summer
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My public land season is probably over since I have no days off left this year. I have something that I might get lucky with. The other day, this sign showed up at the entrance to a forest preserver that just a half mile down the street from my house.
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t384/MeatCKR/DeerManagementPic1.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/MeatCKR/media/DeerManagementPic1.jpg.html)
Seems to me that hiring sharpshooters to do what us bow hunters would do for free is a waste of tax payer dollars. I am calling on Monday to see if I can get special permission to hunt in there very early in the mornings on Weekends. I am not too hopeful, but you never know. I have seen lots of deer in that forest preserve. I do know that me sitting on the ground with my bow would be a lot safer than a bunch of guys running around in there with rifles.