Jon, keep us informed, me and my Dad might be interested. Thanks, Jr.

Jon, I'm interested, please keep me informed.

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T

I am interested as well. Really hinges on where in Ill. Keep me posted as well.

thanks,

matt

I want to know more

yes      

I will be watching this thread and you can include me if enough members can be arrived at so the cost isn't to prohibitive. Please keep the info coming so a final decision can be arrived at.

Rick

I'm interested but totally ignorant...    

Are you thinking of you leasing from a farmer and sub leasing to the eventual group or having the group lease directly from the farmer or.... buying as an individual and leasing to the group or buying as a group and sharing actual ownership....

Lots of ways to do it for sure and I'm sure many end possibilities for the expenses, dues etc.

I'd love to be in on it but honestly don't know what I'd be able to afford a year from now.  The ol' career path is taking some hits and changes in the new Obamaconomy.

If you are gonna make up a list, put me on it and I'll let you know when the time comes.

I am in.(please) keep me(us) posted.
Chuck-

HHHMMMMM very interesting Jon! As Dave Bulla said there are alot of ways this could go.What part of IL are you looking into.This may be a dumb question, but is IL a state you have to draw for a tag?I have heard out of state tags are quite expensive for IL.Is this true?
Bill

Ok guys...it looks like there is plenty of interest in something like this.  I have been looking at a couple of different properties, but will continue to see what may be available.  Most likely we would be talking about the west central or east central part of the state.  I have hunted a ton of counties here, and these areas are the best in my opinion.  As was mentioned before, nothing is a done deal yet, but I wanted to see if others would be interested in this idea.  I am looking for large parcels of land, especially those that have allowed little or no hunting as of recent.  The plan is to secure rights on a long term basis, and involve enough members to pay the bills, but few enough to ensure quality hunting.  As I said, I have a few different properties that may possibly work quite soon, but If not, I will continue the search for next season.  This is something I have thought about quite a bit for the last 5 or 6 years, and am beginning to feel this is the best answer.  All opinions are welcome.  Thanks a bunch guys.

How many acres are talking here?

Jon, I might be talked into it.

Guys, thanks for the interest.  I will let everyone know as to what develops.

Jon,I would be interested...

I think you have a great idea cooking. I would be intrested. Please keep me posted.

I would also be very interested in an IL trad only lease.  Keep us informed.

Put my name in also, Phil and I can ride up together.....

Onestringer said:  "If Geronimo shot a Black Widow, you would be speaking Apache."

Geronimo had a Winchester or Henry, lever action. Just a bit of historic information *^).

Maybe pretty soon the whole state can be locked up in exclusionary leasing.  The midwestern states are already headed in that direction and it is not good for hunting in general.

QuoteOriginally posted by George D. Stout:


Maybe pretty soon the whole state can be locked up in exclusionary leasing.  The midwestern states are already headed in that direction and it is not good for hunting in general.

George IL has already rwached that point I'm affraid and thus my interest in this!

Guys, just wanted to update you on this idea.  This idea is not new at all obviously.  Gene and Barry Wensel did this in Iowa with Excellent results.  I am looking to do something similar.  I have looked at a few large parcels.  Large parcels of land in Illinois are a little tough to come by anymore. Anyway, I had a VERY promising tract of land that I was looking at, but the landowner wanted to retain gun hunting rights for him and his entire family.  Even though gun season in Illinois is relatively short, I had to decline.  This is most likely not going to happen this season, but I feel it will happen by next season.  As was mentioned before.  This will not be for any profit at all.  I am not interested in being an outfitter. But I have lived here all my life, and hunting opportunites are beyond the point of being a premium.  I constantly get permission for a place, only to lose it the following season.  I can no longer hunt the property where I killed the buck in my avitar.  The reason is that the landowner is kind of a deer hunter.  Once he found out about this buck he decided he needed to hunt the area more often.  I can't blame him...it was a tiny spot but it was good.  What I am looking for is a large property to be leased on a long term basis with some good like minded members.  The cost of the lease will be split amongst the members.  Access will be open to members year round, and numbers of members will be limited to ensure quality hunting for some of the best bucks in the world. The reason I posted this in the first place is because I wanted to make sure there would be enough interest in such a thing to make sure I could get enough of the right guys to cover the lease costs.  It looks good, so I plan on going forward with it.  

George, I understand what you are saying and agree.  I don't like it anymore than you do.  But I have been a lifetime resident of Illinois and I currently have 2 tracts of private gound to hunt.  One is 22 acres and the other is 19. And I am not the only one who hunts them.  Leasing has taken hold here.  Every winter I make huge efforts to gain new places to hunt, but it just does not work that way anymore here.  I send letters.  I offer labor. I tell them I studied wildlife biolgy.  I tell them I will never use a 4-wheeler or bring other people with me.  Farmers in my state realize that everyone wants to hunt Illinois, so if you don't have something worthwhile to give them in return, you are out.  Can't blame them.  Deer hunting to me is not a hobby....it's who I am, so I'll do what I feel is necessary. But it is not all bad.  Good deer management can happen when the right guys have control of the right property.