How is IL. season going

ranger 3 · October 06, 2015, 08:50:00 AM

I haven't been out yet but will soon. Is anyone seeing any deer?

hawk22 · October 06, 2015, 11:10:00 AM

My buddy Dan saw some good activity on Saturday and killed a doe up in Henry, IL.

Ceb · October 06, 2015, 11:26:00 AM

I have set three evenings now, hunting natural ground blind locations I've sighted deer each time. All does and fawns. Have yet to take a shot.

ranger 3 · October 06, 2015, 11:59:00 AM

Thanks I'm hoping the population in up better than last year.

Fletcher · October 06, 2015, 01:24:00 PM

So far not bad. Only been out a couple of times and really just watching for now, but have seen deer both times. Wind was pretty strong on the 1st and NE is an odd wind for the area I've been sitting. Camera is showing a fair number of different deer so I think the numbers are OK at least in my little spot.

Plan on being kinda selective with what I shoot this year. Numbers across the state are clearly down from 10 years ago and the only way to bring them back up is to not shoot as many, esp does. DNR doesn't want to cut back on tags by much so the only way is for we hunters to police our own actions. We are ultimately the ones who decide how many deer we kill.

Tater · October 06, 2015, 02:04:00 PM

I haven't been out hunting yet, but I have seen a lot of sign around the house and in the garden.

How is the acorn crop in your area this year? Seems to be considerably less around here this year.

ranger 3 · October 06, 2015, 09:00:00 PM

Went out tonight today and didn't see anything but another hunter and a coon. I hunt state land and the acorns was falling.

BenM · October 06, 2015, 09:23:00 PM

Got out the night of the opener and the following morning. Saw some deer and quite a bit of deer sign. Felt so good to watch the sunset and rise in the woods.

Brianlocal3 · October 06, 2015, 09:28:00 PM

I've been getting out around 9 am-2 pm due to taking kids to school and picking them up, not ideal but better than being on the couch. Called in a yote, no shot but today I found a huge chicken of the woods mushroom so it was a success

yeager · October 06, 2015, 11:45:00 PM

Went out Sunday afternoon/evening for the first time and saw 3 does at about 5 yards while hunting on the edge of a corn field....got busted before I could get a shot.

bowtough · October 07, 2015, 06:14:00 AM

"WINDY" Alotta crops still in the fields and haven't seen a much yet. Prolly keep fishin for another week then get pretty serious. Deer numbers have been way down in our county especially mature bucks, hopeing for an increase in numbers this year. Last year was pretty sad!

Leafwalker · October 07, 2015, 08:11:00 AM

I haven't made it out, but my neighbor has been out 3 times (state land) and hasn't seen anything. The past week has been very windy (20+ mph), but this week activity ought to pick up.

JBrown · October 07, 2015, 10:42:00 AM

I haven't been able to go yet. Hoping to go Friday. My buddy has been several times already and is seeing a lot of deer.
I've been seeing a lot of acorns this year while out squirrel hunting. I live down in extreme southern IL. right on the Ohio river.

mark land · October 07, 2015, 12:18:00 PM

Will find out on the 9th, heading up to thin some does and my landowner finished up cutting the last of the corn last week so should be just about prime.

Hoyt · October 07, 2015, 09:23:00 PM

Killed a couple of Does behind house in National Forest, one first afternoon and bottom picture next morning.

Border Covert Hunter 47#, 62"lg., 340 FMJ, Simmons Tree Sharks. Full penetration on both. They were around 17 steps and ran about 40 and 50 yds.

ranger 3 · October 07, 2015, 10:09:00 PM

Great shooting Don.

toddster · October 11, 2015, 10:02:00 AM

Great shooting dan, been out few time public land central illinois, seen few does and one small buck so far. This morning seen two does, appears to me wind is more nkrmal and most crops out deer starting to calm down. Will update after eveninv hunt

Fletcher · October 11, 2015, 09:26:00 PM

Only made it out Sunday this weekend, but had two nice does come thru about 10 am. It was heading for 80 degrees and was going to be a short day so gave them the pass. I hope they are still around later. Been seeing several on the trail camera so I know they are out there and coming thru. Headed south to Saline Co, next weekend.

Fletcher · October 11, 2015, 09:28:00 PM

Only made it out Sunday this weekend, but had two nice does come thru about 10 am. It was heading for 80 degrees and was going to be a short day so gave them the pass. I hope they are still around later. Been seeing several on the trail camera so I know they are out there and coming thru. Headed south to Saline Co, next weekend.

Good shooting, Hoyt!

Herdbull · October 12, 2015, 08:08:00 PM

I saw 13 bucks this past weekend, but they were all 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old. Lots of sparing and rubbing antlers on trees. Glad to see it after two years of EHD deaths. I usually take a doe during this time of year, but with 80 degree temps and multiple bucks in close proxsimetry, I did not shoot one. More chances may come. Mike