So my question is, should I even bother? I'd really love to hunt turkeys this spring, but I was checking the Illinois DNR website to see turkey harvest totals from public lands, mostly in NW Illinois, and it just didn't seem like many turkeys were being taken by bowhunters last year from public lands in northern Illinois. At least, does anyone know where I should stay away from? Sent from my RCT6303W87DK using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Most of the public lands (if not all of them) are limited draw. You can't just show up and go turkey hunting. They issue a relatively low amount of tags - hence the low harvest numbers.
Thank you Justin. I know it's not that easy to just show up and hunt turkeys. What I am worried about is going through a lot of trouble to get out there only to find... no turkeys. I have hunted two properties in NE Illinois in the last 9 years, and I've never seen a turkey on them. Sent from my RCT6303W87DK using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
I hunted Matthiesen State Park last year for two days during the 1st season. I did not kill a turkey but I saw and heard a number of toms each day. I just couldn't get one to play the game and come into range. This year I've drawn permits for Matthiesen State Park 1st Season and Morrison Rockwood State Park for the 4th season. I've never hunted Morrison Rockwood before but the 2016 harvest totals showed 6 turkeys killed so I'm hoping some will be around.
Hi TheGreek, how did you do in Morrison Rockwood? Did you see any birds? I have never hunted that area and I drew a tag for this spring. Any info would be great.
Sounds like Justin was talking about a license issue, not a scouting issue..... Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
