Thought it would be fun to see what kind of out of state hunts everyone might be doing this season! My brother is on a work assignment in Northern Wisconsin where all of my uncles and cousins live so I am trying to get up there the first week of November to hunt the North Woods
currently planning on Nov 1 - 11 in Michigan. Usually have best success Nov 2 - Nov 7 ...that being said, my buddy invited me on an elk hunt in CO that week...so I am going to be doing my damndest to drop 2 whitetails by mid-October!
Sept 12 - 15, Kentucky Oct 27-30, Iowa Nov 6-9, Iowa Nov 16-20, Wyoming Fill in the rest with Illinois stuff.
is it still a Rutcation if you get paid to do it? I guess depends on how much your wife gripes about it.
Colorado back country elk is like my dream hunt! I don't have anyone who has agreed to go with me yet though and that is not something a mid westerner should try alone the first time
I'm northern MN, the best year in year out dates are the 5-12 th. For pure chasing phase and watching the younger bucks play, I'd say the 1-6 th Nov. Older bucks, 8-14 the. The 15- 25 Nov can really be quite.
Do you hunt with an outfitter or public land or do you have some buddies in all these places you can hunt with?
I've been before in Idaho. OTC, DIY and was able to arrow a cow. If I'd have waited 5 more minutes I would've gotten a nice big 5x5 or smallish 6x6. This elk trip would be rifle, bull only. While still a good hunt I am seriously on the fence...rifle elk or full rut archery whitetail on my home turf? Believe it or not I am leaning whitetail, admittedly partially b/c it would likely cause problems at home to go out west. The wife wants to bowhunt with me at our usual deercamp that week.
That's probably better than the week directly before- the 10th-17th they are usually in lockdown*. But neither is as good as the first week of November when full on chasing ensues. * Admittedly I don't hunt in IL- but I do hunt in WI, IN, and MI and I see the most activity in the first week of November, a definite lull from Nov 13-20, then usually a slight uptick from Nov 21-Dec 14 or so.
I've headed to SW IL now since 2012, only missing 2017 when my son was born.. Normally we go out the 2nd week of November and have some good luck! Last year I made it out the week leading into shotgun season and shot two nice bucks, one with my bow and one with shotgun. This year I decided to go back the 3rd week so I can also get the shotgun season in as well. It's normally a week later than I normally go so we will see! Either way it's better hunting than here in Maine.
Quite I love the last few days of October. With a little cool weather, you could have the best few days of the entire season right there. They will be pounding the scrapes then and few if any does will be in to have them locked down.
Kentucky and Iowa will be all public. Wyoming will be with an outfitter. That's my "in case I can't kill a deer on my own" hunt. And Fletch - I'm with you 100%. The last 5 days of October have always been good to me. I've had more opportunities at shooter bucks during that stretch than any other time of the year.
It looks like I am going to probably miss peak rut. last time I missed the peak rut I shot a nice big buck, took 5 sits but I am willing to grind it out.
