Ok I'm from MS, we buy one $35 license and hunt anything we want all year. So I'm very confused on what to do regarding turkey hunting in Illinois in the spring. I have land leased in Saline County, and I'd very much like to hunt them this next spring. But right now my options online are for a second lottery, a third lottery, or a random daily draw. Then after selecting that stuff I have even more options. I have to select seasons? Or the county? I mean what am I missing? Yes I want to hunt turkeys, yes I'd like to do so on my leased land in the spring. But am I having to pick specific dates? Am I then being drawn and paying $125 to attempt to get a tag for 1 specific week that if it rains I'm just hosed. If anyone can shed some light on the exact specifics of what I should be looking to buy I'd be very thankful. This year we just bought our deer stuff at Walmart. Can I just do the same with turkeys, whenever I want?
Yes, spring turkey permits are on a lottery system. The IDNR site lists the season dates (there are 5 seasons in the spring), Im too lazy to look up exactly what they are. Since you have property leased in Saline county you will have to have your first five choices as Saline county, then pick which season you want in order of preference. If it rains that week, just hunt in the rain. If you do not draw a tag they refund the money you paid. You will want to get in on the second lottery, if you dont get a tag in that lottery try for the third lottery.
