I'm more east central area. Just state parks though like Clinton, Kickapoo, and middle fork.I tried all summer to find private land with no such luck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I took a doe Wednesday evening on the Corp grounds around Lake Shelbyville. Also had a doe come right under me Saturday (private ground, Macon County) morning but passed since I already have one in the freezer. Have not seen antler yet, but will be out for an evening sit tonight.
I've been out 4 times, 1 morning sit and 3 evening sits. It's been extremely slow just one or two does here and there but none within range or to dark. I'm hoping the harvest starts picking up so they don't have the corn fields to hide in all day but with the amount of rain in the forecast it's lookin to be slow.
I have been seeing lots of does and small bucks here.. seen one huge buck and a kinda cool looking smaller non typical on Sunday. Plan on hitting it hard Wed, Thurs, Sat and Sunday... After seeing the big buck I plan on holding off for him or another big one.. we will see what I can come up with tho.
How is Shelbyville? I have never hunted it, yet I really want to. My guess with the size, it would be next to impossible with no experience there?
It is, hands down, the single best public land in the area. Check out the harvest numbers compared to other, smaller, areas. There are not a lot of deer shot out there. We have been after a real nice 10pt (3 year history, easy 155" last year) and a slightly smaller 9 (probably 135" last year but think he was only 3.5 so could blow up this year). I see mature bucks there more than any of the private land I hunt. Just dont park near the parking lots and do a little (1/4 mile or so) walking and its a virtual smorgasborg (sp?). We park along the country roads and walk in across a field, and bordering the lake like it does it is very easy to find heavily traveled pinch points. Also, in 7 years at this spot I have had 1 other hunter walk in on me.
I am in Springfield, east, west, north or south the best? Climber or hang on and sticks? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The areas immediately surrounding the lake are mostly oak/maple flats which are perfect for climbers, which is what I take out there, but there are areas that hang on and sticks would be best. It is such a huge amount of land I have only hunted the north, northeast and east central portions.
Well, if Central, IL was not in the middle of a tropical rain forest it would help. I twice had to climb down out of the stand with my 10 years old this weekend of youth hunting because we were soaked from all the rain. Last weekend I couldn't get to my stand because it is under water. Now, with rain all week, it is looking like corn and beans will be up for weeks longer! What I would do for a day day stretch of 50's and dry!
I haven't actually hunted in IL yet this year. I have had to many crops up around my area to make hunting that spot worth the effort so I have been hunting in Indiana mostly. Looks like next weekend will be my first IL hunt.
The rain didn't help the youth season here in IL http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/heartland/story/youth_harvest_down_archery_up/
I saw a boat load of deer Tuesday night. Heading back out again now so hopefully I get some decent antlers coming my direction
Anybody been out lately? I haven't had the chance to sit yet but I'll be out this weekend. Looks like a good cold front is coming through
Yeah I was out this weekend. Pretty slow, only saw some turkeys. Things should pick up mightly this weekend with the cold front and pre rut really kicking in at the same time. There WILL be some big bucks that fall this weekend.
Going out tonight, have tomorrow off and will be able to hunt the morning (have to take the kiddo trick or treating in the evening), then am planning my first all day sit sautrday. This all leads up to 2.5 more days of work and then 2 weeks off to sit in a stand! Hard to stay focused at work!
