Ok.. here's the scenario. I turned 40 last year, and my brother took me to Lambeau Field for my first home Packers game... (I know, why did I wait so long, but I digress.) SO, I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a trip for his 40th in 2 years. I came up with this: A trip to Iowa, Missouri, or Illinois for some serious trophy whitetail hunting. BUT, after looking at some of the outfitters' websites (holy crap it's expensive) , as well as DNR sites to check on license policies, etc. After which I'm thinking my best bet is a trip to Missouri, DIY style. The question is, how does a guy go about scouting public land somewhere that's 6 or 7 hours away, minimum. Not like I can set up cameras or spend a ton of $$ on this. I'm paying for the tags, and at least part of the other costs as it is. Don't want this to become too damn expensive. I know that I can check out Google Earth or something similar to try to find areas that look good from the air, but then where do I go from there? Contact counties for plat books? Is there a website I can go to to find good public land? I'd really like to be able to pull this off, and am hoping that trying to plan this far ahead will help my cause. Anyone got any suggestions?
A lot of the state parks have maps of the different lots available I'm pretty sure that show topographic images with marked creeks and whatnot. At least the one near where I live does. http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R4/jepc.htm
You can get hooked up with a DIY hunt for not much more than the cost of tags, hotel accommodations, and travel expenses if you talk to the right people.
I have been doing some similiar hunts on public land here in VA, not as much as I would like but hopefully that will change. Most of the places are within 4 hrs so not quite as far away as you describe. First I narrowed it down to a couple of good options and started searching va outdoor forums for any information from actual outdoorsman/hunters. I also searched the names of the places to see any articles or other info that may be available. I then called the VDGIF and spoke with some people there who were very helpful and even made some recommendations. I then found out about camping in the area or nearby lodging if necessary. After finding out as much as I could about the area and license requirements, dates, area rules, etc. I found maps of the areas and saved them to my mapping program. I would find spots I wanted to look into and at some point in the off season I would go there and at the bare minimum put my feet on the ground and do some walking. That can suck because it is a lot of driving but it definitely gave me a "feel" for the land and allowed me to familiarize myself with the area, parking, property borders, hospitals/conveniences(if necessary). Since you have 2 years you might be able to get out there and take a peak. I've also just showed up and hunted simply looking at maps but I always felt more comfortable using the other approach. Start making a list of stuff you need or things to get done between now and then, good thing is you have quite a bit of time to get prepared and sometimes that's half the fun right thre.
Here's a website that you can find all of the properties owned by the Conservation Department. There's also a file you can download from their website that will have all of the areas highlighted on Google Earth. I can email you that file if it's not on their website anymore. http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaList.aspx?txtUserID=guest&txtAreaNm=s
IL out of state tags are pretty expensive. Near me, there are limited public land opportunites, maybe elsewhere its better, but I wouldnt even have a clue where to start the research, but maybe thats because I live in the state!
Some quick google searches will provide you lots of leads, some examples: http://www.biggamehunt.net/sections/Missouri/public_lands/ http://www.shomeoutdoors.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=4952 http://www.shomeoutdoors.com/forums/ http://www.kmlers.com/GMUhuntingunitmaps.html http://www.imbmonsterbucks.com/info.php?id=74 http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/899814.html
Thanks for all the responses guys. Even though it's 2 more years, I'm already a little stoked. I apreciate all the help!
I do a lot of hunting out west. A great DIY hunt is for Antelope in Wyoming. With a few phone calls a lot of ranches will let bow hunter on. There are also 1,000s of acres of public land to hunt. I was there in 2008 and on public ground and we only saw two other bow hunter in 7 days of hunting. We shot two P&Y bucks on this trip. If you hunt on water holes this is a very ease hunt. But you can decoy or stock these speed goats too. Most of the drawings for tags you will need to have your info in before March 15 each year. I do know that the area we hunted there were still 200 tags available after the season started.
RJ - thanks for the suggestion... we've both talked about trying some hunting out West, and that might be a possibility as well. I guess it's just going to come down to $$ and time. Unfortunately, he was just nitified that he's being laid off in April. So he won't have as much vacation time when we go for this hunt, but hopefully things will have gotten to where he can afford to take a week off....
