Illinois Hunting

[sharkhunter]

Have any of you guys done a public hunt to Illinois my inlaws live there and was wondering if it is worth looking into? Would like any info I can get.

[justhrowit]

Where abouts? Yes, it's worth it, especially if you are spending some time up there. The tags are pricey though. If your only there for a couple days, it may not be worth the price. Where in IL are they?

J

[SPUD]

I've hunted Shawnee National Forest for the last 2 years. Didnt' get to go this year due to some personal stuff.

But YES!!! worth every penny.

It cost me about 800 bucks for 9 consecutive days of hunting. This included tags/license, fully furnished double wide on a private lake about 3 miles from where we hunted, and food (steaks, chicken the works)

I thought that is pretty cheap hunting if you ask me

[sqiggy]

It cost me about 800 bucks for 9 consecutive days of hunting. I thought that is pretty cheap hunting if you ask me

Only if ya kilt one!!!

[sharkhunter]

Chester

The name of the town is Chester its southeast IL. looked on the DNR web site 3 areas of public hunting with 20min off inlaws house.... What time of year is best is there much presure during bow season???? How hard is it to get drawn???? and is it state wide or by segment??

[sharkhunter]

ttt

any others???

[justhrowit]

That area of the state is o.k for hunting. Soil content and nutrition isn't the best in the state, so the deer aren't quite as big as the rest of the state, but there are still big deer around. The soil gets a little sandy as you move further south towards MO. It's worth the work though. Not unlike everywhere in the nation, you'll have public land pressure. You'll run into hunters. More so during gun season. Drawing tags is pretty easy. The deadline is usually in the summer, I think it's July. They haven't sold out on NR tags since they raised praises on them a few years ago. Tags, license, and habitat stamp will cost you around $450.

[bow4my2]

I like Spud have hunted Shawnee and other public land and taken good deer, well worth it, enjoy your time there.

[bow4my2]

To answer a few of your questions, I havent hunted there in three years, but when i did i called there DNR in June and bought my license and tag over the phone. I hunted in late oct for 10 days, ran into two hunters and saw game every day. i think you will enjoy it. its great to get a midwest hunt in.