ilhnter

Man I hate snakes. 4 or 5 years ago while hanging stand in August I stepped around a tree while putting up climbing sticks and my left foot was a 12 - 18 inches a away from a big rattler. He was coiled up but wasn't rattling or anything. Thankfully he wasn't aggressive because I was more than close enough to get bit. Needless to say we took care of him. Haven't seen much lately, but the young bucks are starting to be seen a lot. Got a couple good bucks on our cams last week. This cold front should hopefully get them on their feet. Good luck everyone!

Here is a pic of the buck we got on our cam a couple weeks ago. Hope he shows when I'm in the stand!

Hunted a couple days early last week. Saw a few does and couple small bucks. Did have a nice 8 point feed around and bed down about 80yds in front of me one afternoon. Pulled our trail cam cards and got a pic of a giant that I hope shows up in the coming month. Good luck everyone and congrats on the great buck Rhino!!

Hey everyone, checking in. Waiting for October 1 to roll around so I can get in a tree in Illinois. We've gotten a few good bucks on cam and will be checking the cams again soon. Hope to have a few good pics with the cool weather we've been having. Good luck everyone.

Adam Ralls ilhnter 30 IL Oct 1 - Jan 15

Ranger, I know our tom/hen ratio is all out of whack. We bought the property two years ago so this is the 2nd year we are going to turkey hunt it, but before us it wasn't turkey hunted in about 8+ years, so that makes 10+ years since a turkey has been taken off the property and I know that nobody turkey hunts the neighboring properties. I do believe that our biggest problem is that they are roosting with or very close to the hens so it is about impossible for us to get the toms away from the hens. I should have mentioned this earlier, but the property to the south is mostly fields and the property to the west is crop field, the east is the an interstate, and the property to the north is a wooded ridge bordered by crp. So most of the turkeys roost on us, so the hens and toms are very close.

Ranger I completely understand its hard without knowing all the details. We own 80 acres and are the only ones that hunt it. We have not seen very many coyotes at all and our trail cam pics are full of turkeys. We have one pic that has 50+ turkeys in the frame. I'm not much of a turkey caller, but we use a slate call and also a box call. We try to call as little as possible since we aren't the best. We currently use just a single hen decoy and may sit in a location for an hour or so. We are fully camo'd up with face masks and gloves and it all. Every morning we have anywhere from 1 to 5 jakes/gobblers roosted on top of a ridge on the property. Every single day we hunted last year there was at least one roosted there. We have set up above them, below them, close to them, and away from them and no luck. We have tried to bring them out into our little field and have set up in the woods.

Last year was my first season really chasing Turkeys. I don't know much about turkey hunting and my dad and I tried our best last year, but it just didn't work out. I read up and tried to learn what I could, but it seemed like the birds did the exact opposite of what I had read and heard from people. I've heard and read that turkeys like to fly up hill when leaving the roost. Every bird we saw flew downhill when it left the roost. What are your experiences? We were using a single hen decoy. I've seen and heard a lot of people using a few hens or a single hen with a jake. What's everyone's thoughts. Just trying to get more info and see what has worked for everyone else. Thanks in advance for any advice and for sharing what you have seen.

We are still running our cams and we pulled the cards last week and had 4 shooters and several up and comers make it through. I'm already looking forward to next season, should have some good ones.

I shot a good buck last Monday evening with my bow, then Friday morning shot this guy on opening morning of IL shotgun season. He came in with two does and tried to slip by me. This is probably my best buck. Very exciting week for me. [ATTACH=CONFIG]14008[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]14009[/ATTACH]

The bucks are looking and chasing in S. Illinois. My dad and I were sitting in stands maybe 100yds apart and we both saw 2 -3 different good bucks checking and chasing does around, not including a parade route of younger bucks following along. I had a good 8 point chase a doe by me and he walked in my shooting lanes a few times. My gut said to pass on him so I did, but as he walked away I think i made a mistake. It was the last evening I had to bowhunt since i go back to work today and gun season is this weekend. Right before sunset a doe stepped out in front of me followed by his grunting 9 point. He pushed her around a bit and stepped into my shooting lane, but would not stop. The doe went up the ridge, but he continued down it. Grabbed the grunt call and gave him a few deep grunts and he turned around and came back up the ridge. This time he stopped in my shooting lane, but my shot was low. I shot under him at 35 yds. He didn't spook, just took a couple of steps. I got another arrow knocked and he worked his way around my stand into another shooting lane. He again stopped and this time i didn't miss at 30yds. He took off up the ridge and crashed 30 yds in front of my dads stand. The shot was a little back, but center punched the liver and clipped the lungs. He only went about 100 yds. My first deer with a bow in 3 or 4 years. [ATTACH=CONFIG]13983[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]13984[/ATTACH]

ilhnter Team 6 - Deep 6 9 point buck [ATTACH=CONFIG]13981[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]13982[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]13980[/ATTACH]

Bucks were on their feet checking does and doing a little chasing last night. I was lucky enough to get an arrow into this 9 point. [ATTACH=CONFIG]13979[/ATTACH]

Bucks were on their feet checking does and doing a little chasing last night. I was lucky enough to get an arrow into this 9 point. [ATTACH=CONFIG]13979[/ATTACH]

Finally started seeing some good bucks on their feet the end of last week. The weather has turned horrible, hot, 25 -30 mph winds, thunderstorms. I have one more day of vacation tomorrow, then gun season next weekend. Hope to put something on the ground soon. Good luck everyone!