fly

Yea the days of manned check stations are history in IL. and many other states and will not be back. I suppose in time all states will abandon manned check stations. I can see myself sitting at the campfire in 10-20 years with my kids telling stories of how I used to have my deer checked in at the check stations, have my deer aged, and receiving the infamous IL. deer pin. Displaying your deer pin on your hat during hunting season used to be a big deal. I'll never forget seeing some of the old timers in the small town restaurants having their orange hats covered with pins. As a kid I was so envious. You can still pick up a pin at certain locations, but it's just not the same.

Thanks for posting. First I've heard of this and it sounds like something of concern. I'll be looking into this and following it closely. My edit a couple hours later... I had some time so I looked up some more information on this from some better sources and I'm not so concerned about saying goodbye to the 2nd Ammendment. Still, something to keep in mind. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/16/obama-takes-drug-cartels-surging-violence-mexico/ I looked at other sources because I'm reluctant to buy into information posted on a site that has people posting things like below: "He (Obama) has committed so many brazen acts of Anti-American treason by failing to uphold his oath to defend and protect the Constitution that he will be behind bars before this term is done, or we will all be fighting his brother muslims in the streets."

Currently this seems like an unresolved issue so I looked at a couple research articles (instead of Google) and it appears scientists believe it to be unresolved as well. From the studies I read dysrhythmias were not produced. However, the human research subjects were healthy and younger individuals. One interesting study examined taser use (50,000 volts) on pigs (it wouldn't be ethical to do this on humans) and found that indeed 50,000 volts caused cardiac capture in most of the pigs. Capture is the same thing as pacing the heart much like pacemakers do. So I'd say it is likely that 50,000 volts would affect the heart in humans, but whether it causes lethal dysrhythmis (especially in populations not studied) is still unresolved. Cardiac Safety of Electrical Stun Guns: Letting Science and Reason Advance the Debate MARK S. LINK, M.D., and N. A. MARK ESTES III, M.D. From the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Tufts New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts Nanthakumar K, Billingsley IM, Masse S, Dorian P, Cameron D, Chauhan VS, Downar E, et al. Cardiac electrophysiological consequences of neuromuscular incapacitating device discharges. J Am Col Cardiol 2006; 48:798-804.

I bought the eclipse for turkey hunting this spring. I had myself and my 2 kids in it and a camcorder. There was enough room. It's light and a snap to put up and take down. I did put some water sealent on the seams because I heard they will leak. I have not hunted in the rain with it yet. I like it. At first I didn't think the windows were my style, but after using it I actually prefer them to other window styles. I wouldn't shoot my broadheads through the mesh since I use mechanicals. The zippers are noisy, so I just attach the black mesh to windows I may get a shot from and keep them unzipped. I don't velcro the black mesh to the windows because the velcro is loud as well. There are hanging clips at the top that can be used to keep the black mesh up.

I can see why he would avoid cop bashing threads just as I avoid some threads here on the forums. I didn't see this one as a cop bashing thread but if Swampy does then I'm sorry I had no intentions of offending or calling him out on a topic he would rather avoid. I know Swampy took a taser blast some months ago for training purposes and I voiced my concern about him doing so. As I recall he doesn't view it as a significant risk to his heart and he's likely correct for feeling that way. I was just wondering if the womans age might make a difference.

Looks great Eric! Good luck with finishing it. Working on projects you'll get to enjoy isn't like working at all.

Hey Smack, Doc is almost right on here. IL. did it to save money, but I disagree with the part about spending it on other management activities. Everyone knows Blago stole money allocated to the ILDNR for whatever he needed and I'm not so sure Quinn is going to be a lot better? When it comes to decision making in IL. money is the bottom line. They do try to put a management spin on every decision but the dollar will win every time over management. Doc I can't say for sure the new system in IL. (internet check and phone check) has led to higher poaching, but I believe it has. The new system makes it easier for trophy hunters to get that trophy book deer out of season or with a gun instead of bow and still check it in "legally" so it can be entered into the books and showed off. However, I would have to say I do prefer the phone/internet checking becuase of the convience factor.

Swampy you around? What's your take on it? I believe the taser to be a great addition for our police, but I would rather have seen the old lady handcuffed and arrested, rather than tasered. I'm sure the incidence is low, but sending an electrical current through the heart has the possibility of inducing ventricular fibrillation leading to death even if the energy is a low amount. A couple quick Googles. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0730taser30.html http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080521/taser_doctor_080521/20080521?hub=Canada

Been there. Remember not to stop the coordinating after the "I do". In IL. November is prime time deer hunting so that means no unprotected you know what in January-February.

Well I hope it works out for ya. I look back on my days serving in the Army National Guard and there were a lot of good times and rough times. There were days I remember waking up soaking wet, muddy, and having over a hundred (literally) insect bites on my arms and face in the Honduras rainforest. I often wondered what type of drug I must have been on when I decided to join. However, those experiences helped shaped me into the well rounded, easy going, slow to anger man I am today! Just don't ask my wife to verify that last statement. Good luck and thanks for deciding to serve the good old USA!

Calm down now fellas. Yes sportsman all over the country are dealing with rate hilkes. here in Illinois the price to deer hunt for residents is likely to go up more than 100% next season. So what's a poor boy to do? Do some homework and that out of state hunt of a lifetime can still happen without breaking the bank! Below is an exapmple of what I did last spring and will do again next spring. This year I'm saving for the trip which runs me about 1,000.00-1,500.00 (depending on gas prices) for a 10 day hunt. Consider other game that isn't currently considered the "in" game animal. Whitetails are great, but bowhunting black bears is a blast too. Nonresidents can hunt a black bear in Idaho for about 180 dollars and 2 of them for about 210.00. Better yet, about 90% of Idaho is open to public hunting with free camping! Add 5 days of fishing for another 30 dollars. I'll also comment on land prices here in IL. They truly are crazy! Anything within an hour of a large city is absurd. It also seems the smaller the acreage the higher the price! Check this out: about 15,000.00 per acre for 11 acres and a pond! http://www.buyafarm.com/IL/Madison11_Falast/Webpage_Madison11.htm So, I just don't buy land! What do I do then quit hunting? Nope again more homework. If door knocking isn't your style, then find public areas that are not too far and figure out strategies to hunt them. I know two public ground locations that are open to hunting, but the hunter needs a boat to access the island/penninsula. Because of this hunting pressure is low to absent. Instead of shelling out money for land, buy a boat and use it for fishing too!

Outdoor life was having some fun creating that several yeras ago via computer generated graphics. Think of the new blockbuster summer hit movie from Hollywood titled: 300 (incher)

The tailgait shot with the tongue out (GUILTY). I've tried to improve my pictures over the years. I don't go as far as to cover the hole or wipe off all the blood. I do try to get some shots where the animal died and before I field dress it. I also place myself behind the animal, smile, and keep the tongue in. First image is 1998, second 2007. The picture got better and so did the deer.

I hear ya Nick. I went with Muzzy 100 grain 4 blade fixed a few years ago and hit a small doe just below the spine and just behind the front shoulder. I was 30 feet up so the angle was extreme. Not sure how many inches of penetration I got, but a lot of the arrow was sticking out as it ran off. A couple drops of blood and that was it. I gave it until the next morning since there was no blood trail. Looked for 6 hours and never found it. I may have hit spine or shoulder blade but I would have thought the Muzzy would have penetrated better. Switched back to my mechanical Rocky Mountain Gators that open to 2 inches. The newer version is called the Gator XP and is unfortunately a Bass Pro exclusive (I prefer Cabela's:D). Last season the broadhead penetrated a doe's front shoulder blade, went through the chest cavity and the tip was sticking out the underside of the deer (another extreme angle - see image). I pulled the broadhead out about an inch so it would show up in the picture. Two years ago the Gator XP went through a does spine (straight down shot) and again the tip was sticking out the fur on the underside of the deer.

Turkey We have whitetail and turkey here and the turkey hunting in the spring is great, but too short a season. Gotta love those IL. whitetails.

Well the data I have indicates that 7 out of the 18 posters have had gear stolen from them while left in the field (That's 38.8% or greater than a one in three chance!). The dispicuous act occured most frequently on private land and within the past 3 years. I know this isn't much data to base anything on, but it sure seems to me that one is really taking a risk leaving items in the field (especially these days).

Congratulations!

I know what you mean about those bases. They are so thick they look fake.

Whitetail easy. Why... 1. Season is longer. 2. You can hunt them all over the place "legally". 3. A lot more meat than a turkey. 4. Challenging but not near impossible to harvest a trophy 5. More affordable than other game you have mentioned. 6. I can take my kids.

I just love you guys! The issues behind some of the threads here are no joking matter, but the banter posted in reply can really get me laughing. I know something like 90% of the people here have it in for Obama and that's just the way it's going to be. I can't blame Ace or any Obama supporter for not responding to all the posts because anything in the mans defense has to be researched and verifiable or the poster will be crucified. A lot of times things just can't be verified so there will always be speculation. In addition take a look at the document William linked to. It would take me an hour to figure that thing out! BTW.. From previous posts I gather William is not an Obama supporter which gains him a lot of respect and credibility in my book for making his post. Now when/if he does have something negative to say about Obama he'll have my attention.

I know what you're going through. Been there in 1995. I had 124 questions which means I didn't ace it at 75. Not sure if you know this, but it might make you feel a little better. Twenty-five or 15 (I forget the exact number) of the 75 items are experimental items and don't count towards your score. So if there were several items you know you missed they may not have counted against you. In the 10 years I've been teaching nursing nearly all the students that had their exams shut off at 75 items passed.

Well Kyle there are a lot of numbers out there for you to ponder on. My contribution is not to worry about the numbers too much. By posting this it tells me you're already being a good dad and provider for your family. Do you have good family support because you may not need daycare. If you have to go to private schools (often church related) consider joining for cheaper tuition. There are always ways to cut costs and make it work out. Kyle, from what you've stated I'd say you're well prepared at this point. One last thing... You can't do this for your child but your wife can. Encourage her to breast feed and transfer her lifes work in fighting off various viruses and other bugs to your baby. By breast feeding she can provide all the immunoglobulins she has developed to the baby giving it a better chance to stay healthy (which would also lower medical expenses). Breast feeding is tough work and she'll likely need your support. If she can't or doesn't want to don't make a big deal of it.

There is a lot of controversy regarding this one and I honestly don't know if there really is a better way to do it? I've done it both ways. If I'm field dressing in the dark I'll often hang it head up so I can do a better job in the daylight. Of course you wouldn't put a rope around the neck of a buck you planned to mount, but would the blood draining to the head be a problem if a trophy was hung back legs up? I'm also hesitant to hang a trophy by the horns for fear of them breaking. Now I've skinned them head up before, but back legs up is much easier and I get less hair on the meat.

I'm just wondering the stats on how many of us have had our hunting gear stolen while left in the field. I'm wondering how the poor economy is impacting the number of theives out there? 1. What do you leave in the field and for how long? 2. Please indicate the year(s) you were ripped off? 3. What did the thief take? 4. Where did it occur? (a) public land (b) private ground (owned) © private ground (leased) (d) private ground (permission to hunt) (e) other - describe As for me, I've never had anything stolen, but then I only keep a couple cheap stick ladders and stands in trees during the season on private ground that I have permission to hunt on.

I thought it was a TRX. I was thinking a TRX 32, I didn't know they made a 300? Was it an exclusive model for Gander Mountain or something? I've got a 2003 TRX that I still use today. I just had a new string put on it and did some shooting with it yesterday. Man what a difference in speed the new string made! I know, I know, I was pretty lucky to go 5 hunting seasons on the same string and not have it snap. Below is my TRX. It's harvested 2 Pope and Young deer (one of them also went B&C). While trying to find some info on the 300 I found this old relic! http://www.realtree.com/community/feature.php?ID=87 Again congratulations on your first P&Y!