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Sounds like a fine day you get to have every year. Congratulations.

The rut was active this past weekend in Southern IL. I'd say another week.

Congratulations to your son Steve!

That's a great 1st deer! Congratulations to you daughter and to you for getting her involved in the greatest sport of all time!

Agreed. I'm sure people have been threatened or even shot over a deer in the past. My grandfather told me once that he shot a pheasant the same time as another hunter he didn't know(stocked area in IL.) My grandfather didn't even hear the other shot because they were at the same time so he went to pick up the bird. The other guy pointed his gun at my granfather and said leave it lay. My grandpa let it lay. Some people:rolleyes:

Opening day of IL. shotgun season: My stand location was on top of a hilltop at least a half mile in the Shawnee Forest. No trails and no motorized vehicles allowed. I had 5 scent wafers out and started doing some light grunting right at daylight 0630 and again at 0700. I was only shooting a mature buck because the drag would be extremely difficult. At 0715 a deer responded and was traveling towards me (downwind of course). I used my binoculars to get a better look since the heavy timber prevented me from seeing if it was a buck or doe. After a couple failed attempts to see him in the binoculars I finally saw him and noticed the thick antlers and a nice spread. Hunting on public ground I knew he was a shooter immediately. I put the binoculars on my hang it all belt and got my shotgun ready. At this time he was about 75 yards away. I had a shot, but decided to wait for a closer one. At 50 yards he was stopped behind a fallen tree and I had no shot. I started to get worried because he was still scent checking a lot. He took one more step and I had a quartering-to shot. I took it and was exhilarated to see him fall in his tracks. I was so excited. I watched for a few minutes taking in the moment. He wasn’t moving so I decided to get down. He heard my movement and got up. He couldn’t lift his back legs, but was moving away using his front legs. Not wanting to take a chance on him getting away or going down the wrong side of the steep hill I shot again. The second shot hit him in the vitals (the first was a little high-spine). Within seconds he shook his head one last time and it was all over. I had my first trophy public ground buck! I got down to see this awesome animal. He was a mature 8-pointer with thick antlers and a 20 inch spread. I sat on the hill for several minutes thanking God and cherishing the moment. It took me until 4pm before I finally got him back to the camp (all by myself). The past spring rains had caused mud slides that caused many large trees to fall into the valley that made harvesting the deer a major challenge. By far this was the hardest I have ever worked for a deer. At camp I weighed the buck. His field dressed weight was 205 lbs. (est. 260 live weight). I put the tape to him, but I’m a big time amature and I like the guessing game so what do you all think he'll score?

Team Predator (#7)flyerla Upgrade from a doe:8-pointer Harvested 11/21/08 in IL

Team Predator (#7)flyerla Upgrade from a doe:8-pointer Harvested 11/21/08 in IL

Big Buck Down in ILWell boys the good Lord smiled on me last weekend on opening day of the IL shotgun season! I took the largest deer I've ever seen on public ground (Shawnee National Forest) after 20 years of hunting. I'll post the story later in the deer hunting forum for anyone interested. He's only an 8-pointer, but mature and heavy! He field dressed at 205 lbs. I shot him at 0715 and it took me all day (4pm) until I finally got him into deer camp. No one was at camp until Friday night so I had to do it myself.I am so sore! Was it worth it? Heck yea it was!

Hey Tim, I just got back from deer camp in Southern Illinois and am so glad to just now hear you were able to get r done in IL (I knew you would). Not sure if you remember, but I bet you some deer sausage my shotgun IL. buck would be bigger than yours. I think I owe you some deer sausage. I was able to bring down a nice public ground 8-point, but I don't think he'll go 140 inches (not too far off though). I'll get some pictures posted in the deer hunting forum later once I recover from a rough weekend. Those cold temps were brutal! I hated to hear about your accident. Hope it didn't spoil your celebration. Can't wait to see you in the next Monster bucks! >Frank

Hi Kandi, I just returned from deer camp in IL. Conected with a nice 8-point. I'll get some pictures up later.

I don't know everything about PETA, but from what I gather PETA finds a few extreme cases of animal cruelty and tries to make the majority suffer because of it, which is too bad. Did you all hear about the PETA supporter that threw a bag of flower on Lindsay Lohan for wearing a fur coat? A prime example of taking things too far.

Congratulations Randy! That's a beautiful deer. Hope to see one like that this season.

9-pointer Well Monday night I found an extra hour and decided to give the bow another chance before the shotgun opener Friday. I called in that darn 9-pointer from October. I wasn't sure at first so I had my Bear TRX pulled and my pin right on the viatls. As I waited for him to stop, which of course he did presenting me a 40 yard broadside shot, I realized he was the same 2.5 year old 9-pointer (at least I'm 90% sure). I had a tough decision. Trying to think of why I should take the shot. For example: he'll got shot next weekend during the opener. I'll never see him next season and so on... Well, I let the string down and watched him stand there broadside for 1-2 more minutes before leaving. As he left I asked him on a date (same place, same time - next year).

Thanks for posting the pics. It makes me wonder????? If the DNR encouraged a bow hunter to take one, I suppose he would have had to use a buck tag to shoot it? Sure it would make a nice mount and all, but where's the sport? I'm not sure if I would have used my hard to come by buck tag on it. I don't think P&Y or B&C would alllow it into the books as fair chase? I wonder if someone could have used a chain saw or something to cut off the antlers? I saw a hunting show once where some guys used a chain saw to seperate two bull elk. No one got hurt and the bulls both survived.

Yup, every year since I was 16. I'll post some pictures next week.

Ya did good! Congrats!

Way to go Tim. Where's the pics? I re-read your initial post Tim. Sorry.

Assistant Professor at an IL. University

I went out last night at 3:30pm. At 4pm I saw a spike at 125 yards. I grunted a few times, he turned and closed to within 60 yards. I grunted again and he came in to within 15 yards giving me every opportunity. Too bad he wasn't a mature buck. Seems to my going story for this season. I'm headed to Southern IL for shotgun season Friday-Sunday. I'll be hunting hard. Hopefully I'll finally catch up to a mature buck.

Hey crazylegz, how do you know that Roger17 is the same Roger from earlier? Hey Tim, I wouldn't worry about things slowing down for next Friday. I'm in West central IL and from previous years I'd say the deer activity hasn't reached the peak yet. I'll bet today's cold front will really get things moving. Deer activity where I hunt has been slow up until about a week ago. I'd say the chase phase is just now starting and should continue for at least another week. As long as it stays cool and doesn't rain (snow would be great, but no rain) I'm expecting the best IL shotgun opener in years. In the past the 1st shotgun season in IL comes right at the end of peak deer activity, with this year being a week late we're hitting it perfect! I'll bet ya a years supply of deer sausage the my Friday morning buck (200 class) will be bigger than your (190 class). >Frank

I do most of that and last night a mature doe still smelled my trail where I walked in. Maybe I just stink???

Glad the MO folks treated ya well. That's a great 9-point! Must be one of those great swimming bucks! Of course everyone knows the big bucks in Missouri are all great swimmers! They have to be to make it across the Mississippi from IL.

Get the current issue of Field and Stream. They have an article titled the rut that explains deer activity October-December. They advise the use of grunt calls, rattling, buck urine vs. doe urine, when to make mock scrapes and so on. Not sure if I believe it all, and it may not hold true for every place in the country, but it's a great general resource. I'm using doe estrus right now, grunting, and will start rattling tomorrow.

Congratulations to Mike! I remember that picture Randy. Sounds to me like Mike has a dern good buddy as well.