fly

I am in full agreement.

Bob, I have been checking the website every couple days. My bear trip to Idaho this spring was cancelled so I'm hoping we get drawn.

I have been for a long time now. 10+ years I guess. A gun club I joined a few years back requires NRA membership. I would think that Hunters in gun control states like IL and NY really see the need for the NRA and are strong supporters. I have a NRA sticker on my truck and my FB avatar had the NRA logo for several months.

Kentucky went up this year too. Last year I could get a license and tag for 190.00 now 260.00! Thing is a buck tag is good for bow, ML, rifle, crossbow, from the start till the end of the season. A buddy bought 100 acres and we're working to get it in shape. Still 260.00 is reasonable compared to the NR license and tags for the screwed up state I live in. If I was a non-resident it would cost me nearly 500.00 to hunt a buck during the archery season. Another 325.00 to gun hunt.

Not till June - then Yellowstone and Grand Teton NP

Went out yesterday to get my last stand and here comes a doe - I ducked down next to a bush - she trotted to within 10 yards before figuring it out.

Walking into an area where you know deer bed or are even at a lot will often cause them to move due to the scent you leave. Deer know - especially big bucks. Once you know where the deer bed or are at frequently put a stand in a location that allows you to slip in quietly and without leaving scent on a deer trail.

I've never had a deer come in to rattling either. However, I have had them come in three times as I make noise with my climber going up a tree. Of course my bow would still be on the ground so I just watched. I also have had some come in when I was breaking twigs and moving leaves when hunting the ground. Grunting has worked for me as has snort wheezing. I think rattling works, but has to be the right buck at the right time.

Ever since the space shuttle program stopped NASA employees have been looking for work. Guess one found a job with Rage.

The taxi charged 75.00 for the beetle clean, another 75.00 to dip in camo, and the plaque cost 60.00 for a total of $210.00. Pretty expensive but it was what he wanted. The taxi doesn't carry RT patterns any longer as the cost was a lot more. My son originally wanted a snow camo pattern. The taxi did a practice run first as he had never done one before and it turned out more of a grey than white. The taxi took a pic and texted it to me before dipping. I was glad he did because it was not what my son wanted. His second choice was the red pattern and it worked out great. Here is a better picture. I love that it has a cut out for a picture. My son selected the picture of him and I with the deer which made my day.

MUD, I took this one with my smoke pole. I'm not a coyote hunter, only been a couple times and both times didn't call in a thing. I don't own a good coyote gun so I used what I'm most accurate with. Given the low numbers of deer in the primary place I hunt I decided to let the does walk for the remainder of the season. The only mature buck on camera was all busted up so I figured I'd try to get a coyote that I had been getting pictures of. I had a rabbit distress call but wasn't going to use until later in the morning. This coyote came in early at 7:30am before I even used the call. Season is over now and I'm looking forward to seeing at least one more fawn make it due to the absence of this coyote.

Thanks all - I got it - this is a Monster Coyote (probably the biggest in the state). That's what I'll tell everyone anyway - at least until we get WOLVES! I received this article in my email inbox. http://illinoistimes.com/article-133...illinois-.html You all know I love hunting apex predators, but Wolves in IL! What is the DIRECTOR of the Illinois DNR thinking?

Same here (except I follow the Cardinals)

The IL season ends this Sunday and I'm working a lot this week. Will get out for one last crossbow hunt before the season ends because you never know! I shot my first coyote last Saturday so I feel I made a small contribution to increasing deer numbers in my area next year. There is a pic in the varmint room if you want to see it. A pretty big male for my area weighing 33 pounds and measuring 36 inches (nose to tail base) and a 15 inch tail. I got this buck on camera a couple weeks ago. I've never seen him before. He's broke up some but should easily score in the 140's next year. I want to thank everyone for the encouragement and being a part of the best team on the forums! Frank

Illinois has an occasional large predator visiting from a different state but the coyote is considered the largest predator. EHD and limitless doe tags has proven effective enough at reducing deer numbers here in IL. The mentality of taking a doe and letting the bucks grow is shifting. The more IL deer hunters I talk to the more I hear that does have been getting a free pass card. While mature bucks are the goal, small bucks are being taken for meat hunters instead of does. I suppose coyote reduction must have at least a small impact on increasing deer numbers? What do you all think - one coyote = one additional fawn making it through the summer? The more I researched information on coyotes the more variability I found on the size. It would seem that the western states have smaller coyotes while northern and eastern states have much larger ones. Apparently a 30 pound coyote is huge for states like Arizona.

Thanks William, do you hunt them year round or just during deer season when you see them? I wonder if they weigh more in the spring when food is more plentiful than the winter months. I'm going to check out the teeth and see if the molars are worn - I assume an older one would have some wear. I realize a lot of people just want them dead, but they do serve a role since wolves, cougars, and bears have been removed. It's something new and of current interest. Doubt I'll ever get into it like the guys on the TV shows, but it was pretty cool to take my states largest predator.

Got my first coyote this morning. Pic in the pred room. Question for the yote hunters... What is considered average size / large size? I guess it depends on the geographic location - this male was from central IL and weighed 33 pounds, and was 35 inches nose to base of tail and another 15 inches of tail. I'm thinking it is a full grown adult?

I really don't know much about coyotes other than 22& of their diet is deer. I saw this one harassing a small doe this morning. She was blowing at him and he wasn't leaving. This male weighed 33 pounds and was 50 inches long (nose to tail). From what I have been told he would be considered a big adult coyote for my area here in IL. What do you all think? Is this big for coyotes or just average?

IL had 25% fewer deer harvested this season vs. last season during the gun season. Compare to 2005 and it was 40% lower. EHD, years of unlimited doe tags to reduce vehicle collisions, and bad weather were to blame. I let a lot of does go this year, in hopes to get numbers back up. I took a young 8-point but would still like one more for the freezer. We go till the 19th - looking for a mature buck till then.

That's great Kirk - about being pain free and the crossbow buck. I used to keep my antlers at the taxi - but for the past couple years I pick them up after the taxi cuts them off - about a week after I drop the head off. I keep the antlers with me for 6 months to a year till he's ready to start putting things together. I doubt I'll make it to the classic this year. Been a bad year with mature buck (actually all deer) sightings at an all time low. EHD is what everyone is saying. With deer numbers down we had a different strategy for getting meat this year. Take a buck and leave the does alive to get numbers up. First time I have every adopted this strategy.

Welcome back Kirk! That's a beauty right there - where did he come from? Are you going to take the antlers to the Deer classic this year?

Good luck in the program and with new computer Ruth. I teach a Pathophysiology and Pharmacology class in the RN to BSN program at SIUE. Going back to school, working, and hunting will make next fall a busy time for you.

That's nice to hear William. Here in IL the shooter would get a - "yea I can see how that would happen - here's your ticket - pay it within 30 days because the Governor is putting in a new pool."

Not sure about the chips, but WiFi and WLAN are different ways of saying that the computer can connect to the internet without a wire. Wireless connections are more convenient but can be problematic for online classes. Given 2014 technology I'd think any new computer would be good to go, but historically students have had to connect to the internet with a wire to participate in online classes that require uploading/downloading large files. What program are you in Ruth?

Ruth, as an educator I would advise you to wait until you know what school you will be attending then get some basic information from the School (not just the university). I have had many students show up with their new Mac's only to find out that the professors at our school only use a PC. Why? Because that is what the University provides and supports. When students experience PC issues I can help them but when they have a MAC I tell them to contact IT which takes a lot longer. In addition most schools will provide you with the computer requirements necessary to be successful in the program.