fly

The more acres the cheaper the cost: Avg hunting ground (field/wooded mix) about 6,000.00 per acre. As one gets closer to St. Louis MO it goes up. 200 acres an hour from St. Louis might go for 5,000.00 acre - 30 acres the same distance 8,000.00 an acre. Totally nuts in my opinion.

Been there several times through the years. Can't afford to lease or buy and nearly all public land is draw only around me so I rely on the generosity of landowners. Always looking for a new place since I never know how long a place will hold out.

Wish me luck Glad you got to keep the gator - that would never happen here in IL regardless of the reason. Go in the DNR office and the walls are covered with deer mounts - with inscriptions of how they were confiscated. Congrats on the gator!

2013-2014 RT Forum Deer Contest Sign-Up fly 42 October 1 - January 19 Illinois

How to age deer? I've heard the Hanson buck (world record typical) was aged at only 3.5 years old. Antlers can be deceiving but I'd say 4.5 year old - best guess - and in the 140's. nice looking deer. When you get a big one Trevor ask the taxidermist to save the lower jaw bone for you. There are easy techniques for examining teeth to age a deer.

This deer fooled me too Trever. I was thinking 3.5 or 4.5 years. The deers jaw bone revealed that he was a 5.5 year old. His weight was 205lbs field dressed and his antlers scored about 115 inches (120 if you added the inches to make up for the broken G-2).

I think applying these tips to trail cam pics and following a young deer each year is the only way to know for certain (at least until you recover the jaw bone). Use the comments made in this thread and take a guess at the age of this deer Trevor. Public ground deer from IL.

Has happened to me before: here is what the causes were: 1. Sighted in on a nice day - 70's. A week later it was in the 90's and I was sweating so bad my glasses would at times slip down on my nose changing the way I looked through my peep. Took me a while to figure that one out. 2. My sights were not tight and were moving ever so slightly after each round. 3. Shooting after my limit. My best shots are the first 25. After that a little fatigue starts to set in and my consistency slows. If I take a 15 minute break I'm back on target.

I hunt public land at times and am always afraid some crack head will think my white vanes are a whitetails tail and shoot me. I use 2 solid yellow and one white with black stripes.

I've always wanted to see a clip at the end that showed the official scoring of the antlers with the final score sheet. That way the viewer gets a good look at the antlers. Sort of a bonus material section because some people could care less. To date I've never seen that on a video. Good Luck!

I shot a nice buck one year and didn't find him till day 4! Hated not getting the meat, but was so happy to get the cape and antlers and knowing what happened. Mine was over a 1/2 mile from last blood. I got lost and just happened to stumble upon him. My arrow was still in his side. I had a buddy that looked for 2 days and never found his deer. Two months later when the leaves were gone he found it about 10 yards from where he had been looking (super thick) - only 100 yards from the shot. It can be tough to find them in the early season. Glad you'll get the cape and antlers - nice buck

My advise is to not buy a new bow for 300.00. If 300.00 is the top dollar I'd check pawn shops and stick with higher end bows made from reputable companies like: Matthews, Hoyt, and PSE. If you want a Bear - perhaps the Truth 2 model or an the Anarchy. Make sure you get measured accurately! A bow with a draw length longer than you need will result in arm slap.

TenPoint Stealth XLT for me. I added a string dampening system and steddyeddy this year. Also going to the carbon arrows instead of Alum. Sticking with the Steelforce Phat Heads as my favorite broadhead for my Matthews Z7 Mag and crossbow. Smoked a 135 inch 10 pointer at 30 yards this past January.

Hey mud, I'm in the same boat. My daughter isn't for gun hunting but loves shooting the crossbow. I researched them heavily last year and ended up selecting a crossbow that both of us can use. Every 2-3 years the companies move to a new model and the old models go on sale. Great deals on Craigslist, and pawn shops. You'll pay too much on AT classifieds and online stores. The Horton you speak of is reviewed on AT. Looks like a 30 yard and in crossbow. TenPoint is the best in the business (my opinion of course). I went with the Stealth XLT - normally about 1200.00 with all the extras - on Craigslist I got it new in the box for 800.00. My daughter hits a tennis ball every time out to 50 yards with a tripod rest. If 150.00 was all I had I'd be calling pawn shops and I'd try to find a 4-5 year old TenPoint, Barnett, or Parker.

Nice- that last one almost looks staged!... almost.

Congratulations! Wish you many happy years with your lady.

Thanks everyone

Mine hit 100,000 and rolled over. :yes:

Awesome!

Update: Earlier this week IL became the last state to pass a CC law. The governor Pat Quinn Super Jack Wagon vetoed the bill, but the general assembly had enough votes and bypassed his veto. Looks like it will cost 150 for a 5 year permit. 16 hours of training unless you have prior service - then 8 hours. IL state police have to approve the training programs, and may take up to 180 days to do so. Once I get registered I'll make good on this right. I don't know what handgun to purchase for CC. My 357 mag with a 6 inch barrel is WAY too big. What do you all recommend? I was thinking 9mm, or maybe a 38 with a 4 inch barrel. I've heard that auto guns jam a lot - unless it's a glock. Interested to hear what you all have to say on this and what you use.

Prayers for Steve. bummer

Good to see you around the forums again. You're a Bears fan now- right? LOL

I'm right handed, but legally blind in my right eye so I shoot everything left handed. I taught my kids to shoot according to their dominant eye. If anyone needs a simple test for kids to determine eye dominance... Arrows, youth longbows and kids archery accessories

Yea, at short range the shotgun is as effective as anything. Next time I go I'm leaving the firearms at home though. Ive got 3 with the rifle (300 ultra mag) and want to take one with my compound or crossbow.

does this hat make my gun look small?