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So say a farm was 200 acres. 150 of the acres were crop fields and 50 wooded. Would the cost of the lease be for the entire 200 acres or just the 50 (huntable) acres?

Just wondering if anyone knows what land is going for in central/western IL.? I may have an opportunity, but I don't really know if I want to go down the leasing road or not.

I'll stop on January 17th when the season ends! I can never get enough deer hunting! Going tomorrow morning.

Nice looking deer ya got there. Congratulations!

Love seeing kids being introduced to the outdoors. Congrats to Gus!

Now you're talking. This is exactly what I do. From my many years of using many types of attractant scents I have found them to make a difference in about 1 out of 15 hunts. A grunt call 1 out of 10 hunts and I've only had luck rattling one time that I can remember. On October 12th 06 I had a HS scent waffer hung 25 yards from my stand. The wind was blowing into the field. Several does walked by and did not pay attention. Then a 160 inch buck walked around the other side of the field just out of bow range (50-60 yards). The buck was past me and headed out to the field with the does. At 50-60 yards into the field his head went up and he turned. He walked directly towards the scent waffer and stopped at 25 yards to smell it. His mount looks great on my wall.

Congratulations Kirk! Good luck connecting with a big one today.

What can I say... I love the smokepole and will be using it from now on instead of my shotgun. One shot at 60 yards and the heart was split into 3 pieces. The doe ran about 40 yards from the shot spot. Pleanty of venison for my family this year! Saw a big buck just before shooting her, but he caught my wind (I think) and bolted just before I could get the shot off. Would have been a 100 yard shot in failing light. Oh well, I'm happy to fill my ML tag with this big doe.

Well here's the story. Right at dark (around 5pm) I spot a deer walking into a cut corn field angling away from me. It was in a low spot and although the deer looked big I saw no antlers. I kept looking and as it walked I decided to check it with binoculars. (Horns! and big horns). I shouldered the smokepole and as I aquired the deer in the crosshairs the wind started howling. My tree was shaking keeping me from a steady shot. As I waited for the wind to ease the buck kept walking. Now he was 100 yards away and about out of range. Then just before taking a shot the buck bolted! Only thing I can figure is that the strong winds blew my scent to him. After that I was about ready to get down when I spotted another deer walking into the field. Then another and another. At least 6 or 7 were filtering into the field. One was walking in my direction. I looked over all of them and after identifying them all as does decided to take one and fill my ML tag. I'm sold on ML'ers! The shot was perfect at 60 yards and the doe ran only 40 yards from the shot spot. Now if I'm to get horns this year it'll have to be with the bow.

Took my first doe of the season during the second firearm season last weekend. Went out with the ML last night and passed on 2 does. Will be going out tonight for my last chance to harvest an antlered deer with a gun. Then I have until mid-Jan to get one with my bow.

Things not related to hunting would include... Like: 1. fly fishing 2. riding wooden roller coasters with my kids at Six Flags 3. electric train sets 4. playing the bag pipes 5. country and Christmas music Dislike: 1. reading for enjoyment (I do like reading to learn) 2. any ride at Six Flags that spins (yes even the tea cups) 3. stopping for a slow moving train 4. red beats 5. the music my wife listens to (Indigo girls and such)

I was in that boat years ago. Struggled with the 100 dollar grinders for a couple years. If you only do one deer a year then I guess a cheap one is ok, but since we go through 5+ deer a year now those cheap ones had to go. I bought a 1hp Cabela's grinder 3 years ago and it makes grinding fun! They go for about 400.00 but worth it. I can process three deer at a time and never have to stop to clean the blade or plates. I think it takes me longer to clean it after we are done than it does to grind the meat. In October I harvested a button buck and had it hung, skinned, de-boned, ground into burger, packaged in freezer paper, and in the freezer in about 2 hours time by my self.

I'm not big fan of our government here in IL, and the DNR has some issues for sure. I'm against increasing fees next year and other things they do as well. However, most of the guys commenting on that site are too extreme and often nasty for me. It's like that all the time so I stopped reading their comments some months ago.

My kids getting kidnapped is my biggest.

Never been duck hunting. Lot of people around here get into it. I'd say I hunt alone 90% of the time and with my family / friends 10%. I love deer hunting alone, but see duck hunting as a thing to do with your buddies. Since no one I know duck hunts I've never got into it. In addition it costs a lot to do it right and I'd rather concentrate my efforts and funds on harvesting deer. I have hunted phesants and quail with hunting buddies and had a lot of fun, but in S. IL one has to go to stocked areas which costs a lot which takes some of the fun out of it.

I know about this all too well. Many a deer have been down but not out - requiring a knife to finish the hunt. I used to cut the windpipe in the neck in half (takes only a few seconds to do and the deer dies in less than a minute). This doesn't make for a pretty picture and not a good idea if you plan to mount it. This year I decided to stab the deer behind the shoulder blade and between the ribs. I hit the lungs and it was dead in about 30 seconds. If your knife is short or the deer is large you might need to stab both sides and get both lungs and finish the job quickly.

Oh yea, a lot of things are on the table for price increases. Next year IL residents can expect to pay double (100% increase) for deer tags and hunting license. There is talk about increasing duck stamp fees, charging boat ramp fees, state managed park parking fees, and other ways the state can stick it to the sportsman and then spend it on things in no way related to natural resources (which they have a history of doing). I've been thinking about buying a lifetime license before the increase but I'm still thinking I still might get my chance to move out west some day.

Sorry to hear about the bad luck Tim. Way to hang in there and give it your all. Chin up bud, that's hunting and we all still love ya.

Quick work! Thanks jcwa!

ankkaegrae is posting perverted pics in the womens room and target/archery rooms maybe others.

Hey dawg, just another thought to throw in the mix for ya... Consider a couple box blinds and only place tree stands in trees that climbers can not be placed in. I have several areas that I get ready by clearing shooting lanes, putting a couple tree steps at the level I hunt at to hang my gear from, and then take my climber home. If you only have 90 acres walking in with a stand will not be an issue. You could potentially get 5 or more areas ready and use one climber to hunt them all!

I looked up Indian reservations of the US and Michigan and the island in question was not listed.

Here in IL the DNR states there are no bears or mountain lions. However, every year a few are photographed. I asked a DNR officer what would happen if I shot one? The answer was: nothing. They are not protected, there are no laws to enforce so basically you can't poach a bear or mountain lion in IL. I imagine it is the same in WI regrading elk. Talk about getting a trophy elk and not flipping a bill for it!

Nope, but you can use it for the late season in January. Only antlerless deer can be harvested regardless of the type of tag.

This big girl was running with 2 other does and a 4-pointer. Caught them on their way out of the Shawnee forest just before crossing over to private land to feed in a field for the evening. After I hit her the first time she kept running, I shot again as she was leaving and hit her in the back leg which stunk because I ruined several great roasts. Took my buddy for his first time ever hunting or experiencing deer camp (he was on the next hill over) and he got a shot at a big trophy buck, but missed. He said he had "buck fever". Had a fun and exciting deer camp this year!