Rugermk2

I never thought about using my cam, thats a pretty good idea. I have one good digital, so ill set it out and see what turns up. I'm goin out tomorrow, so hopefully I can make something happen!!!!! Thanks guys for the posts.

Hi everyone, Its The 15th of December in central IL, and I still don't have a buck on the ground. I seen a couple of really nice bucks around Nov 6 of course when the rut was really in full swing, and I shot underneath a Giant by about 4 inches!!!! This is my first year bow hunting, and I put the 30 yard pin on a 40 yard deer!!!!! Plus the shaking didn't help I'm sure!!!! Anyways I haven't been out that much since then, but I haven't seen anything that big. I need some help, does anyone have any ideas? I have about 6 cut cornfields, and each one of them has a fair amount of corn left from harvest on the ground. The bad thing is they all have deer sign, and I can't pin point which one to hunt. My stand I shot out of during the rut is in the timber. What would You guys do?

I took a look at your post and a few of those are some REALLY nice sheds!!!! Congrats on the find so far. I wanted to go out today, but the girlfriend wants me to stay home a "relax" lol. I think i have her talked into goin wednesday though. I CANT WAIT!!!!!!! I havent been out so far this year to look, I seen a nice ten last night in the field behind my house with both sides still on. It might still be a little early.

Hey all, Im from central IL and was wondering if anyone has been finding any sheds yet this year. Thanks

Im about 80 miles west of peoria. I'm going to try my blind tomorrow, i plan on sitting in it all day. Hopefully something nice will come by. If that doesn't work, Ill probably spend sunday afternoon checking out the really thick spots on my property that I haven't explored yet this year.

Hi everyone, two days left of gun season, and I still haven't taken a shot. The first season I passed on a small six, and a decent eight. I also passed on three does and a fawn of course. I was within 10-20 yards of all of them at one time or another, and they never knew i was there. I know my scent is covered, but why am I not seeing any big deer? I had 10-12 really nice bucks on my property before 1st season, and I have yet to see one of them. I set up a ground blind yesterday, because I haven't had anything worth shooting come by my stand. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

Am I doing something wrong??? Hey everyone, I've been hunting for about 5 years now, and every year I have tagged out the opening day of 1st gun season. I don't shoot little bucks, and this year I only saw 2 bucks on my property, a tiny six, and a small eight. I also saw 3 does and a fawn first season but no big bucks. I put out my trail camera in july, and since then I caught 10-12 really nice bucks on my place. I took the camera down about 2 weeks before our 1st gun season, and I haven't seen one big buck since. Nothing around my stand where they had been, and pretty much nothing on the property that I have seen or know of. Could anyone give me advice on what to do, or what I am doing wrong? I'm always in my stand at least a half hour before sunrise, and haven't bumped any deer on my way in that I know of. I have a ladder stand (2 months), and i just put out a pop up ground blind today. Please help!!! only 3 days left of gun season and I need to tag a Buck!!!!!!

I bought a Golden Eagle 3D Pro Formula. My GFs dad has the same bow but left handed. I can't wait to get it!!!! It should be on my doorstep in a couple of days!!!!! Now i just have to get the whole shooting consistently down !!

Hey folks, Thanks for all the advice and opinions. I finally broke down and bought a used bow today, I should have it within the next couple weeks. I'm extremely excited about it, and can't wait to start practicing!!!! Thanks again for all of your help.

Hey everyone, I would like to start shooting a bow, but never owned one in my life!!!! I shot one a few years ago, and have wanted one ever since. What kind do you all recommend? I can pull 60-75 lbs pretty easy, and my draw length is pretty close to 30 inches. I talked to my friends dad, and he said to buy a used one first, because I would probably want to change things on it and so forth. If I get one, it would be primarily used for whitetail hunting. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

Anyone ever tried just sitting next to a tree? Unfortunatly i didnt have any luck from my stand today, and sitting in it from 3 30 am till 3 30 pm was the most painful and wasted time of my life lol!!!! I seen a doe, her fawn, and a huge bodied 6 point all within 20 yards. The fawn would not leave from underneath my stand so I finally just took one for the team and climbed down anyway. I passed on them all because I'm looking for a giant. Anyways back to hunting from the ground. I don't want to sit on anything because I would like to be able to kick back and relax against a nice big backstop. If anyone has any tips I would really appreciate it. Goin back in to try it in the morning. Thanks for you interest

Hey all, IL shotgun season starts tomorrow, I want to wish You all Good Luck, and happy hunting throughout the weekend.

Hey, Just wanted to wish all You IL women Good luck tomorrow and throughout the weekend!!!!!

Hey, I did a little messin around with the photo, and it looks to me like there is a hit about 3 maybe 4 inches in front of, and about an inch above the top of his left leg. Looks like the entrance of a bullet wound to me. Maybe a tine wound in a fight, but I seriously doubt that. I'm quite suprised he didn't go down, or you haven't found him by now.

Hey all, I know there's a few guys, and maybe girls from IL on here. I was wondering what time You all have seen the most deer movement during the day? Thanks for any help

Thanks to you guys who gave me some advice. I really appreciate it. I'll let you all know how things turn out friday night if I get a chance to get back on. I'm going to hold off until I see something Big this year, I know they are around I just need patience!!!! Thanks again

I haven't cleaned my shotgun barrel since I got it. It usually stays pretty clean though because I use it quite a bit. I did however take it completely apart except for the trigger assembly, and cleaned everything. Then went over everything with a light coat of Break Free CLP. I'm sold on that stuff, and it works wonders smoothing up action slide, and pump.

Congrats to you all, on hard work, scouting, and making it happen. I'm sure it took lots of patience to hold out for him, but in the end it sure looks like it was worth it. And the long story was worth it too!!! Congrats again, and hopefully you will all catch another giant buck like that again.

Hey everyone, I was wondering if I could get some advice on using calls or not. Upcoming shotgun season is only 3 days long, and the next is in december and it to is only 3 days long. November is probably the best time to see bucks cruising, and I was wondering if you think its worth maybe calling a little? If nothing comes by my stand could it hurt to try a few grunts or bleats? Also, what are your thoughts on trying to rattle something in? I put together some nice sheds I found to make a set of rattling antlers. Any tips or information that might help me in the field? Thanks

Here's a picture of my old buddies bow kill this year, thought You all might like it. Killed it south of where I used to work about 1/2 a mile. There has to be more of these monsters lurking somewhere in the state.

Hey all, I cropped the photo, and zoomed in a little. Hopefully this will help. Quality is still crappy though.

Well whatever it is, it's extremely smart, because I have only got 1 picture of it. I've set out my camera at least 100 times since, and haven't ever caught it again. I've never seen it in person either, and I do alot of coyote calling. I wish I could get more pictures of it, or at least see it. I set out old deer meat before, 4 blocks, and something took it without ever setting off my camera!!!! Makes you wonder what kind of creepy things are running around out there.

Hey all, I posted this in predator forum too, but wanted people viewing this to see as well. I pulled this from my 35mm game camera (the sucker moved at least 25-30 ft before it tripped the cam). It looks like a coyote, but has weird characteristics. Very narrow hind in, huge shoulder/frontal mass, long neck, and completely bald from mid section back. Could it be a cross of some sort? Any ideas?

Hey all, I pulled this from my game camera, and was wondering what it is? At first I thought it was just a coyote, but it looks awfully weird, like maybe it is crossed with something else. What do you all think? Very narrow hind in, but huge front shoulder mass and long neck. Its also completely bald from mid section back. Thanks for looking

Hi, I would recommend cutting some trees here and there as well. Don't cut good trees like oaks, hickorys or any good seed tree. Maples and locust is a good place to start, also if you have hedge I would cut it as well. I don't recommend adding honeysuckle, as it will spread really fast and become more of a problem than a fixer. And I don't imagine neighboring property owners would like you too much if You added it either.!!!! Once you open up the canopy, more seedlings (trees) can grow without having to plant. Good luck!!!