Ilbowman Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 So thursday opens up second firearms season and I am still seeking to fill the freezer!! I have been a little picky this season so that is my fault but most of the places I am hunting are trying to manage their bucks to only take 3 1/2 year olds or older, which is what I try to do every where I go anyways, but I dont know about the rest you guys here in Illinois but I cant even seem to get a doe to come into shooting range this season!! I usually try and fill my doe tag early in first season and hold out for a decent buck the rest of season, but at this point in the game even my wife is telling me if its brown its down( I think she wants me to so I can take her shopping!) I am a bowhunter first and foremost but gun season opens a chance to take some frustration out on a bad season and that is not even cooperating either!! oh well thats hunting. Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Good luck this weekend! It sounds like your season is going about like mine.Every time I went bowhunting this year it seems like the wind was blowing 20+mph and the deer just weren't moving.I did manage to get two big does first season.I'll be trying for my first muzzleloader buck this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilbowman Posted December 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 Good luck to you as well mudrunner! I feel your pain with the wind! I only had one day that I can think of that the wind did not blow atleast 15mph, and that day I seen 2 good bucks and my buddy Randy who was hunting about 300 yds from me killed a good 145 10 pt. So needless to say im hoping for a change in luck starting thursday! Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Good luck Il and mudrunner. All deer season long has been tough for me and everyone I have talked to. An outfitter I am friends with had 27 guys in camp for 1st season and only 4 took bucks. Very little shooting during first season anywhere. I think the crops had a lot to do with deer movement this year as I think they had cover for longer and used that cover to their advantage very well. Maybe this season with snow on the ground and cold temps will get the deer up on their feet and moving. I have had 2 does in range, missed both. One because i just blew the shot and another b/c i hit a tree. I shot a button buck during first season, but only saw 4 deer total, including him all weekend. Also, in the last 9 bowhunts I have only seen 1 deer on stand, 3 deer total. The other 2 I have busted out walking in. It's been a rough season for most of IL and like I said, IMO, the late harvest has a lot to do with it. Also, the funky weather we had in Sept may have affected movement as well. When it turned dang cold there in Sept for 1 weekend, then warmed up really until about 2 or 3 weeks ago. I wish I had the answers, but I'm hearing the same thing from all hunters in IL I have talked too.... REALLY SLOW all season long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ildrhntr Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Crops definately had something to do with it. You should have seen the deer I ran out of the standing corn while picking it. The wind also has been terrible this year. I did get a nice buck on a windy day but was a bit a luck I think. We didn't hear much shooting here either but I did fill my antlerless only tag and my buddy took a real good 8 point and a big doe. Good luck this weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 what was the Bow season kill & what was the first Shotgun season harvest? In 6 days of bowhuntign I saw one doe Thanks' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntermq32 Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 The numbers were down slightly in both gun and bow from last year if you belive dnr. I have been hunting one paticular buck all year seen him 3 times once close but I didn't feel good about the shots he gave me and I had to let him walk. This was with a bow. I did see a good amount of other deer and had shots at roughly 20% of them but once you see a 190incher not much will do but him.Whith the late harvests and the winds we had I can see anyone getting fustrated.I do have lots of good bucks on trail cams but mainly at night. With the crapy weather last year during all gun seasons I thought a lot of deer would have lived to make for a plentifull harvest this year.This weakend should be good I think.Lets post sightings every day during gun season that way we no whats going on and where. I am in north central IL. Good luck to all of you and have a safe hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 what was the Bow season kill & what was the first Shotgun season harvest? In 6 days of bowhuntign I saw one doe Thanks' I don't think that bow kills have been tallied yet, but I heard 1st season kill was at 72,000 which is down 13,000 from last year's 1st season total which was 85,000. That is according to DNR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Good luck to all in the IL second season. I'm going to try to fill my doe tag Saturday (that's the only day I have to hunt). I know from experience the number of deer I have seen this year has been lower than previous years. I only saw one deer during the first shotgun season. Lucky for me he was a shooter and I made the shot count. Remember it only takes a few seconds to change a terrible season into your best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 I don't think that bow kills have been tallied yet, but I heard 1st season kill was at 72,000 which is down 13,000 from last year's 1st season total which was 85,000. That is according to DNR. 72,000 surprises me. I was expecting much less. I think I heard 10 shots on opening morning of first season, and maybe 10 the rest of the weekend. In my county, you usually can't go anywhere without hearing a gun shot at all hours of the day. We are constantly #2 in the state for gun season...I'm thinking we're gonna be wayyy down there this year. Hunting was tough this year to say the least. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take clean shots at two does and a nice 130" deer. But of course, I duffed two of those shots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I had 1 opportunity at a button buck, thinking it was a doe, and made it count. I saw 1 deer per hunt on 4 hunts during 1st season. I cannot remember the last time I saw more than 1 deer on any hunt, bow or gun, this year. It was at least 1 month ago, if not longer. What I'm really looking forward to is ML season where I have an either-sex tag for a county where we have permission on some land where there are consistently 140-160" deer taken, and on occasion 180" deer seen and 1 that I know of taken. I am really pumped. This will be the first year I have hunted ML season. But hopefully 2nd season works out better. It's snowing here at school right now and back home. Hopefully this weather change gets the deer moving! Good luck to all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
00DodgeGuy Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 All I saw were bucks the first season...took a decent 136 3/8 10 point.....I still have my anterless tag to fill but won't be hunting until Friday and then if needed Saturday and Sunday. Hang in there...it will happen. Good Luck!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinois59 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Good luck to all in the IL second season. Remember it only takes a few seconds to change a terrible season into your best. Amen. That's why we hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach1 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 My brother has taken two mid to high 150 class bucks (1 bow, 1 gun) this year and my dad shot a mid-140s buck with his gun, so they're seasons have been good. I haven't seen a buck scoring more than 120 this season, so my season has been awful. Up until this past Saturday evening when I saw 11 does together, I'd only seen 3 deer since October. Hoping for that to change this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 My brother has taken two mid to high 150 class bucks (1 bow, 1 gun) this year and my dad shot a mid-140s buck with his gun, so they're seasons have been good. I haven't seen a buck scoring more than 120 this season, so my season has been awful. Up until this past Saturday evening when I saw 11 does together, I'd only seen 3 deer since October. Hoping for that to change this weekend. Man I have yet to see a buck that would score 100 while hunting this year!!:eek: That is no joke!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rut_N_Strut Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Well I got good and bad news.... i have to work the whole second season and my uncle called me this morning and said the MONSTER I have been watching walked 30 yards in front of my stand this morning...... Figures... I have hunted hard all year and he said it was about 30 yards.... bummer for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntermq32 Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 I saw 25 deer they were moving good this after noon. I let a nice buck walk, 10pt about 140inch. Probably going to regret it later but I was wacthing a 160 to 170 10pt with all kinds of stickers. He held up at about 250 yards and eventualy disapeerd into some thick stuff.I think he beded down in there.I hope he shows back up tomarow night a litte closer this time.Man what a rush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilbowman Posted December 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 I did see alot of deer just nothing close enough to shoot. The deer actually were right where I set up in the morning and when I didnt see anything. So I moved to strip of timber overlooking a clover and corn field and they walked right where I was in the morning:mad:. That has been par for the course for me this season. Oh well I have saturday morning and all day sunday to get it done! Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntermq32 Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 I saw 25 deer tonight 4 bucks rest does and fawns. I saw the same buck I passed up last night.I almost took a shot at him only becuase I was so cold and couln't wait to get down.I am going to move to a new location tomrrow night. I did see alot of loner fawns wich tells me moma is busy with dady so maybe he will brake loose to check some other does I have been seeing.It's starting to look like tag soup:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneshot Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Not a deer yet. In 8 years hunting this property I have always taken 2 or 3 deer each season. Saw coyote tracks yesterday and they were fresh. Then my partner later saw 2 yotes chasing 4 deer. Seems the yotes are chasing the deer out. When gun deer season is over those yotes will be sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOYTnMUZZYboy Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 I went out Thursday morning and saw 16 deer, went out Thrusday evening over a picked cornfield and didnt see a deer. Didn't get a chance to go out Friday due to remodeling my house, time got away from me and b4 I knew it, it was past time to be in the stand. I went out today and saw 2 nice shooters but they were just a touch to far away to make a perfect shot. Im gonna eat then head back out and hopefully close the deal on one of those bucks this afternoon. Its snowing, and blowing like crazy here. Time to get in where its thick and nasty to harvest another illinois bruiser! Good luck to all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Readin this thread makes me regret not hunting 2nd season. Good luck to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilbowman Posted December 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Well the news has not changed for me yet. I could only hunt a couple hours this morning and on my way out of the field I got to my car and here comes a decent 8pt crossing the picked corn field and he walked probably only 50 yds from where I was set up!! go figure!!! I have all day tomorrow to close the deal on gun season and if I cant fill a tag I will be out bow hunting again wed and thursday afternoon you can count on that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazylegz70 Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Good luck tomorrow Illinois guys I know its down to the wire...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I saw 1 yesterday morning, 5 tonight. All does. I missed a doe at about 125-150 yds with my muzzleloader. I think I just rushed my shot. My dad took a doe fawn tonight and there is close to a 200" deer running around one of the places I hunt. Hopefully I get a crack at him tomorrow. I'll be out there after him. Good luck to everyone tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.