1st trip to illinois, what should i expect


rance56

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this year will be my first trip to the midwest, going to be hunting the rushville area of schulyer county. ill be hunting the first shotgun/muzzleloader season. its on a 210 acre farm with mixture of timber and agriculture.

just wondering waht to expect in terms of the amount of deer seen, realistic expectations on the size of bucks ill get an opportunity at, weather, and the best methods and areas to hunt.

thanks

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Welcome to the forums Rance! If your going to be hunting the first shotgun season, its one of the best times to tag a nice buck here in IL. Without not knowing the ground you will be hunting or studying an ariel it is a bit hard to help you out. Is this ground mainly rolling timber? Any thick areas or places where deer will likely be bedded?

In the past few years IL gun season has been hitting the rut right around or after primetime. Our first few weeks in November have been warm and usually get a front to move in by middle to end of November which sparks the activity. Your best bet is to setup on a travel corridor between doe bedding areas and a food source such as corn or beans. Also watch the wind and be prepared to sit all day. Two of my bigger bucks have come when I least expected them. Good luck!

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I bow hunt on a similar set up. Generally the rut kicks in (in IL.) the first 2 weeks of Nov. The first shotgun season is really good, the second not so good. Concentrate on that first season (hunt hard the first couple days).

If the farm sees a lot of bow hunters in October/November the shotgun season will not be as good. The quality of the deer all depends on how others hunt the area and how neighbors hunt surrounding areas.

If you don't know the answers to these questions or if the pressure is heavy and there is no quality deer management being done I'd be shooting the first 130 incher that stepped in my sights.

Be mobile and don't hunt the same stand twice. Also if there is pressure be assured the big bucks (if there are any) know where the typical hunters go and avoid those areas. Find the thickest place (possibly without trees, because most bowhunters go to the trees) and set up shop.

There are not many places in IL. that do not receive at least a little hunting pressure in October/early November.

Good luck!

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there will be 1 bowhunter on the place, he will be up there until he kills his deer. other than that,no one else. if i posted an ariel of the place, would folks be able to tell the exact spot im hunting on? i dont mind, just dont know if the person who has the land wants it posted on here.

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