Well, I ain't gonna draw in Iowa this year, nor in Kansas. I know there are big Whitetails in Illinois, but I don't know what areas are the best and what the nonresident tag situation is.
I asked Barry Wensel about it and he said probably the best thing was to put a post here.
Any info, help, stories, or whatever would be appreciated.
Too Short (Paul Brunner)
Paul, PM me for info on the bowhunting only area I used to hunt in Illinois. I last hunted that area in 2001 when the deer tags were OTC, but I'm not up to speed on the current drawing/application process.
Some of the other UBI members here might be helpful here too.
Paul,What part of Kansas are you trying to draw.There were left over tags in the eastern half last year.
This is the last year for draw tags.Next year they will be over the counter.Pete Iacavazzi put in for a tag this year to hunt down here and they said he would draw a tag.Maybe we can help :)
Tracy
Illinois has no big deer.
Kansas is going over the counter next year??? I finally decided to join in on their preference point thing this year and now they took my money to buy a preference point that is worthless?
Sorry to get off topic, but that chafs my hide! :mad:
Paul,
I hunted Siloam Springs State Park near Quincy ILL a few years ago and saw more big deer in 1 week than I would usually see in 5 or 6 years combined at home. I did a check just now, and it seems they went to a draw system. Good for the deer, bad for us. If you ever decide to hunt Missouri or Kansas give me a shout. I have lease land in both, and with tags going OTC in Kansas it shouldn't be a problem getting one. Plus it's not often I get to hunt with someone shorter than me, except my kids.
Sorry to here that Whip,They also said they are doing away with landowner tags also.
Tracy
No big deer in Il.go to Iowa.LOL
Illinois has gone to a limited non-resident tag system where they go on sale and it's a first come-first serve buy. I believe they sell out within 24-48 hours, I'm not sure when that tag sale is.
try this link.
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/07/archeryincludes.htm
Hope this helps
Well, the Kansas game guys got me, too! I just put in for that twenty dollar preference point. Dang!
If anyone knows about that Illinois, first come, first served tag sale is, I would sure like to know. Do they sell tags by zones or areas? I'm only interested in bowhunting, of course.
Too Short
Pike county has been one of the hot regions and because of that most is leased up. You can buy a over the counter doe tag pretty cheap. Are you looking for a guided hunt and only large bucks?
you will be able to call June 1-30 at 12:01am cst
you can call 1-888-6permit or do it on line cost is $366.00 and the Quota of tags is 20,000 for non-res combination tags. Go to Illiniois DNR for more info and make sure if you call for the tags you use that redial because it might be awhile before you get throught. And if you do get the tags they are go for state wide. I have hunted in brown,washington,Pike,and adams county the all great!Good luck!!Hope I helped.
Too short - The tags are good statewide. When they go on sale they can be bought by phone, be patient as it can be hard to get through.
here it is straight from there site!
Lottery application period will be June 1 - June 30, 2007 - at 12:01 AM CST - hunters will be able to apply by phone at 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648) or online at the DNR Direct Online License Sales site.
The cost of a Non-Resident Archery Combination Deer permit (one either-sex/one antlerless) will be $366.00. The quota will be 20,000 for Non-Resident combination tags.
The cost of a Non-Resident Archery Antlerless Deer permit (available over the counter) will be $15.50 and there is no quota.
The price just keeps creeping up on these tags, we got to be close to or the highest price for a non resident!
Paul,
I know this thread is about IL, not KS, but my understanding is that going away from the pref. pts. and the lottery are "proposals" by a task force for the 2008 season and nothing has been adopted yet. You're still safer to get the pref. pt. now than wish you had it next year!
Joe
Deer hunting sure is getting complicated. Lotteries, preference points, 300 to 400 hundred dollar tags and geez, fully outfitted and guided hunts for whitetails in the farm fields of the midwest at prices one can hunt Alaska.
Paul, most all the relative small public ground in IL available for hunting receives a lot of pressure and you'll be competing more with other hunters than deer. However, there are some nice public places along the Illinois River that hold nice deer and get very little hunting pressure. If you can deal with bugs, itch weed, flooded ground, duck hunters, etc., and willing to work, that might be a good bet for you if you can get your hands on one of the coveted IL tags.
As for me? Screw it. I'll be going to the big woods of northern WI. Heck, if it was legal to do so I'd sell you my tag for $25. :)
I hunt at a club here in So. IL that has some big bucks. The owner has managed his herds well. While we were duck hunting with him this year, he was telling us of some 200"+ bucks he has. heck while we were shooting geese we had 9 bucks walk within 50yds of the goose pit. I know the bucks would have been wall hangers, they all had heavy mass, and at least 8pts. i know that one of the antlers bases was as big around as a coke can. Phil said that in 2 more years they would be ready to harvest. they were only 2.5 and 3 y/o bucks....if ya are interested shoot me a pm for his info. He not only does deer hunts, but also waterfowl too.
Paul, when and if you do come to Illinois... make sure to do it the week just prior to the first gun season, which begins Nov. 16th. The Does generally hit estrous around the 10-15th. Might even be a bit later in the southern half of the state.
Dennis... $15.50 for a doe tag ? Is that in addition to another tag or can I simply buy a single doe tag ? My family has relations all over Illinois and I have refused to pay their ransom to be able to hunt down there ever since they raised their rates for non-residents. Also, there were add on costs before...habitat stamp this, and archery fee that . Are they still there ?
ChuckC
Chuck,
You can buy the doe tags once you have a hunting lisence and habitat stamp. About $50.
Chuck C, you need an IL hunting license ($50-$60)and habitat stamp and you can buy all the doe tags you want. You don't need the high $$ buck tag.
Non resident tags $366.00 20,000 tags sold.
total $7,320,000.00 Whoa!!!!!
Hunting ain't cheap anymore! With all the hunters out there, if you want a QUALITY hunt, you mostly have to do private land.
I'm going to call in at midnight on the 1st of June (thanks for that info Adeeden) and with luck and plenty of coffee to stay awake, I'll get a tag.
The hard part is going to be finding a place to hunt. I'm not against paying a trespass fee, but I want to hunt undisturbed deer. Places with more hunters than deer ain't gonna cut it. If I want to outsmart a good buck, I need to have a situation where no one can blunder into my set up and screw it up after a lot of scouting and hard work.
Doc...what's the skinny on Missouri? I would assume that you have to be in the N.E. part of the state to get into the really big bucks. My son is stationed in St. Louis, so I can drive there, see him, and then go on to hunt someplace.
Anyone have any idea what landowners might charge for 8-10 days of hunting in a good area? Is Pike County the place for the biggest bucks? Any info would help and everything I learn STAYS WITH ME AS CONFIDENTIAL INFO.
Thanks for all the help so far, guys!
Too Short
Sent You an e-mail Paul
I'm not absolutely positive, but I believe the Illinois Non-resident archery tags (the 20,000) did not sell out last year.
Paul,
Look at the Shawnee National forest in the Southern part of the state, lots of undisturbed public land and plenty of deer. I've hunted the area between Anna, Il. and Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Oddan..
I don't think I got your email. My email addy is misseskudu@earthlink.net
No...I have NEVER missed a Kudu...that's a bald faced lie...maybe!
Too Short
Check your P.M. Paul and give me a call.
Try one more time, Dan!
Too Short
Sent again Paul
Dwarf,
This year Illinois has gone to a height requirement for Non-resident hunters. Kinda like the "big boy" rides at Disneyland. Since I know your true height...you may want to wear your boots when you apply for your tag...
Your Hero, Peter
That's a good one Pete! I could some guy at the Fish and Game with one of those L-shaped sticks used for height requirements at the amusements parks hitting Paul in the forehead because he comes up.......too short!
Pete...
Mr. Heroic, kick boxer, body builder, tuff guy dude... Don't forget the time I took you to the top of the mountain and you were sobbing trying to keep up with me! I can still do it at 64, so a little respect would be in order!
Do they really have a height requirement???? Come on, don't josh me, just tell me if they do or not! I still have my old roping boots with the three inch heels. Do you think that would work? I have my Resistol hat, too. That adds a lot of height!
Fear not, oh buffed, tough guy, for I am STILL your HERO!
Too F. Short and sexy!
I conceed my small amigo...Yes you are definitely still my hero. I was just up in the Flathead this past weekend with Brad and ken Wensel. As I drove by the old Brunner homestead my eyes filled with tears (it was either the memories or the smog from all the California SUV's ahead of me).
We miss ya here in Montana. I'm not certain the state of Illinois is quite ready for ya!
Stay Cool my lil' hobbit shaped comrade!
Adams Co., Brown Co. Pike Co.
What dates are ya lookin at ? might have sumpin fer ya ........... if Fayette county suits ya
St. Judes Auction has a nice looking Pike County hunt on the board. Lay down enough $$ and you could be in one of the premier whitetail counties in the US.
Burnsie
If you hunt Illinois you need to take a look in the Hunting Issues and Politics Forum. There is a bill in the senate right now that could really mess up your hunting there.
Paul anywhere north of the Missouri river gives you a chance for a big buck in Missouri. The world record non-typical is from St. Louis County. If you want to hunt Urban deer there are plenty in St. Louis county with some real wall hangers. Northern Missouri will be mostly private land, but there is some Conservation area's. Don't overlook hunting the Large Islands in the Mississipi just find out whether they are Illinois or Missouri Islands.
Semper Fi
I'm planning to hunt between November 1-10. Either all of those days, or at least some of them. I can't hunt any later than that, since I usually head to New Zealand around the 20th of November. I also like that pre-rut for rattling.
Still looking for some ideas. I don't mind paying to hunt...it seems that is the only way to get QUALITY hunting anymore.
Too Short
It won't be long before Pike Co looks like some of those NY trout streams on opening day. lol You'll need a pretty good inside tip to find ground that hasnt been disturbed. Still a great place to hunt though.
TFS
Sent you an email
The world is GROSSLY over populated! The human gene pool needs a good dose of chlorine!
I remember when the U.S. population hit 140,000,000. I remember my dad saying that was the beginning of the end. I also remember when I could hunt on any of my neighbors' ranches with just a phone call. Heck, some of them kept other hunters out when I wanted to hunt, although there weren't many other hunters. Now, everything in the valley where we ranched is leased up tight!
Every time I see some blond bimbo in the grocery store with four squalling brats hanging off her skirts, I just want to go over and slap some sense into her empty head!
An old cartoon character, Pogo, who was a 'Possum in the glades, said it well: "We have met the enemy and he is us!"
Bet someone will get ticked off over my sentiments!
Too Short and Too Tired of Being Overrun by Human Oxygen Theives!
And yet so few are willing to take the steps to personally rectify the over-population problem. ;)
Sounds like Illinois has their eye on income rather than creating a great hunting experience, or the State residents are resenting all the out-of-staters leasing up all their local hunting grounds, or both.
Hey, I had my Vasectomy right after my second kid was born. The Doc referred to me as "Super Man" to all my buddies who followed my example, but that is ANOTHER STORY!
I've gotten some great info so far, but am still looking for ideas.
Too Short
I bet it's a SHORT story!! LOL!!!
Seriously, check out the St. Jude's auction.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=106;t=000251
Sounds like a 100 acres all to yourself. May be a good deal for you if it's what you're looking for.
Glad Illinois is getting all the big buck press lately. Helps to keep are woods more quiet. I prefer the sound of sandhills and mallards to a freeway, strike that - TOLLWAY.
Back in the 60's in Sussex Co, NJ, I had a whole valley I could roam and hunt by myself. Never saw anyone during bow season or small game season, except Alex, the old Russian hermit who lived there. I'd share a cup of mud (coffee) with him, and he'd share the latest deer travel routes with me. Now it's a darn ski resort. I think that community had half a dozen business when I lived there. Now do a google search of the area and it looks like a NYC suburb.
Hope you find your little slice of wilderness.
Sounds like Illinois has their eye on income rather than creating a great hunting experience, or the State residents are resenting all the out-of-staters leasing up all their local hunting grounds, or both.
Talon, you are correct about the current admin in this state being more concerned about income and no reguard for the wildlife or quality of the hunting experience.
The residents are resentfull of the out of control leasing in our state and the irresponsible practices we see the local outfitters using, but we do not resent nonresidents. In fact, both state bowhunting organizations were opposed to raising the non res tag prices.
I would love to host Paul for a week of hunting. Unfortunatly, I no longer have access to enough huntable property to give him the quality of hunt I believe he is looking for.
Paul, your still welcome at my campfire for some lies and laughs if you end up in the Adams/ Pike County area.
Also, if you end up using an outfitter, I cannot recomend one over another, but there are some I would like to see you steer clear of. If you would like that info, let me know and I will e-mail my phone number.
Good Luck and welcome to Illinois.
Don't forget that if you are concerned with CWD that the north central part has a good dose of it.
WI has an abundance and the DNR KNOWS how it got there, but that would have to be another thread elsewhere.
Thanks for all the help, everyone! I got the name of an outfitter from Barry Wensel, the better looking twin, and decided to book with him, rather than trying to dope this out on my own the first year hunting there.
Too Short