So what’s it like in Illinois?

**Hanr3** · 04-19-2013, 10:44 PM

To put things in perspective. Chi-Town has both hunters and fisherman and lots of them. The problem is there are lots of them in a relatively close area. The further you get from the big cities the better the hunting and fishing. Deer hunting in Illinois is tough the closer you get to Chicago. If you don't own land to hunt on, you will have to rent/lease it, like 1200-1500 for the season. Shotgun season is two weekends, first weekend is 3 days (Fri-Sun), second weekend is 4 days (Thurs-Sun). Always falls on the weekends before and after Thanksgiving, not the weekend right after Thanksgiving, but the weekend after that. You can hunt some public lands, however get in line. Literally, the day of the hunt you need a permit, and you wait for a drawing.

Archery season is a better option Starts Oct 1st and ends mid January, only closed during Gun seasons for deer.

Used to be a Muzzle-Loader only season, and a pistol only season for deer as well. Plus youth hunts.

Now if your talking bird hunting, that can be great.

If you want to fish during hunting seasons, check with your fishing location. Each is different, some are closed during water fowl season, and deer season, some are open half days, some are open to bank fishing only.

As for the deer, hard to beat corn feed dear. They get big, and taste great. Not like those skinny little runts you got down south.

Fish size depends on where you go. Generally the warmer the weather through out the year the bigger the fish. Generally the less populated areas have less fishing pressure and also have big fish. Farm ponds or old strip mines are the best.

There are plenty of Sportsmen Clubs in the state. Once you figure out where your going, search for the local clubs and see what they offer. Some aren't cheap.

That ought to get you started.

**Speckanator** · 04-20-2013, 08:56 AM

Good morning Illinois......it was 92 here yesterday.....come on down!!

**PIGINTHEPIGPEN** · 04-20-2013, 09:01 AM

Morning...That is little To Hot for me.

**crappie&shrooms** · 04-20-2013, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Speckanator

Good morning Illinois......it was 92 here yesterday.....come on down!!

Just rub it in Spec. I just looked out the window and it's 39* and a snow shower blowing thru. See what your missing.

**Hanr3** · 04-20-2013, 08:04 PM

I like winter, it keeps the part timers inside.

**slimecoat** · 04-22-2013, 08:21 AM

Heath 88, nice fish that makes me feel better.

Originally Posted by Hanr3

You can hunt some public lands, however get in line. Literally, the day of the hunt you need a permit, and you wait for a drawing.

Thanks for the information; I have all the hunting seasons marked on next year’s calendar already. I plan on hunting public land maybe Big Bend, looks good fram satellite.
Moving north is looking better except for the no concealed weapons and having to take the tint off the truck windows!!

**riverrat47** · 04-23-2013, 08:56 PM

Illinois, financially, is in a BIG hurt. School districts are feeling that hurt, with delayed funding and cuts from the state. Iowa's governor, on the other hand, is really pushing elementary and secondary education. Other pluses...Iowa isn't financially broken, like Illinois....Iowa has concealed carry....No FOID card....Iowa isn't totally dominated by the most corrupt city and county in the US-Chicago & Cook county. You could live on the west bank of the Mississippi and not have to deal with the insanity of Illinois politics...like 3 of our last 5 governors going to jail.

**hnd** · 04-23-2013, 09:32 PM

plenty of good fishing in moline area. lots of public spots that hold nice gills and crappie and many farm ponds (a staple here) can also be loaded with georgia strain hybrid gills into the 10"+ area and 15+ crappies. you can find these fish on the rock and mississippi but its a learning curve with the rise and fall of the river. we really only get 2 month of ice fishing so you've got 10 months of open water and ice fishing really is a blast. heath and i can get you going if you do choose the west part of the state.

**Denny** · 04-23-2013, 09:48 PM

You can have tinted windows now.

**timd3200** · 04-24-2013, 08:52 AM

Deer season like stated is weekend before thanksgiving. Also the first weekend in dec. Then there is Muzzle loader only season the second weekend of Dec. The the late season Doe only the last weekend of Dec. The there is a week long Doe only the second week of Jan.

Thread: So what’s it like in Illinois?

Thread Tools

Display

Posting Permissions