Illinois/mo public land?

I have been to Illinois many time and hunted through an outfitter, I'm sick of paying out the butt to go up there and hunt. Anyone ever hunt any public land in southern Illinois or Missouri anywhere? Looking for a cheaper alternative. If so where?

Get you some buddies together and lease your own land. IL and MO public can be hard to hunt if you do not do your home work and most important scout. The economy has public land over run with hunters right now because most can't afford lease or outfitter.

PM to you North Bama

You interested in Pike Co, IL. I am getting a group of 4 together for a farm my buddy just bought. It want be cheap $3000 for all hunting season. We are only killing big mature deer and all the does you care to shoot. Shot me a PM if you want more info. Not trying to be rude, but if you aren't serious and can't afford price please do not waste my time.

We have leased some farms above Pittsfield Illinois before.
I'm only going to be able to Go and hunt up there maybe 2 times so I'm not looking to lease this year, next year I will be looking. I've heard Alot of Missouri public land is packed but I haven't heard of Illinois.

I can tell you most public land in IL is covered up. There are times when the land is less crowded, but durning the rut you are going to see a large number of out of state hunters. If you are looking at Shawnee NF in S. IL you will see plenty of people. There are areas of good hunting, but go do your home work now and before season. You can also check into the state parks that draw for Non-Residents. There are several to chose from and that's were I would start before planning to hunt unrestricted public land. Check into Sangchris Lake State Park. If you draw there I can point you in right direction. You will need a small boat for this land but it's worth the trouble. Also it's best if apply with a few buddies. If one draws the whole group will get a permit. Here are some link to park info and application. Check out the other two parks Jim Edgar Panther Creek and Siloam Springs also. I can't help on those because I know nothing about them.

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks/r4/sangch.htm#Hunting

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks/r4/SNL/nonresarcheryapp.pdf

Just go to a local bar and tell them your boat captains from Orange Beach, AL. You'll get all the invites you can handle and probably not have to buy a single drink. Thats what Fairwater and I did last season. Those are the nicest people in the world in that part of the country (Midwesterners on Yankees)