Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer Bow Talk 1st illinois bow hunt

going to illinois for 5 day hunt first week in november...never hunted there before...any advice welcome

Don't shoot anything thats the size we have here.I've been twice and held out both times for a shot at a big one.Get ready those 300lb bucks are going to dazzle you !Sit all day,dress warm.

Go through the trouble of taking a decoy. If you see a giant out of range and call to him, your chances of getting him to walk in where you can actually kill him will go up exponentially.

Jug,last time I went I tickled some antlers at a big boy. He acted like he had been hit in the butt by a rocket.It has been said thet Illi deer are the most hunted.they've heard it all.

Be proficient at calling deer. Use a buck decoy and face the buck toward you. Crash antlers together at daylight and watch out. During the rut, sit all day if possible. I shot a buck at noon during the rut. I like the fields in the evenings and woods, funnels etc... for the morning and midday hunts.

Be careful not to get overly excited or set your expectations too high. It's still hunting. IL is an awesome place to bow hunt the rut however, there are several outfitters/land that is over-hunted and and too many 2.5 yr old bucks are killed. If you're hunting with a guide/outfitter, I hope you checked the outfitter out as there are many up there that run way too many hunters through their property and you're just a piece of meat with a dollar sign attached to you!

Good luck. Do try to hunt all day.