Southern Illinois Hunting

Never been myself but it looks like due to several reasons we wont be applying in South Dakota. I got a buddy who has hunted the Crab Orchard area a couple times with kinda low success. Any insights about hunting would be appreciated. With the shorter distance I could make a couple trips if needed. Whats the best time season opener or Thanksgiving after the gun hunt? Is is a thanksgiving rut like everywhere else Ive hunted out of state. Would taking a boat and using the lake up our odds? Just any general info is appreciated. Nothing else to talk about this time of year.

November 5 through first gun season

Nov. 1, through first shotgun season in my experience also...after that, the deer where we hunt seem to go underground...

My buddy and I had several leases in Richland County for a number of years. Our experience was same as the other guys, get there on Nov. 1st and leave on the day shotgun season opened.

If I were going to hunt around Crab Orchard or Rend Lakes I would definitely take a boat. Those spots typically get a lot of pressure from the out of state guys so a boat should help get to some isolated spots.

We found a good processor in Louisville. Made it a lot easier on us when we were staying 9-10 days.

Basecamp has a few leases left that look decent and are fairly cheap. That might be an option to avoid the pressure as well.

My grandfather lives in Jackson County and they kill some damn good deer on their leases. I want to try to get up there this year to hunt with them.

I know a dude who shot a booner with his bow down there.

I gun hunted in the Swanee National Forest and I have'nt see that much orange since I went to a Tn. football game. Bow hunting in the Union Co refuge is a lot better. I didn't kill it but I put my hands on a dead 200" deer a friend killed. Lots of agriculture in this area and the deer are a fat and healthy as hoggs.

These are not the deer you are looking for...

I have friends who lease several Ill farms west of Peducah. They routinely harvest quality deer. Lots of agriculture and open farmland, which can make hunting challenging. Last I knew, archery license was over the counter. Gun and muzzleloader tags via lottery. Gun/ML seasons tend to overlap and actually shared a weekend last I hunted in Ill. The fact gun season and ML shared a weekend, yet are separate tags was a rip off. All three are separate fees. You'll be close to $1000 for all three and either sex for 3 deer total unless you can get a bonus antlerless tag.

Another acquaintance hunts the WMAs in that area and said they don't get much pressure during archery, but the towns turn orange for gun season.

I have spent some time in Southern Illinois and it is truly the land of giants! The miles and miles of corn and beans are only broken by creeks and waterways. The widest spot of hardwoods I was in was less than 100 yards wide and the corn field to reach the creek was a mile long. I don't know how they hide out like they do, but they can hide from you. First doe I ever laid eyes on in IL seemed as big as a yearling calf! She was larger than any buck (body size) than any buck I ever saw in AL.

Hunt private and it is expensive. Land prices here cant hold a candle to lease prices in IL!

I’ve passed through Paducah/Metropolis area during the season and the number of out of state license plates is insane. Most of them from the Southeast. Makes you wonder how there’s enough room for everyone in the woods. When I was a kid, I went deer hunting with my uncle on public land. The number of people in the woods and shots ringing out everywhere was pretty unnerving.

I killed a nice buck in the National Forrest. It can be done. Scouting is the key. I basically had one pushed to me from another hunter. It was a thing of beauty the way it worked out.

I may try to go hunt on my grandfather and uncles land for deer this year. How much is the total cost to deer hunt in Illinois as a NR. Looks to be about $500, but I might be missing something.

I bow hunted on a private farm about 8 yrs ago and its exactly how you explain it, it was really challenging because of the large agriculture fields, we saw lots of deer and some good bucks but never could close the deal, once they get in those fields its tough, I saw a stud my first morning on stand in a hardwood strip, only problem is he was chasing a doe and he never got into now range, he stayed about 100yds out and when she decided to leave that was it......still was a lot of fun though.

When we hunted KS last year my partner said it reminded him a lot of Crab Orchard. Basically what yall are saying about the ag fields. Seeing deer wasn't an issue but getting in on a good buck was another story. Im looking at the areas near the lake that look like big woods with poor access except by water. I know it will take some scouting. I feel like going in by water and focusing on wooded areas away from the ag crops in Nov might pay off. But boats can bring in new challenges as well. I just enjoy hunting new places and the challenge of looking at maps before I have ever set foot in a spot. If you harvest it makes it very rewarding. He knows some guys that actually had success after the gun hunt which is opposite of everything I heard. I will be off work the whole week of the season opener so that's exciting. I could also likely take off a few days and get in a 6 day hunt from Nov 6-11th. 2 trips should greatly increase my odds of arrowing a good buck. Anyways I love an adventure and once you hunt out of state you realize our hunting in Alabama cant compare. At least not 99% of the time.

That $500 should cover your non-resident hunting license for the year ($57.75) along with non-resident Deer Combo Archery permit and tags($411.00)....Add an additional ($300.50) for non resident deer firearm OTC county permit, ... and another ($300.50) for non-resident deer muzzleloader OTC county permit... You got to PAY to play in the land of Giants.... Regardless of the price, if you have access to hunt private land in Illinois you really should try to take advantage of it, IMO....no matter the price of tags....02....Heck, You never know, all your dreams of shooting a monster buck could very well come true.....

Check out Little Grassy Lake campground. It's just south of Crab Orchard. There's a group of guys from Tallahassee, Florida that kill some 150's every year archery hunting. They have a large trailer they pull with gear that has "The gut bucket" painted on the side. They are hard core and have hunted the area for years. They are down to earth and love talking deer hunting. I hunted in Makanda for 5 or 6 years in Jackson county. They carried boats and would go across the lake to access harder to reach property. No ag to speak of in that area but some very nice deer. Largest I got was a 140ish.

Thats great! Thanks ol timer. I had looked at Lil Grassey and Devil's Kitchen on a map. Like Devil's Kitchen even more and its right beside it. Looks like a good excuse to take a boat up there in June for a couple days and fish/camp/Scout.

I lease right at 600 acres and have hunted Southern IL exclusively since 2013. A lot has changed over the years, mostly the quality of the deer. Don't get me wrong, there are still big deer in the area I hunt, but they aren't as many as there once was. It has become very challenging to see one over 150". It has reached a point to where the cost of leasing along with other expenses do not justify hunting the area if looking for 150's or better. Now if you are looking for 120" to 140" deer that will be a reasonable expectation and you should see some bucks in that score range and if you are lucky something bigger may stroll by. Since IL has legalized the use of crossbows and most recently certain calibers of rifles, I suspect the quality will continue to suffer.

I am of the opinion public land will offer you a better opportunity at a better quality deer. There is in most cases a larger amount of land and some bucks simply avoid being killed and get older. I have got to old and just not that mad at them to put in the work on public that it usually takes to find the above average quality deer. If I were younger there is no way I would pay what I do for a private lease in the current times.

Like many above noted and to answer your question anytime from end of October through November you can expect to see rut activity. My favorite week is Novemebr 6th -13th. The break between the first and second season can be really good. Also if you can locate a good food source late season can be awesome hunting.

I’ve hunted southern Illinois at different times. If you want a true rut hunt then hunt a cold front in those Nov 5-15 dates, if not and you want a great opportunity with less pressure go at the last week of October or hunt the 2nd rut which usually falls around the 2nd gun hunt or 1st weekend of December. I’ve killed a few good ones on public with my bow in those November dates but I’ve got a buddy who has stacked some absolute studs (160-180s) during that 1st weekend of December.