Illinois turkey

[hobbes]

IL tags are by lottery on a per county per season basis.  I'm not sure where in IN you are, but Southern IL has the majority of public land in IL by way of the Shawnee National Forest.  Your side of the state would be Hardin, Gallatin, Saline and Pope counties.  You can get on the website and look at what permits are left over for purchase on a first come first serve basis, but it is very unlikely there is anything available except maybe during the 5th season which is late April to the first week of May usually in the Southern Zone.  I believe it is a Wed. to a Wednesday.  Seems like White county usually has some tags left (its been a while) but I dont' think there is public land there.

IL likes their turkeys as much as their deer.  A NR tag is $125 and you have to buy a lic. and habitat stamp for $54.  I'll try to find a link to the leftover tags, but I wouldn't expect much.


I'm afraid your out of luck for anything until 4th or 5th season in the whole state except for a few 3rds in a mangement area and one county.  You have to remember that IL is split into North and South Zones w/ the North starting a week (i think) later.

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/Spring_Turkey_Current_Year_Sixth.pdf

[Trip]

Congrats!

[JVA54]

Nice Bird,
                Hey whats it coast to Hunt Ill, for an Out of Stater, I live in Indiana, and I am so sick of waiting for are season to start April 27th. I got some Great Property Here and in Kentucky But there is April 17th.....Is there alot of Public Land, Or Hook Me Up...I will return the Favor?
 

Hoot

IL tags are by lottery on a per county per season basis.  I'm not sure where in IN you are, but Southern IL has the majority of public land in IL by way of the Shawnee National Forest.  Your side of the state would be Hardin, Gallatin, Saline and Pope counties.  You can get on the website and look at what permits are left over for purchase on a first come first serve basis, but it is very unlikely there is anything available except maybe during the 5th season which is late April to the first week of May usually in the Southern Zone.  I believe it is a Wed. to a Wednesday.  Seems like White county usually has some tags left (its been a while) but I dont' think there is public land there.

IL likes their turkeys as much as their deer.  A NR tag is $125 and you have to buy a lic. and habitat stamp for $54.  I'll try to find a link to the leftover tags, but I wouldn't expect much.


I'm afraid your out of luck for anything until 4th or 5th season in the whole state except for a few 3rds in a mangement area and one county.  You have to remember that IL is split into North and South Zones w/ the North starting a week (i think) later.

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/Spring_Turkey_Current_Year_Sixth.pdf

Hobbes is right there is no public ground in White county,there is two cons. areas in Hamilton county that's where I killed mine but those tags are gone.  I have hunted Gallatin-Hardin in the Shawnee National Forest lots of birds. 5th season-April 28 to May 05 .

[hobbes]

I did just see that the hunting lic. is now $57.75 and the habitat stamp $5.50, so my $54.00 was wrong.  You can buy a 5 day lic. for turkey hunting for a little over $35.00, but I usually go back and hunt deer, so I buy the full season.

Dang I should have bought the lifetime lic. when I had the chance.