Illinois turkey hunting question

[Spurs]

Jus a little question...How hard is it to gain access to some private land turkey hunting around western IL???  I am on the pipeline up here and will probably be around for turkey season up here.  Just trying to get my ducks in a row now so maybe it won't be as hard as finding deer property up here.

[fallhnt]

Thats a hard question to answer...If your a res it makes it a little better. There is good public land in the area but you will get a late season tag due to the way IL. does the permit system,if your a non-res. The first draw is due Dec.1. I don't think non-res can apply then. If you are working Pike,Brown,Adams counties they would most likely be leased by outfitters.

[allaboutshooting]

Illinois can be described in different ways. To some, anything south of Chicago is southern Illinois. The same goes for the other directions.

What county or counties will you be in or close to?

Contacting the NWTF regional director is always a good place to start.

You should also go to http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/turkey/Pages/default.aspx and take a look at the regs and other information.

If I can help, just let me know.

Thanks,
Clark

[Spurs]

I am in 'central' IL, currently in Macomb and shouldn't be moving again until May or so.  I am a non resident, just up here working on a pipeline.  The earliest I can apply for the permit is Dec 3. 

I will say one thing, the public place I am deer hunting now does have a bunch of birds on it.  I have bumped into 3-4 groups of turkey numbering in the 20s and 30s.  I may wind up hunting that area, but I would like to get my hands on some private for obvious reasons.

Thanks for any information.

[renegade19]

Do what I did when I moved to Southern Illinois.  Ask.  I found that the people down here were surprisingly willing to allow me to hunt.  I did get turned down some but that's part of it.  Remember, IF you get access, take good care of your landowners.  BTW, Illinois in my opinion has excellent public ground hunting too.

[Spurs]

I have been surprised as well with the people up here.  I wasn't expecting people to be so nice up this far north    Even though I haven't found private deer hunting, most people have giving me other people to try....though none of those worked out either....but the gesture was nice and conversations were great.

[renegade19]

It's been my experience that it's easier to get permission to hunt turkeys than deer.  Shotgun Deer season is a MAJOR event in Illinois.  I mean it's as big a deal as Christmas in some places. One guy that lets me hunt turkeys is very specific that shotgun deer is off limits.  Keep trying, it'll work out.

[allaboutshooting]

It's been my experience that it's easier to get permission to hunt turkeys than deer.  Shotgun Deer season is a MAJOR event in Illinois.  I mean it's as big a deal as Christmas in some places. One guy that lets me hunt turkeys is very specific that shotgun deer is off limits.  Keep trying, it'll work out.

You are right on the money! There are many landowners that feel exactly that way.

You never know until you ask.

Thanks,
Clark