Illinois Gun Deer Season

[allaboutshooting]

The 3-day Illinois gun season begins tomorrow. Forecasters say it will pour down rain all day. I plan to be out regardless.

For the past several years, I've hunted from a ground blind in our woods that I built for my father-in-law, who shot his first and only deer there on his 83rd birthday. It was a large 12 point buck and would have been the deer of a lifetime for many hunters. It was for him.

I can sit in that blind and remember all the hunts of years past as I hear the wooods awaken.

Good luck to all the hunters everywhere. Stay safe and enjoy the experience.

Thanks,
Clark

[HogBiologist]

wow, only 3 days to gun hunt.  I would have serious withdrawls.  I would probably just give up deer hunting all together.

[Wingboneman]

Good luck 

[allaboutshooting]

wow, only 3 days to gun hunt.  I would have serious withdrawls.  I would probably just give up deer hunting all together.

We have 2 regular gun seasons. The first one, this weekend is 3 days, then in a couple of weeks we have the second season that is 4 days.

Tags are issued using a lottery (County, Season, Sex) basis. It's one antlered buck only regardless. It can be a complicated system and you also have to lucky not just on the deer but also on the tag. Fortunately, we do have a lot of deer and some big ones as well.

Thanks,
Clark

[owlhoot]

well good luck, here in missouri it was warm and crazy wind,with a few tornado warnings for good measure.

[allaboutshooting]

Thank you. Maybe we'll get lucky and the rain will miss us for a few hours but I have may rain gear ready just in case they're right.

Thanks again,
Clark

[stone road turkey calls]

Clark, with a large population of deer I don't understand why the short season. we have over two months for gun season in georgia. good luck.

Gary

[allaboutshooting]

Clark, with a large population of deer I don't understand why the short season. we have over two months for gun season in georgia. good luck.

Gary

Hey Gary,

I wish I had an answer for you but I don't.

Thanks,
Clark

[Tail Feathers]

Good luck!

I got my rather modest 8 point a week into our season...which runs 2 months.

[danny]

I know what you mean about memories.  My grandfathers and my father have been gone for years but every time I hunt I feel that they are looking over my shoulder.  What a lot of hunting memories....danny

[captpete]

How about an update....how did the hunt go??

[surehuntsalot]

Clark, with a large population of deer I don't understand why the short season. we have over two months for gun season in georgia. good luck.

Gary

here in Mississippi,we have almost 3 months of gun season

[allaboutshooting]

How about an update....how did the hunt go??

I apologize for the delay in my response. It's been a busy time with the holiday and a good bit of travel as well.

I did not take a shot the first season. We still have a lot of vegetation and that kept me from shooting a couple of times. Other deer that I saw were on the run, does with bucks chasing, etc.

My neighbor shot a very nice buck, heavy 8 point and 200 lbs field dressed, right on the edge of my woods. I'd seen that deer on one of my cameras for the past 2 years. He'd been using the scrape line on the south side.

The second season, 4 days, begins on Thursday, so I'll be back out and see what happens.

Thanks,
Clark

[MDbowman]

wow, only 3 days to gun hunt.  I would have serious withdrawls.  I would probably just give up deer hunting all together.

Short gun seasons during the peak breeding, and limited tags are reasons why IL and Iowa have reputations for monster bucks!

Our regular gun season is 2 weeks, which is more than long enough!!

[renegade19]

Hey Clark, have you seen the forecast for 2nd shotgun season?  Looks like it's time to bundle up!