Illinois archery trip

Enjoy it. Don't go around telling people where you went. Hunt all day if the sign is good. Don't overlook what seems to be small areas.

Don’t pass up on the first day one you would shoot on the last day!

He said it's a semi guided hunt, so I would assume it's not public land. I've hunted Illinois every season for twenty years and have also seen more pressure. However, I have a multi year lease with my farmer so I don't feel the pressure as much as I see it.

I was asking which county because there are subtle differences in time of rut, geography and weather patterns.

Following! I’m headed to MO/KS line and have the same questions.

Scott

Midwest Rut Tips
1) Stay on the stand as long as you can. If you can hunt all day, do so. Can't begin to tell you the number of nice bucks I've killed and seen between 10 and 2 during the rut.

2) Don't be afraid to call. About every 30 minutes I'll run and estrous bleat can followed by three or four tending grunts. I do rattle but about the only time I do so is if I put my eyes on a nice buck and I need to get him working to me on a line that will prevent him from going downwind or if he's in the distance. Be careful rattling to bucks closer than 100 yards. Keep in mind how open the woods are and that he may be able to see quickly that there's no other bucks. In the past when this has happened, the deer will almost always circle downwind before coming in.

3) Any single or lone mature doe you see, get up and get your bow ready if she's going to pass within shooting range. Keep in mind, a buck may be feet, yards or miles behind her. I've seen them walking right on their tails to crossing their trail and searching for them hours after the doe walked by.

4) Look for natural pinch points. Places where a river, ditch, creek or some other natural barrier pinch down the woods and funnel deer into and through a narrow area. These places are easy to find using google maps or some other map app.

5) Don't let the excitement of seeing bucks prevent you from hunting like you would at home. In other words, hunt smart. If the wind isn't right for a stand, don't hunt it. Sure, during the rut I've seen plenty of 4 year old bucks walk straight down wind while following a doe and never pay any attention to me. But, the true giants remain on guard and if they smell you or you bump them your chances of getting a shot go way down.

Over the 20 years or so I've hunted there, I've watched the rut move. In the early 2000's, November 5th seemed to be the hot day. Last year for me, it was the 10th. I hunted five days and was able to watch the rut progress. First with small bucks bumping does, then three year olds up and looking and finally the four year old and older deer got up, moved the smaller bucks off and began following.

Good luck and have fun, be safe and let us know how it turns. out.