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Illinois/Missouri Public Land Deer Hunting
Posted on 11/13/23 at 11:20 am
Posted on 11/13/23 at 11:20 am
I just recently got a tree climber stand and i want to go to missouri or illinois and hunt public land in the future. i have always heard that it is not as pressurized back home where i live in louisiana and there are some high quality deer in the area. Does anyone have any tips on what to hunt up there?
EDIT: my friend has private land north of STL. should i hop on that opportunity when i can?
EDIT: my friend has private land north of STL. should i hop on that opportunity when i can?
This post was edited on 11/15/23 at 2:08 pm
7
Posted on 11/13/23 at 11:39 am to freshtigerbait
Go up to northern Missouri if you can.
But if you can't, the Mark Twain National Forest is great. My dad worked for the Forest Service for 30+ years, most of it at the Mark Twain NF. A lot of land, nice deer and beautiful country.
If you go to the Mark Twain, look around Salem or Eminence or Winona.
But if you can't, the Mark Twain National Forest is great. My dad worked for the Forest Service for 30+ years, most of it at the Mark Twain NF. A lot of land, nice deer and beautiful country.
If you go to the Mark Twain, look around Salem or Eminence or Winona.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 12:13 pm to freshtigerbait
Your climber won’t go up many of the trees in the states you listed.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 12:54 pm to El Segundo Guy
Have you heard good reports about saline valley conservation area?
Posted on 11/13/23 at 12:59 pm to freshtigerbait
I've never hunted that area, but I know there's good deer up there close to the lake. My dad sold his farm and moved to the lake area recently and the bucks are nice there.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 1:51 pm to freshtigerbait
Lots of gnarly oaks and whatnot up there, so a climber would not be recommended. Invest in a lock-on or saddle with sticks and you could increase your odds.
expect for 80% of the people you encounter to be from Louisiana
the other 20% will be from Michigan and Minnesota
quote:
i have always heard that it is not as pressurized back home where i live in louisiana
expect for 80% of the people you encounter to be from Louisiana
the other 20% will be from Michigan and Minnesota
This post was edited on 11/13/23 at 1:52 pm
Posted on 11/13/23 at 2:21 pm to freshtigerbait
quote:that may have been true before social media but definitely not now
i have always heard that it is not as pressurized back home where i live in louisiana
50% of the trucks in IL are from Louisiana with AL & GA scattered about
This post was edited on 11/13/23 at 2:43 pm
Posted on 11/13/23 at 2:40 pm to freshtigerbait
Missouri is very pressured, and mostly by people from Louisiana. Probably better off going to Illinois. You’ll be able to hunt a good amount of trees with a climber, but as mentioned above a lock on or saddle is the way to go. I would say try to go past other hunters and put in a little more work but everyone has e-bikes now so even the hard to reach places are getting pressured now. Good luck. This was my 4th year of not filling a tag. It’s not like shooting fish in a barrel, but it can be done.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 5:31 pm to A_bear
E-bikes are not usually allowed on the public land
Posted on 11/13/23 at 7:38 pm to mylsuhat
It was Louisiana, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Florida hunters around us this year in Missouri. All the guys we met were nice guys and very respectful of trying not to crowd each other.
I had some close encounters with some really nice bucks, just couldn’t quite get it done with the bow. A couple more days would’ve been great but the rifle season opened up, so we headed back south.
It’s a great trip to make but the land up north is just as pressured or more. All depends on the time of year. Anything around the rut will have a lot of added hunting pressure.
I had some close encounters with some really nice bucks, just couldn’t quite get it done with the bow. A couple more days would’ve been great but the rifle season opened up, so we headed back south.
It’s a great trip to make but the land up north is just as pressured or more. All depends on the time of year. Anything around the rut will have a lot of added hunting pressure.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 8:04 pm to mylsuhat
I have been bow hunting public land in the Midwest for 17 years. It’s insane the increase in hunters over the past 5 years or so. I spend every day of the year looking forward to my trip but I’m about to get fed up. Around every corner there are trucks with LA, AL, GA and TN license plates
Posted on 11/14/23 at 2:48 pm to El Segundo Guy
Will do thanks. if you have any places you recommend staying please let me know!
Posted on 11/14/23 at 2:50 pm to A_bear
Damn coonasses
Posted on 11/14/23 at 2:51 pm to A_bear
Got any recommendations for a lock on or saddle stand?
Posted on 11/14/23 at 2:51 pm to freshtigerbait
quote:
Got any recommendations for a lock on or saddle stand?
that would entirely depend on your budget
Posted on 11/14/23 at 2:55 pm to freshtigerbait
quote:
Got any recommendations for a lock on or saddle stand?
One of my buddies just got the XOP Cold World and X2 sticks. I messed with them a bit and for the price they are awesome. I think his setup is around 15 lbs.
Posted on 11/14/23 at 3:34 pm to freshtigerbait
Bow season Missouri is typically not that crowded rifle season make sure you wear your hunter orange because you will cross seven different people on your walk in.
Posted on 11/14/23 at 3:55 pm to freshtigerbait
Don't go to Missouri, there are no deer there
Posted on 11/14/23 at 4:34 pm to El Segundo Guy
so my friend is from missouri and he has private land up there. north of STL. he told me that they use it for duck hunting but theres a ton of deer on it. he also told me i could hunt it. i might have to go with that option tbh
Posted on 11/14/23 at 11:08 pm to freshtigerbait
quote:
private land
I would definitely go with that option if I had that option. No question about it. It’ll be easier to target a specific buck or a couple of bucks on a smaller, less pressured piece of land.
As for the stand situation, the millennium M7 is probably the lightest lock on for the money. I know beast gear makes one lighter but it’s like $650 and not that much lighter.
Sticks, I would go with tethrd one sticks. They’re pricey, but they’re worth it especially when packing your gear a long ways.
If you want to get a saddle setup, your budget will determine that. Personally, I use 4 tethrd one sticks(you can get away with 3, especially in Missouri), I have aiders for all of my sticks too. I have a latitude method 2 saddle, and a hunt arsenal rzr platform.
A couple items that make saddle hunting much more enjoyable are latitude knee pads, vital ground outdoors click n sticks for carrying your sticks up the tree, and ropeman 1 ascenders on your ropes.
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