Illinois Deer hunters
Bob
Illinois but I did get a chance to bird hunt in Wisconsin. I have moved to
Alabama 3 years ago and decided to get back into deer hunting.
Recently I started looking at returning to Illinois after one of those
monster bucks. After reading the gun deer laws in the state of Illinois how
do you people put up with all the restrictions?
I can put up with the limited number of days to hunt because I grew up in
Michigan and we only had a 10 day gun season.
Illinois:
Cant carry a side arm while deer hunting, unless its the your only weapon in
handgun season.
Can only use a shotgun with slugs 10, 12 or 20 gauge or muzzle loader. No
buckshot No rifle.
Have to check every deer you kill into a DNR checking station in the county
it was taken. It has to be right after the kill or if check station is
closed you have to take it the next day. Deer can only be field dressed, its
is unlawful to skin and quarter the deer.
Cannot drive deer. Looks like only on state land. Looks like it might be
legal on private property.
Only 1 antlered buck per season for firearm ( muzzle loader, shotgun or
Handgun) and one with a bow and arrow.
I would be interest what people in Illinois think of these laws. Why no
rifles? Why no buckshot? I have driven the whole state an let me tell you
most of it you drive for miles and only see corn and soy beans. Don't know
where those people live :-) They cant use the population is to large excuse
to restrict rifles. Can they? Can you use rifles on private hunting camps?
How about those land owners that have to 5000 acre farms? Can they use
rifles? Are they allowed to get doe tags to thin the heard? Anyone else
think these laws are a little to constricting?
Bob
mercury
and found out that rifles are outlawed. Why? Chicago polititians Rifle
bullets travel too far. Bow hunters get a doe tag and a either sex tag in
most counties.But there are other counties that you only get one tag. And
are limited on theese hunts too to seasons like shotgun, and whats worse is
its a lottery.
I can see north of I 80 with no rifle, but yes the lower 2/3 of the state is
sparsly populated.
Slugs only? Too many wounded deer and less leathal with buckshot. Slugs
usualy pass through a deer, buck shot at farther ranges spread out too much,
and is Inhumane.
So what did we do? We elected a govener from Chicago, remember the $5.00
foid card?? it will be gone. He said he WILL raise it to $500.00 per year to
own or purchase firearms and ammo. (think I will move back to california)
its just a 15 day wait for the DOJ checks there. and yes rifles are leagle
there for hunting too.
Good bucks here? Yep! But at what cost?
Mike Corey
my opinions / answers.
>Cant carry a side arm while deer hunting,
> unless its the your only weapon in handgun
> season.
People carry sidearms in states that also have dangerous game such as
bear. Since we do not have bear in Illinois, I see no need for carrying
a sidearm.
>Can only use a shotgun with slugs 10, 12 or
> 20 gauge or muzzle loader. No buckshot No
> rifle.
I have never shot a deer at more then 50 yards, so is there a need for a
rifle? Even though I also hunt with a muzzle loader and could take deer
at 150 yards, I have never seen the need. As for buckshot, I wouldn't
use it even if it was legal. Seems to me to be an easy way to loose a
wounded deer.
>Have to check every deer you kill into a DNR
> checking station in the county it was taken. It
> has to be right after the kill or if check station
> is closed you have to take it the next day.
The state's reasoning behind this is to keep up-to-date on the health
and size of deer in an area.
>Deer can only be field dressed, its is unlawful
> to skin and quarter the deer.
Not sure what you mean here. I have skinned my deer before checking them
in. Twice as a matter of fact with the blessings of a Game Warden. Both
times the check station was closed, so I called the Game Warden to tell
him what I was doing. He said go ahead and skin it. Then go to check
station to pick up "second tag" in the morning. We have to affix two
tags on deer. One before field dressing, the other at check station.
>Cannot drive deer. Looks like only on state
> land. Looks like it might be legal on private
> property.
I've never heard about that law.
>Only 1 antlered buck per season for firearm (
> muzzle loader, shotgun or Handgun) and one
> with a bow and arrow.
I believe you can take two antlered deer per year, regardless of tools
used. An example would be if you took one with a bow, one with a
shotgun, you can not take a buck with a muzzle loader. Even if you have
an either sex ML tag, you have to take a doe. If you took two bucks with
a bow, you can only take does for shotgun and Muzzle loader. The reason
for this is why we have the "monster bucks" as you called them. Killing
more does keeps the population in check which allows for heathier,
larger bucks.
Also, the reasoning behind no high powered rifles makes sense to me.
First of all, the open grain fields that are common here would allow
bullets to travel hundreds upon hundreds of yards. There are sparse, but
dense wooded areas, but allot of wide open spaces. Secondly, and I'm
sure I'm going to catch heck for this one, there are too many "kooks"
out there from the big cities that have no concept what so ever of how
far a rifle bullet can carry. I fear being around them with a slug gun
that only travels 200 yards, let alone a rifle that can travel a mile or
more.
If I was "King of the Illinois DNR" I would make it a law that you have
to live in the county you deer hunt in. Not just own land, but live
there. That would keep the big city hunters in state owned ground where
they can shoot each other and not me. Trust me on that comment, I have
stood and watched hunters that I knew were from the city shoot at deer
that were between me and them. I heard the slugs whistle by me. It's
damn scary.
Mike Corey
NRA ~ USA Shooting
Appointed Pistol Coach
C-Sports
Why no rifles? Why no buckshot? I have driven the whole state an let me
tell you most of it you drive for miles and only see corn and soy beans.
They cant use the population is to large excuse to restrict rifles. Can
they? Yes
Can you use rifles on private hunting camps? NO
How about those land owners that have to 5000 acre farms?NO
Can they use rifles? NO
Are they allowed to get doe tags to thin the heard? I think not
Anyone else think these laws are a little to constricting? YES
Have you looked at the cost of an out of state tag?
I think what we are seeing here, is a failure to comunicate- Chicago is
running the rest of the state- they will tell you to your face that they
have increased the rules and the cost for out of state hunters so there will
be less of them and then better hunting for their own in state people?
Greg Larson
> Personaly I know they are. I have been back for only 2 years(gone for 13)
> and found out that rifles are outlawed. Why? Chicago polititians Rifle
> bullets travel too far. Bow hunters get a doe tag and a either sex tag in
> most counties.But there are other counties that you only get one tag. And
> are limited on theese hunts too to seasons like shotgun, and whats worse is
> its a lottery.
If it was 15 years ago, rifles were not allowed back then either, so what's your
point?
> I can see north of I 80 with no rifle, but yes the lower 2/3 of the state is
> sparsly populated.
From a down stater, I think it should be just the opposite, maybe it would weed
out some of those liberal chicago democrats that clog up this state with there
sewage like Madigan. Now we have 2 of them running the state. I was no fan of
that crook Ryan either, he was just an undercover democrat anyway.
> Slugs only? Too many wounded deer and less leathal with buckshot. Slugs
> usualy pass through a deer, buck shot at farther ranges spread out too much,
> and is Inhumane.
There are too many idiots hunting with slug guns out there now, why would you
want to give them rifles. Just where I want to be on opening day, in the
outdoors with some clown that still has the store tag on his new realtree camo,
and 30-06 that he never sighted the scope on, cause he didn't know it didn't
come already sighted in.
Rifle hunting around here wouldn't even be fair chase. If I can disperse
coyotes at 400 yards, a deer doesn't have a chance. I would never shoot a deer
at that yardage, but open a rifle season and some idiot will be shootin gat that
distance at something he saw move in the brush through his scope. I can hear
him now, "I couldn't make it out, but it musta been a buck, but it didn't drop."
"Did you go check?"
"Well no, it didn't drop, I was using my new buck blaster .45-70 with the
6x9-32x70 infrared monicular hydrovision scope, that cost me $2,800. it woulda
dropped in it's tracks."
> So what did we do? We elected a govener from Chicago, remember the $5.00
> foid card?? it will be gone.
You might have, but I didn't vote for him. Grandpa always said...."stewed rats
and fried cats are too good for the god da%# democrats."
> He said he WILL raise it to $500.00 per year to
> own or purchase firearms and ammo. (think I will move back to california)
> its just a 15 day wait for the DOJ checks there. and yes rifles are legel
> there for hunting too.
I guarantee that if he tries to raise the F.O.I.D. fee to $500 he won't last
long in the governors seat. There are too many hunters in this state that won't
stand for it. You'll see us from the "sparsely populated" area stand up and
start kicking some Chicago ass.
IL only has a 3 day waiting period for rifles, why move back to California to
wait 15 days. Or was that if the fee raises to $500?
> Good bucks here? Yep! But at what cost?
$26 for a pair of over the counter archery permits, one either sex and one
antlerless only. $15 for an either sex shotgun permit. Sounds like a bargain to
me. I have 5 bucks in my living room that all score over 155, with one being
183. Yep, hell of a bargin.
Robert Jackson
From: "C-Sports" <csp...@epconline.com>
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 11:47 AM
Subject: Re: Illinois Deer hunters
> Have you looked at the cost of an out of state tag?
Did not get that far, was having my attorney looking over all the rules to
see if I could even apply.
>
> I think what we are seeing here, is a failure to comunicate- Chicago is
> running the rest of the state- they will tell you to your face that they
> have increased the rules and the cost for out of state hunters so there
will
> be less of them and then better hunting for their own in state people?
Oh I see know. Yes I remember now. Chicago. I lived in Elk Grove for 12
years and they were always wanting to tell us what we could do with the
airport. It did not matter that Chicago grabbed a strip of land between the
airport and the city. Then the land the airport was under. Then they wanted
to tell all the communities that bordered the airport they have no say in
what goes on at the airport. If mayor Daily wants to create more runways he
does.
Now I am starting to remember why I left. Thanks.
Bob
Bob
Mike,
Thank for your honest and well written response. Here are my feeling on what
you had to say. After looking over some of the other responses I did not
mean for this to get into a finger pointing match nor did I intend to offend
anyone. I was just reviewing the laws and it seem they are a little strict.
Every law has some reasoning behind it I just think Illinois is treating
everyone like they have no common sense.
> People carry sidearms in states that also have dangerous game such as
> bear. Since we do not have bear in Illinois, I see no need for carrying
> a sidearm.
I like to have mine incase my shot was not right on and had to still put the
animal down. We also have wild dogs as in most places. Unfortunately they
are not afraid of people like coyotes are.
> I have never shot a deer at more then 50 yards, so is there a need for a
> rifle? Even though I also hunt with a muzzle loader and could take deer
> at 150 yards, I have never seen the need. As for buckshot, I wouldn't
> use it even if it was legal. Seems to me to be an easy way to loose a
> wounded deer.
Again, why not allow what the hunter thinks is the best way to perform the
task. Why should the government?
> The state's reasoning behind this is to keep up-to-date on the health
> and size of deer in an area.
Very good idea especially since CWD has been detected in the northern part
of the state.
> >Deer can only be field dressed, its is unlawful
> > to skin and quarter the deer.
>
> Not sure what you mean here. I have skinned my deer before checking them
> in. Twice as a matter of fact with the blessings of a Game Warden. Both
> times the check station was closed, so I called the Game Warden to tell
> him what I was doing. He said go ahead and skin it. Then go to check
> station to pick up "second tag" in the morning. We have to affix two
> tags on deer. One before field dressing, the other at check station.
In the guide under "Check Station Requirements" Firearm hunters may not
quarter there deer prior to checking it in. I am glad to hear you are able
to skin. I must have read more into it.
Cannot drive deer. Looks like only on state
> > land. Looks like it might be legal on private
> > property.
>
> I've never heard about that law.
Its in the guide under "Driving Deer Under State Controlled Properties"
I guess after living in Alabama for a couple of years I am getting use to
all this freedom I have. Its nice to live in a state that the hunting is not
regulated to death. I pay 12.00 for a hunting license. It allows me to take
deer, turkey and small game. You can wear a side arm if you want. Most
counties from the central part of the state south, you can take a buck and a
doe a day every day of the season. Rifle season is from November 23rd till
January 31st. I hear the public land here is as bad as you described in your
note. Lots of people and they have no respect for themselves nor anyone
else. I guess that's the same everywhere.
Good luck with your hunting. Like I said earlier, I just wanted to know how
other people felt about the restricted laws.
Bob
Dave2of5
Bob;
I agree with you. I've deer hunted for over 25 years. Restrictions
lined out by some states are making less sense all the time. There are
MANY things that I flat out DO NOT understand about many of the
restrictions some states have-they certainly don't make sense when
actually applied to hard Game Management Data. There are a few states
left that are Extremely draconoin with their game laws pertaining to
FIREARMS. Much of these issues are being push from within our own
ranks and compounded by our own apathy.
In Illinios you at least get to do some firearms hunting during a
decent portion of the Rut(if I remember correctly Mid Oct). Here in
Kansas, we have the honor of being the only state(and this is
verfiable with a little online research) to have a complete gun ban
during our Rut(no black powder,no handguns no shotguns). However I
have to say that we are allowed to carry a pistol (leagl for taking
deer only) with us, but then again we do NOT have a special Handgun
season(if we did I am almost 100% certain it would not be allowed
during ANY portion of the Rut).
If you attend the Game Commision meetings and pay attention to WHO is
on the Commission and WHO many of the Consvervation officiers are, you
will begin to put toeghter a pretty clear picture of what is REALLY
happening. Couple this problem with the fact that many of the states
that have these "problems" in sensible restrictions usually have NO
MEANINGFUL oversite system in place.
I won't say on this site (there seems to be little tolerance for
certain opinions), but you can E-mail me and I would be more than
happy to discuss the REALITIES of the situation with you.
Good Hunting to you all.
Dave Brown
Scott Jacoby
"Rec.hunting discussion list" <HUN...@listserv.tamu.edu> wrote:
> I lived in Illinois for 10 years. I did have my FOID. I never hunted in
> Illinois but I did get a chance to bird hunt in Wisconsin. I have moved to
> Alabama 3 years ago and decided to get back into deer hunting.
>
> Recently I started looking at returning to Illinois after one of those
> monster bucks. After reading the gun deer laws in the state of Illinois how
> do you people put up with all the restrictions?
> I can put up with the limited number of days to hunt because I grew up in
> Michigan and we only had a 10 day gun season.
>
> Illinois:
>
> Cant carry a side arm while deer hunting, unless its the your only weapon in
> handgun season.
This is a result of liberal paranoia. When the legislature approved a
handgun deer season, they outlawed autoloading handguns even though there
are some that are appropriate for deer hunting. Apparently, they don't
know that autoloading shotguns are legal during the shotgun season.
> Can only use a shotgun with slugs 10, 12 or 20 gauge or muzzle loader. No
> buckshot No rifle.
Buckshot is a terrible crippler. Please don't tell me about how grampa
killed his buck at a quarter mile with buckshot, I don't want to hear it.
Even a blind pig finds an occasional acorn. Unless you have the discipline
to keep your shots short, less than 20 yards or so, you will cripple more
deer than you will kill, and we all know that discipline does not exist in
most hunters. If you don't believe me, take your shotgun to the range and
pattern it with buckshot at various ranges on a target with deer vitals
printed on it. (By the way, you forgot the 16 gauge!)
As far as rifles, much of Illinois is too populated to be safe using
rifles. Much of the rest of it is wide open farm ground where deer are not
seen unless they have been run out of cover by hunters and are running
scared. If they are in this kind of country, they will stay close to
travel lanes such as fence rows, drainages, and waterways. It is
relatively easy to set up close enough to one of these to be within easy
shotgun range.
Beyond that, shotgun hunters in Illinois kill 100,000 deer every year with
around a 30% success rate. I'd say we don't need rifles.
> Have to check every deer you kill into a DNR checking station in the county
> it was taken. It has to be right after the kill or if check station is
> closed you have to take it the next day. Deer can only be field dressed, its
> is unlawful to skin and quarter the deer.
Deer must be checked in the day they are killed in the check station in
the county where it was taken or a bordering county's check station. No
big deal. Shooting hours end at sunset and the check stations stay open
until 8:00 PM. Plenty of time to get your deer to the station. I might
mention that Illinois has the finest and most complete record of deer
harvest of any state in the country. Other wildlife agencies wish theirs
was as good. This not only helps with management decisions, but has warded
off more than one legal challenge to the deer hunt. Sounds like a good
idea to me!
The deer must be checked in intact. This greatly reduces the opportunity
for poaching and/or rule bending.
> Cannot drive deer. Looks like only on state land. Looks like it might be
> legal on private property.
This restriction is only on state sites.
> Only 1 antlered buck per season for firearm ( muzzle loader, shotgun or
> Handgun) and one with a bow and arrow.
You are allowed two antlered bucks each year in Illinois. How you take
those bucks is entirely up to you, as long as you have the proper permits.
There is NO biological reason for this. This rule came ENTIRELY from
hunter requests! The forest game program and the district biologists
opposed this.
The handgun deer season is antlerless deer only, and the season is only
open in select counties. It is not open statewide.
> I would be interest what people in Illinois think of these laws. Why no
> rifles? Why no buckshot? I have driven the whole state an let me tell you
> most of it you drive for miles and only see corn and soy beans. Don't know
> where those people live :-) They cant use the population is to large excuse
> to restrict rifles. Can they? Can you use rifles on private hunting camps?
> How about those land owners that have to 5000 acre farms? Can they use
> rifles? Are they allowed to get doe tags to thin the heard? Anyone else
> think these laws are a little to constricting?
>
> Bob
These laws are not overly restrictive. As I mentioned, there are around
100,000 deer taken with shotguns every year and the large majority of them
manage it without breaking any laws.
Private hunting camps are irrelevant. They have to obey the same rules as
everybody else and there are no private camps large enough to contain a
rifle projectile within it's boundaries.
While there may be a few 5000 acre contiguous farms, most of them consist
of 80 acres here and 160 acres there. Once again, even 5000 acres will not
keep a rifle discharge within it's boundaries unless it's a long skinny
piece of property, you only discharge your rifle along the long axis of
the property, and can say with certainty that there will be no ricochets.
FInally, if the landowner can show that deer are causing economic damage
to his crops, he can get nuisance permits to help control the situation.
All in all, it's a good system that works well.
Good luck and good hunting.
Scott Jacoby
****************************************************************
Scott Jacoby - sco...@essex1.com - NRA Endowment; Life -Illinois State Rifle Association (www.isra.org); The Wildlife Society -
Certified Wildlife Biologist
- - - - Illegitimi Non Carborundum Est - - - -
The Brady / Clinton Second Amendment
A well-regulated National Guard/national police force, being necessary to the security of a Marxist regime, the privilege (at government discretion) of the people (except the poor, minorities, residents of public housing, New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., etc.) to keep and bear arms (except hand arms, cheap arms, ugly arms, self-loading arms, & military looking arms) shall not be infringed (unless it is convenient to do so) after waiting for government/police approval.
****************************************************************
Dave2of5
>
> This is a result of liberal paranoia. When the legislature approved a
> handgun deer season, they outlawed autoloading handguns even though there
> are some that are appropriate for deer hunting. Apparently, they don't
> know that autoloading shotguns are legal during the shotgun season.
I agree strongly here, but would like to add that alot of the liberal
paranoia is coming from within our own rank and file hunters.
> As far as rifles, much of Illinois is too populated to be safe using
> rifles.
THIS IS A BUNCH OF OVERLY GENERALIZED GARBAGE. Exactly who is to
determine what is safe and what is not and on what grounds(right now I
beleve these issue are more policitical the real). What bothers me
most is with this overly genralized statement is, it completly negates
a MAJOR PORTION OF THE RIFLES THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT MATCH FOR SOME
OF THESE CONDITIONS.
>Much of the rest of it is wide open farm ground where deer are not
> seen unless they have been run out of cover by hunters and are running
> scared.
The reality of this situation, is Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, the
Dokata's, Colorada just to name a few have this open farm ground
situation. Rifles are a great way to hunt these areas, and NO if you
are properly hunting you will NOT be taking chancy shots(like running
shots. believe it or not deer don't always run when they are in the
open). After 25 years, I have yet to shoot at a running deer. I think
your statement is CONDENSENDING AND UNFAIRLY CRITICAL OF FIREARMS
HUNTERS everywhere.
If they are in this kind of country, they will stay close to
> travel lanes such as fence rows, drainages, and waterways. It is
> relatively easy to set up close enough to one of these to be within easy
> shotgun range.
If you can do this with a shotgun you can also do it with and a
handgun or RIFLE. It seems you lump ALL rifle hunters into the
grouping that carries The super magnum long range guns. The reality of
the situation is actually fewer people hunt with those guns than those
who do. Besides no one ever said rifle hunting couldn't be a short
range sport. After all, the largest percentage of deer are taken well
within 100 yards.
> Beyond that, shotgun hunters in Illinois kill 100,000 deer every year with
> around a 30% success rate. I'd say we don't need rifles.
I would say you do need rifles with a success rate this low, I would
say that your wounded loss rate is probably very high. Most states
that have this low of a success rate are very reluctant to talk about
loss rates. You may only be harvesting 100,000 deer but I would almost
bet, kill losses are 20 to 45 percent more.
Rifles don't guarntee a JUMP in harvest figures, hunters skill levels
do and the 2 are not the same. Rifles are not a magic killing machine,
the shooters have to do their part. I would put more faith and
reliance in a majority of hunters with the "proper tools" than someone
who is being artifically limited by regulations that are unclear to
the grand plan. I'm REALLY glad people here in Kansas by a vast
majority elect NOT to use scatterguns for deer.
> > Have to check every deer you kill into a DNR checking station in the county
> > it was taken. It has to be right after the kill or if check station is
> > closed you have to take it the next day. Deer can only be field dressed, its
> > is unlawful to skin and quarter the deer.
>
> Deer must be checked in the day they are killed in the check station in
> the county where it was taken or a bordering county's check station. No
> big deal. Shooting hours end at sunset and the check stations stay open
> until 8:00 PM. Plenty of time to get your deer to the station. I might
> mention that Illinois has the finest and most complete record of deer
> harvest of any state in the country. Other wildlife agencies wish theirs
> was as good. This not only helps with management decisions, but has warded
> off more than one legal challenge to the deer hunt. Sounds like a good
> idea to me!
I like this. I think this is proper game management. I wished more
states did this. I think Illinois is ahead of the game here.
> > Cannot drive deer. Looks like only on state land. Looks like it might be
> > legal on private property.
I wish more states had this law also. This is good.
> These laws are not overly restrictive. As I mentioned, there are around
> 100,000 deer taken with shotguns every year and the large majority of them
> manage it without breaking any laws.
I disagree. I think your laws are overly restictive. Yes, 100,000 deer
are taken with out anyone breaking laws. BIG DEAL. That does not
justify the restrictions.
> Private hunting camps are irrelevant. They have to obey the same rules as
> everybody else and there are no private camps large enough to contain a
> rifle projectile within it's boundaries.
What you need to do is have more faith in your fellow hunters in that
the vast majority WILL do the right thing and make sure they know
exactly where their bullets will hit. I can take your scattergun and
shoot across property lines as well, so what!! To put your example in
another light, every man is equipped to commit rape, under your
argument we are all guilty and convicted, but is that really the case.
Believe me, I know exactly what this argument is about.
> While there may be a few 5000 acre contiguous farms, most of them consist
> of 80 acres here and 160 acres there. Once again, even 5000 acres will not
> keep a rifle discharge within it's boundaries unless it's a long skinny
> piece of property, you only discharge your rifle along the long axis of
> the property, and can say with certainty that there will be no ricochets.
All I see here is a complete distrust of your fellow hunters in the
field. It sounds like(to me) only spears should be allowed (in
Illinois), but you can't throw them. They might end up on some one
else's property (God forbid!).
All in all, as I said in a previous post. Laws and regulations like
these are usually politically motivated and usually by special
interest inside of our own ranks. The only thing that come from
draconion laws like this is the splitting our hunting ranks. When that
happens, we all loose.
Good hunting to you all.
Dave Brown
Randy Wakeman
>rifles
Baloney sausage.
This Illinois hunter knows it is legal to hunt coyote 24 hours a day, seven
days a week with a .338 WinMag if you choose to.
It is perfectly acceptable year-round for coyotes, but somehow suddenly
"unsafe" during the two weekends of shotgun deer season?
I don't buy it.
Randy Wakeman
Greg Larson
> Scott Jacoby <sco...@essex1.com> wrote in message news:<scojac-1301...@am1-14.essex1.com>...
>
> > As far as rifles, much of Illinois is too populated to be safe using
> > rifles.
>
> THIS IS A BUNCH OF OVERLY GENERALIZED GARBAGE. Exactly who is to
> determine what is safe and what is not and on what grounds(right now I
> beleve these issue are more policitical the real). What bothers me
> most is with this overly genralized statement is, it completly negates
> a MAJOR PORTION OF THE RIFLES THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT MATCH FOR SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS.
First let me say that I don't think we need a rifle season in Illinois and we are doing just fine without
one. But that is a personal opinion because I don't see the challenge in rifle hunting deer. My season
would last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. That includes the time involved in taking a shower, getting dressed,
travel time to the stand and time for the area to settle down and deer to come out. I believe that
shotgun season and if it came about a rifle season would not be a "hunting" season, but a "shooting"
season. I hunt where the deer are most of the time, not 150-300 yards away. But that is my own opinion
and preferred method of hunting and I respect those that would like to hunt deer with a rifle as their
preferred method. Even though sometimes my mouth overrides my brain.
As for the above statement about IL being too populated for rifle hunting, then why can I take my .243
out coyote & fox hunting, unless I'm on state ground where I can only use my .22. I have friends that
swear by their .270's or .223's also for coyotes. Its a poor argument and a stepping stone for the
anti's to get them all taken away.
Greg Larson
> >As far as rifles, much of Illinois is too populated to be safe using
> >rifles
>
> Baloney sausage.
>
> This Illinois hunter knows it is legal to hunt coyote 24 hours a day, seven
> days a week with a .338 WinMag if you choose to.
>
Close, but only duringthe red fox season. The rest of the year it's sunrise to
sunset. And I pretty much made the same argument prior to reading Randy's.
Dave2of5
> Dave2of5 wrote:
> First let me say that I don't think we need a rifle season in Illinois and we are doing just fine without
> one. But that is a personal opinion because I don't see the challenge in rifle hunting deer. My season
> would last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. That includes the time involved in taking a shower, getting dressed,
> travel time to the stand and time for the area to settle down and deer to come out.
First of all, EXTREMELY few hunters, have the access that you
evidently do. For most hunters, the first hour and a half doesn't even
get you to a good hunting spot, much less setup and shooting. Your
example from what I have witnessed in the field is exception rather
than rule. For my own hunt, just the hike to our hunting spot is about
an hour. Secondly what gives you the right to decide for other hunters
what "hunting" really is. I could go on a long list of why shotgun and
archery isn't my cup of tea, but that should not be binding to you,
and likewise you should not be using that as an argument for why there
should be no rifles(in hunting). I like to hunt no matter what type of
arm I am hunting with. There are MANY "hunters" that abandon their
bowhunting skills and courtesies when they pickup a rifle. (for the
life of me I have never figured that out)
I believe that
> shotgun season and if it came about a rifle season would not be a "hunting" season, but a "shooting"
> season. I hunt where the deer are most of the time, not 150-300 yards away. But that is my own opinion
> and preferred method of hunting and I respect those that would like to hunt deer with a rifle as their
> preferred method. Even though sometimes my mouth overrides my brain.
If your hunting technique changes so drastically because of what you
hunt with I really have to wonder why you hunt at all. I just can't
figure out this mindset. If you like to hunt with a shotgun, great. Go
ahead and hunt with your shotgun, but at least help your fellow
hunters that like to hunt with a rifle(don't exclude them).
Now for the "hunting turning into shooting argument"(because of
rifles).
Something that alarms me because it is evidently an acceptable
situation, is the 30% success rate in your state. As I have mentioned
in the previous posting, this low success rate has me concerned with
the cripple loss rate. Low success rates might also indiciate that the
hunting conditions are beyond the limited capabilities of the approved
hunting equipment. If you think for one minute that I belive less than
half of the hunters in the state take shots at deer you would be in
error. Rational thought processes tell me there are a lot of people
missing their shots or could very well be pushing the envlope of the
prescribed limitations. You have a lot of deer in your state, the very
fact that you can get 2 buck tags tells me that your own game
management system is expecting well over 60% success rate(to keep herd
growth in check). Which means that IF your succes rate is only 30%,
and IF game management makes no adjustments that means you are
controlling the herds with the 30% success rate plus well over 30%
wounding and loss rate!! Let me put it into another perspective-over 1
deer LOST for every one harvested(tagged). THIS situation is NOT
hunting, THIS situation is shooting. I don't know how well that sits
with you, but that doesn't sit well with me at all. I am very confused
about your thoughts on rifle hunting just turning into deer shooting -
it looks like to me it already is(you simply do it with shotguns and
bows).
I said it in the previous post, these game laws are more than likely
being pushed from within our own ranks and is akin to special interest
wrangling. We spend more time on these sites worring about the anti's,
but more often than not, we become our own worst enemies, especially
when we side with restrictions that make absolutely no sense, but they
FEEL good and have no affect on one specfic individual(or group).
Happy hunting to you all.
Dave Brown
Billy Mitchell
> travel time to the stand and time for the area to settle down and deer to
> shotgun season and if it came about a rifle season would not be a
"hunting" season, but a "shooting"
> season. I hunt where the deer are most of the time, not 150-300 yards
away. """
As Albert Einstein was reported to have said (which I doubt), "Never expect
others to share your biases with equal enthusiasm." For example hunting
season versus shooting season.
As Abraham Lincoln was reported to have said (which I doubt), "To avoid
being thought of as a fool, never let your personal opinions enter a
discussion of facts." For an example of this philosophy consider the
following argument. Rather than writing that in my opinion 5,000 acres is
too small to contain rifle bullets, it would be stronger to write that shots
from within a parcel of 5,000 acres did $XX.XX dollars of damage outside the
parcel.
Billy Mitchell bmit...@mines.edu
EdFloutonJr
>would last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. That includes the time involved in taking
>a shower, getting dressed,
>travel time to the stand and time for the area to settle down and deer to
>come out. I believe that
You guys must have ALOT of deer in Illinois. Here in most parts of NY it is
still challenging even with a rifle!!
Scott Jacoby
discussion list" <HUN...@listserv.tamu.edu> wrote:
> >As far as rifles, much of Illinois is too populated to be safe using
> >rifles
>
>
> Baloney sausage.
>
> This Illinois hunter knows it is legal to hunt coyote 24 hours a day, seven
> days a week with a .338 WinMag if you choose to.
>
> It is perfectly acceptable year-round for coyotes, but somehow suddenly
> "unsafe" during the two weekends of shotgun deer season?
>
> I don't buy it.
>
>
> Randy Wakeman
The difference is that there are, relatively, only a few coyote hunters.
There are 200,000 or more shotgun and muzzloader deer hunters afield
during the firearm deer season at the same time.
As far as your coyote hunting allegations, the coyote season is only open
from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, except it is
open 24 hours during red and grey fox season. (This year, the red and grey
fox season is from 10 NOV 02 through 31 JAN 03.) Also, during the shotgun
deer season, you may only hunt coyote with a shotgun with slugs or with a
muzzloading rifle and only if you have an unfilled firearm deer permit.
Within these restrictions, it is open year round.
No baloney sausage, just facts.
Scott Jacoby
rec.hunting)
In article <20030115015019...@mb-fz.aol.com>, "Rec.hunting
discussion list" <HUN...@listserv.tamu.edu> wrote:
> >As far as rifles, much of Illinois is too populated to be safe using
> >rifles
>
>
> Baloney sausage.
>
> This Illinois hunter knows it is legal to hunt coyote 24 hours a day, seven
> days a week with a .338 WinMag if you choose to.
>
> It is perfectly acceptable year-round for coyotes, but somehow suddenly
> "unsafe" during the two weekends of shotgun deer season?
>
> I don't buy it.
>
>
> Randy Wakeman
The difference is that there are, relatively, only a few coyote hunters.
There are 200,000 or more shotgun and muzzloader deer hunters afield
during the firearm deer season at the same time.
As far as your coyote hunting allegations, the coyote season is only open
from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, except it is
open 24 hours during red and grey fox season. (This year, the red and grey
fox season is from 10 NOV 02 through 31 JAN 03.) Also, during the shotgun
deer season, you may only hunt coyote with a shotgun with slugs or with a
muzzloading rifle and only if you have an unfilled firearm deer permit.
Within these restrictions, it is open year round.
No baloney sausage, just facts.
Scott Jacoby
Bob
> > >As far as rifles, much of Illinois is too populated to be safe using
> >
> >
> > Baloney sausage.
> >
> > This Illinois hunter knows it is legal to hunt coyote 24 hours a day,
seven
> > days a week with a .338 WinMag if you choose to.
> >
> > It is perfectly acceptable year-round for coyotes, but somehow suddenly
> > "unsafe" during the two weekends of shotgun deer season?
> >
> > I don't buy it.
> >
> >
> > Randy Wakeman
>
> The difference is that there are, relatively, only a few coyote hunters.
> There are 200,000 or more shotgun and muzzloader deer hunters afield
> during the firearm deer season at the same time.
>
> As far as your coyote hunting allegations, the coyote season is only open
> from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset, except it is
> open 24 hours during red and grey fox season. (This year, the red and grey
> fox season is from 10 NOV 02 through 31 JAN 03.) Also, during the shotgun
> deer season, you may only hunt coyote with a shotgun with slugs or with a
> muzzloading rifle and only if you have an unfilled firearm deer permit.
> Within these restrictions, it is open year round.
>
> No baloney sausage, just facts.
>
> Scott Jacoby
>
Randy,
I do believe the problem resides in the ranks of our own hunting population.
Some people just don't get our point. Hunting with a rifle is just as safe
as a shot gun. Elevated hunting platforms greatly reduce the chance of a
bullet traveling outside there intended area.
In the great state of Michigan, this season had 750,000 deer hunters. The
southern part of the state is shot gun only. I don't know the exact numbers
carrying rifles but I would bet its well over 200,000. I know of no hunting
accidents this year where a bullet traveled outside of its intended area.
IMO: A rifle is more accurate then a shot gun. You get better shot
placement. Cleaner kills and a safer hunting environment if everyone is
following all the rules. Remember if no one is following safe hunting rules
then it does not matter what tool your using.
Bob
Dave
Illinois. All I can say is that I truly love the hunting aspect of in
regards to bagging Whiteltail Bucks. As mentioned in one of the previous
posts "Who needs a rifle around Illinois?" I am all pro-choice, wrong
political term I know! However, to me it is out witting the elusive Monster
Bucks that gets my blood boiling. Better yet, if I bag that Moose of a
Whitetail Buck with an arrow.