For what it's worth, I own property in Ohio on about the same latitude as Pike Co, IL., and big boy cruising begins around the second week of October. The big guys are finding their does long before the younger bucks even know it's time to rut. The woods aren't on fire like early November but chances are if I see a daylight buck in mid October up there, he's a good one. OH is not IL but the latitude, climate, and general landscape is all pretty dang similar.
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Pike Co Illinois
- Thread starter Kyboy
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Mr.Bro
Well-Known Member
As it should be. Go with friends and have a great time.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
I'm weird... as much as I love to hunt big deer, I'd rather shoot a 100in deer on my own DIY than pay an outfitter $2000 to put me on a stand to shoot a 150in'er. I guess the score to me isn't as important as the experience itself. If it's a trip with great friends and great memories made, it would be worth every penny. If it's about putting a notch in the belt, I could find better things to spend the 2 grand on.
This is me exactly . I'm a homebody, like to be in my bed at night. I like to grow food plots, mess with cameras, and create bedding areas, and maybe shoot a good deer. To each there own but I have no desire to go anywhere to hunt but my on places.
I like traveling to new places, getting new experiences. I also don't mind paying an outfitter, especially if they treat me right. That doesn't take anything at all away from my enjoyment of habitat management and killing bucks on my own dirt. And that doesn't take anything away from my enjoyment of public land adventures. It would be difficult to put me in any single box. I love it all!
I'd rather Hunt the national forest here by the house and kill a basket rack. But that's just me. I feel I really earned that buck. That doesn't mean I would turn down an opportunity to hunt deer somewhere new though.
Gobble4me757
Well-Known Member
Idk anything about hunting up there but if I had a cheaper opportunity to go like you got, I wouldn't think twice about it and have a blast! Definitely keep us updated!!
FLTENNHUNTER1
Well-Known Member
Go. You will kick yourself in the ass if you don't.
Boomer Ranger Ron
Member
I've never hunted Illinois, but I've followed the stories about Pike County, and I've seen the BIG Buck pictures on the emails that the outfitters sent. I'd ask him what's his success rate, and then what's the shot opportunity rate? I'm sure it's higher for shotgun than archery, but the price sounds fair. Good Luck.
Last year it was 17/18 hunters with opportunity's and three misses. Pretty good odds I think
agelessssone
Well-Known Member
Early November would be best.
The October dates are a little early as the peak of the rut happens on November 14 in that part of the state.
Bucks will be moving then but not as much as November 7-14th.
Should be good hunting though, best of luck to you.
bowhunt25
Well-Known Member
I'd say go ! I've been going for years and see plenty of deer. It's worth the money if you have money to spend .
That's incredible numbers. But I'd want to know what qualifies an "opportunity". Minus the 3 misses, were the other 14 opportunities successful harvests? Or do they consider small/young bucks within range "opportunities"?
tellico4x4
Well-Known Member
I'd go just to be going. Have hunted IL 5-6 times & I'm snakebite there, but wouldn't pass up a deal to go again if I could still pull a bow back. Our TN place is about as good as it gets for area but love to hunt other places as well. SD this Nov & booked a trip to NE the other day for next year. Never know when a trip will be your last one...
Never been, heard about it more than once. If you can afford the education and can accept it for the education, then it maybe worth it. Not a fan of the state so I wouldn't care to go there.
If you follow the the path from Ashtabula Ohio southwest to Pike county Ill. all the bruisers are in that line. Pick anywhere on that line. I'd like to try S. Indiana some time.
If you follow the the path from Ashtabula Ohio southwest to Pike county Ill. all the bruisers are in that line. Pick anywhere on that line. I'd like to try S. Indiana some time.
1984dog
Active Member
I hunted in Brown and Adams County (just north of Pike County) last year and had a blast. I saw more bucks over 120" up there in 5 days than I have my whole life hunting in Mississippi - and I am a hard hunter 60 years old. I did not shoot one, but I am booked to go back this year. The area is perfect with good soil, good genetics and the farmers and outfitters work together to produce and manage trophy bucks.
I had an Opportunity to go on a Hog hunt in Al. in August. First time ever with an Outfitter. I wanted to check Great Southern Outdoors Outfitter before I committed to a Muzzleloader Hunt they offer. I am Glad I did. I had a blast. Room was nice. More food than you could Imagine. The fellowship was great. By the end of the Hunt I had already booked another Hog hunt in April (cooler than the beginning of August. I sweated Balls) . I'm also going on the Muzzleloader Hunt. It was actually great having someone else guiding instead of Me. LOL....I did not Kill a hog but it was all on me. I saw 16. Hawgs are Way different than DEER. First time night Hunting. I loved it. As some Members have posted, IMO if you can swing it DO IT. We live only once. You might just Enjoy yourself and want to do it again. If not continue hunting Private land. might just be the best 2 grand you've spent in a while.... GSO in Union Springs AL. is a very nice operation..... Peace....Hawk
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Go with the mindset that the food isn't going to be great, the beds aren't going to be very comfortable and you are going to have to deal with at least one loud mouth in camp. And you probably aren't going to kill anything for a $2k hunt.
