I am looking at planning a deer hunting trip for 2-4 people, and was wondering where the place is to go. I know this state holds some nice bucks, and was wondering what others recommand on the place to go. No public, going through somewhere in order to hunt.

thanks for the information

I would say look into Pike, Adams, Or Brown Counties. That is where more big buck are taken each year. I have family in Adams county that runs a outifitter service but they currently have all their land leased for several years. The guys that hunt it always get at least 1 big buck each. I live in the southern part of the state and a big buck comes along every 3-4 years for a hunter around here.

im not looking to lease any land, i just wanta pay and come down there through a ranch or whatever, to be able to hunt the land. I dont have money to pay for leasing, just want to hunt.

I am interested in this as well, but personally I am more interested in hunting a farm or possibly some public land. (Bowhunting 1 week only)

How do the lease deals typically work? Do farmers offer up their non-ag land to hunters for a fee, or? Do you have to go through an outfitter or can you find individual farmers that are willing to lease?

Also, I was thinking about posting either in the Iowa or Illinois forums to trade a trophy Northern Pike fishing trip for an opportunity to hunt some private land, but I have no idea if that would be anywhere in the ballpark of being a fair/reasonable trade? Bear in mind I am not a guide, but I do know where and how to find the big pike in the spring.

Any comments?

I went to school in Southern IL for longer than I care to mention(Go Salukis!). I worked the check-in station in Johnson County for a few years and saw some monsters. The Shawnee is all public land and Crab Orchard NWF you can buy a pass for (bring you shotgun for geese). You may see some crowds during shotgun season but for bow it's pretty open. Adams and Pike counties are good as well, and don't overlook Jo Davies county in the northwest corner.

eel, do you know of any resports that do guided trips in these areas?

I don't know of any resorts, the Shawnee is all National Forest and you can pretty much walk-in and camp, as for guides there are alot of waterfowl guides, I would assume some do deer as well. I would Yahoo or Google to see if some have web sites. I haven't been down there for almost 10 years now so I am a little out of the loop. There used to be a muskie guide named Chad Cain that guided on Kinkaid Lake, he might know of someone. Hope this helps.

ok thanks for the information, i will have to check into this

I'm headed down to West Central IL next week. Can't wait!

I'm hunting only public land and using air maps and topos I hope to be sitting on the right spot a week from tomorrow.

Anyone else going?

Wish I could say I was, but its probably a few more years off for me. I would be very interested from hearing from you after you get back with regard to logistics of the trip you planned. I have been thinking about it for a number of years now, but havent pulled the trigger on a trip yet...