dacjohns
Our Frustrated Curmudgeon
Every state has its own laws and they can change from year to year.
I don't know all the particulars about Illinois but in my situation I can get free landowner permits. You have to have at least 40 acres. I have 100 acres. I can get 1 antlerless only and 1 either sex for gun season and the same thing for bow season. My wife can get the same thing. We have the potential to get 8 deer a year off our 100 acres. She doesn't hunt but might start, she does have a bow. I don't even bother with the draw so I don't know how it works.
In addition, the last time I checked you can get over the counter doe tags during bow season. Shoot a doe, buy another tag, shoot another doe, and so on.
Here in Southern Illinois we have an abundance of deer. It seems that the more they are hunted the more they reproduce. Even though it seems that the population would be severely reduced it isn't happening. Gun season is when the pressure is on and it is for a short time. Three days this weekend, 4 days starting December 4, and then a short muzzle loader only season, and I think a short handgun season. This weekend was when most of the hunters were in out. From now until the middle of January when bow season ends there won't be as many hunters.
It is prime deer habitat down here; oak-hickory forest, lots of corn and soybeans, lots of fence rows, lots of hiding places, bedding places, and lots of food. Very few predators; coyotes, bobcats and people are about it and coyotes and bobcats aren't that much of a threat except to the sick, injured, and young fawns.
I don't know all the particulars about Illinois but in my situation I can get free landowner permits. You have to have at least 40 acres. I have 100 acres. I can get 1 antlerless only and 1 either sex for gun season and the same thing for bow season. My wife can get the same thing. We have the potential to get 8 deer a year off our 100 acres. She doesn't hunt but might start, she does have a bow. I don't even bother with the draw so I don't know how it works.
In addition, the last time I checked you can get over the counter doe tags during bow season. Shoot a doe, buy another tag, shoot another doe, and so on.
Here in Southern Illinois we have an abundance of deer. It seems that the more they are hunted the more they reproduce. Even though it seems that the population would be severely reduced it isn't happening. Gun season is when the pressure is on and it is for a short time. Three days this weekend, 4 days starting December 4, and then a short muzzle loader only season, and I think a short handgun season. This weekend was when most of the hunters were in out. From now until the middle of January when bow season ends there won't be as many hunters.
It is prime deer habitat down here; oak-hickory forest, lots of corn and soybeans, lots of fence rows, lots of hiding places, bedding places, and lots of food. Very few predators; coyotes, bobcats and people are about it and coyotes and bobcats aren't that much of a threat except to the sick, injured, and young fawns.
