We hunted pike county Illinois this past year for the first time. We hunted 2nd week of Nov. The weather was the worst obstacle. First few days of the trip it was 80 degrees and the last couple it was 30 degrees.

Saw 2 GIANTS (160+) but could never get them in close! We are 100% going back! It was awesome watching Bucks chase does all week and having 20+ deer in the field. Its on a whole different level of hunting.

I recommend using a climber, easy to use and comfortable for an all day sit. Problem is you tend to sweat when walking in with a climber. Be mindful to leave earlier so you can take your sweet arse time with all those layers on. I wont fully dress out until I'm in the climber in the tree, to help prevent sweat.

Use ON-X maps to help layout pinch points/choke points for stands.

Buy really good base layers, Bring hand warmers, Bring extra socks and swap them out once you're in the stand, Have good insulated boots.

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Posted by Da Hammer

Folsom

Member since May 2008

5978 posts

Posted on 1/15/21 at 6:01 am to TigahTeets

I got lucky and married into land up there. Been hunting there for about 20 years.

My observations are like everything else there is so much information out there on the internet there is more and more pressure up there. Doesn't mean you can't kill or have good hunts there is just more people, kind of like everything else hunting related these days.

In my opinion the best time to be there is from about November7 until gun season opens. They time the rut pretty good with the first gun season except it's at the tail end of it. The pre rut and first part of the rut happen before it.

Grunting, rattling, all of that stuff work very well out there and deer there aren't intimidated AT ALL to cross a wide open field in broad daylight. Also a 40 acre patch of woods can hold enough deer to keep you busy hunting for a week.

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