IL Turkey Help

[Bill Tell]

Hey guys and gals.  I need help and advice with the turkey application process here in our great state.

Since I have only been living here 3 years I really have no idea were to apply for a tag.  I looked at the list and my head began to spin.  

I live up in Geneva in Kane county.  There is no public hunting in the entire county.  This is making it even harder to know were to go.

Any help would be great.

[jonsimoneau]

Hey Bill!  The best county that is close to you is Jo Davies.  I believe Jo Davies and Pike county run around neck and neck for turkey production.  Other than that...all of the counties south of Effingham have good numbers of birds. Stay away from the northeastern part of the state.  There are birds, but they were the last areas to be restocked, and while the turkeys are coming along...numbers are pretty low.  I actually had the good fortune to trap some of the birds in Southern Illinois that were later transplanted to Iroquois county while I was studying wildlife biology in college.   There were no turkeys in Iroquois county...and by the time I came back from college...they were on the rebound!  I'm not sure about public areas in Jo Davies county...but Ray norbut state park in Pike county holds good numbers of birds.  It is right along the Illinois River, and the terrain is pretty tough...but also beautifull.  I have no idea about hunter density though.

[jonsimoneau]

By the way...the third lottery is coming up soon..so get your applications in!  You can do it online at the Illinois Department of Natural resources website.

[Bill Tell]

Originally posted by jonsimoneau:
By the way...the third lottery is coming up soon..so get your applications in!  You can do it online at the Illinois Department of Natural resources website.

I saw this on the web yesterday.  I didn't realize that the drawings start in December.  Yikes.  Thank you so much for your help.  This is just what I was looking for.

Thanks for you conservation efforts with the birds.  Sounds like fun too.

How did you ever come out with the group lease property.

[jonsimoneau]

Hey Bill, about the group lease property, to put it bluntly, I have not gotten very far with it yet, but I am still working on it.  I am having trouble finding a large piece of land.  When I do find one, they are normally leased by outfitters, and it would be very difficult to compete with what they pay for it.  I found one piece and it was looking good, until the owner informed me that during gun seasons, he and basically his whole family and friends were going to be gun hunting it.  I'm looking for something that will be no gun hunting, and trad bows only.  Hopefully, it will happen someday.

[Bill Tell]

Well I give you a lot a credit for trying.  Can't be an easy task.

[Huntschool]

First things first..  Jon, what counties are you looking in?  Perhaps I can help.

As to turkeys... down here in Gods part of the state we have plenty and lots of public land on NFS ground.  Saline, Johnson, Union, Massac, Jackson, Williamson, Pope, etc.

The birds locally for me (Johnson Co) have errupted over the last three years.  I have counted hens/poults in the 1/5 ratio comming into fall.  Thats huge success.  

I know this is at the other end of the world from you but they are here.