After hunting public land numerous times and dates throughout Illinois and Iowa, I have come to the conclusion for most areas it's better to bowhunt early, prior to the pheasant and coon season opener in early November, rather than bowhunting prime rut. This has simply been because in my observations once the pheasant gunners push all the grass with gun blasts and barking dogs I've simple seen the bigger bucks evaporate, and go nocturnal. Trail cams confirm this.
Yes we've had some good rut hunts, but my best have been in early November. This year here at the Illinois publec we hunt, we heard of many big bucks getting taken by nonresidents the last week of October, and our November hunts sucked. Once again many good trailcams but all nocturnal.
For me this has been 15 years of hunting public and making these observations and hearing others. My job allows me some flexibility and I am thinking of burning my 4 Iowa points this year and concentrating my vacations days all prior to the pheasant opener. Can anyone give me their opinion of this? I know there are prime rut days to follow, but just sayin.
Keep in mind, this refers to public land only.
Yes we've had some good rut hunts, but my best have been in early November. This year here at the Illinois publec we hunt, we heard of many big bucks getting taken by nonresidents the last week of October, and our November hunts sucked. Once again many good trailcams but all nocturnal.
For me this has been 15 years of hunting public and making these observations and hearing others. My job allows me some flexibility and I am thinking of burning my 4 Iowa points this year and concentrating my vacations days all prior to the pheasant opener. Can anyone give me their opinion of this? I know there are prime rut days to follow, but just sayin.
Keep in mind, this refers to public land only.