I really appreciate that this committee has some pro-active ideas for not only controlling the whitetail deer herd in Illinois, but also trying to enhance the hunting experience (i.e. extending seasons) for Illinois outdoorsmen.

What’s your take on this?  I’d like to hear from both in-state and out-of-state deer hunters.

The first weekend opened on my birthday!  I’m 29 now….have been for 14 years.  I didn’t harvest a deer on this day, but my good friend Dr. Mike did.  His son also tagged a very nice 10-pointer that morning.

On the second day, no one got a deer in the morning session.  So after meeting the ladies at a local eatery, we attempted a deer drive early in the afternoon.  This was great fun!  I took a big, mature doe.  And Alex did as well.  Later on that evening, Dr. Mike’s son, Jonathan, harvested his first deer ever….a button-buck!  On Sunday evening, Dr. Mike’s oldest son, Stephen, got a button-buck, too.

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I was fortunate enough to have a nice 8 point buck come to about 30 yards of my stand.  It was the widest buck I’ve ever taken…bow, gun, or muzzleloader.

Then for the second firearm weekend just past, we (my father-in-law, Alex, and I) harvested a big spike buck and a doe Friday evening and 3 mature does on Saturday morning.

I have some friends who typically would find themselves in the deer woods this time of year that could not hunt this fall.  We were able to share venison with them and they were grateful.

God is so good and we thank Him for His bounty.

This is my baby girl, Hannah.  If you look real closely, you can read her mind, “I got up at 4:30 for THIS?”

This is my buddy Jonathan.  His folks own the farm where we hunt.  We didn’t know it when I took this picture, but he was about to harvest his very first white tail deer ever!  Way to go, Jon-boy!

This is Jonathan with some old, grizzled wanna-be hunting guide.

This is Jonathan’s dad, Dr. Mike.  This buck was taken on opening day.  It has split brows and 14-pts total.  Truly awesome.

Send me your pics and stories, please.

I got to get out on opening day for about 3 hours this morning.  This picture was taken from the stand I was on.  The stand is in the fork of a giant walnut tree (I’ll wear a helmet next time).  It’s over a 20-acre alfalfa field.  I didn’t harvest a deer this morning, but I saw 4.

I drew down on a small doe.  But she needed to take just another step or two for me to feel good about the shot.  She spooked.  End of story.

I also got to have some fellowship with a hunting buddy, Chris Snyder (the 1st tenor with Sons of The Father), today.  That was a nice surprise.

When is / was your state’s opening day?  Any luck so far?  Have you purchased any new “gotta-have-it” gear that you could recommend or warn us to avoid?

Sound off!

So my expensive camo gear is rendered less useful because even though I think I blend in with my surroundings, the deer are seeing me stick out like a sore thumb!

Is this a bunch of mumbo-jumbo to get me to buy UV inhibitor for my clothing?  Anybody know for sure?