Chain O' Lakes state park bowhunting

[Ildeeehunterchi]

Does anyone have any good hunting tips for Chain O' Lakes state park in northern Illinois? Going to try hunting there this year. I've never hunted public land before. What areas in the park are best? They allow 35 hunters. Do more than 35 usually show up?

Thanks!

 

[Jeff H]

Does anyone have any good hunting tips for Chain O' Lakes state park in northern Illinois? Going to try hunting there this year. I've never hunted public land before. What areas in the park are best? They allow 35 hunters. Do more than 35 usually show up?

Thanks!

I used to pheasant hunt there years ago. With the population in your area I would imagine you'd have 135 show up. I used to hunt Rock Cut state park that had the same setup. You had to show up at 4am to get a spot. Not anything I'd ever want to do again but at the time it was all I had. Your pretty late to be searching for private land but that's what I'd be trying to do. There are some monster bucks in the suburban area up there. You don't need a lot of land available to hunt them, you just have to make the right connection.

 

[Ildeeehunterchi]

I have private land to hunt but it's 3.5 hours away. I was hoping to try public until I have a better chance to search for private around home.