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Illinois Whitetail Deer Hunting

Kevin Tinsley's 182 Incher

IMB Outfitters offers trophy whitetail deer hunting in, Pike County, Illinois. Pike County, Illinois is the #2, County in the Nation for the highest quantity of trophy whitetail entries in the Boone and Crockett Record Books, as well as Pope and Young Record Books. The location is extreme West Central Illinois, lying between the Mississippi and Illinois River Basins. This area houses an abundance of trophy whitetails due to firearm limitations placed on hunters, deer management programs implemented by area outfitters, and provides the area deer herd with some of the richest agricultural crops in the nation as food source.

Firearms Hunts: The State of Illinois limits firearm hunters to shotgun or muzzleloader only. No rifles are allowed. While this may discourage the booking of gun hunts by some sportsmen, it is common knowledge that these same limitations may be the chief reason for the existence of trophy bucks in this state. Simply put, when you limit hunters to shotgun or muzzleloader you limit the distances they are able to shoot. In turn by doing so, deer live longer as they are more difficult to harvest. All this equals longer life spans and larger racks. The firearms tags are obtained through a lenient lottery process in July which IMB Outfitters will assist you with. The process is easy enough that almost everyone receives a tag. Although tags are NOT a guarantee they are relatively easy to obtain. The 1st Gun Season in 2011 is November 18th. through November 20th. The 2nd Gun Season is December 1st through December 4th.

Archery Hunts: Pike County , Illinois is an archers dream! Illinois has offered bow tags in a number of fashions over the past several years. Expectations are that bow tags will be sold over the phone and easily obtained via outfitter specific.All archers with IMB received an Illinois tag if they attempted to obtain one. This telephone tag purchase usually occurs in July. The archery season runs from October 1 to January 15.

Tim's 160 Class Pike County Monster

Muzzleloader Hunts: Illinois offers a 3-day muzzleloader only whitetail deer hunt from 12-9 to 12-11. The tag is obtained in a lenient lottery process occurring in July. No hunter of IMB has been denied this tag, however denial is possible.

Success Rates: We calculate success rates by dividing the number of trophy buck shot opportunities reported by our hunters, by the number of hunters we take each year in that particular state. During the 2008 season we presented a trophy buck shot success rate in Illinois of 125%. Any rate in excess of 100% implies we offered more shot opportunities at trophy bucks than the number of hunters that visited us during that season. NOTE: No promise or guaranteed shots at trophy bucks are made by IMB Outfitters.

Illinois Location: Our Illinois deer hunting is located in Barry, Illinois just South of Quincy, Illinois. The closest airport would be Springfield, Illinois. A friendly airport located within an hour of our hunting lodge. Those traveling by motor vehicle may travel to our trip information page for a detailed map.

Illinois Lodge:  In Barry, Illinois we “sport” a lodge facility that we believe is equivalent to a 4 Starr Setting complete with all the fine food and drink you will partake of during your hunt. This facility can be photo toured in our, Illinois lodge photo gallery.

In Illinois, we offer fully guided hunts of your choice at the following cost per hunter for the Illinois hunt of your choice.

2012 Hunting Rates

NOTE: HUNT PRICES ARE INCLUSIVE OF MEALS AND LODGING

Taxes may be applicable on the lodging portion of the hunt price.

NOTE:
Various hunts are for different lengths of time. For example archery hunts are 5 days, firearm hunts are 4 days, and late muzzleloader hunts are 3 days. As a result, hunters will be awarded the same number of nights for lodging as the number of days their hunts are. Hunters wishing to purchase additional nights of lodging will be charged extra, per the lodge facility. (Normally $120 per hunter.)

When you book 4 hunters with IMB, the 5th hunter hunts for free. (The 5th person will be responsible to pay lodging cost.) A saving of up to $3200 on the 5th hunter.

Get Hunting License Information, Prices and Bag Limits

SINGLE STATE PASS: IMB has devised a Single State Pass. This has been done popular request by hunters. A Single State Pass provides the hunter with unlimited hunt access year round for both turkey and whitetail deer hunting. In essence a hunter who purchases a Single State Pass can hunt that State as much as he or she desires. Full year round unlimited access. For example if a hunter would purchase a Missouri State Pass then the hunter can hunt Missouri for turkey and deer year round with unlimited access. Hunt all year long on an unlimited basis in any of our 5 States. Of course in Missouri the hunter could harvest an 2 bucks, unlimited does, and 4 turkeys. The State Pass provides a bonanza of unlimited hunting for one low price. The Single State Pass is much cheaper than a land lease and provides as much hunting as any hunter could imagine. In Illinois, a hunter can harvest 2 bucks and 2 turkeys. In Iowa, a hunter can harvest 1 buck and 1 turkey. In Ohio, a hunter can harvest 1 buck and 2 turkeys. In Kansas, a hunter can harvest 1 buck and 2 turkeys. The State Pass is the ultimate budget cut for the serious whitetail enthusiast s the cost is less than 2 hunts.

COST: $7000

For more detailed information on Pike County, Illinois whitetail deer hunting, history of, record book stats, terrain therein, annual harvest, tag obtainment, click here.