Elite
Outfitters offers trophy whitetail hunting through a joint venture with some
aspiring outfitters in southeastern Illinois. Elite will only offer one
archery hunt during the first week of the prime rut. In addition, only 4
hunters will be booked for the week.
Approximately 3,000 prime acres of whitetail habitat have been leased for the 2009 season. The terrain consists of soybean, corn and winter wheat fields alternating with heavily wooded draws, river bottoms and fence rows. The habitat is exceptional and the number and quality of the deer is as good as it gets anywhere.
The best way to hunt Illinois is with climbers. Hunters who bring their own climbers will have the maximum versatility when it comes to stand locations. Elite will provide you with more stand locations than you can hunt.
Elite
also uses lock on stands with climbing sticks and 15 or 20-foot ladder stands. Stand
locations are placed
with certain wind directions in mind, so having 50 stand locations to choose
from doesn't force you into using good stands under less than perfect
conditions.
In order to manage the quality of the bucks for the future, there will be a 130-inch minimum on all hunts. Does may be harvested on this hunt at no charge.
On the archery hunts, an emphasis on scent management will center around having multiple stand locations for each hunter to select from based on wind direction, rut phase, etc. Under no circumstance will any stand be used more than 2 days in any given hunt. The big bucks will not tolerate repeated activity on a stand location. Rubber boots are required for getting in and out of the hunting areas.
The buck pictured above was taken during the 2008 archery season. It gross-scored 197 inches. It was the best deer taken in the past three years.
The Illinois license application is currently on a draw with a deadline in mid-June. Draw success for archery was 100% the past three years.
The outfitters Elite works with in Illinois to offer these hunts, have worked hard putting together quality places to hunt. They have both lived here their entire lives and know not only the country, but most importantly, how to bow hunt whitetails. They have combined to harvest 6 bucks over 180 inches in the last 7 years!
Fantastic accommodations will be provided at a bed and breakfast. Elite will provide all meals.
2009 Price
6-Day Illinois Archery Whitetail Hunt - $2500
2009 Season
November 7-12, 2009
November 14-19, 2009
2009 License
Archery Whitetail Deer - $400
South Dakota Whitetails |
Illinois Whitetails |