I have a magic tree in the Shawnee National Forest in Pope Co. I have hunted out of this tree for the last two years. 05' I killed a nice 129 3/8" 8ptr out of it @ 7:15am opening day (Which was my first IL buck). This season I killed this 8 ptr (130 1/8") @ 7:45am opening day. Not much of a story the tree is on a ridge finger with a pine grove 200 yards up the ridge and a scattering of bedding areas 150 yards below the ridge. They always are nose to the ground looking for does. I always have made the statement to not shoot unless its bigger than my last buck so I am on par with that.

05'
http://www.zingnut.com/php/Pics/Deer/deer05/jeff05.jpg

06'
http://www.zingnut.com/php/Pics/Deer/deer06/VGA/jeff11-17-06%2001.jpg
Working on my 06 Euro Mount right now

05' Euro mount I did
http://www.zingnut.com/php/Pics/Deer/deer05/emount%20004.jpg

That 05 Euro looks great.

Great bucks, welcome aboard...

Great example of whats available on public land in SIL.

Is there a website of what excatly is public at Shawnee or not? I went to the Shawnee website but it doesn't tell the different areas really...Also , I know that they have an office to go to but I would rather just look it up...Anyone got any ideas???

BY THE WAY, NICE DEER.....

Forgot to ask... I suspect shotgun??? Foliage doesn't look like opening day of Bow. LOL

nice buck, how hard was the Euro, i have an 8 pt i want to do it to?

BOB, I think he said my 05-06 muzzleloader bucks in the title! lol....

Is this the same palce you talked about a couple of years ago ?
No, that was in Johnson Co wasn't it ?

BOB, I think he said my 05-06 muzzleloader bucks in the title! lol....


DOH!!!! Just saw that...

Is this the same palce you talked about a couple of years ago ?
No, that was in Johnson Co wasn't it ?

WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO FLATLANDER?

WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO FLATLANDER?

Talking to ZingNut

oh ok...Do you know about where to hunt in Shawnee??? I couldn't find the info on here???

oh ok...Do you know about where to hunt in Shawnee??? I couldn't find the info on here???

Did you look at the link for SNF on the home page ?

SNF covers alot of S. IL as I'm sure know but about the only area's I know of are down around Bell Smith Springs & Burden Falls area.
There are camping sites right in that area.
They are usually packed along the road with vehicles and camp sites during gun season.
Bow season isn't so bad.
The other places they have on that SNF site can also be hunted I think, Lusk Creek, Bald Knob and a few others.
I know alot of people will just pull over along the road to park and hunt, just make sure you are on SNF and not private property.

There are a hand full of (state) Fish & Wildlife Area's that can also be hunted.
Over in my area there are 2 around Mcleansboro, one near Glen O. Jones lake called Saline Co Fish & Wildlife Area and another they just opened last year to public bow hunting near Carrier Mills called Sahara Fish & Wildlife Area.
Some of them have different rules you have to follow and Sahara you have to send/call in for a card that has to be displayed in your vehicle while hunting and returned to IDNR at the end of the season.
The Illinois Bowhunters Society & USSA hold a annual Dream Hunt in an area that is restricted to all other hunting at Sahara.
http://www.illinoisbowhunters.org/dreamhunt.htm

Saline Co Fish & Wildlife has a sign in box at the parking areas that you have to sign in & out and also write down any harvest you made along with some other info.
You can drive around this area during the summer and watch deer/bucks in crop fields getting there belly full.
Shawnee Hills (SNF) is also near there and is open for hunting and this same road will take you toward Garden of the Gods along with some other areas (SNF) you can hunt.
Next time your around Harrisburg stop by the Forest Service Office they are very helpful and have/sell maps of all areas of SNF.
You drive right by it on your way to Bell Smith springs, Burden Falls.

Kewl......Good info Flat.....I was wanting somewhere close....I went to the website but I didn't see the exact places to hunt on there.......I plan on going over to the office just haven't had a chance to go over lately...I do see alot of trucks of on the sides of the road as well....

Very nice looking deer. Something to be proud of. That is a nice Euro mount. It turned out really well for ya. Make sure you keep that lucky tree all to yourself there in Shawnee, or if you want, you can always PM the location and I will watch it for ya, especially during the season to make sure noone hunts it.. LOL

Sorry been away and still in TX right now. Flatlander, the area in Jo. Co. was called Deer Pond and nope this was in Pope County.

Here are a few map links I have for the SFN. Green is public bu tnot sure if its all huntable.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee/maps/

I use this one for the area I hunt near Eddyville, IL.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee/maps/hiker-equestrian/TrlDP06_EddyvilleVicn_InterimMap_300dpi.pdf

Oh yeah the euro mount questions... I boiled this one thats why the nose area broke off very flimsy after being in the water that long. I would most likely not recommend it to the sqeamish. This year I buried my 06 head, but I skinned it first so the bugs had a better start at it. I checked it the other day and its bare just a little brain matter left. I will most likely hose thaat out and clean it up and mount it the same. I much rather do the bury deal than the boil but boiling was much faster.

~Jeff

I boiled one last year that was a shed hunt find turned out pretty good but was a nasty/stinking job.

Another way I have heard of doing it other then to bury it is to put it in a pond or lake (attached to the bank) and let the fish and other critters do the work.
I've never tried it.

IF, I get my way and kill a bear in Mn this year I am going to have the skull cleaned using the beetle method.


:eek: I didn't really think/expect you to give your hunting spots away.

Thanks Zingnut........

I have a skull out back that some of the beetles in my driveway love. If you could collect those things... :rolleyes: They're eating it.

I really don't want to do the boil, but I like the bury idea. I got a compost heap that eats anything. Very active, and grows good maters:D.

How do you guys keep the rodents off the antlers when their out there? I thought maybe foil would deter the mice and squirrels, AND keep it from further bleaching???

I keep the horns from bleaching and rodent damage by covering them in aluminum foil, (very thick covering of foil). I normally get a roll of foil at the dollar store and use the whole thing on the horns. I also have lots of dogs in the area so I bury the skull to the the start of the horns. then cover the buried area of the skull with a log or chuck of cut wood, then cover the horns with buckets. It seemed to work well so far... I will post the results when finished. I also find a nice aged grey piece of barn board to mount it on.

~Jeff

my dad has always boiled the skulls several times until everything falls off

06 euro mount from deer above...

http://www.zingnut.com/Pics/Deer/deer06/VGA/06euro.jpg

NICE JOB.

Mine is in the compost pile w/ foil on the antlers as we speak.

How long do you leave it buried?

Dec 10th I placed it in the ground. Cleaned it off on 4/20.