Illinois Connection offers some of the best bow hunting in the
state of Illinois. Arguably some of the best hunting in
the world. Having been predominately archery for many
years we now offer a limited number of firearm hunts.
Illinois Connection operates on over 16,000 privately owned
acres located in West Central Illinois, dead in the middle of
what is referred to as the Golden Triangle (Pike, Brown, Adams,
& Schuyler Counties). Our ground is much undulated
offering a mixture of heavy timber (75%) and agriculture (25%).
Our ground has been under
strict trophy management for 7-13 years with several thousand
acres of agriculture and food plots consisting of corn, beans,
alfalfa, wheat, clover, buck forge oats, whitetail select
(infinity), Biologic, brassicas, and other legumes.
Illinois Connection
offers many tracts of land. Our smaller tracts carry a 130 inch
gross minimum with a $750 fine if they fall below that
standard. Our larger tracts of land with several thousand
contiguous acres carry a 150 inch gross minimum with a $1000
fine. Our current management has strengthened our trophy
quality tremendously. Since 2006 and we boast our ground has
produced 5 bucks grossing over 200s, 6 bucks grossing over 190s,
3 grossing over 180s and 8 grossing over 170s. View our previous
photo galleries to see how our quality has increased. With
multiple farms, hundreds of stands (lock ons, portables, ladder
stands, etc.), we at Illinois Connection can strategically hunt
the wind properly keeping pressure off of our herd.
Unlike most outfitters,
Illinois Connection just completed its 9th year of
operation having run just a little over 700 hunters. We have
consistently maintained a 70-80% shot chance with a 30-34%
success ratio. Operating from only late October to mid December
our ground is insured minimal pressure, increased quality and
plenty of bucks remaining for the following year.
There are other
outfitters hunting Oct 1st thru mid Jan (the entire
season) running as many as 600 - 1200 hunters yearly with
multiple lodges and thousands of acres. These outfitters are
selling as many hunts as they possibly can. Granted, with the
law of averages they do harvest some trophy bucks, but when
doing the math there percentages are much lower and their
services impersonal.
We at Illinois Connection pride ourselves on a small family
owned operation with high quality, a very elaborate lodge, home
cooked meals, seasoned guides, and some of the best deer hunting
in the world. Come see why most of our cliental are
repeats.
