TheBenHoyle
Well-known member
It is time to start my 2026 hunt thread. I lost my job in November of 2025 and I have been pretty preoccupied with replacing it. This is not the place for that story, but it was rough and now it is over. I accepted a new job yesterday and I start on 3/30.
That being said, I am going to try to get out on a coyote hunt in the next two weeks, which will double as a turkey scouting expedition. Right now, I have two Illinois turkey tags. One is a private land hunt where I shot my buck and I will be hunting with my dad. The other is public land and I will be hunting with a buddy.
I could pick up another tag for private land, but I need to take a closer look at the calendar. Sadly, the turkey season is smack dab in the middle of Easter/birthdays/Mother's Day/end of semester move out from college for my oldest daughter. With a new job, my vacation time might be limited so I may be limited to only weekend hunts. It's some complicated math, so we will see how it goes.
Other than turkey season, my only plans are the fall archery deer/turkey season in Illinois and an archery rut hunt in Ohio. My buddy and I have gone 3 years now and I've gotten a couple does and he took a button buck. This year I would really like to put an arrow through a big Ohio buck.
And of course, this year I would like to get some waterfowl hunting on the books. And I might put in for the fall shotgun turkey season. It bumps right up against the end of the marching band season, so that might be tough to get to, but it was very productive last year.
That being said, I am going to try to get out on a coyote hunt in the next two weeks, which will double as a turkey scouting expedition. Right now, I have two Illinois turkey tags. One is a private land hunt where I shot my buck and I will be hunting with my dad. The other is public land and I will be hunting with a buddy.
I could pick up another tag for private land, but I need to take a closer look at the calendar. Sadly, the turkey season is smack dab in the middle of Easter/birthdays/Mother's Day/end of semester move out from college for my oldest daughter. With a new job, my vacation time might be limited so I may be limited to only weekend hunts. It's some complicated math, so we will see how it goes.
Other than turkey season, my only plans are the fall archery deer/turkey season in Illinois and an archery rut hunt in Ohio. My buddy and I have gone 3 years now and I've gotten a couple does and he took a button buck. This year I would really like to put an arrow through a big Ohio buck.
And of course, this year I would like to get some waterfowl hunting on the books. And I might put in for the fall shotgun turkey season. It bumps right up against the end of the marching band season, so that might be tough to get to, but it was very productive last year.
