If you hunt Illinois, you are supporting Illegal Aliens and a Sanctuary State

[NCHillbilly]

I have hunted Illinois in the past and I would do it again if I had a good place to go and of course the cash. The deer hunting is incredible and the folks in the rural areas that I have been to are as well.

Politics is not a factor in my hunting beyond the fact that I prefer to hunt with like-minded folks. I also fail to see how politics of the controlling factions of a state have anything to do with my deer hunting! If you allow that to rule you there won't many places left to go.

If I can't legally enter the state with a pistol, and am not allowed to have the means to defend myself, that definitely affects my hunting and enjoyment of being there no matter what I'm doing. The vast majority of states do not have draconian gun laws like Illinois, so that's where I go. I will not enter Illinois, California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, or the rest of the handful of states that don't recognize the second amendment unless I absolutely have to. And then I will be leaving as soon as possible.

 

[formula1]

re:

If I can't legally enter the state with a pistol, and am not allowed to have the means to defend myself, that definitely affects my hunting and enjoyment of being there no matter what I'm doing. The vast majority of states do not have draconian gun laws like Illinois, so that's where I go. I will not enter Illinois, California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, or the rest of the handful of states that don't recognize the second amendment unless I absolutely have to. And then I will be leaving as soon as possible.

I would agree with you if that were true, but with respect it is not.

Excerpt from http://www.illinoisgunpros.com/illinois-concealed-carry-for-non-residents/

HOWEVER, non-residents who have a valid CCW permit from their own state may have a concealed firearm in their car. By definition of the Act, this would include a loaded handgun in the passenger compartment of their car, but only in their car. So they can “carry concealed” in Illinois within their vehicle. When leaving the vehicle, the gun would have to either be left in the car:
1.in a container, and
2.either the container or the car itself must be locked

or, the gun would have to be unloaded and removed from the car.

Interestingly enough, this means that an Illinois resident who does not have a License to Carry is guilty of a felony for having a loaded gun in their car, but a non-resident is perfectly legal, as long as they have a permit from their own state.

 

[Nicodemus]

In this day and age, unless you gather everything you use, eat, and wear, from Nature, you`re gonna be supporting something that somebody is not gonna agree with.

And if you do get everything from Nature, some bunny hugger group is gonna sling an orangutan fit.

 

[mizzippi jb]

In this day and age, unless you gather everything you use, eat, and wear, from Nature, you`re gonna be supporting something that somebody is not gonna agree with.

And if you do get everything from Nature, some bunny hugger group is gonna sling an orangutan fit.

Best post yet. Don't let all the dumb crap folks do get in the way of you enjoying the outdoors where, when, and how (within the law) you want. Life's too short not to hunt or fish where you want. And Lord help, don't let folks of a forum make you feel bad for doing it.

 

[amoore28]

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if we got rid of all the cheap labor, would people be fine paying $10 for a bag of apples? Or double the price to get your new roof put on? I'd be a neat experiment to see if people really what what they think they're asking for.

I grow peanuts and cotton in south ga. We also grow a good bit of produce. Most people dont realize the immigrant farm labor is extremly expensive. Minimum wage for a worker on a visa is 10.60 an hour plus you must supply housing for all of them and transportaion to and from the field and provide transportaion to town to buy groceries and so on ans so forth. If the government would instead of sending everyone a check for unemployment make it to where you had to sign up for work programs to do farm work then there would be no need for the alleged "cheap labor" and the government wouldnt have to spend money to keep all these folks on the sugar CensoredCensoredCensored for years. There are plenty of people to do the work these immigrants do. The problem is is that the government has allowed everyone to be so sorry that people think that a certain job is below them or to hard. Whats gonna happen after all these immgrants children grow up here and get indoctorinated in this nanny state system. There will be no one to work and more sorry folks and them some other ethnic group will be brought in. Send them back..

 

[LTZ25]

Remove the welfare also, and give those lazy folks incentive to work. Ta Da.

I've got a decade and then some on you, and can remember life without illegal immigrants and out-of-control welfare. And when people considered it shameful to be on welfare. I spent many, many, many days out in the hot farm fields for $2.50-$3.00 an hour. Didn't kill me.

If you do away with welfare a lot of people would die in the war that would follow.

 

[NCHillbilly]

I would agree with you if that were true, but with respect it is not.

Excerpt from http://www.illinoisgunpros.com/illinois-concealed-carry-for-non-residents/

HOWEVER, non-residents who have a valid CCW permit from their own state may have a concealed firearm in their car. By definition of the Act, this would include a loaded handgun in the passenger compartment of their car, but only in their car. So they can “carry concealed” in Illinois within their vehicle. When leaving the vehicle, the gun would have to either be left in the car:
1.in a container, and
2.either the container or the car itself must be locked

or, the gun would have to be unloaded and removed from the car.

Interestingly enough, this means that an Illinois resident who does not have a License to Carry is guilty of a felony for having a loaded gun in their car, but a non-resident is perfectly legal, as long as they have a permit from their own state.

Well, that's mighty white of 'em. As long as I don't step out of my car.

If you do away with welfare a lot of people would die in the war that would follow.

And?

 

[Jim Boyd]

That is the problem with facts (even gun facts!) - they are stubborn as all get out...

NCHB - Indiana is a fine state in which to hunt, but the original debate here was whether or not someone would fail to hunt in Illinois based on the sanctuary status.

I might mention that West Lafayette IN is purported to be a sanctuary city also (perhaps de facto, like Atlanta) so you might want to scratch Indiana off the list also?

I mean this solely as an observation and not an argument, as I don't have a dog in the fight.

My position is clear - I am going and it is that simple.

In fact, I am leaving tomorrow afternoon (as are many others throughout the south) for a work weekend.

I am as pro Second Amendment as anyone out there (which, again, was not the original debate) but I am not gonna let some Yankee or Midwest politicians stop me from hunting in Illinois, Iowa or any other state in which superior deer hunting is available.

At heart, I love deer hunting. When you can see more mature bucks in a week of hunting in Illinois than you have seen in the past decade or two in the south, that is enough for me to gas up the truck and head northwest.

All individuals are entitled to their rights, opinions and hunting travels and I wish them the best as they do so.

.

 

[Jim Boyd]

No, I would not hunt Illinois either....

Just kidding, you folks know how I feel.

These all came from cam #1.

#1 of 12......

This cam is under a licking branch that is already driving bucks and does alike crazy.

Stand is 35'ish yards from cam.


Come on November!

.

 

[cowhornedspike]

I'm glad most of you guys won't hunt Illinois...keeps my lease price from going even higher...

One thing that was interesting when I was there last year was the lack of ANY political signs in rural west central Illinois. Never saw a single sign. The locals told me this was due to the fact that they all felt that their vote didn't matter because whatever the Chicago area did was going to override them anyway. We are not far from that here in GA unfortunately.

 

[rutnbuk]

Well I am booked and paid for second week in November in Pike County. AND - I WILL NEVER step foot in that state again to hunt! At least that is what my wife said when she found out how much I paid!! LOL.

 

[Jim Boyd]

Good luck, Rut'n - with the hunt and with your bride!

Crops look good and we saw good sign this weekend.

 

[chris41081]

Funny enough, I'm in Illinois right now. This is my first ever trip here and will be my first time hunting here. I joined a lease and am very excited about the potential it holds. My perception of what it would be like was way off. The locals here are amazing people!! Never met a nicer, more welcoming bunch of folks. That being said, I disagree with a LOT of what happens in GA and Atlanta but I'm not gonna up and move my family to another state because I don't know of a state that I agree with 100% of their policies. Just like I don't want people to judge GA based on Atlanta, I'm not judging Illinois based on Chicago. I pay my money to a hard working farmer, not the state.

 

[Miguel Cervantes]

Funny enough, I'm in Illinois right now. This is my first ever trip here and will be my first time hunting here. I joined a lease and am very excited about the potential it holds. My perception of what it would be like was way off. The locals here are amazing people!! Never met a nicer, more welcoming bunch of folks. That being said, I disagree with a LOT of what happens in GA and Atlanta but I'm not gonna up and move my family to another state because I don't know of a state that I agree with 100% of their policies. Just like I don't want people to judge GA based on Atlanta, I'm not judging Illinois based on Chicago. I pay my money to a hard working farmer, not the state.

This is all well and good, for now. Wait until Illinois becomes the first ever "Sanctuary State" though. Your guns will not be allowed there. You big scary hunters won't have a place in such a safe snowflake haven covered with fairy dust and unicorns.

You boys really need to read the OP article and understand what the ramifications of the politics means.

 

[NUTT]

I did as you said and 're read the article. In response; as I am not a LEO I am a bowhunter that will be there to hunt deer I think our group will be fine. The local Illinois farmers and their families will be fine as they are much like we Southern folk willing to protect themselves and family.
When we were fueling up to come home Saturday; a local stranger asked why we were there. After our conversation-the last thing the local man said was he was glad for us come up to hunt and you guys are always welcome here. As we left I saw his NRA and Don't Tread on Me sticker on his truck.

 

[Buckstop]

Illinois is a big place. Easy to paint the whole state with a brush based on what we see in the media as Chicago and its ultra liberal & skeevy politics and crime get all the exposure.

Vast majority of the state (at least area wise) is rural and comprised of farming and some mining. Those folks are normal, hardworking americans that have no control over what happens in Chicago.

Not doing business with a IL farmer, local motel owner or dinner serves no purpose and only serves to make it harder for the farmers and small town folks that that already have it hard enough.

Have hunted there a couple of times and the folks we dealt with were extremely hospitable, normal and appreciative. I couldn't imagine telling them I wouldnt hunt with them again because because I'm offended by the politics that goes on 250 miles away.

 

[Jim Boyd]

Not an argument - just my thoughts....

I don’t see where there is an argument here – but it seems as though some issues just have to denigrate down to that.

A debate is a good thing – and so, too, is an exchange of ideas and thoughts. It is very possible that all of us can stand to learn as we discuss issues.

But when I hear people talk about “big, scary hunters, fairy dust and unicorns” or when I hear someone say “that is mighty white of them” – all I hear is frustration and an attempt to insult someone – with some amount of racism thrown in.

Guns outlawed in Illinois? Surely you jest – do you have any idea of the economic impact of the shotgun seasons for a state that is severely cash strapped, as Illinois clearly is?

Shotguns seasons in Illinois are a giant CASH COW for the state and while many of the state’s actions leave you scratching your head (as in how could they be that stupid) – they cannot and will not get rid of the shotgun seasons.

Money (coming in) notwithstanding – the state would then have to PAY to help get rid of the deer, to reduce auto / deer collisions.

The overall financial impact from out of state hunters – archery and firearm – is such that the state simply cannot say NO.

I think part of the problem is that when people do not understand an issue completely (and I clearly do not) – many resort to inaccurate statements, hysteria and name calling rather than trying to reason and understand.

I think there is, at times, a little bit of jealousy and class envy mixed in there also – some folks work really hard to create out of state hunting opportunities and at times, they harvest bucks that are remarkable. This success often evokes irritation and resentment in people that either cannot or will not make that investment.

If you want to see this on a smaller scale, you need only to look at someone who works hard and creates a better hunt situation here in the south – using trigger control, food plots, supplemental feeding, etc – these folks are often described as elitists and “horn porn” hunters who are often publicly ridiculed and berated here on GON.

In both cases, however – in my humble opinion – all they (the hunters, not the haters) are doing is trying to create a situation where success is more likely…..

We are deer hunters for many reasons (no shame in being a meat hunter – I think that is a great way to supplement your diet and fill the freezer) but at the end of the day, you could probably buy more beef with the money you spend on hunting, in total – purely from an economic standpoint.

With that said, this means that the trophy aspect must play a major role in WHY we hunt. Rare is the guy that gets a doe mounted to put on the wall – but a great many big bucks get mounted and are put proudly on display – right? Right??

There is a reason bass fishing men go to Florida and Mexico – because this is where there are more 10 pounders.

I fished hard in the Bahamas for close to 10 years… Why? Because the fishing and diving was 10 times better. I caught several blue marlin in a very few short years in the Bahamas after never having caught one in years of fishing offshore in south Florida and in the Keys.

Is hunting in Illinois perfect for all people?

Clearly it is not.

Is even GOING to Illinois a good thing for all people?

Clearly it is not.

What is also clear (again, at least in my opinion) is that shotguns will not be outlawed in Illinois.

The sky is not falling and I am highly doubtful that you will find unicorns or fairy dust in any of the Midwest states.

As for “big scary hunters”, I am simply an old man… my eyes are not good, I don’t hear well, I am afraid of heights and I tend to get all excited when a deer gets within 30 yards of me – so while I most certainly AM going to Illinois this fall – I most assuredly AM NOT a big, scary hunter!


Best of luck to ALL hunters this fall, regardless of where or how you hunt. My prayer is for safe and enjoyable hunts for us all. Meat for the hungry and trophies for those that appreciate them.

Here are a few more photos from this past weekend, hope you enjoy them!

.

 

[davidhelmly]

Well said Jim and I am in 100% agreement with everything you said!!

Those bucks are unbelievable, even the ones that are sideways, the guys at work are wondering why I have the computer monitor rotated 90 degrees!!

 

[Jeff Raines]

I see that bone growth on a very common mammal is much more important than principle.

 

[Jim Boyd]

Jeff,

May I ask if you hunt at all?

If so, do you mind if I ask what state you hunt in?

Can you tell me which principles, specifically, you feel may be being ignored or have been treated with less importance than is appropriate?

Could you also tell me exactly how an embargo or crusade against hunting in Illinois might positively affect these principles?

Any exercise, even completed with the most sincere and principled designs, that fails to create or affect a positive outcome, is just that, sir - an exercise.

Many thanks and all questions are asked respectfully.

Jim