New to hunting, I need help

[TobyS]

So I'm new to hunting. It's always interested me and now i'm going to pursue it. I'm curious exactly what i need to know before going out. I have my FOID card, i know i need a HIP thing, a hunter education certification, and some kind of stamps. BUT I want to know is there gun regulations at different grounds? I enjoy my Gamo BigCat air rifle and would like to go hunting with it compared to a .22 rifle. and more importantly where are there small hunting grounds in illinois near chicago? I'd liek to hunt rabbits and squirrels. I'm just a beginner to all of this so please if you can answer any of my questions I'd REALLY appreciate it, also if you have any advice I'd greatly appreciate it. Also can i just hunt in just any old forest or is hunting specified to certain locations. I know these are dumb questions probably but I just want to hunt already.

[Bowhunters]

Welcome to the DHC forum.

I'm not sure on Illinois but some states you must use a .17 or .22 rimfire as minimum for killing small game like squirrel and rabbits so I don't know if your pellet rifle is legal or not.

Here are some links just in case you haven't seen these.

Illinois Hunting and Trapping pdf file - http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/pdf/season_dates.pdf

Towards the end of the pdf. has maps and lists public hunting areas in your state.

Illinois DNR website - http://dnr.state.il.us/

[KwackWacker]

Here's some advice for once you figure out where you're going to hunt.

Squirrels are most active in the early morning and late evening although you can find them moving through the day so long as it isn't too windy. When it's windy, it's really hard to pick out their movement in the trees and it's even harder to hear them on the ground. Pick out a hardwood ridge or bottom that has acorn, hickory or beechnut trees and sit on the ground next to a tree. Try to pick a tree which is wider than you are so that your silhouette is broken up by the tree. You don't need to wear camouflage but it helps some to break up your outline. If you don't have or want to wear camouflage, just wear some earth tone colors. Take a pair of small binoculars with you if you have some. They really help to see squirrels, especially the ones popping through the trees. Spend most of your time looking up in the trees because you'll be able to hear squirrels running on the ground, you won't need to constantly watch the ground. Let your ears do the ground work and your eyes should be in the trees.

For rabbits most folks use dogs to run them but I have always had fun and luck just walking a fencerow or briar patch slowwwwllllyyy and look for rabbits huddled down. Don't look for the full image of a rabbit but rather a small piece. What I really look for is their shiny black eyes. Rabbits will stay in place so long as they think you can't see them. So scan ahead in the briars and fencerows and look for one shiny black eye. When you see it, shoot it. Guarenteed fatal shot on a rabbit. If a rabbit spooks, he often won't run far, so sit tight for a bit and let him settle back down and then put a stalk on to the area you last saw him. Lots of times they'll be sitting right there. I don't know if there are any farms close to you but a fantastic place for rabbits is the fencerow or hedgerows between fields. You can get persmission to hunt hose by asking farmers. Be nice and courteous and offer to give them some game if you get any. A lot of times farmers won't mind you killing small game off of their farms. Offer to shoot gorundhogs too (not sure you have them). Most farmers can't stand them because they tear up their fields. I have yet to find a good recipe for those jokers so keep that in mind. They don't taste very good at all. The benefit of the fencerows is that they hold squirrels as well and that's a double bonus. If you're hunting a farm, be courteous to the land owner. Don't drive through their fields and if you have to go through a gate use this rule, if you find it open, leave it open, if you find it closed, make sure you close it when you pass through. Don't litter and make sure you have permission to hunt each and everytime you go. Probably the best thing you can do is to make certain that you follow the states hunting regulations. Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

[backwoodsman]

Airguns are illegal to hunt with in Illinois. If your going after small game to start with, a .22 is a good rifle. Shotguns are useful too, .410 is the standard starting shotgun but I dont care for them. 20ga is a good all around shotgun and the shells are 1/3-1/2 the cost of comparable .410 shells. 20ga is also the smallest shotgun you can use for deer and the acceptable minimum for ducks and geese. Usually scoped rifles are better for squirrels, open sights for rabbits. There are some public hunting ground up near and around Chicago. Search of the Illinois DNR site will help you locate those and find out site specific regualtions. Some sites dont allow rifles of any kind some have restirctions on days they are open for hunting etc. If you join a hunting club etc they can help point you in the right directions too. When you take your hunter education coure they will help you get a good start too. A good gun shop/sporting goods store will guide you right too. You can message me or email me if you have more ?'s or if I can help.