Many regular Illinois upland hunting seasons have already ended, (or the game is scarce,) but many private upland hunting preserves continue to provide extended bird hunting opportunities. In the above photo, 10 year-old Jason Young of Springfield, IL, bags a pheasant during an earlier preserve hunt provided by John Jewett of Petersburg, who bought the special youth hunt package as an auction item at a local Quail Forever Banquet. Dr. Bob Kaufmann of Clary Creek Upland (near Oakford ) served as the guide and dog handler for this hunt, and Jason never missed a shot with his 20 gauge single-shot shotgun. More Photos
Okay, so hunting pheasants on a preserve isn't always just like hunting wild birds, but on a well-run hunting preserve you really can have a high-quality upland hunting experience. IllinoisHunter.com publisher Larry Dale has recently hunted at four commercial upland hunting preserves in Central Illinois. All of the facilities and hunting fields were well developed and properly maintained. In almost all cases, the birds flew very well.
For many people, the experience is primarily about watching the dogs work. Bring your own dog or hire a guide with trained pointers or flushers!
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