Illinois Rifle Season for Deer 2023

[RCMSTER]

This fall is the 3rd year for Iowa, no problems. There are "muzzleloaders" now, that can be converted to smokeless powder, on a single shot H&R action with a custom barrel, or there are now some custom gun makers doing the same on custom actions. They go 2200 plus feet per second, with effect range of 250 yards. They are legal in Iowa. Wonder what Illinois thinks of those?!

A friend of mine is having one built as we speak. Using a Remington 700 action, the builder is getting 3000 fps pushing a 350 grain bullet. Good gawd, in all my years of hunting deer, I never thought I'd need that much power. I'm using my 375 ruger now, but I'm only pushing a 225 grain bullet to 2400 fps, which when comparing that to my 700 ultimate muzzleloader, Is actually less powerful.

 

[RCMSTER]

Hemorrhagic Disease of Deer | Cornell Wildlife Health Lab

cwhl.vet.cornell.edu

Had it here in Michigan a few years back. Many hunters were finding dozens of dead deer all over their properties usually around or near water

2 years ago in Iowa where I hunt. I think I seen 3 live deer all through late muzzleloader, and scads of dead deer all over. It was sickening.

 

[RCMSTER]

So is michigans centerfire cartridge law.
No bottleneck and straight wall cartridges can't be longer than 1.8

Huh? That's weird. I used a 25-06 last year in Michigan. The outfitter where I was at was using a 257 weatherly, and several others at the camp were using long action cartridges, so perhaps I misunderstood your comment.

 

[birddog 68]

Huh? That's weird. I used a 25-06 last year in Michigan. The outfitter where I was at was using a 257 weatherly, and several others at the camp were using long action cartridges, so perhaps I misunderstood your comment.

I think it's dependent on the area you are hunting

 

[jessej]

There are high fence pay hunt places in Illinois that allow you to shoot whatever kinda rifle you want. I guess the lawmakers think that high fence will stop the bullet.

 

[meatyrem]

Huh? That's weird. I used a 25-06 last year in Michigan. The outfitter where I was at was using a 257 weatherly, and several others at the camp were using long action cartridges, so perhaps I misunderstood your comment.

I'm sorry. I should have stated in the lower half of the state. In the northern lower half and the upper peninsula is all open rifle no restrictions. Southern half until it was opened up to the straight wall cartridges had been shotgun/slug gun only.

 

[RCMSTER]

I'm sorry. I should have stated in the lower half of the state. In the. Or there half and the upper peninsula is all open rifle no restrictions. Southern half until it was opened up to the straight wall cartridges had been shotgun/slug gun only.

I never thought about that, but it makes sense. I hunted the UP. I'm going back up for round 2 this year. The hunting was good. The scenery was wonderful, and the camp cook was one of Ronald Reagan's personal chefs way back when, so the food was just outta this world.

 

[DartonJager]

If I read the law correctly no calibers (factory loaded) became legal that would significantly out perform a 12ga or 20ga sabot slug rifle save for 45/70 and certainly not a smokeless capable ML.
I personally do not see the law having much if any affect on anything other than rifle and ammo sales.
Not like they legalized cartridges like the 308 Win or 30/06.
The 450 Bushmaster factory ammo has MAYBE 50 yards more effective range than sabot slug ammo.
350 Legend again if the paper ballistics of factory ammo are correct has no more of a effective range than a shotgun sabot ammo.
Only caliber that is now legal, again if I read the law correctly, that has the potential to out perform shotgun sabot ammo would be the straight walled 45/70 and using factory loaded ammo for all practical purposes in the hands of the average shooter using a plane Jane non tactical scope its at best a 250 yard deer cartridge. Can it reach out to 300 yards? yes, but only if the shooter has the practiced capacity and optics and can compensate with for the more than 24"of drop the 45/70 factory ammo with a 325 grain bullet (common 45/70 factory ammo loading) at 300 yards

As a reloaded I would if given a choice between a slug rifle and a rifle in 450BM, I'd buy a rifle in 450 Bushmaster as factory shotgun sabot ammo is over $5 a round now.

I must tell you on at least a half dozen occasions seen guys at my rifle club shooting Savage 220 20ga slug rifles' and I was mightily impressed with the 100 and 200 yard accuracies of that gun.
If I were to forced to buy a slug gun right now I wouldn't even consider anything else but a Savage 220.

 

[ajvinyard]

As an Illinois resident I think it is a lot of panic or excitement that in the grand scope of things really changes nothing. The calibers that qualify do not outperform a quality 12ga.

 

[Stevenstl86]

Bill states "case" lengths bottle neck not longer than 2 and 2/5/ 2.4". Wouldn't 308-300wsm fall into this as long as it is a single shot?

 

[ajvinyard]

Bill states "case" lengths bottle neck not longer than 2 and 2/5/ 2.4". Wouldn't 308-300wsm fall into this as long as it is a single shot?

No it states 1 and 2/5" or 1.4" long case length.

 

[RCMSTER]

If I read the law correctly no calibers (factory loaded) became legal that would significantly out perform a 12ga or 20ga sabot slug rifle save for 45/70 and certainly not a smokeless capable ML.
I personally do not see the law having much if any affect on anything other than rifle and ammo sales.
Not like they legalized cartridges like the 308 Win or 30/06.
The 450 Bushmaster factory ammo has MAYBE 50 yards more effective range than sabot slug ammo.
350 Legend again if the paper ballistics of factory ammo are correct has no more of a effective range than a shotgun sabot ammo.
Only caliber that is now legal, again if I read the law correctly, that has the potential to out perform shotgun sabot ammo would be the straight walled 45/70 and using factory loaded ammo for all practical purposes in the hands of the average shooter using a plane Jane non tactical scope its at best a 250 yard deer cartridge. Can it reach out to 300 yards? yes, but only if the shooter has the practiced capacity and optics and can compensate with for the more than 24"of drop the 45/70 factory ammo with a 325 grain bullet (common 45/70 factory ammo loading) at 300 yards

As a reloaded I would if given a choice between a slug rifle and a rifle in 450BM, by a rifle in 450 Bushmaster as factory shotgun sabot ammo is over $5 a round now.

I must tell you on at least a half dozen occasions seen guys at my rifle club shooting Savage 220 20ga slug rifles' and I was mightily impressed with the 100 and 200 yard accuracies of that gun.
If I were to forced to buy a slug gun right now I wouldn't even consider anything else but a Savage 220.

I dunno. Them Browning A-bolt shotguns are mighty nice, except they're hard to come by, and pretty pricey when you do.

 

[Glenn Tullius]

Just a fyi to my original post. The northern half, and some of the western half of MN has been legal to use a rifle if wanted. They just want to make it state wide in the forested SE, which is a denser population per square mile. I see the bill didn't make through at this point, to be included in the just released seasons and laws announcements. I agree with DartonJager, if given the choice as a reloader, I would use a 350 legend, 450bm, etc. just because those dang slugs are expensive!! I also have witnessed how accurate those Savage 220's are, and they are IMPRESSIVE with the right slug at 150 yards for sure!

 

[Stevenstl86]

No it states 1 and 2/5" or 1.4" long case length.

Yes you are correct. My bad. So other than 300BO it just opens up a few other strait wall options.

Savage 220 would still be my gun in Illinois