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allows the use of either a Shotgun, Muzzle Loader or pistol During the regular
firearm season. Applicants should check with the IL DNR for all specifications and
restrictions on firearms that can be legally used during the Illinois firearm season.
Click the link here for the IL DNR Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations.
Shotguns of 20 gauge or larger can be used. All shotguns should be modified in a
way that they will only hold two shells in the magazine and one in the chamber.
(THREE SHOT MAXIMUM ) Any firearm found to be able to hold more than three
shells is illegal and hunters will receive a fine from the investigating officer.
Those not familiar with the use of a shotgun for the use of harvesting deer can call
or email us for information on developing a very accurate shooting shotgun.
Contrary to belief, shotguns can successfully be shot accurately beyond 150
yards. I have personally harvested trophy whitetails out to 190 yards and my father
has taken some out to 230 yards with his custom built shotgun. Best
recommended shotguns for accurately shooting long distances are those using a
scope, a fully rifled barrel and shooting a sabot slug. Foster style were designed
for a smooth bore barrels and will not be accurate from rifled barrels. Being the
son of a expert gunsmith, I will share with you his recommendations for
developing a superb shooting shotgun.
Due to most after market barrels being mass produced, tolerances between barrels
can vary. Therefore, one can buy two of the exact same guns and they will shoot
the same slug differently. Probably the best slug barrels on the market is
manufactured by Hastings. Once you purchase your selected gun and barrel
combination, the hunter should purchase one box of each brand of sabot slugs on
the market. Take the gun to the range and set up a target starting at 50 yards.
Remembering that as the barrel heats up from repetitive shooting, a hot barrel can
cause your slugs to be shot inaccurately. Therefore, to mimic a hunting situation,
one should fire no more than three consecutive shots from a bench vise. You
should then allow the barrel to cool fully, run a cleaning brush through the barrel
and then continue on to the next brand of sabot slug. Once you find which brand
of slug matches the tolerances of your barrel, proceed zeroing in your shotgun.
Then move the target down range from 50 to 100 yards, then from 100 to 150 and
then from 150 to 200. Don't think for a second that a shotgun doesn't have the
capability of harvesting an animal at a range of 200 yards. Like I mentioned, we
have personally harvested trophy whitetails in excess of 200 yards. Bottom Line
is... "know your shotgun well and what its capabilities are".
Also, keep in mind that even though a 20 gauge is a smaller caliber, the 20 gauge
is more aerodynamically correct than the 12 gauge. A 20 gauge slug will travel
farther down range than a 12 gauge before it starts to tumble. So choose wisely
before your make your slug gun purchase.
Everybody know that Muzzle Loaders are the next best thing to a high power rifle.
Because high powered rifles are not allowed to be used during the Illinois firearm
seasons, that makes the high tech in-line muzzle loader the perfect selection for a
long distance "one shot one kill" weapon. With time spent at the range a good
quality muzzle loader with a scope can reach out and make a maybe needed 300+
yard shot. Once again, because the smaller calibers are more aerodynamically
correct, the 45 caliber is our first choice for a long range hitter.