Sarley: Economical options for hunting in northern Illinois

I’ve been talking about hunting and shooting as of late. I like shooting because it challenges me to compete against myself. I like to see if I can get better each time I try something.

You’ve probably seen shooters targeting skeet and trap. Pretty basic stuff. Five-stand and sporting clays are two other disciplines that I find exceptionally challenging and a lot of fun. The targets are launched from everywhere. You’ve got to have fast reflexes and a keen eye. Clays and five-stand are a lot of fun in my book.

Now if you find it your style to shoot at something living and breathing that you are able to eat afterward, you have many options.

Remember that I always try to offer the most economical options available. There are many available places to hunt when the season opens for Canada geese. You can hunt myriad hunting operations but you can always do it solo.

Almost any farmer will let you shoot geese on his property after he has harvested his corn for the year. Ask politely and explain what you plan to do. They usually say yes.

Just lay on your back in the field of shorn cornstalks and blow your goose call when you see honkers approaching in the distance. How do you blow? Just listen to the sound of geese in the wild and try to imitate that. It’s really not that hard at all. You can get a decent call for $25, although you can break the bank for a pro model.

So you blow your call and hopefully the birds will decide to fly in closer to your position. You’ll need to do a quick situp to get your shot off. That is all there is to it. This might not be the sexiest way of hunting, but it works and it is certainly low cost.

Another inexpensive way to get your fill of hunting in a thrifty manner is dove hunting. The first season begins on Sept. 1.

Why doves? They are absolutely delicious and they are incredibly difficult to shoot. I have heard it said that you will use a box of shells for every dove you bag. That can’t be right, can it?

The first time I went to the fields to shoot doves I was sure I could do better than the average. Our group set up near sunflower plants. This is the preferred territory to find doves. I saw some birds come in and I raised my shotgun and took aim. I fired twice and brought down two birds. Wow, this is easy, I thought.

More doves moved in and I fired twice, again. I brought down another dove. Three birds in four shots. I’m an ace, I bragged to myself. After I had emptied my first box of 25 shells I had still downed a total of three birds.

I think that my total number of birds downed after two boxes, 50 shells, was six birds. Not horrible, but nowhere near the limit of 15 birds. Doves are fast and fly in every direction, and they zig and zag like you wouldn’t believe. Doves are incredibly challenging to hunt for.

The state of Illinois is exceptionally hunter friendly. It offers education for kids and adults on many varied hunting subjects. The state also offers hunting opportunities for many species on state land or through programs where private landowners allow hunters to use their land.

Remember to obtain the correct licenses and permits for what you are doing and to find out what you are required to wear when you hunt. I believe that blaze orange is great apparel to wear whether or not it is required. I am glad that hunters can easily see me in the field.

• Daily Herald Outdoors columnist Steve Sarley can be reached at sarfishing@yahoo.com.