Anything in Ill. besides corn?

[A. Grignon]

I am thinking about taking a road trip in 2010 springtime and was wondering if any one lives around the area I would be looking to hunt. Maybe like a local guide to help point the way or share some rules about public lands so I don't get lynched.

I am looking at the Ottawa area along the river until it reaches Henry. Hoping to find some pre-1840's things. Anyone around there?

 

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[Lowbatts]

Okay here we go, new year, old dates employed....

Got me confused, you posted this New Years Day 2011 but are planning on a spring 2010 road trip?

Sounds like a fun hunt though it's a long way from Ottawa to Henry. Not sure you'll find a lot of folks with that much swinging time.

If it will help, here's the aerial surveys from days of old and you may want to plan/follow a route along based on what you see there.

http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/webdocs/ilhap/county/

 

[kc7rad]

Are you looking for anything specific? Coin shooting? Relics?

There is a lot of history along the Illinois River. Some documented history I have read, goes back to the 1600's.

There are some good historic maps at the University of Illinois here: http://www.library.illinois.edu/contentdm/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=/maps. If you want old history books, browse to http://www.archive.org and search for ILLINOIS under American Libraries. Both of those resources have been invaluable to me, researching Western Illinois history.

-Ken

 

[A. Grignon]

Well, you see Lowbatts.......I have a time machine, sooooo I'm going to travel back into 2010 (spring time) to hunt down there after I do my research here in 2011.

Ha! Your right, I'm a moron some times. lol Ok, so a 2011 hunt and I want to find some fur trade / colonial relics. I find them quite often up here and have some really nice sites, so Ill. should have the same opportunities I would think around the river. If I could even meet up with some one for a weekend it would be fun even if we didn't find anything, but just got out.

Keep in mind, my way of thinking / hunting is that the best spots you come across usually are not documented.

 

[Lowbatts]

I'd love to find one of those fur trade era sites. Most of them in this neck of the woods are long paved over and gone or put into protected land.

Go get 'em and let us know what you find out. Try posting under the regular forum threads and see if someone gives you a heads up on the area.