Illinois Hunt Camp Welcomes You into the Outdoors!

Back again for the third year is Illinois Hunt Camp, a new kind of social event aimed at hunters and trappers of all types and abilities. Hunt Camp is about engaging and connecting folks who are interested in the outdoors. There is food, fun, education, games and prizes including the popular Mentored Hunt Giveaway for adults.

The 2024 Illinois Hunt Camp is set to be back at Deacon’s Restaurant and Bar at the Golf Farm, located at 2100 N US Hwy 12, Wauconda, Illinois 60084 on Saturday September 28 starting at noon and going until 5 p.m. All Inclusive Tickets are available now for a nominal fee here Illinois Hunt Camp 2024: Sat, Sep 28, 2024.

What Sets Hunt Camp Apart?

There are some great banquets around for those interested in the outdoors. Go out and eat some good food at a fancy hall, throw a few dollars at the chance to win something cool, all while supporting conservation. It’s a beautiful thing and a vital cog in the wildlife conservation wheel. While we wholeheartedly endorse events of this type, Hunt Camp is a bit different.

For starters, it’s not just for one type of outdoors person. While many events are geared towards upland game hunters, bow hunters or one specific outdoor group, Hunt Camp is one day for all the groups to come together. From falconers to trappers, Hunt Camp has something for every outdoor person.

Secondly, Hunt Camp is not about raising money. The only way we are able to do this is because so much of what goes into Hunt Camp is donated. The Illinois Conservation Foundation donates the majority of the Hunt Camp food and groups like the Chicago Chapter of Safari Club International and Fur Takers of America have donated some awesome gear prizes. What else can you do that has food, games, educational stations and prizes all for a ten-dollar bill?

Probably the most popular feature, the Mentored Hunt Giveaway for adults is unique. Hunting can be difficult to get into, especially for those trapped in the concrete jungle. Hunt Camp hopes to be the proverbial olive branch for all those folks sitting on the sidelines wondering what it’s like to get into the action.

Hunt Camp is family friendly, but all the prizes and mentored hunts are for adults only at this one. Children’s tickets to Hunt Camp are available for free on the Hunt Camp ticket page.

Mentored Hunt Giveaway for Adults

Attendees can browse the available mentored hunts and choose which ones they want to try and win. We try to get a diversity of hunts and other outdoor experiences so that there is something for everyone. If you are beyond needing a mentored hunt, there is also an outdoor gear prize table where you can put your tickets. There is no way to buy more prize tickets; prizes at Hunt Camp are earned not bought.

The hunts for 2024 are still getting put together but in previous years we have had just about everything including but not limited to: archery deer hunts, guided pheasant hunts, squirrel hunts, group turkey hunts, fishing trips and even trips out with biologists assisting with some cool science stuff.

These mentored hunts and other outdoor experiences are great ways for new folks to give hunting a try, with someone experienced to see if it’s for them. They also are great ways for current hunters to try out something new. Maybe you are an avid deer hunter but never knew how to get into waterfowl. Hunt Camp is your chance to try new things with folks who know a thing or two.

Educational Stations, Games and Food

Food will be available to attendees while supplies last. Traditional cookout fare will be flame broiled with all the fixings. While eating a bite and deciding where to put your prize tickets, you can explore the educational and organizational tables at Hunt Camp.

We will have educational stations set up for Map Reading and Remote Scouting, Waterfowl Identification, Gun Dog Training, trapping, Archery Blood Tracking After the Shot and more. You can also visit the organizational tables and learn what different outdoor groups, such as Pheasants Forever, the Illinois Conservation Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, and others do in your neck of the woods.

Hunt Camp attendees can also try out the skill-based games for a chance to win bonus prize tickets. The games are free to play but each attendee will get but one opportunity to record their best score. Maybe you are pretty good at slinging arrows or maybe you have your yardage estimation game on lock. Hunt Camp will find the best of the best.

Hunt Camp is family friendly, but this is one event where all the prizes are for adults. Youth programs are awesome and mentored hunts for youths are even better. That being said, there are several programs like that for the kids out there. This is the only one we know about just for adults. Adults want to learn to hunt, too!

Specially designed for all those looking to get into the world of hunting and trapping or to try something new, Hunt Camp is all about encouraging and promoting new and diverse outdoor experiences. If that sounds like a good time, come on out and see for yourself.

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Curtis Twellmann has been with the Illinois Learn to Hunt program since 2020. Growing up in north-central Missouri, Twellmann hunted, fished and trapped from an early age. This led to a wildlife degree from Northwest Missouri State in 2012. From there he worked as a field biologist for the better part of a decade in Nevada, Nebraska, Texas, Alaska and California. Then he spent about three years as the Assistant Furbearer Specialist in Wisconsin before starting with the Illinois Learn to Hunt program.

The Illinois Learn to Hunt Program is funded through Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Grant W-188-R and is a collaborative effort between the University of Illinois’ Illinois Natural History Survey and Illinois Department of Natural Resources to increase Hunter Recruitment, Retention, and Reengagement (R3) efforts in Illinois.