Did my last IL hunt this yesterday (Sheldon area). Windy but at least the cold held off until later.
5 of us hunted for about 2 hrs then 3 of us for the next couple hours. Started at a place we've seen 5-10 birds on every time and even saw cock standing on th edge of the grass as we drove by but didn't get up anything.
Headed over to a little patch (maybe 2 acres) with a pond and a few little brushy trees. Kicked up over a dozen. 5 hens shot up then the rest started going all around me. Missed twice on a really big cock as did my buddy to the left.
We both looked at each other in amazement. Simple shot 25yds out and we both unloaded two barrels and don't think we ruffled a feather. After I pulled the trigger the first time I was surprised that it didn't drop in a heap. He shot, I shot and he shot and off he went to the neighbors switch grass patch.
As my gun was unloaded another cock then two more shot up in what would have been easy misses again. Also had several more hens shoot up.
Next spot was dry. There is a shorter ditch across the road that looks wonderful but has never had more than one or two birds. Three of the guys decided to hunt that and me and another went to block it just in case. I got out to let my dogs work the end of the ditch when I saw the other hunters flush a bird. Maybe 300-400yds away.
Couldn't tell at first if he was flying towards or away from me then realized he was headed my way. So I went into full freeze and watched him glide my way fromt he other side of the ditch. Waited and he looked to be ready to settle down on that side just out of gun range when he had a change of heart and came over to my side giving me another simple 25 yd broadside shot.
Squeezed off one barrel and again looked in amazement as he kept flying unruffled. Squeezed off the second and he landed softly right on the edge of the grass and limped into the deep stuff. (wasn't sure I hit him with anything that shot either but he looked wounded.)
I ran right to the spot he went into the grass and dog went birdy right away. Raced around a little then went on point 6 feet from me and pointing right at me. At first I though he was asking for some direction but he held and just stared at me. I looked down and the bird was sitting tight right between my feet and looking up at me. That'll be one I pluck!
Hunted two other ditches and put up 5 more birds. On the very last ditch dogs got birdy 30 yards from the road. Friends GP goes on point, my dog back then a coyote jumps up and takes off right in front of me. This time he got both barrels and I know I hit something Buddy got off a couple and I even had tome to reload and shoot two more times at about 50yds.
My little french pointer took off after it and we watched as they ran across a mile square field getting smaller and smaller but I could tell my dog was gaining ground so he wasn't coming back. Just hope that wounded song dog wasn't going to tear him up. He caught it after running at least half a mile and they tussled a little, as much as we could tell from that distance. Coyote limped towards a little bit of grass and my dog came back without a scratch. I'm calling that a kill and a good way to end the season.
Drove by the Milford sewage plant east of town and there is some town ground that has a really nice patch of PF grass. Was hoping to see some birds running around there as we have in the past.
Across the street is a picked bean field and maybe 20yds off the road was the biggest cock I've seen all year. I wish I had a good camera because he was awesome and he didn't give a crap that we were there, at least initially. Would love to run my dog through that grass and see exactly how many birds we could flush. I'd bet an easy 50 and maybe more. Have driven past that in the evening and seen several dozen getting ready to head back to roost.