Hunt Camp 2023
Illinois Hunt Camp 2023 – Where hunters come together
Saturday September 23rd, 4 PM to 9 PM
Deacons Restaurant and Bar at the Golf Farm- 2100 N US Hwy 12, Wauconda, IL 60084
Illinois Hunt Camp is a one-day social networking event for hunters and trappers of all types and abilities. While connecting hunters is a primary goal, it’s not all Hunt Camp has to offer. There will be educational skills stations, representatives from most of the major outdoors groups in Illinois, food, games, and a whole bunch of prizes all included with your ticket purchase! Doesn’t matter if you hunt deer or doves, pheasants or raccoons, Hunt Camp is for you.
Hunt Camp is welcoming to hunters of all abilities from the newest to the most seasoned. If you’re interested in hunting and not sure where to start, Hunt Camp is a great place to begin. There are even mentored hunt prizes specifically intended for newer adult hunters. Plenty of outdoor gear prizes that will be of interest to all outdoors people also.
Visit the Website for more information at the link below!
https://publish.illinois.edu/huntcampil/
Food will be provided for free to Hunt Camp attendees while supplies last. Thanks to the Illinois Conservation Foundation we will once again have burgers, brats and traditional bbq fare for all Hunt Camp attendees. Note: the onsite Restaurant and Bar – Deacon’s will have drinks including alcohol and additional food available for purchase.
Come make some new friends, learn about hunting and trapping and the different outdoor organizations out there. Many in attendance will win a mentored hunt or some awesome outdoor gear. The hunt and gear giveaway is free to enter with admission to Hunt Camp – plus there are bonus tickets available if you are a member, or become a member, of an outdoor group!
All games, raffles, parking and food will be FREE with admission to Hunt Camp! You would only need $ for drinks from the bar and to sign up for any outdoors groups that fit your fancy if you so desire. Cards will be accepted by most if not all outdoors groups to take memberships and by Deacons bar for drinks.
Get your tickets today before they are SOLD OUT!
This collaborative event is brought to you by these partners: Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources, Illinois Conservation Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation, Artemis – NWF, Safari Club International, Fur Takers of America, Delta Waterfowl, and Illinois Learn to Hunt.
With everyone coming together for this event, its going to be one you aren’t going to want to miss. Open to 21 and over – bring your friends and make some new ones!
Tentative schedule:
4 PM – Registration Opens for Hunt Camp 2023
4 PM to 8 PM – Outdoor Skills Stations and Organization Tables
Outdoor skills stations will be set up to practice useful skills with experts in the field. There will be stations set up on waterfowl identification, remote scouting, dog training, trapping and more!
Organization Tables will be set up for: Pheasants Forever, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Illinois Conservation Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Fur Takers of America, Safari Club International and more! Come by and learn about different outdoor organizations in Illinois. Find a group to join to have a chance at qualifying for the Final Showdown!
5 PM – Ice Breaker Group Game – This is a free and fun game to help loosen everyone up and your first chance at winning something cool! Don’t want to miss this one.
6 PM – Special Group Demonstration – Falconry in Illinois with the Great Lakes Falconry Association. Live birds in a real hunting training exercise right in front of your faces. This is going to a unique chance to see an interesting and often misunderstood hunting niche!
5 PM to 8 PM – Games – Outdoors Skills based games free for Hunt Camp attendees. Think you are good at estimating yardage, casting baits into tight spots with your rod and reel or Illinois Outdoor Trivia, well come and find out. Games are free for attendees. Prizes for all winners!
5 PM to 8 PM – Wildlife Art Experience – Come and create a piece of wildlife inspired art with Wildlife biologist and Artist Anna from Arctic Haven Studios (Home | Arctic Haven Studio). We will have all the supplies needed on hand but feel free to bring cleaned bones, rocks or other natural items that can be painted in to work with. This is a self-paced experience with Anna there to help guide you along the way. Free for all Hunt Camp attendees.
8 PM – 9 PM Prizes and Giveaways – All attendees will be given tickets when you register at Hunt Camp. Winners from Hunt Camp games may win BONUS tickets. There is no way to buy tickets here, they must be earned. Your tickets can either be put on the outdoor gear giveaway table to win some cool gear or you can try to win hunts and other outdoor experiences from the Mentored Hunts table. If you are a newer hunter or someone wanting to try something new, this is the prize table just for you! You can look through all the different mentored hunts and other outdoor experiences (with experienced Illinois outdoorspeople as mentors) and decide which one(s) you want to try to win. You can find mentored archery deer hunts, small game hunts, upland, fishing and so much more!
9 PM - The Final Showdown – The last giveaway of the evening and it’s a doozie! This is it, the big finale and concludes Hunt Camp 2023. The only way to get into the showdown is through participation. Join one of the outdoor organizations at Hunt Camp like PF, NWTF, BHA, SCI or FTA and get a chance. Join more than 1 group and increase your chances. Once into the Final Showdown there will be a barrage of competitions designed to narrow the field down to a single victor who will win something flipping awesome.
Note: Must be present to win everything.
Any questions or to donate gear or mentored hunts to hunt camp contact Hunt Camp coordinator: Curtis Twellmann at curtis11@illinois.edu