Southern Illinois has steadily grown in popularity as a prime hunting destination, especially for those in pursuit of trophy whitetail deer. With its diverse terrain of rich farmland, rolling hills, hardwood forests, and thick river bottoms, the region provides ideal habitat for growing big-bodied, heavy-antlered bucks. Each fall, hunters from across the country descend on southern Illinois in hopes of tagging a mature whitetail, and the area’s reputation for producing Boone and Crockett class deer only adds to its allure. Counties like Pope, Union, and Williamson are particularly renowned, thanks in part to carefully managed private lands, strict local harvest regulations, and a culture that prioritizes quality over quantity. Many hunters return annually, developing long-term leases or booking guided hunts with local outfitters who offer deep knowledge of the land and deer movement patterns. The region’s mild climate, long growing seasons, and access to agricultural crops such as corn and soybeans help create the perfect environment for deer to thrive—both in population and size. Trail cameras in the region frequently capture images of bucks with wide spreads, thick bases, and impressive mass, making it a bucket-list spot for any serious whitetail hunter.
Trophy Whitetail Destination
In addition to its own rich offerings, southern Illinois also serves as a launching pad for hunters involved in partner hunts across other parts of the country. Many outfitters and hunting groups in the region have formed networks with operations in the western United States, giving their clients access to a wider range of big game opportunities. One of the most highly sought-after experiences is the chance to secure elk tags in New Mexico, a state famous for its vast, mountainous terrain and thriving elk population. Unlike the lottery systems in some states, certain private landowners in New Mexico are allocated elk tags through the Landowner Permit system, making it possible for hunters to bypass the public draw process and hunt premium units. These guided elk hunts are often coordinated through outfitters based in the Midwest, including Illinois, who have long-standing relationships with ranches and guides out West. It’s not uncommon for hunters who tag a trophy whitetail in Illinois in November to head to New Mexico in early December for a high-country elk hunt, creating a multi-state adventure that offers both challenge and reward.
Partnership Hunts
Partner hunts provide more than just variety—they build community among hunters, create cross-regional support for conservation efforts, and allow for a richer understanding of America’s diverse wildlife ecosystems. They also offer unique learning opportunities, as hunters must adapt to different terrain, species behavior, and shooting scenarios. While stalking a bull elk in the high elevations of New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness is a far cry from sitting in a tree stand in the oak ridges of Illinois, both experiences demand patience, precision, and respect for the animal. For many outdoorsmen and women, the journey from southern Illinois’s legendary deer woods to the bugling elk valleys of New Mexico represents the full spectrum of what American big-game hunting has to offer—rich tradition, thrilling adventure, and the pursuit of excellence in every season.
Apartment buildings, on the other hand, represent a more significant investment and come with higher operational demands, but they also offer the potential for higher returns. Larger apartment complexes in cities like Carbondale or Marion can be particularly lucrative for investors targeting a steady influx of renters, including students from Southern Illinois University and professionals working in the region. Apartments also provide economies of scale, allowing investors to reduce per-unit maintenance costs and benefit from more efficient property management practices. However, managing a larger property requires more experience and a larger initial investment, which might be a barrier for some.
Townhomes, though less common in rural areas, still offer a promising investment option in more suburban locations. These properties usually have multiple units, each with its own entrance and potentially more space than an apartment. Townhomes can appeal to renters seeking more privacy and space, making them attractive to families or professionals. For investors, townhomes often require less oversight than traditional apartments and can offer stable, long-term tenants due to their desirable living conditions.
The new trend in virtually all areas is upcycling. It is the process of taking something old and giving it a new and more beautiful life. If you have an old table that looks well used, you can sand it down and either repaint or restain it. New life has been brought to it at that point and instead of being an eyesore-it can be your new favorite piece. If you only take a calculated effort to repurpose and reuse those things, you will get new furnishings without the cost of new furnishings. You will also be saving the world and keeping things more beautiful.
Basically every county in every state has a public landfill. Have you ever truly considered how much furniture that still has life in it, has been tossed away? The truth is, there are old dressers, old tables, chairs and more being tossed out because they have a small stain or tear in them.
It is easy to get desirable results from a DIY project where you take this and turn it into that. You can turn a dresser into a chair with a little creativity. Pallets can become end tables, coffee tables, and benches. The key is to pick your stuff and come up with a plan. With the right plan, you can do it and virtually eliminate any waste at all.
A sad truth is that we live in a world where most people are concerned about their overall safety. Crimes and violence are on the rise. The one place that we should feel most safe is also at times being attacked. It is our home that some people try to invade. They come in and rob us, but at times, they may also cause violence while they are there. For this reason, a lot of concerned citizens want to increase their home’s safety, but most also want to know that they are safely going green while they protect their home and family.
When we think of home security, we often think of all the things that require power to work properly. For instance, security cameras, motion lights, street lamps, and security systems that protect all doors and windows with an invisible layer of protection. All of these things make us feel safer, but they do require us to run power to all these devices, which adds up over time. The more power we use in our homes, the more our bills go up and the more power our local power plant has to produce. Beyond that, we also use fences and gates to keep us safely inside of our own little “world”. The fences are often trees that have to be cut down, which also affects the environment, or steel which could eventually end up in a land field. How do we gain the “safe” feeling while making less of a negative impact on the world that we live in? It is something that puzzles most homeowners, but it really isn’t that complicated.
Solar power is one of the easiest ways to ensure that all your security devices stay powered up without running up your electric bill. There are some very small solar panels available that have more than enough power to handle security cameras, lights, and more. There are also solar powered gates that you can put at the end of your driveway without running a power supply to it. The sun gives them a charge and they will work throughout the night and open for you to be able to go to work, school, and running errands. If you are worried about the trees that get damaged by your fences or the steel that will rust over time, you can search for other options. You may plant trees to replace the wood that your fence uses. There are PVC fences and posts that you may opt to use instead. There are many choices for Earth-friendly things.
We all, despite our differences, live in and share one world. This is why so many people are attempting to take care of it. We have to, because when this world is beyond repair, we cannot get a replacement. With that, we are also trying to maintain a delicate balance that includes trying to solve the problems that we have with the Earth, without causing more damage than we can repair. One example of this comes in the form of pest control. Virtually everyone hates insects, but are pesticides safe for the environment?
In general, pests are an annoyance that can sometimes cause painful, itching bites. They are most commonly an issue during the spring and summer months when we all want to get into the great outdoors and spend a little time enjoying life on our planet. These insects spread diseases and prevent us from doing the things that we love because no one wants to get bitten. Some people also have allergies that get worse when bitten. A yellow fly or a horsefly bite can swell some people up very bad. The effects of these bites can be very bad, depending on where the bite takes place. We have the option of spraying repellents on ourselves, but then we also have to wonder if it is good for our skin and body to do so. What do we really need to do?
There is a concern that if all homeowners start spraying pesticides, we will end up causing more damage than good. There are a lot of chemicals in many of the sprays that we use and depend on. Is there a good option if you want a mosquito killer spray? The answer to this is, “yes”. It is a killer spray like this that is able to get rid of the insects without causing damage to all who are exposed to it. It is also a better choice for the environment, especially if you use it alongside of other pest control options.
When you look around you at the world we live in, you see trees, flowers, water, and much more. What we do not often see or think about is how all those things come to be where they are. What makes the plants grow? The trees grow? New flowers to bloom during the spring? The simple, most surprising answer is bees. Beauty depends on bees and we do as well.
We have fields of vegetables and fruits. They are an important part of our survival. Each of those trees, bushes, and plants form a flower before they produce a fruit. Bees land on the flowers and pick up pieces of it which they transfer to other things. It is also what enables them to make honey. Honey is a portion of what makes them even more special because many people love in its purest form. Honey is also mentioned throughout the bible and many people wonder what does honey represent when it is used in that context. Either way, if it is noteworthy enough to be mentioned in the “good book”, shouldn’t we strive as a world to preserve it?
Many people are trying to find ways to preserve bees since they are such a vital part of our life. Many farmers have bee hives near their crops to ensure that bees can “dine” freely and flourish. It also makes their crops grow better than ever before. You can also take part in it. You can plant 
When most people think of Illinois, they envision big cities like Chicago or Springfield, but there are many more areas that you should be considering. Southern Illinois is a place that is filled with beautiful sights to behold. However, sometimes, to see the most beautiful areas, you have to step off the beaten path to explore the outdoors of this very beautiful area. It is here that you will discover hidden waterfalls and flooded forests among many other beautiful sights.
The Starved Rock State Park is a truly beautiful place to visit. When you walk through the canyons, you will see waterfalls that are unimaginable. However, to get the best views, you should visit after heavy rains and during the spring when the snow is melting. Hiking through the Shawnee National Forest is also a great day out. It is where you will find the largest waterfall in Illinois, but there are also many other great photo ops for you to take advantage of before you see the fall.
If you love history, you will want to visit what many consider a national landmark. It is the Grosse Point Lighthouse, which was built in 1973 after many shipping disasters off the coast of Evanston. It is a sight to see from the bottom, but you can also climb up the 141 steps to reach the top where you will get a bird’s eye view of Southern Illinois. If that isn’t enough, you can also visit the Fabyan Forest Preserve where you will see a 19th century Dutch windmill example that many say is the most authentic replica in the U.S. You also have the opportunity to see how life was lived between the years of 1050 AD and 1200 AD at the Cahokia Mounds. It is a site that contains the largest amount of prehistoric native American remnants in the United States.
If you simply want to have your breath taken away, you should consider visiting the Garden of the Gods. It is located in the Shawnee National Forest and it is here that you will find rock formations that have been built by mother nature over millions of years. It is where you will find the Devil’s Smoke Stack, Anvil Rock, and Camel Rock. Beyond that, in 1910 President Teddy Roosevelt, lover of nature, took a trip down Grand View Drive and called it, “the world’s most beautiful drive”. It is a stretch of land that runs 2.52 miles and offers outstanding panoramic views of the Illinois River Valley.