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Butler Outdoors Whitetail land consulting services:
- Custom Hunting Plans - Custom Habitat Improvement Plans

Luck is often referred to as “when preparation meets opportunity”. So when it comes to hunting, how much of luck is actu...
10/21/2026

Luck is often referred to as “when preparation meets opportunity”. So when it comes to hunting, how much of luck is actually preparation and how much is actually opportunity?

Any hunter on any budget can prepare and be ready for an opportunity should it present itself, but regardless of the amount of preparation, more and better opportunity’s can be had by hunters with an unlimited budget! It doesn’t take much scrolling through social media or watching hunting shows to see that money plays a huge part in the opportunity aspect of being lucky. Now don’t get me wrong, Im not saying that those with money aren’t earning their opportunities, because hard work and dedication can give you both, money and opportunities.

What are your thoughts? Do the opportunities that money affords outweigh any amount of preparation someone can do?

Another great looking up and comer on the Scrape Doctor poison ivy.How are your mock scrapes doing? Scraping activity sh...
10/20/2026

Another great looking up and comer on the Scrape Doctor poison ivy.

How are your mock scrapes doing? Scraping activity should be really picking up across most of the Midwest over the next few weeks!

What are your thoughts? Is this AI, or just pure ignorance? When you see it, you will know!
10/19/2026

What are your thoughts? Is this AI, or just pure ignorance? When you see it, you will know!

Tonight was a hunt I will never forget! After years of teaching, practicing, and preparing, I had the pleasure of being ...
10/18/2026

Tonight was a hunt I will never forget! After years of teaching, practicing, and preparing, I had the pleasure of being able to watch my son shoot his first deer!

We only had to sit in the blind for about an hour before 4 does entered the food plot. A quick repositioning of the crossbow, that was on a tripod, and Emmett was in position and ready. The doe was about 25 yards and she only made it about 70 yards before expiring. He made a great shot, hitting her in the heart.

I was able to teach and explain every step of the process from waiting before tracking, looking at and inspecting the bolt/arrow for sign, blood trailing, field dressing and even tagging and checking the deer in.

I’ve had numerous instances where a buck will show up on what I refer to as a “scouting” mission before they make their ...
10/17/2026

I’ve had numerous instances where a buck will show up on what I refer to as a “scouting” mission before they make their shift to their fall ranges. These trips oftentimes result in a single series of trail camera pictures and then the buck will vanish for weeks/months. I believe that these bucks are simply checking out their fall range prior to making the annual shift.

This buck is a prime example of what I am referring to. He made a single appearance on one of my trail cameras on June 18th and has been MIA since. Now, nearly 4 months later, he is back and I fully expect to see more of him now.

Have you ever seen examples of this behavior?

Some of god’s creatures make me scratch my head and really wonder what exactly their purpose is. Ticks, mosquitoes, wasp...
10/16/2026

Some of god’s creatures make me scratch my head and really wonder what exactly their purpose is. Ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, etc. all are great examples. No matter how much thought I put into it, I struggle to find a good reason for their existence!

Groundhogs are another mystery. They are destructive, and although cool, they are just a big rodent!

Are there any critters that you struggle to see a good reason for their existence?

Mistakes happen, but talk about inefficiency at its finest! Ordering online is as convenient as ever, but sometimes the ...
10/12/2026

Mistakes happen, but talk about inefficiency at its finest! Ordering online is as convenient as ever, but sometimes the shipping aspect sure can be frustrating!

Milan, IL to Champaign, IL, to Springfield, IL, to St. Louis, MO, back to Springfield, IL and back to Champaign, IL!

Who else has seen some crazy tracking information on a package that you ordered?

Higher temperatures and more bugs than I would have liked, but Emmett and I are trying for his first deer! We have heavy...
10/10/2026

Higher temperatures and more bugs than I would have liked, but Emmett and I are trying for his first deer! We have heavy trails and we are flanked by mock scrapes, so hopefully we can make something happen!

Who else is out there taking kids hunting during the Illinois youth season?

Do you share trail camera pictures and sightings with your neighbors? What do you think the pros and cons are of doing s...
10/09/2026

Do you share trail camera pictures and sightings with your neighbors? What do you think the pros and cons are of doing so?

The pictures below are of a buck that I first got pictures of back in 2020 as a 2.5 year old. He was well known in the area and multiple people were hunting him, until a neighbor got him in late 2023 as a 5.5 year old.

If you had the choice, would you tag a narly non-typical, or a clean typical?Non-typicals are super unique and I love th...
10/08/2026

If you had the choice, would you tag a narly non-typical, or a clean typical?

Non-typicals are super unique and I love the character, but there is also something special about a big symmetrical typical!

Comment below and let me know what you prefer.

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Bloomington, IL
61704

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+13095322668

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