Will County, Illinois · Hunt · Trap · Fish
Midwest hunting,
straight to your inbox.
I'm Dave. I hunt, trap, and fish around Illinois and wherever the birds take me. Every week in season I'll send you what's worth knowing: dates, conditions, public-land ideas, and what's working for me.
Free. One email a week during the season. Unsubscribe anytime.
The Faxel Outdoors Newsletter
What you get every week
Seasons & dates
Openers, closers, and deadlines for Illinois and the neighbors, so nothing sneaks up on you.
Rut & migration
What the deer and ducks are doing right now, and when it's worth burning a vacation day.
Public land ideas
Spots, access tips, and scouting thoughts for folks who don't have a private lease.
Trapping & how-to
Sets, gear, and the stuff I wish somebody had told me when I started.
How-To & Recipes
Start with the guides
How to Clean a Pheasant (Fast, No Knife Needed)
How to clean a pheasant the fast way, with no knife needed. Step-by-step breasting, saving the legs, checking for shot, and keeping the meat clean and cold.
How to Set a 110 Conibear for Muskrat
How to set a new, tight 110 Conibear trap with a piece of paracord, plus trigger settings, muskrat set placement, and Illinois trapping rules to know.
My Easy Venison Chili Recipe
An easy venison chili recipe with ground deer meat, peppers, chili beans, and tomatoes. Simple ingredients, one pot, and big flavor from wild game.
Meet Dave
Hunter, trapper, and the guy behind Faxel Outdoors
Will County, Illinois. Upland birds, deer, fur, and fishing, shared plain and honest.
Featured series
The Grouse Quest
Nine grouse species across North America, from ruffed grouse in the aspen to ptarmigan above treeline. American Grouse Hunters is my project to build a registry for hunters chasing the Core 9 on public land, with fair chase and real habitat giving built in.
Newsletter readers get the trip reports and planning notes first.
Hunting land
Looking to buy or sell hunting land?
I'm a licensed Illinois real estate broker who hunts. Read my buyer and seller guide to Illinois hunting ground: access, timber, CRP, water, habitat, and the paperwork that matters.
Dave Faxel, Licensed Real Estate Broker, NextHome Select Realty · 815-314-0731 · IL license #471.019671 · Equal Housing Opportunity
Coming soon
Guides & gear
Illinois Public-Land Scouting Guide
Where to start, what to look for, and how I'd scout it if I were new.
Trapping for Beginners
A start-to-finish course on getting your first line out legally and safely.
Faxel Outdoors Merch
Shirts, hats, and decals, plus Grouse Quest gear.
Don't miss the good weeks.
Seasons go fast. Get the newsletter and I'll keep you posted.
Free. One email a week during the season. Unsubscribe anytime.