I live in Illinois where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi River. For decades this was a great place to duck and goose hunt. As of the last 5-7yrs it has gradually changed and you don’t see near the waterfowl that you used to. Waterfowl hunters are transitioning to predator hunters, which is cramping me because I have had access to thousands of acres of farmland to hunt coyotes, that are now being hunted by the new guys. Here in Illinois “deer leases” are a very expensive thing with people paying 3k-15k a year to have a chance to shoot a decent buck. Growing up in Michigan with access to thousands of acres of national forest and state land, I refuse to pay to hunt a whitetail here, or anywhere. The competition for hunting permission on land here in Illinois (which is mostly private land) has made me realize that I’d rather go out west big game hunting for a 10-15 day trip once a year. I enjoy the western atmosphere, the drive, the scenery, and the weather.
Guys from around here used to go to Iowa or the dakotas to hunt pheasant, but the bird numbers have dropped due to big ag practices and predators. I don’t feel right shooting birds at a “hunting club”
There is a ton of small game here to hunt, but for the time and effort, rabbits and squirrels aren’t my thing.
For exotics, I havent put much thought into it. My one friend paid to go shoot pigs in Texas last year and had fun, but paid almost as much as I would for a big game tag out west.
Do what you want to while your here. Time is short and goes by fast.