First and foremost, our hunts are for serious deer hunters that want stand time, not couch time. If you are looking for a hunt to just spend time hanging out at the lodge, this hunt is not for you. You will hunt out of treestands (ladders and lock-ons), groundblinds, and Penthouses(elevated shooting houses).
During rut hunts (typically from Halloween to 1st gun season), we encourage our hunters to sit on stand all day. Many of our top bucks have been taken between 10 am and 2 pm during the rut.
We go the extra mile in our management philosophy to make sure our deer hunting is:
- Unpressured
- Quality
- Unforgettable
To put it simply, We Do Things Right. Our management philosophy has allowed us to consistently maintain an 80% opportunity ratio over the last 4 years. That philosophy is what we like to call the "7 Strategies for Success." These strategies are listed below:
7 Strategies for Success
- Scent Control
- Pressure Management
- Scouting
- Stand Placement
- Food Plots
- Sanctuaries
- Decoys and Calling
Scent Control
A whitetail deer's #1 goal, other than 2-3 weeks of the year, is to survive. Nothing else. You're hunting his home area, his backyard. To consistently bag trophy bucks, scent control is our top priority. A whitetail's #1 defense is his nose. If you go to the field smelling of anything foreign the game is over. We will do our best to help you "play" the wind and place you in the correct stands. However, it's your job to make sure to wear scent suppression clothing, spray down with scent elimination spray, and get dressed in the field.
No smoking is allowed in the field or while on stand. While scent suppression clothing isn't 100% foolproof, it could allow you that extra 10-15 yards to get your buck closer. Hunting is not allowed until scent control measures are taken.
Guidelines
Bucks must be at least 130" gross Pope & Young to harvest, unless it is an older mature buck that needs taken out of the herd. Any buck harvested under 130" will be fined $750 - No Exceptions. We strongly encourage you to look for signs of maturity before shooting, as many of our bucks can score 130-140" as 2 1/2 year old bucks. To allow bucks to reach their full potential we prefer 4 1/2 year old and older deer to be taken.
Hunters must remain in their stands. If a buck is harvested, call one of the guides and they will assist you with tracking and recovery of the animal. Walking around and "scouting" will not be tolerated. Many of our stands are placed very close to bedding areas and the risk of bumping whitetails from their beds cannot be taken.
A 50% deposit and signed contract are required to book a whitetail hunt. Hunting dates are not guaranteed until deposit and contract are received.
Season Dates
For exact season dates, license and permit information please go to the IL Dept. of Natural Resources website at http://dnr.state.il.us.
