Guided Hunts

We have worked hard to develop a truly Big Buck Haven since 1986. Our doe to buck ratio is approximately 3 to 1. The herd is estimated at 70 per square mile. 2008 will be our 19th year of offering heart pounding, world class trophy bow hunts in the most productive trophy white-tail spot in the nation, Brown County in western Illinois. We pride ourselves on providing a superior service for the dedicated hunter who wants a realistic opportunity to bag a true trophy class buck.

FULL-GUIDED HUNTS:
Our properties are rolling hardwood ridges, varying in height from 120 to 230 feet in elevation. Our creek bottoms have areas containing impenetrable briar patches. The majority of our trees are white, red, and black oaks. Approximately 85% of the hunt area is wooded. The woods are surrounded by small fields of corn, soybeans, clover or alfalfa. In the woods, we have cleared small areas of one to three acres for food plots of clover and winter wheat. Over 95% of the hunters see at least one Pope & Young buck in just 5-1/2 days. That's opportunity that makes HUNTING UNLIMITED not only a premier operation, but clearly a world class bow hunting operation and without trophy fees.

We have not had gun hunting on our premier guided property since 1994. This has resulted in the development of a true trophy area. Over 40 bucks in the last five years have scored high enough to make book. The largest buck taken to date scored a net of 212 3/8 P&Y and B&C.

This is not a fenced hunting area. Mark Redinger of Aliquippa, PA sighted 26 different bucks in just two days. Jim Tumulo of Levittown, PA saw 13 different bucks in one sit, and eight of them would score over our minimum requirements. We had 11 misses and 4 bucks hit that were not recovered in 2000. Over 50% of our hunters had shots at trophies in just a 5-1/2 day hunt. Normally shots from our stands are 12 - 20 yards.

We do have a management fee of $500.00 on any buck taken scoring less than 115" Pope & Young (including "button bucks"). Any hunter taking a buck netting over 150" Pope & Young will receive a $250.00 "Trophy Bonus", and anyone taking a doe will be able to deduct $100.00 off their next hunt if they re-book, and have their name entered in a drawing for a "Free Hunt" next year.

All hunters are assigned to a guide on their own area. It is our policy that hunters caught walking their area, or another hunter's area, will have their hunt terminated on the spot. No "I'm Sorry" accepted. We have scouted and selected the most productive stand locations. This eliminates personal scouting that could contaminate an area.

In September, I will send a questionnaire asking what height you prefer your stand (hopefully at least 18 feet), if you are right or left handed, wear rubber boots, use Scent-Lok, take any medication, have any disabilities, bringing a climbing stand, etc.

Our guides place stands to your specifications, wearing rubber boots, scent free clothing, and using rubber gloves. Guides will mark the trail to the stand using both "bright eyes" and orange tape and then exit in a different direction, again marking the trail, to provide an alternate approach for the best use of wind direction.

You are expected to arrive no later than 10:00 am the morning of your hunt. Contact us about NEW licensing laws in Illinois prior to your hunt. I will give an orientation and you will meet your guide. We begin our hunts after lunch the first day and hunt the following five days. Generally, you will hunt the same stand the next morning, if wind conditions are right.

Each day at lunch your guide will meet you, and you may come in to eat or we will pack a lunch for you. The guide will question you about the activity you observed on that stand as he moves you to the trail leading to a fresh stand. He will then return, and based on your observations, will move that stand. No one hunts in the same tree during the whole season. We have over 140 portable stands. It has spelled success for us.

Your guide will check every two hours at the head of the trail. If you hit or down a deer, you are to come to the head of the trail where your guide will assist in trailing or retrieving your deer. We have a walk-in cooler and freezer. You may quarter your deer and freeze it for the trip home or your guide will do this for $25.00 to $30.00. We also have a processor nearby that generally charges $50.00 to $75.00 (depending on size) to completely process.

October weather varies from highs of 55-75 degrees and lows from 40-60 degrees. Normal highs are around 60 and lows around 40 degrees. November varies from highs of 45-60 degrees and lows of 30-45 degrees. We haven't learned how to control Mother Nature yet.

The style and pattern of camouflage does not matter as much as the ability to sit still. These deer are not used to seeing or smelling humans and normally do not look up. We suggest you remain as scent-free as possible.

Guided Trophy Hunt Dates & Prices:



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