Two Chances at a 192" Boone and Crockett Whitetail!! Our good friend Ron Way from Arizona harvested this buck of a life time on the last morning of his hunt. This main frame 10 with a small kicker off the left sides scores 192"!! Ron and his guide Matt "Yankee" Brunet stayed focused on this brusier knowing... Read the full story

Vincent McPhillips Makes an Incredible Memory with his Family Vincent McPhillip decided we wanted to start a tradition four years ago, hunting the opening weekend of Illinois gun season at Harpole’s Heartland Lodge, with his son Matthew. Each year one or the other would harvest a buck, but this year they both had hu... Read the full story

Kevin Keith's 150" Forked G3 11pt Our new friend Kevin Kieth took this awesome buck on the last day of his hunt. He and his guide Kris Strickland did an amazing job in the final hours of his hunt. Great job Kevin and Kris!! (There is no video as it was to dark)... Read the full story

2012 Hunts Available Now is the time to reserve your 2012 hunting dates, especially if you want to come during a prime time. We are coming off an incredible 2011 season with the majority of our hunters rebooking for 2012. Despite very windy and warmer than normal conditions... Read the full story

Tony Childers 135" 9pt Tony took this very wide 135" 9pt on the second day of his hunt. Tony passed up two shooters on the first day. Tony was impressed with the wide rack this buck had. Congratulations Tony!!... Read the full story

145" November Whitetail Bobby took this nice 9pt on the last day of his hunt. Congratulations Bobby!... Read the full story

140" November 9pt Whitetail Our good friend Bart Leswick takes another nice buck at Heartland. Bart has hunted whitetails at Heartland the past four years in a row. He has killed two nice bucks and has missed two. Bart enjoys hunting whitetail here in Illinois during the first week... Read the full story

John Morris' 140" 10pt Our new friend John Morris shot this nice 140" 10pt on the first morning of his hunt. John captured the whitetail hunt on film. He is filming for his tv show Backroad Outdoors! John and his father Bill had a incredible week full of memories that will last... Read the full story

Dennis Desilva 131" "Extra Tine" Buck Dennis Desilva took this unusual buck. Notice the extra beam coming out of its forhead. Dennis called this nice... Read the full story

Brad Doughty's Incredible Whitetail Hunt! Brad Doughty took this very mature buck (7yrs old) on the last morning of his whitetail archery hunt. Brad had been seeing shooters every day in the tree stand but just could not connect on one. He sat in the stand all day, ever day maximizing his opportu... Read the full story

McPillips Family Deer Hunting Tradition Continues The McPhillip family started a tradition four years ago, whitetail hunting at Heartland Lodge the opening weekend of Illinois gun season as a family. Dad (Vincent) hunts with Matthew while Mom (Joanne) enjoys the lodge and surrounding towns and area. Mat... Read the full story

John Mongello Jr is 100% on Bucks at Heartland John Mongello is two for two on hunts at Heartland Lodge. John took a monster 160" whitetail on his first hunt at Heartland and this year he shot this 130"! Congratulations John!!... Read the full story

David Ward's Combo Archery/Gun Hunt Our good friend David Ward harvested this heavy mass split brow 11pt. David had an incredible week of hunting. He first started out hunting the archery week before the shotgun season. David saw shooters almost every day and came very close to arrowing a b... Read the full story

The Weather Man Lies to Hunters As I flipped the calendar in my office to November 2011, I began to prepare for my pending vacation. I spent much of my time abusing my internet privileges to study the weather forecast on every available weather site on my favorites list. That would be... Read the full story

Gift Certificates Need a good idea? A gift certificate for a stay at Heartland Lodge is a perfect gift for that special someone on your list! This unique gift will be one that they will never forget and will sure to be used.... Read the full story

Ron Way's Monster Boone and Crockett Whitetail This would be my 3rd trip to Heartland Lodge and I've anticipated coming for the whole year as I have seen in the two previous times a B & C buck each year. Never close enough for a shot but just seeing one was enough to get me to come back. The first n... Read the full story

16yr old Matthew McPhillip's Memories of Hunting Whitetails in Illinois My family and I have been coming to Heartland Lodge for 4 years now and are planning to return for a fifth. When we first started coming I was only 12 years old and wasn’t even old enough to hunt. However I came with my parents hoping to see some of the m... Read the full story