Its Time to Purchase your 2012 Illinois Archery Permits It’s time to apply for your non-resident archery tag. The application period for the non-resident lottery is June 1 – June 30, 2012. Hunters will be able to start the application process on June 1st at 12:01 am. If you are a group leader please inform e... Read the full story

The Turkey Woods This past weekend I made my last trip into the turkey woods for the season. My cousin came up to Iowa to hunt with me and we had a great time together as usual. To top it off, he got to take a real nice gobbler back home to Illinois. The hunt did not st... Read the full story

Aaron Tippin Visits Heartland Lodge Another memory created at Heartland Lodge.... Read the full story

Taste A Bit of History with Home-Cooked Meals!! Here it is! The blog that you have all been waiting for -- the secrets behind the incredible home-cooked meals at Heartland Lodge! If you’ve already eaten at the lodge, then you know precisely what I am talking about. And if you have never been to the... Read the full story

Venezuela Hunter Shoots His First Turkey As the Illinois turkey season comes to a close, I start looking back on the memories made this season with the hunters at Heartland Lodge. An extremely warm and early spring was the last thing we wanted to see while gearing up for what we hope would be a... Read the full story

Hummingbird Migration Heads North to Illinois! My little bluebird friend at Heartland Lodge told me just the other day that he was beginning to see hummingbirds around the hummingbird feeders at the lodge. Does this mean that the hummingbird migration has begun? Wanda has always had birds around her... Read the full story

Country Roads + Little Bit of History = Great Weekend Getaway! Are you looking for a great little weekend getaway where you can explore the countryside while adding in a little bit of history? Well, look no further than Harpole’s Heartland Lodge, nestled in the countryside of Pike County, Illinois. Have I peaked yo... Read the full story

Turkey Season Ends with Good Signs for the Deer Season With one of the toughest turkey seasons coming to end its makes a guide smile knowing how many tags got filled throughout the spring turkey hunting season. With mid-march hitting temperature in the mid to high 80’s for almost two weeks everything was jump... Read the full story

Birds of Illinois in Pike County-Spring Report I used to hunt but now in my senior years, my greatest pleasure comes from birding activities. Birding comes with challenges similar to hunting in that one must know something about the life history of the birds in order to know when they will be present... Read the full story

Looking for that Treasure...Let's Go Antique Shopping! My mom and I just returned from a short trip to Branson, MO – where we were able to spend some great mother/daughter time together. I was hoping to swing by an antique mall there that we came across a few years ago, but when we drove into the parking lot... Read the full story