A Hunting Honeymoon = The Perfect Honeymoon
In just a few days, some friends of ours will celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary and of course, seeing their anniversary on the calendar reminded me of their wedding several years ago. The groom is an avid hunter…and the bride was (and still is) his perfect match! Subtle hints throughout the ceremony and reception truly indicated the love for hunting and the outdoors that this couple shared. The groom and groomsmen even wore camouflage vests and ties! None of this was surprising…until the morning after the reception…when the groom headed off after breakfast to go hunting on the final day of deer season! His bride did not seem at all surprised…and I’m sure they had discussed his commitment to hunting long before he left…but what a way to spend your honeymoon! Keep reading…and I’ll explain how you can avoid this same scenario the morning after your wedding!
Destination Wedding for Hunters/ Couples Hunting Packages!
So, it seems that the time around Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day is a popular time when many couples become engaged. Are you the lucky girl who accepted a marriage proposal over the holidays? Or are you the nervous gentleman waiting to still get down on one knee? Either way, once the engagement ring is on her finger, it’s time to start planning the big day…AND the honeymoon!
As many of you know, Harpole’s Heartland Lodge is the perfect spot for a destination wedding or couples hunting package! And of course, a great place to spend your honeymoon. But many guests choose to do BOTH at Heartland by holding their wedding at the lodge AND spending their honeymoon there as well. Check out all of their luxury lodges with romantic suites or private luxury cabins for the perfect honeymoon!
But what happens now that you’ve gotten engaged and are trying to plan both a wedding AND a honeymoon with an avid hunter (like our friends)? Do you schedule your wedding around hunting season? There are certainly people who would respond with a resounding “YES” but truthfully, something as important as a wedding ceremony should not be scheduled around hunting season…especially if you hunt multiple seasons! I grew up with hunters, but can you tell my husband is not a hunter? What if I could tell you that there IS a solution to your dilemma and that there actually is a way to have your wedding AND your honeymoon during hunting season!
The Perfect Destination Honeymoon for Hunters!
So, girls…if your future husband loves to hunt but you have your heart set on a wedding date that just happens to fall during hunting season, don’t worry. Let him know that you understand that hunting season is very important to him…but that your chosen date is important as well…and then offer to go on a “Hunting Honeymoon!” A “Hunting Honeymoon” at Heartland Lodge would be even better…YOU get your luxurious suite (including a Whirlpool tub and fireplace) in one of their three lodges, home-cooked made-from-scratch brunch and dinner, and the comforts of their triple-sheeted, ultra-comfy beds and HE gets to go hunting in some of the Midwest’s prime hunting ground.
And guys, if your wife-to-be is going to be the hunter in the family, you would certainly be getting your marriage off on the right foot if you offered her a “Hunting Honeymoon”…and there is nothing wrong with that! YOU can enjoy all the natural beauty that the lodge has to offer, maybe practice up on your pool or shuffleboard skills, or just kick back and enjoy that book you’ve been wanting to read while SHE is enjoying the thrill of the hunt!
What makes this idea even better is if BOTH of you like to hunt! Can you imagine any better way to begin your marriage except by sharing your love of the outdoors and your love of hunting? Once the “I Do’s” have been said, and you’ve declared your love for one another in front of family and friends, take the time to enjoy each other while doing something you both enjoy and are passionate about!
Now comes the loaded question…what kind of hunting do you enjoy? Your “Hunting Honeymoon” will obviously depend on your actual wedding date but maybe you’ll set your wedding date according to hunting season. Heartland offers several different types of hunting…and I’m sure that there is at least one season (if not more), that will be perfect for the two of you.
Of course, the most obvious hunting season in Illinois and more specifically, Pike County, Illinois, is for Whitetail Deer. With Whitetail Deer, you have the option of hunting either during bow season or gun season…or both! And I didn’t know it until today but there is even a season for Whitetail Deer Shed Antler Hunting! I’m not a hunter but this may be something even I can do!
And even though I’m not a hunter, I did have the opportunity to experience Upland Bird Hunting and Waterfowl Hunting at the lodge back in December of 2013 while shooting photographs for a magazine article. From my experience, and the testimonials that I’ve read and heard, both of these hunting experiences are rated very highly by hunters from all over the country! From the guides to the dogs to the duck calling, everything is top-notch!
I certainly don’t want to forget about Turkey Hunting! Take advantage of the spring season and have a spring wedding followed by your “hunting honeymoon.” Unfortunately, I am not that familiar with the turkey hunting at the lodge but again, from everything I’ve read, it’s a great experience. And no matter what season you choose to get married and hunt in, you’ll want to check out the Sporting Clays course available at the lodge. Fifteen stations located on 25 acres will give you a chance to practice your shooting skills…and encourage a little competitiveness between you and your new spouse!
The testimonials from the many hunters who experienced the hunting side of the lodge…should only inspire you to give a “Hunting Honeymoon” a try! What do you have to lose? Sharing your passion with your new spouse will be a great way to bond…and begin a tradition that will last a lifetime!
Lori Biehl
(Twenty + )-Year-In-a-Row Guest
Last Updated: December 26th, 2023
This would be an awesome honeymoon for us we have been married for almost 23 years and never had a honeymoon and we both enjoy hunting
Good Morning my named is Cody Socha, I am looking to have a wedding next year in August or November. My fiancé and I and trying to have a country style wedding wedding we are both hunter and fishers and were looking into prices on either both the wedding and honeymoon at venue or just the honeymoon. We are from New Jersey. From the photos I saw your place is perfect for what we are trying to go for. I was wondering if you could give me some information about your place. Also we are trying to do a barbeque buffet style dinner. We are trying to have the ceremony and reception at one place, was wondering if you did all that. Also can you bridle party go hunting before the wedding or during the wedding? If you could please inform us of any information we might need to know about having a wedding at your venue. we are looking to have 120 people at our wedding.
Can you also send me price on the honeymoon only?
If you could please send me some photo and pricing
Thank you for your time
Hi Cody! Thank you for your comment. We will email you answers to all your questions. I look forward to hosting this very special event. Thank you! Gary
My husband and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary on November 1, 2017 and would love some information on a couples deer hunt.
Hi Paula! We would love to be a part of your 20th wedding anniversary! I will email you more information. Thanks! Gary
Hello, my name is Megan and I am from Alaska. My fiance and I would love to get more information from you; photos and prices! We are searching for the perfect place to have a hunting honeymoon in December 2017! Thanks in advance.
Hi Megan! We love visitors from Alaska! 🙂 We will email you some information. Looking forward to possibly having you stay with us for your honeymoon!
Hi, my name is Trista. My husband and I would love more info on a couples hunt. We are interested in doing a couples hunt for our anniversary in the 2017 season.
Hello! My fiance and I are interested in a hunting honeymoon as well! We are getting married Sept 2017. Could you send me information as well as pricing for a honeymoon and hunt ? Thank you!
Hello. I am planning our honeymoon. We are have a true SHOTGUN wedding at the gun club we normally shoot sporting clays at, in July. Please tell me more about your sporting clays course and any other sporting clays in your area, please.
Tiff
My fiance and I both love to hunt and will be getting married in august 2018 would love price info for both of us to bag two nice bucks!
can u please send me info on couples deer hunting and prices for this upcoming 2017 season . We would love to come in sept. Oct. or November .
Sure Rodney. Will email you some information. Thanks! Gary
Can you please send me the information for the hunting wedding packages. We are looking for November 2018. I have been miserable looking at cruises and decided maybe other people would rather marry and hunt! Looking for a nice room with a private hot tub and somewhere to explore the woods maybe do some hunting. 🙂
Hello,
I am wanting to get more information on what you offer here for a Honeymoon for my fiance and I. We look forward to speaking with you! (:
Hey was trying to get a price on a couples honeymoon hunt package of some sort. We both love the outdoors and would love some more information please.
I’m getting married on 10/21/2017. My fiancé and I are both big hunters. We are from Oklahoma. We came across your website while googling for adventure/hunting honeymoons. We both have always wanted to hunt for Whitetail in Illinois. Please send me info on any availability and packages you offer! Thanks! We are interested in both archery and rifle.
Do ya’ll still offer the honey moon hunts, any information would be greatly appreciated.
My fiance and I are getting married a few days before bow season in 2018 and wanted to look into an archery whitetail hunt for our honeymoon. Please send me any information and packages you offer. Thanks in advance.
Hi My husband and I both love to hunt.He has taught me everything I know about hunting. We have been married happily for 26 years. I would love to surprise my husband for our anniversary with a couples monster buck hunt for our anniversary. Please send me some information.
Thank you
Maria Tidwell
Hi! Me and my fiancé are planning a wedding in September of 2018 and are looking for a honeymoon place this place looks great would love to have some more information on the place can you still deer hunt for like 3 days and have a honeymoon on top of that would like some rates on all of this combined
Thanks,
I’m looking for prices for the hunting honeymoon. I’m getting married on October 26,2018 and that would be perfect for us.
Would love info on couples hunting packages for our anniversary
Would love more info/rates on the honeymoon, this sounds perfect ! We are from south Carolina and are getting married fall of 2019!
Hi my name is Narali and my fiancé and I are from Miami. We’ve always wanted to go hunting, but of course we live in Miami and we have never gone hunting but have always been dying to do it. So we thought it would be a great idea to go hunting for our honeymoon. I would like more information on your packages, the prices and what does it include and what not. I would love to hear back from you. Thank you
Would like info on couples packages.
Me and my boyfriend are looking for a get away and would like to know more information.
Looking for a weekend getaway in December, would like to know more info!
I would like to know rates for the honeymoon experience.
I was looking for more information on the packages about this upcoming hunting season 2019 for a couple! Thank you
Honeymoon experience rates for 2019/2020 both very interested
I wish I would have known about this when I got married to my hunting obsessed husband 11 years ago LOL. We never did do a honeymoon & it’s been 11 years 🙁 Fingers crossed & now I know where we are going someday when we find the chance!!! Thanks for the info. & idea!!! ❤️
Looking for more information as far as details and pricing for the honeymoon hunting package.
Hello Jamie, we will send you an email regarding our different packages for honeymoons. You can also give us a call at 217-734-2526 to talk to someone directly about our honeymoon hunting packages. Thank you!!
Looking to get more info for 2019
Hi Richard, We will send you an email.
Am already married(45yrs)6 kids,18grandkids,would love to have a late honeymoon turkey hunting there.
Congratulations Ralph, that sounds like a big family! If you are interested in a turkey hunt, let us know! It is one of our guest favorite activity at the lodge. Thanks!
I’m looking for an anniversary hunting trip for me and my husband in October. And this looks like US!! Can you please email me some info. Thank you😊
my wife and I are interested in a couples hunt please let me know what is available.
My love of my life and I have been together for 7 year and we both love to hunt.i have hunted for 50 years she just got her fist deer last year so would like a tex so she doesn’t know about this .to see about a wedding and hunt for both of us 509 952 0349
Can you send me info on the honeymoon hunt. And prices. Also payment plan options. And when the next available whitetail hunt is. Thank you
Hello, my name is Trey Choate, I am recently engaged to the love of my life. I’ve been a lifelong hunter, and over the past several years I’ve been teaching and sharing my love for hunting and the outdoors with my fiancé, Alex. Seeing her love and skill of both rifle and bow hunting whitetail deer grow has been an amazing adventure. We’ve always talked about a possible hunting honeymoon when we get married and now it’s finally time to plan it. I would love to get prices and details on packages for a honeymoon hunt in November 2021. Thanks in advance!
Hello! My fiancé and I are getting married this coming July and would love to know more about your honeymoon package and possible couple hunts. Would love more information on this! Thanks in advance
can I please get more info about this package
Hey! My husband and I are looking to have our ceremony in late October of 2022. (We’re already married) looking to go on a couples hunting honeymoon. Would love the details and pricing of the couples hunting honeymoon. Thank you!
can u please send me info on couples deer hunting and prices for this upcoming 2022 season . We would love to come in october. We are getting married and want a hunting trip for our honeymoon.