Let me say at the outset that for the most part I am no devotee of the 28 gauge. Most 28 gauge guns are far too light for serious shooting. The Benelli Legacy, for example, weighs a puny 4.9 pounds, and most other 28’s weigh about 5 ½ pounds. When you s
June 11th, 2012
Several years ago a U.S. maker of very fine bolt-action and single-shot rifles decided it wanted to get into the shotgun manufacturing business. The founder and president of the company was a devotee of light side-by-side game guns, with straight English
That time of the year has come when many folks think that the hunting season is over. While this may be true for deer and waterfowl, it is not the case for Upland Bird Hunting at Heartland Lodge. We had a busy fall and early winter season and our huntin
Our old and good friend Floyd Simone took this mature whitetail on the opening day of Illinois second gun season. Floyd had an incredible deer hunt, seeing 4 shooters! This buck is at least 7 years old and was in a brutal fight with another buck sometime
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
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
November 21st, 2011
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
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
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
November 17th, 2011
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
