General Hunting Blog

Many years ago, when I was a boy, I went on my first Muskie fishing trip with a friend. We fished for eight hours and only had one swirl at a top water lure the entire day! After we loaded up the boat and were in the truck, my friend said, “wasn’t that an awesome

IL hunting outfiiter

Thank you for booking your whitetail hunt with us! I’m sure you are excited to hunt whitetails in Pike County, Illinois! I want your hunt to be everything you expect! I have learned from outfitting whitetails for over a quarter century, that expectations can vary greatly from one hunter to another. The information I am

Quail hunting shot sizes

The deep south offers many great foods, but I was turned on to Buffalo Fried Quail many years ago at a dinner after a field trial in Lumpkin, GA.  The trial was run on a long pine plantation that looked like it had been transplanted from a famous panting. When the trial was over, and

Orvis endorsed upland hunting at heartland lodge

One of the biggest differences from Harpole’s Heartland Lodge and other upland hunting outfitters & lodges is our luxury accommodations and amazing home-cooked meals! There are many upland hunting preserves and upland hunting outfitters. Some of them have good birds and dog work. But how many have the option for 5 Star Accommodations and a

Guided Bird Hunts at Heartland Lodge

It’s that time of the year again when the days in the field turn to memories of last year’s hunts.  But it is also the most important time of the year, time to start preparing for a good breeding season and making the changes in habitat to better service your bird population.  Be sure to

Gearing Up For Pheasant Hunting

One of the best parts of pheasant hunting is it’s simplicity. There are no decoys or calling. Pheasant hunting is all about the hunter and his or her quarry matching wits. Sometimes the hunter is successful, sometimes the birds win.

best youth turkey hunting outfitters

An upland/ turkey combo hunt is the perfect way to spend a spring day at Heartland Lodge! In the mornings enjoy hunting wild Eastern turkeys in the beautiful rolling hardwoods of Southern Pike and Northern Calhoun Counties where an abundance of turkeys can be hunted. After a hearty, home-cooked lunch prepared by our chef, head

Pheasant hunting in March in Illinois

What weather we are having. This has been one of the mildest winters that I can recall. Most folks agree that we have really been spoiled by Mother Nature this year. Our Upland Hunting at Heartland continues to be very productive and we will continue w

bringing your own dog to an orvis lodge

Wingshooting is one of the most time-honored traditions, linking like-minded people from coast to coast together by fine pointing dogs and fine guns. Since the birth of the United States, the chase of upland game was done for necessity, sport, and excitement. Hunting preserves, like the Orvis, endorsed Harpole’s Heartland Lodge, seek to keep these

Late Season Turkey Hunting

Hunting turkeys during the late season brings on a whole new set of challenges. Pressured birds, insects, and foliage can make hunting turkeys in the late season tough. If you can get passed the swarms of mosquitoes and buffalo gnats, hunting the end of the season does have a unique set of advantages. Use the