Upland Bird Hunting

I’ve been coming to Heartland Lodge almost since the beginning. For the last 3 years, my hunting partner and I have made it a regular visit. The accommodations are great. The food, a real variety and always plenty of it. (I always figure that since we’re hunting in the morning and again in the afternoon, we’ll walk it off. At least that’s my excuse!) The guides and dogs are great. We’ve had Rod a couple of times. Easy going, friendly, and he knows what he’s doing. He was running a pair each of English setters and shorthairs. All bird dogs I’d be proud to own. Staunch on point. Excellent retrievers. There’s a reason that Orvis and Shooting Sportsman endorse Heartland Lodge. Gary and Ms. Wanda are excellent hosts. It’s like coming to see old friends.

This trip was our 3rd trip in five years. Lodging and staff are superb! As a business owner myself, I am very proud of what the Harpoles have created and maintained as a top notch outfit. I look forward to introducing more people to this experience.

Three great trips in three years, back to back. It's easy to see why you're endorsed by Orvis and Shooting Sportsman.

I highly recommend Heartland Lodge! This was my fourth visit, and I will be back. Guide, dogs, birds were all top notch! The food was very good and everyone at Heartland is kind & courteous. They make the experience exceptional.

I love this place. Great hunting, great people, great food. Gary does a great job. I appreciate how everyone looks to make the experience memorable and last a lifetime. Coming back is what I look forward to!

Very hospitable, professional, safety conscious, efficient and great hosts. Accommodations were over the top with everything available. So much fun!

My grandpa and I had an awesome time. You guys are by far the best hunting lodge I have ever hunted with. Our guide Brad and the dogs were awesome. We will definitely be back for years to come!

Great experience! Food was delicious. Rachel and Mackinzie were wonderful. Rod was a phenomenal guide with his dogs, and helped me with my own dog. Highly recommend Gary and Harpole's Heartland Lodge!

Ben was our guide. Excellent job! Fantastic dogs, and Ben was very helpful, knowledgeable, and I enjoyed taking with him. The entire staff was very friendly and welcoming.

I had a wonderful time. The lodge was everything A hunting lodge should be and then some! All the guides were excellent and their dogs were great.

I had an awesome experience, beautiful lodges with great views. My guide Brad was great and had some hard working dogs with a good nose on them. I would hunt with him again with no worries.

The Lodge, the staff, and the food were all extraordinary. Eric is a terrific guide and a really nice guy. Very knowledgeable and friendly. The dogs were absolutely outstanding. A real pleasure to watch Eric and his dogs work together. Great job!

I quite literally had the time of my life! Everything in my mind was pretty close to perfect. Our guide Rod and his dogs were great! This was my first experience upland bird hunting and it could not have gone better! I came home and told my wife that I could do that every weekend for the rest of my life! Thank you to everyone who made the experience so great. A special thank you to Gary for being so gracious to all his guests. That personal touch from the owner made me feel appreciated and welcome.

I had an absolute fantastic time. I had not been hunting in a very long time, due to some health issues, and I was looking to relive past experiences. Rod and his faithful dogs brought back some great memories. My own English Setter passed away several years ago and it was great to get behind some setters again. His GSP was perfect too. Overall fantastic experience!

Amazing people, place and time. Fun people who are very good at what they do.

We have traveled extensively for upland game hunting and were delighted to find such a first class lodge and experience just a drive away from Chicago! We would like to know more about your waterfowl and deer hunting options as well. The quality of the quail, chukar and pheasants were amazing. The fields were beautiful and challenging just like we like them!

I was asked "how was your trip?" My response The Best Bird hunting of my life!. Very excited to return. September 29-30, 2022.

You're an Orvis endorsed operation, so I had very high expectations and you met every one of them. Eric and Kinzi are excellent guides!  Courteous, patient and professional. They are excellent dog handlers! Sept 21 - 26, 2022

I was very pleased with my experience at your lodge and planning on bringing my son to do a combo upland/waterfowl hunt next year. September 27-28, 2022

Excellent Accommodations! Super Friendly Staff! Beautiful Properties! September, 2022

We had a fantastic time. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. The food was great. Our guide was fantastic and a lot of fun. I was very Leary of hunting for the first time, but Rod made everything fun and easy. September, 2022

The Lodge, staff and food were excellent! Both of our guides were great and their dogs worked very well. September, 2022

This was the best hunting experience my group & I has ever had. We felt welcome & at home the moment we arrived. Your guides are great people! Your staff is also amazing! The hunting was excellent as well! January 23-25, 2022

This was the first time for us at the lodge. My Dad and I have hunted pheasant and quail before in Iowa and this trip was by far much more enjoyable. Our friend who went but didn't hunt walked with us and enjoyed it so much he may hunt next year. Rod the guide and his dogs were exceptional. I would go back just to talk with Rod and watch his dogs work! All staff was really nice to talk with as well. Already booked for next year. Can't wait to make more memories with my Dad and meet new friends! March 23-27, 2022

Good.. no GREAT experience - It was great seeing the same people. Servers/ hostess/ cooks each time. Also great to sit and talk to Gary! I would highly recommend your lodge for hunting or just to get away. Shawn, January 2022

Had a wonderful hunt and experience - my new 410 preformed flawlessly - love shotin' 410's. Huntin' with excellent dogs brought back many memories from our home hunts back in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's. We owned several super smart beagles, we always shot 410 single shots. Too much fun! Thanks again! Josh and Terry Nohl,  March 21 -22, 2022.

We had a terrific time. It was a true pleasure to hunt with Rod and his dogs. Moreover, Melissa was the ultimate hostess. She, and the entire staff treated us not only like family but cherished kinfolk they were excited to see! I don't know how it could have been any better! Joe Moreland, March 8 -10 2022.

Thanks so much!  Meals and Lodging were superior. Kinzi was an awesome guide! Or maybe her dogs were so good that made her look good? (Kidding - she was great!) Thoroughly enjoyed my brief visit. Thank you! Mark 3/10 - 3/11

The entire staff was very friendly and accommodating. Food was very good and plentiful at all meals. Our guide Eric and his dogs did a wonderful job. The hunt exceeded our expectations with plenty of opportunity. This was a great experience for our grandson, as this was his first upland hunt. Thank you all for a such a great time. Feb 10-13, 2022

My stepson and I had a great time at Heartland Lodge. This was our first time hunting pheasants and we now have a very memorable hunt to look back at. Our guide Brad and his dogs were top notch. The meals were the best and our cabin was outstanding! The staff went above and beyond. We will be recommending Heartland Lodge to all our friends. We would love to come back and add a deer hunt. Heartland Lodge is above 5 stars. You couldn't ask for a better place. February, 2022