Upland Bird Hunting

Heartland Lodge is always my favorite place to come and hunt.  The food is exceptional and the employees are helpful and friendly.  This was my fourth visit and won't be the last.

Don't change a thing! I have been a lot of places and this tops them all! Everything from Matt making us laugh on the sporting clay range to Brad and his team of dogs that blew my mind in the field. These guides are so fun and friendly. Then top it off with the amazing lodge, service, and food. I haven't stopped smiling since I arrived at Heartland and I'm sure I will drive everyone back home crazy talking about this trip for months. Thank you so much for an unbelievable trip!

Didn't want to leave!

We did not receive a survey upon departure, but I felt I HAD to brag on you guys! The past 11 years I listened to my husband talk about hunting trips-FINALLY-this past week I got to go on my FIRST hunting trip. I am SO GLAD my first trip was at your lodge with Terry & his dogs. I could not have asked for a better trip. The lodge, THE FOOD, the land, the people-*Terry*, "Yankee", Resa, Melissa, & Shannon... everything & everybody was awesome. And Terry's dogs--loved every, single one of them--so smart! I can't thank Terry enough for being such a great guide! Patient, hard-working, hilarious, self-esteem booster, great teacher...ETC.! Thank you ALL for the hospitality. I hope to be back next year. AND if you ever decide to share your recipes, please put me at the top of your list to receive them! :)

This is the second trip to Harpole's Heartland Lodge for a great experience once again.  We did the upland hunt last year and a combo hunt during this stay.  Great lodge, staff, and guests.  Guides are second to none and show my son the love of hunting which he can't get enough of. We will be back.

Overall, our experience was wonderful.  We enjoyed being members of the Heartland Lodge family.  Terry Abney was a wonderful guide and we enjoyed hunting with him and his dogs.  The overall upland hunting experience is top notch and I can't think of anything else to make it better.  Hope we can come back again in the future!

Absolutely Amazing.  Best hunting experience of my life.  I will always remember this trip.  Our guide, Terry, is amazing.  Truly great guy and one hell of a guide!

Loved our first father/son hunt.  Luke is asking to go again already.  I think we will make it a tradition.  Truly a family feel for the lodge.  I would recommend it to anyone in the St. Louis area who would like to experience outdoors/hunting. 

The Heartland Lodge and experience EXCEEDED my expectations!  From the moment we arrived at the lodge we were treated like kings!  From Miss Wanda to the staff (Chefs and Servers) to the awesome guides (Derek and Roger) all were focused on first rate customer service to ensure our experience!  Terry was an excellent manager and top notch communicator.  Keep up the amazing work.  You should be extremely proud of the great product you have created!

First Experience at Heartland Lodge and we had an awesome time!  Five of us did a One Day Premium Upland Hunt.  Accommodations, food, service and personnel were second to none.  Hopefully this will be an annual trip for the men in our family!

My first visit to Harpoles Heartland Lodge exceeded my expectations.  Top shelf, first class accommodations and meals.  Roger our guide, his dogs Emma, Quincy and Dot were the best two days in the field I have ever experienced.  Thanks to Wanda and her staff for making us feel at home.

As an experienced world traveler who commonly stays at 5-Star resorts, I have not seen the quality of service at the afore-mentioned resorts that I have witnessed here.  With respect to the Upland Hunt, it is second to none.  Guides, dogs, hospitality and most importantly patience prevails.  I can't wait to bring family and friends.

Meals and rooms were great.  Guides loved their jobs and did a great job.  Dogs for Upland were trained very well.  Lots of fun and will be back in the future.  Thanks Wanda and Gary!!!!

You guys run a top notch operation. The food, guides - personal ARE second to none!. The dogs are the best I have hunted with. When you can joke and cut up with your guide it makes for a fun experience, one that I will never forget. I had the time of my life and can't wait to return. Thanks for everything!" 
 

We had an amazing time! The place and property are top notch! Brad was very good at his job and his dogs are unbelievable! He was very personable. I can't think of anything to improve upon. Ms. Wanda couldn't be more accommodating and friendly! :)

Thank you all!!!!!!!!!

Jim and our 2 sons have enjoyed many days hunting pheasants at Harpole's, but this was my first hunt. Terry made it so special for me. He was so professional, patient, and reassuring as he guided me toward my very first pheasant! What a wonderful experience we had. I am looking forward to next time. Thank you all!

I will be mailing in my survey shortly but I don’t think the survey does it justice.  First off, your lodge and grounds were beautiful.  Immaculate.  Second, you and your staff made us feel at home from the first phone call to the time we checked out.  Miss Wanda was just as nice as she could be and it was a pleasure to meet her.  Finally, Terry Abney worked his butt off.  That man is a keeper!  The hunting conditions really couldn’t have been worse – very warm for weeks heading into our hunt and warm and windy when we were there.  I felt bad for the dogs!  It was very hard to pick up a scent and I thought they were going to have a heart attack  zig- sagging all over those fields in the heat.  Later in the afternoon, Terry used the dogs sparingly and turned himself into a guide dog, spotting and flushing birds.  (Now, imagine Terry – a man of substance – doing his version of pointing and flushing!)  The bottom line: we had a blast AND we still got our share of birds.  Wouldn’t have traded it.  As we talked about at breakfast, hunting is so much more than live target shooting and there’s no replacing that time and experience I had with my son.  Terry played a big role in making sure that experience was a life memory.  Not too much we can say other than thank you.  In fact, the whole staff – cooks, servers, housekeepers – you really have created a special retreat. 

We will be back.  I have to plan the next outing.  Maybe a Fall turkey hunt but I’ll have to plan for that yet.  I’m definitely making the spring break upland hunt a family tradition with you.

Comfortable lodge, great service, great guides, comfy beds...Great Trip!

Great experience and overall attention to detail was incredible!

What a wonderful experience! The accommodations were excellent! Terry was an outstanding guide and so were the dogs! Can't wait to return next fall!

Everything was very nice and comforting! The hunting was the best!!

Roger was great! I enjoyed the staff and lodge also. Terry made sure everything was perfect each day. I can not say enough about Roger he was a class act. I will be back in the future. Thank you Wanda and Gary for a great week!