Outfitters Hunting

Visit Heartland Lodge for legendary Pike County Illinois deer hunting, in one of the finest whitetail deer hunting lodges & outfitters in the country! Heartland Lodge is located in the middle of incredible Illinois deer hunting country. Located between the Mississippi and Illinois River drainages, Heartland provides habitat that is perfect for large whitetail bucks. The four key ingredients to having a quality deer herd are all found at Harpole’s deer hunting lodge & outfitter. You must have genetics, food, habitat, and a good age structure to produce monster bucks and quality whitetail deer hunting. The genetics here in Illinois are the best in the country. The food and habitat could not be better. With a strict management program in place to preserve growth, Heartland has it all when hunting for incredible whitetail bucks.

Harpole’s Lodge owns and leases thousands of acres of the best hunting ground in Pike County, Illinois’ deer hunting territory. The land is scouted year round, thus Heartland is not just a seasonal operation. We are working for you not only in the fall, but all year to assure you the best deer hunt possible. Heartland’s reputation precedes itself as one of the finest whitetail deer hunting lodges & outfitters ever opened to the public.

Our goal is to have 100% satisfaction for each deer hunter. Compare us with other whitetail deer hunting lodges & outfitters. You won’t be disappointed. We are among the finest in the country – and the only Orvis-approved hunting lodge in Illinois.

Illinois Bow Hunting Packages

Six-Night, Five-Day Package – Arrive the night before between 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Hunt five full days and depart after breakfast on your sixth day. Archery deer hunts are what we specialize in. If you are an archery hunter, you will feel at home at Heartland. Our Illinois bow hunting deer packages are the hunt of a lifetime!

Four-Night, Three-Day Package – Available in October, December and January. (Whitetail deer hunting in January is a local favorite.)

Seven-Night, Six-Day Archery-Muzzleloader Combo Package – Arrive on Monday between 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Hunt three full days of archery and then hunt three full days of muzzleloader. This whitetail deer hunt usually falls on the second week and weekend of December.

Ask about our Doe Derby deer hunts in December & January.

Fall Turkey Hunt Option – Enjoy bow hunting an elusive gobbler while in your stand. You can have the option of hunting both turkeys and whitetails during your fall hunt.

Illinois Gun Hunting Packages (Shotgun or Muzzleloader)

Four-Night, Three-Day November Package – Arrive on Thursday between 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Gun hunt three full days and depart on Monday after breakfast. This Illinois firearm deer hunt usually falls the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Five-Night, Four-Day December Package – Arrive on Wednesday between 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Hunt four full days and depart on Monday after breakfast. This Illinois gun deer hunt usually falls the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Four-Night, Three-Day Muzzleloader Package – Arrive on Thursday between 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Hunt three full days and depart on Monday after breakfast. This Illinois muzzleloader deer hunt usually falls on the second weekend of December.

Seven-Night, Six-Day Archery-Muzzleloader Combo Package – Arrive on Monday between 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Hunt three full days of archery and then hunt three full days of muzzleloader. This archery and muzzleloader deer hunt usually falls on the second week and weekend of December.

Four-Night, Three-Day Firearm Doe Hunts – There are two doe only gun seasons in Illinois. The first doe hunt normally starts on the last Thursday of the year and ends on Sunday. Doe hunters arrive on Wednesday and depart on Monday. For the second doe season, our hunters arrive on Thursday between 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Hunt three full days and depart on Monday after breakfast. This deer hunt is in January.

For all gun tags, you need to contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Please call 217-782-7305 to have the application sent to you, or visit them online at .

Whitetail Deer Shed Hunting

Enjoy hunting for some of the largest whitetail buck sheds in North America. All you have to do is book a room at the lodge and you have access to our properties on the days you are staying. Go to our shed antler hunting page for more info.

The buck pictured on the right is called the “Goody” buck. This buck was found while shed hunting. If you would like to read the amazing story, just go to “The Goody Buck.”

Where Are We?
Heartland Lodge is in Pike County, Illinois, (Illinois deer hunting capital) northeast of St. Louis, Missouri and southwest of Springfield, Illinois. Click here for directions and a map.

Rooms
All of our hunts are booked double occupancy. Private rooms and luxury suites are available for an additional charge. Please view our virtual tours of the Original Lodge, New Lodge and Rooms to get a better idea of our accommodations.

Groups – Size And Level Of Experience
We welcome seasoned veterans and those who are just learning how to deer hunt. With deer hunting tips and strategies from our guides, your group is sure to have an incredible time. We limit our whitetail hunters to 12-16 per week, depending on the time of year. Additional upland and waterfowl hunters may be staying at the lodge during your hunt.

How To Secure A Spot Every Year?
You may reserve a spot each year by signing a year-to-year contract. Please ask about this if you are interested.

Deposit Policy
A payment of 50% of your total hunt is due when making your reservations.

Cancellation Policy
If you cancel before June 1st of year arriving at Harpole’s Heartland Lodge, your deposit will be refunded less 10% of total hunt. No refunds are given after June 1st.

Transportation
Lambert St. Louis International Airport is the closest major airport. For private planes, Quincy and Pittsfield airports are the closest. Visit our directions page for directions for driving to the lodge.

Important Whitetail Deer Hunting Info