 HuntingReport.com |
Subscriber-Written Trip Report On Illinois Hunting |
Below is one sample of such a Report which is made available to you FREE of Charge.
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DATE
AND PLACE OF HUNT |
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| Report
ID: |
8980 |
Weapon
Used: |
Rifle |
How
Hunt Was Conducted? |
Guided |
| Date
of Hunt: |
November 16, 2012 to November 18, 2012 |
| Place
of Hunt: |
United States Illinois Clark County |
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OUTFITTER,
GUIDE AND BOOKING AGENT DETAILS |
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| Outfitter
(or safari company): |
Michael Zachary; Zack's Whitetail Expeditions. 12398 North 1330th Street; Martinsville; IL; 62442;; Tel. 217-232-7382;; Email: zack@zackswhitetailexpeditions.com; Web http://www.zackswhitetailexpeditions.com; |
| Personal
Guide (if any): |
Scottie |
| Booking
Agent (if any): |
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Trip
Arrangements
(if self-guided): |
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| License
Required: |
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GAME
DESCRIPTION |
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| Major
Game Animals Taken: |
Deer, Whitetail - Availability: Abundant - Trophy Size: Very good |
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| Game
Sought But Not Taken: |
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| Game
Condition Comments: |
Lots of deer, and numerous bucks but, as anywhere, the big ones are hard to come by. |
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SERVICE
RATINGS (excellent, good, fair or poor) |
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| Quality
of Outfit: |
Excellent |
Guide/PH
Ability: |
Excellent |
| Condition
of Camp: |
Excellent |
Condition
of Equipment: |
Excellent |
| Quality
of Food: |
Excellent |
Trophy
Care: |
Excellent |
| Name
of Airline: |
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Airline
Service: |
N/A |
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COSTS |
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| Hunting
Fees: |
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Amount: |
$3000 |
| Trophy Fees: |
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Amount: |
$0 |
| Permits/Licenses: |
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Amount: |
$350 |
| Commercial
Airfares: |
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Amount: |
$0 |
| Charter Airfares: |
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Amount: |
$0 |
| Other Costs: |
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Amount: |
$0 |
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SUMMARY
REMARKS |
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| Problems
of Hunt: |
Wasn't really a problem, but sometimes there may be locals hunting adjoining properties, as the gun season is very popular. This can actually be good, as it can get the deer up and moving. |
| Highlights
of Hunt: |
Taking my first whitetail in the U.S., a very nice 8-point, which was also my first with my custom smokeless muzzleloader. |
| Equipment
Recommendations: |
A comfortable seat cushion if you plan to sit in a treestand all day. |
| Would You
Recommend This Hunt to a Friend? |
yes |
| Why? |
Great people, great food, reasonable price, and a good chance to take a real wall hanger. Zack only takes 4-6 gun hunters, so this is NOT a high-volume, revolving door outfitter. This is a small but quality operation that provides personal service and a 1:1 guide ratio. |
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HUNTER
INFORMATION |
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| Hunter
Name: |
Don Sangster |
| Contact
Information: |
Tel. 416-933-5744 - 2455 Conquest Drive | Mississauga | Ontario | Canada | E-mail: donsangster2@sympatico.ca |
| Hunting Experience: |
Extensive |
| Physical Condition: |
Good |
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IMPORTANT
NOTES (actions taken if hunter unhappy with hunt) |
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| Notified Outfitter? |
Notified Personal Guide? |
Notified Booking Agent? |
| Seeking any
kind of restitution or other settlement from agent, outfitter
or guide? |
| If Seeking Restitution, What is Sought? |
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ADDITIONAL
HUNTER COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL |
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From what I understand, the 2012 drought in the U.S. mid-west caused the SE Illinois corn crop to largely fail. The soy bean crop was close to a failure as well. However, by all accounts, the acorn crop was bumper. I was concerned about the impact of the drought on trophy quality, but pre-season trail camera photos showed lots of big bucks, and the guides reported seeing more big bucks this year prior to hunting season than anyone could previously recall. Unfortunately, once the hunting started, the trophy bucks did a bit of a vanishing act, as they like to do. I believe 2 out of the 5 hunters in camp tagged a buck, but this was not a reflection on the outfitter, the guides, or the farms that are hunted. Three days is just not a lot of time to bag a big whitetail, especially if the weather interferes, which is why some hunters elect to do a gun/bow combo hunt, to allow more time and opportunity. Zack's Whitetail Expeditions has access to some beautiful farms in great areas, and they work hard to plant food plots in the off season.
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