Hadley Creek Outfitters

Submitted by: John Costo

Review Submitted: Jan 3, 2011

Hunt Date: Dec 18, 2009

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 3

Hunt Type: Guided

Primary Terrain: Farmland

Method: Shotgun

Price Range: 4000-4999

Refund & return Calls

I hunt with Hadley in 2009 for first and second shotgun season, I rebooked for 2011 but had to cancle. Stacey will not return call or e-mails and will not honor his refund policy. I did not see any shooter bucks on any of the hunts . When I got to camp for the second hunt and wanted to shoot my gun after being on the air plain I found out that they do not have their own range.I you call them to book a hunt you will get a call back ASAP. This is the way they the run the operation I would not recommend they to anyone

---

Submitted by: Alex Nadolski

Review Submitted: Nov 23, 2010

Hunt Date: Nov 7, 2010

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 6

Hunt Type: Guided

Primary Terrain: Farmland

Method: Bow

Price Range: 4000-4999

Great hunt at Hadley

Hadley Creek Outfitters is the real deal, had an awesome hunt. Out of the 5 guys we had 4 of them took deer with the weather being terribly warm. Lodges, food and guides were all excellent.

---

note: The following reviews predate the numeric rating system and are not included in this outfitter's overall rating.

---

outfitter review submitted by: Gary Willmart on Mar 31 2009

Species Hunted: whitetail deer

Game Quality: fair

Accommodation Quality: horrible

Camp Condition: poor

Food Quality: poor

Guide Experience: didn't have one in my mind

Other Personal Experience: fair

Overall Impression: very bad

Recommend: no way

Reviewer Comments: IN over 50 years of hunting, it was my worst hunting experience. I was suppose to be on a fully guided hunt, but each morning I was driven to an elevated stand and my driver said there it is. Climb up there and I'll be back after dark. The lodging was horrible, no ceilings in the lower level just bare rafters and wires. Not even soap in the bathroom. My wife went to a store to buy some. Food was often left sitting out for hours before serving. I have been on many guided hunts in six different states and always had great experiences previously. I am a handicapped hunter and had told them that. The lodging was not handicap friendly. I could not go upstairs from my room, unless I went outside and walked up the driveway. The stairs had no railings. I sent two letters to the outfitter and got no response. I hunted in the December 2008 second gun season. Lot of money to be taken for a ride. I was a guide and lodge owner for 15 years prior to my Stroke. I know how important it is to respond to client concerns.

---

outfitter review submitted by: Taylor Williams on Dec 15 2008

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: Excellent

Accommodation Quality: Excellent

Camp Condition: Excellent

Food Quality: Excellent

Guide Experience: Excellent

Other Personal Experience: Excellent

Overall Impression: Exceptional

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: 4th year and 4th review on this site. Stacey and his crew continue to impress me with the quality of ground and animals. Hunted a couple of weeks earlier than in the past and for the first time hunting in Il ran into some warm weather. Deer movement was much slower than previous years but still saw plenty of animals and a hand full of shooters. I think everyone in our camp had shooter bucks in range and either couldn't get a clear shot, missed, mistakenly let walk(some were on video) or made a bad hit. A couple of super freaks over 160 were taken and a couple of booner class animals were seen or missed. I hunted all new farms and all new guides this year and was equally impress by the ground, talent and enthusiasm. I wasn't able to recover a 160 class 10 I shot and I'm still sick about but if you bowhunt it's going to happen.

---

outfitter review submitted by: Rodger Gant on Dec 11 2008

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: Great

Accommodation Quality: Fantastic

Camp Condition: Fantastic

Food Quality: Fantastic

Guide Experience: Fantastic

Other Personal Experience: Great

Overall Impression: My best hunt ever

Recommend: Highly

Reviewer Comments: I went to Illinois and Hadley Creek Outfitters with pretty high expectations due to the Outdoor Channel exposure of this outfitter and their website photos along with the prestige of Pike County. I have also seen alot of not so good reviews on this site and other websites and was a bit concerned. However, my expectations were met and exceeded. I did not even harvest a buck; however, I had a chance at a 2-1/2 11 point at 15 yards and a 2-1/2 10 point at 30 yards. I knew these bucks would not score 140 inches and would cost me a $1000 trophy fee. Over 5 days I saw over 30 bucks and 60 does. Of the 30 bucks, at least 4 of them were shooters being at least 140 inches but they were too far away. I was skeptical at first about changing guides and changing farms everyday. However, due to Hadley having over 100 farms this is a must to keep everyone on a level playing field and to keep their stands fresh. It wasn't an easy hunt either. Over the 5 days, I logged 60 hours in the stand. It being the 3rd week of November all the guides recommended you sit all day. However, if you weren't seeing anything they would check on you around noon and move you to another stand. There were 20 people in my camp and there were 8 shots taken but only 6 bucks recovered due to bad shot placement. Overall, I was very impressed and felt the guides really wanted you to harvest a buck. I have all ready scheduled to go back in 2009, a week earlier.

---

outfitter review submitted by: Shane Ellison on Mar 1 2008

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: Average

Accommodation Quality: Excellent

Camp Condition: Excellent

Food Quality: Excellent

Guide Experience: Average

Other Personal Experience: As expected

Overall Impression: Average

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: This was the first year we hunted with this outfitter. Came in with high expectations based upon advertising, some references and web site, but was disappointed. There were three of us in our party, and neither of us tagged out. Could have shot numberous 120's, but not what you come to Illinois for. Between the three of us, only 4 bucks over 140's were seen during the week in October. Unfortuantely, the weather didn't cooperate during the week, but there were enough deer seen by other hunters that the deer were moving. Two of us went back in December during the muzzleloader season to archery hunt and again was unfortunate to be there during the two big ice storms. Based upon personal observation and talking with other hunters in camp, there is more than meets the eyes here. I would have to agree that this outfitter has first class accomodations, but definately too many hunters during the season. Could not get a clear answer on how many hunters come through a season, but based upon the two times we were there, it is significant. During the two trips, there were a total of approx. 17 deer shot from all camps and all but 2-3 were "atm" bucks. This was the first time I have ever been with an outfitter where you didn't know who shot a deer unless someone overheard or you were told. In my opinion, this outfitter does inform everyone of the minimum rules and the $1,000 penalty, but in all honesty, didn't really discourage it. If you look at the website, caution with photography, one can see that there are SEVERAL bucks shot that are small. This outfitter is clearly having too many 2 1/2's shot each year which clearly is impacting the number of mature bucks shot a year. Yes, there are some beautiful bucks shot on the website, but do the math...any outfitter that has enough hunters in a year would put up those kind of numbers. You change guides and farms each day, unless you specifically request to go back with the same guide. My son and I spent one evening walking around looking for treestands while going out to hunt. What a JOKE!!! The guide didn't even take to time to know where the stands were. After talking with other hunters in camp, it was obvious that other hunters were hunting the stands you hunted the day before. Stands are over hunted and over pressured. Overall, the camp manager and some of the guides were very knowledable and helpful. Accomodations are top notch, but hunting quality was below average. My hunting partners and myself are always willing to come home with no horns, which is the only way you can hold out for mature bucks, so not tagging out had no bearing on my comments.

---

outfitter review submitted by: Taylor Williams on Jan 23 2008

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: Excellent

Accommodation Quality: Excellent

Camp Condition: Excellent

Food Quality: Excellent

Guide Experience: Excellent

Other Personal Experience: Excellent

Overall Impression: Excellent

Recommend: yes

Reviewer Comments: This was my 3rd hunt with Hadley Creek and my third review on this site. Three years in a row with lousy weather and the deer movement was still exceptional. I let a 140 class 10 walk the first hour of the first day and then saw a another P&Y 8 breed a doe 50 yds in front of me the last hour of the day. The next 3 days I spent chasing a Boone and Crockett that I saw in the dark going to my stand. I never saw him again during legal shooting light but I did see him for the next 3 days either going in or coming out but never during the day. After hunting all day in the rain for 3 days I needed a change of scenery. The last day was the only good day weather wise and I was covered up in deer. I saw well over 30 branch antlered bucks and a couple of shooters out of range. I saw more deer the last day than I saw in Ga hunting the entire season. Hadley Creek has the land and does what it takes to minimize pressure and keep a good population of mature animals. They do what it takes to put you on animals, keep you well fed and comfortable.

---

outfitter review submitted by: Steve Orr on Oct 8 2007

Species Hunted: whitetail

Game Quality: fair

Accommodation Quality: very good

Camp Condition: very good

Food Quality: good

Guide Experience: good

Other Personal Experience: good

Overall Impression: good

Recommend: undecided

Reviewer Comments: My first year was exciting and I did harvest a 145 class deer, the accomodations were comforable and the staff and guides ran a tight ship and on time. My second year I signed up to hunt the 140 class areas and was disturbed by another local hunter parking 75 yards behind me and hunting that ridge. Hunting the peak rut was dampered by hot tempertures and saw less deer. I personally know 10 hunters and 2 that have guided for Hadley Creek and we all have agreed that the large number of hunters has decreased the heard some. My one complaint is that Stacey Ward does not honor his refund policy,(90 days after cancellation) with me and other and does not return phone calls or e-mail.

---

outfitter review submitted by: Taylor Williams on Nov 22 2006

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: Excellent

Accommodation Quality: Excellent

Camp Condition: Excellent

Food Quality: Excellent

Guide Experience: Excellent

Other Personal Experience: Excellent

Overall Impression: Excellent

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: This was my 2nd trip to Pike Co and Hadley Creek and my 2nd review on this site. The weather was as bad as last year but the deer were still on their feet. I saw over 100 8 pt or better. I had 2 150 class animals in bow range and several 125-135(hunted 140" farm) that I let walk. I missed a huge 150" 9 on the last evening of the last day when my arrow hit a vine. Out of 11 guys in our group 6 bucks were killed with the biggest being a 150 class 8 that was killed in the pouring rain. The food was good last year but Stacey and Michelle really raised the bar and they expanded his lodge to make it much more comfortable. Looking forward to going back next year.

---

outfitter review submitted by: RICH on Sep 13 2006

Species Hunted: WHITETAIL

Game Quality: FAIR

Accommodation Quality: POOR GOING DOWNHILL !

Camp Condition: UNCOMFORTABLE

Food Quality: TERRIBLE

Guide Experience: GOOD BUT UNFAIR

Other Personal Experience: GOOD

Overall Impression: OVERHUNTED

Recommend: NO

Reviewer Comments: 5 UEARS AGO THIS WAS A FIRST CLASS OPERATION, I PRESUME DUE TO INFLATION AND THE WHOLE PIKE COUNTY HYPE, THIS OUTFITTER HAS GONE STRAIGHT FOR THE MONEY. NONETHELESS, HIS GUIDES ARE VERY FRIENDLY, AND HELPFULL, BUT WHEN I INFORMED ONE OF MY GUIDES ABOUT A NICE 150 -160 CLASS, I WAS MOVED OFF THAT FARM AND HE SHOT IT THE NEXT DAY! WHAT THE CHANCE ONE OF THESE GUIDES ARE GOING TO PUT YOU ON A TROPHY WHEN THEY GET TO HUNT THE SAME PROPERTY! OVERCROWDED, SEPTIC TANK SMELLS, 30 GUYS, 2 BATHS IN ONE CAMP! COME ON, GIVE ME A BREAK, IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY, DO YOUR RESEARCH AND GO SMALL, I ADVISE ANY EXPERIENCED TRAVELING HUNTER, SPEN YOUR MONEY WISELY AND STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE, PERIOD.

report this review

---

---

First Page Previous Page Next Page Last Page