Harpoles Heartland Lodge

Submitted by: Mike Blasius

Review Submitted: Aug 30, 2010

Hunt Date: Nov 15, 2004

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 3

Hunt Type: Guided

Primary Terrain: Any

Method: Bow

Price Range: Any

Nice lodge, but geared more towards the "Eddie Bauer crowd" of quail hunters who like wine and cheese. Deer hunters kind of take a back seat to the wingshooters. Had a terrible guide first trip, who just did'nt care. Saw a nice buck and decided to try it again. The guide on the following trip was great - we're still friends. Lots of hunters in camp - would have liked a smaller crowd. Killed a doe, but did'nt have an opportunity at a buck. There are some nice deer here, but I probably would'nt go back.

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

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outfitter review submitted by: Clark Thorne on Jun 8 2010

Species Hunted: White Tail Deer

Game Quality: Good when visible

Accommodation Quality:

Camp Condition: Excellent

Food Quality:

Guide Experience: Good

Other Personal Experience:

Overall Impression: Iffy

Recommend: No

Reviewer Comments: I have been hunting Heartland for 6 years, but we did not return on 2009! What we saw in 2008 told us that we should not return. I learned to hunt deer at Heartland. The quality of deer and the number was GREAT for the first couple of years. By the last two or so years, the numbers had started to dwindle, with people complaining that they were not getting the opportunities that they were claiming. I have heard that they have lost many land leases. So they, in 2008 started re-using stands with different groups that were in there at the same time. The year before, our guide only allowed us to use his land, but in 2008, after our guide left, I was listening to the other hunters and they were all at one point or another in the 5 day hunt, using the property we had used exclusively the years before...(the Wildcat Hollow area) and same stand! This means that the stands never got a chance to rest. Even if you were limited on your land, by putting more stands you keep the deer from eyeing the same stands... but that was not what was happening. In addition, the good areas that Heartland had, were now classified as Trophy areas, and they almost charge double for it! If I were to hunt there again, I would go the first week of the season, guaranteeing fresh stands!

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outfitter review submitted by: Daniel Hodges on Aug 28 2008

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Game Quality: great

Accommodation Quality: great

Camp Condition: great

Food Quality: great

Guide Experience: great

Other Personal Experience: great

Overall Impression: First Class

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: We went on an early season hunt in Oct 07. It was extremly hot but the deer moved pretty good. The guides went out of their way to put us on deer. They would move stands, change farms, and work together to make sure we would have the best chance to get on a big deer even though the weather was in the 90's. The lodge was great, food was great, and Gary is first class. We have rebooked for 08 and will be their in a few weeks.

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outfitter review submitted by: Kevin on Dec 16 2006

Species Hunted: whitetail

Game Quality: excellent

Accommodation Quality: excellent

Camp Condition: excellent

Food Quality: excellent

Guide Experience: excellent

Other Personal Experience: very friendly

Overall Impression: excellent

Recommend: yes

Reviewer Comments: Hunted Nov. 17-19 gun season. Lost count of amount of deer I saw!!! Guide was great and eager to help. Seemed knowledgable about his "farm". Food was excellent even though on two nights the second helpings were hard to get due to too many people and not enough food. Lodge was spotless and very comfortable. Tagged out on 128" 8 pt. with 10" G-2's on the last day. Brother in law shot 142" 12 pt. Would definitely go back again.

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outfitter review submitted by: Mike Bommer on Feb 27 2006

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Game Quality: Excellent

Accommodation Quality: Excellent

Camp Condition: Excellent

Food Quality: Outstanding !!!

Guide Experience: Very Good

Other Personal Experience: Very Good

Overall Impression: Excellent

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: I have hunted with Heartland Lodge for the past 4 years. Last year I harvested a 141" 11 pointer that field dressed at 240 Lbs. I had to watch him come in for about 25 minutes as he rubbed every tree he passed, chased smaller bucks off, chased does and made scrapes. By the time he finally gave me a shot, he was a mere 7 yards away and only went 30 yards after the shot. I shot this deer on the first morning of my hunt at 8:30, only 2 hours after I got in the stand. It was the second buck I have taken with them, the other was 3 years ago, it was also an 11 point but scores 159 and some change. The lodges are beautiful, very comfortable and the food is outstanding !! I would recommend this outfitter to anyone that asks.

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outfitter review submitted by: Kenneth Wiesen on Mar 8 2005

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: couple of nice buck's

Accommodation Quality: excellant

Camp Condition: excellant

Food Quality: more than you can eat ! !

Guide Experience: Fair

Other Personal Experience: Great

Overall Impression: Good

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: Hunted the 3rd week of October, weather turned very warm,Rut was just starting to kick in when it turned warm. Saw lot's of big rub's and scrape's. Saw 2 buck's in the 140 class, and one in the upper 150 to 160 class. saw lot's of deer, buck's where to far to shoot with a bow. Would like to go back for the shotgun season. Only complaint the treestand's where set-up with the deer coming in from behind you.

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