Illinois Outfitters Plus

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: Lou Green on Dec 9 2008

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: poor

Accommodation Quality: good

Camp Condition: good

Food Quality: good

Guide Experience: NA

Other Personal Experience: NA

Overall Impression: poor

Recommend: No

Reviewer Comments: My son and I hunted at Illinois Outfitters Plus during the 3 day Nov shotgun season 2008. We shared a 250 acre farm with one other hunter consisting of mostly fields. I saw 3 bucks and about 15 does, the largest was 125" 8pt, a 4pt and a 2pt. My son saw the same deer I saw. The other hunter shot the 8pt on the last day. Other hunters (non paying) where everywhere and every spot that we hunted had other hunters within sight, some as close as 80 yards. Really for over 800 bucks a day I expected a lot more. I've been on a total of 9 pay hunts and this one is ranked at the bottom.

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outfitter review submitted by: JEFF STEELE on Jul 22 2007

Species Hunted: LARGE MONSTA WHITETAILS

Game Quality: EXCELLENT

Accommodation Quality: GOOD

Camp Condition: GREAT

Food Quality: GREAT

Guide Experience: GOOD

Other Personal Experience: GOOD

Overall Impression: AWESOME

Recommend: HECK YES MATT KNOW'S HIS STUFF

Reviewer Comments: I HUNTED WITH MATT FOR 4 OR 5 YRS. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GOOD IT IS IN ONE WORD BUT, IF I DO IT IS TOTALLYEXCELLENT. MATT FANTZ IS A TOP NOTCH GUY, I SOLD SEVERAL HUNTS FOR HIM BECAUSE MATT FANTZ IS A TRUE MONSTA HUNTER. WHEN YOU GET THERE MATT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT THE FARMS SUCH AS BEDDING AREAS,PICTURES,RUBLINES, AND SRAPE LINES. LAST YEAR I TOOK 2 GREAT BUCKS. EVERY YEAR I TOLD HIM TO PUT ME ON A MONSTA BUCK AND EVERY YEAR HE DID. WHILE HUNTING ON MATT'S FARM ISAW AT LEAST 3 DEER OVER 170 AND 2 DEER OVER 200,BELIEVE IT OR NOT. I WOULD RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYBODY HE'S A HECK OF A GREAT GUY AND SUPER OUTFITTER. THE ONE THING I CAN SAY IS HE GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO PUT YOU IN BOW RANGE OF A SURE NUFF MONSTA BUCK . HE'S WILLING TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS SO YOU CAN TAKE HOME A TRUE TROPHY. MATT HAS KILLED SEVERAL POPE AND YOUNG AND BOONE AND CROCKETT BUCKS. THAT IS WHY I THINK HE'S THE ONLY PIKE COUNTY OUTFITTER TO USE.

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outfitter review submitted by: Chuck Bell on May 1 2007

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: Excellent

Accommodation Quality: Good

Camp Condition: Excellent

Food Quality: NA

Guide Experience: Excellent

Other Personal Experience: NA

Overall Impression: Excellent

Recommend: Yes, Excellent Hunt

Reviewer Comments: I have hunted with illinois outfitters plus for 2 years. In 2006, I took 6 hunters to camp and 5 out of the 6 killed bucks ranging from 135-165. The properties you will be hunting are not over hunted and the trophy potential is awesome. If you are willing to put the time in and able to take advantage of the opportunities that will present itself then this camp is for you. One thing is for sure the guides will treat you with respect and do what they can to make your hunt is successful. But remember when you miss the buck of a life time its not their fault. Illinois Outfitters Plus is the real deal and I would recommend this camp to any serious bow hunter.

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outfitter review submitted by: Joseph Cservak on Feb 6 2007

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Game Quality: good

Accommodation Quality: good

Camp Condition: good

Food Quality: n/a

Guide Experience: excellent

Other Personal Experience: good

Overall Impression: excellent

Recommend: yes

Reviewer Comments: This was my second year with Matt.Both years were very good.I saw alot of big deer both years.But this year I shot my biggest deer to date.There was six of us out there this year and four of us shot deer.The deer ranged from 130 inches up to 176 inches.We are all going back next year with a couple of more guys.I highly recomend Illinois Outfitters Plus.

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outfitter review submitted by: Garry Rhodes on Feb 6 2007

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: Great

Accommodation Quality: Good

Camp Condition: Good

Food Quality: N/A

Guide Experience: Very Good

Other Personal Experience: Very Good

Overall Impression: Best to date

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: This was my 9th year coming to Illinois for Trophy Whitetail. I've been to several outfitters in the past 5 years due to my outfitter moving and it was a rocky adventure to say the least. Ive brought as many as 9 guys with me to Illinois in the past and recently started using Matt (last 2 years). This year was by far the best year we have had out in Illinois to date. The weather was in the 30's everyday and the bucks were in full rut !! We had a total of 18 guys in camp for the week of Nov 9th thru Nov 20th and out of those 18 guys ... 13 killed bucks over 130's .. 5 being over 150's and mine being 178 inches. SO what does that tell you !! If your looking for an outfitting service thats going to pamper your every move ... Then this camp is not for you (maybe they do provide this type of service) but if your looking for an outfitter that knows his property's and what type of deer they hold .. This is the place .. I seen more bucks in this trip then in the past 5 years combined .. Yes the weather was good and the bucks were in full rut but you still have to have the property to hold them .. and Matt does !! Matt and his guides go out and beyond to help put these trophy bucks in front of you but you still have to be a hunter. As for the accomodations ,, You stay in a comfortable farm house but you have to provide your own food. In closing, If your looking for a hunt with a great chance to kill a trophy buck here it is !!

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outfitter review submitted by: John Marley on Jan 26 2007

Species Hunted: deer

Game Quality: good

Accommodation Quality: good

Camp Condition: good

Food Quality: n/a

Guide Experience: good

Other Personal Experience: good

Overall Impression: excellent

Recommend: highly recommend

Reviewer Comments: This was my first year on this hunt. The weather was in the single digit temps., snow and windy and I still saw 31 deer and 3 shooter bucks on the first day. I harvested a 140 inch 10 point. This was my first hunt with Illinois Outfitters Plus and 3 out of the 5 guys that went on this trip got a 130 inch or bigger deer and all 5 had the opportunity and this was the later muzzleloader hunt in December. I am from Ohio and have hunted for over 30 years and harvested quite a few bucks over 140. I have already booked my trip for me and 9 of my buddies this year and plan to go back year after year. I would highly recommend this trip to anybody who wants to hunt Illinois. John Marley

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outfitter review submitted by: Marc Cutinella on Jan 23 2007

Species Hunted: whitetails

Game Quality: great

Accommodation Quality: good

Camp Condition: good

Food Quality: n/a

Guide Experience: great

Other Personal Experience: very good

Overall Impression: great

Recommend: yes

Reviewer Comments: 06 was my second trip out to matt. Don, my guide, sat me in a stand,my first afternoon, where i hunted the last afternoon last year. after about an hour and a half, i drew back on my first buck. being the first afternoon, i let him walk. 2 days later, i killed a 157 inch 12 pt giant! Marc N.Y. state

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outfitter review submitted by: Dennis Hanners on Jan 17 2007

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Game Quality: Good

Accommodation Quality: Good

Camp Condition: Good

Food Quality: N/A

Guide Experience: Good

Other Personal Experience: N/A

Overall Impression: Good

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: I have hunted with Matt for 4 years now and have always had a great hunt. This year was the toughest year so far. The weather was very warm for the second week in Novemeber. Still saw lots of deer and several shooter bucks. I missed one nice buck early in the hunt but was lucky enough to get a second chance later in the week. Have already booked for 2007 and I will recommend Matt's hunts to anyone.

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outfitter review submitted by: Mrs. Teri Bagents on Dec 27 2006

Species Hunted: Deer

Game Quality: Poor

Accommodation Quality: Poor

Camp Condition: Terrible

Food Quality: N/A

Guide Experience: Promised Guides. Saw one time

Other Personal Experience: Inexperienced or didn\\\'t car

Overall Impression: VERY Disapointed

Recommend: NO! NO! Will tell anyone that

Reviewer Comments: Was told by the booking agent Barry Estes that his wife would be on hunt but this was not true. Found out the day we met for the trip she went one week ahead of scheduled hunt. Would not have gone knowing I would be the only woman, Guide did not show us areas we could hunt, we were put in the same tree stand for three days and had to request to be moved,we were then given bad information about type of stands and inacurate locations of stands. When I did harvest a deer no one came out to load the deer until coyotes had eaten a large part of the carcass. Owner of Outfitter Matt Fantz was unavailable to discuss problems with during our stay. Husband hunted on another outfitters land because we were not shown boundries of land. No food sourse. Corn had been plowed up. Last day of hunt found corn poured out. Would not hunt over baited field.

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outfitter review submitted by: Barry Estes on Dec 28 2005

Species Hunted: Whitetail & Turkey

Game Quality: Great

Accommodation Quality: Good

Camp Condition: Good

Food Quality: N/A

Guide Experience: Good

Other Personal Experience: N/A

Overall Impression: Great

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: This is a semi guided hunt with lodging included. Meals are the responsibility of the hunter. All hunts are on private property and are not over hunted. I have hunted here 3 years and I have taken 2 P&Y bucks and 3 does. I have seen some unbelievable bucks and large numbers of turkeys. I plan on going back every year as long as the Good Lord allows me too.

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