Soap Creek Outfitters

Submitted by: Joe Yakobosky

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Review Submitted: Jan 3, 2013

Hunt Date: Dec 1, 2012

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 5

Hunt Type: Semi-Guided

Primary Terrain: Farmland

Method: Shotgun

Price Range: 2000-2999

Nice Deer

Two friends and I hunted in the shotgun season with Brian in 2012. Definitely semi-guided as Brian showed us some of the property, the location of stands he would recommend us sit in, etc. After showing us around prior to the season start, (saw some really nice buck), we were on our own with contact with him only in the evenings if we called. The weather was warm for December, and extremely windy which probably hampered the movement a little. Depending on which stand you were sitting in, and how you hunted, it was either boom or bust. I saw probably 25+ deer each day,with a mixture of smaller buck (that I would have shot in a heartbeat in PA) and doe, along with 2 shooters over the course of 5 days but couldn't make it happen. I personally couldn't ask for anything more. One friend scored on a buck about 135", another friend passed on one that after looking at the pictures he had taken of it he should have shot it(it fed around him for an hour). My 2 friends did not see nearly as many deer as I did as they were hunting a different section of the property. The lodge was very nice - huge newly built barn that they hold wedding receptions in, with nice beds, TVs, bathrooms, full kitchen and washer/dryer. Here's the bottom line. You have to use your head when hunting this place - you have to play the wind, be as scent free as possible and hunt smart, otherwise you may not see much. Sit all day, do not hunt a few hours and head back in. He will not hold your hand for the hunt, you're on your own but he will be there for you if needed. If you want to be catered to, look elsewhere. I hate advertising this place as I don't want to miss out on a return hunt because he's booked, but I feel that I owe it to Brian. Will I return - hell yeah!

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Submitted by: Michael Brundidge

Review Submitted: May 20, 2011

Hunt Date: Nov 12, 2009

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 6

Hunt Type: Semi-Guided

Primary Terrain: Farmland

Method: Bow

Price Range: 2000-2999

I have recently read some of the reviews associated with soap creek outfitters. After reading the negative comments by those individuals that had hunted during Novembers 2010 Archery season I couldn't help but comment on Brian's operation. I have had the privledge of hunting Brian's properties; both his own and those leased; with in Missouri and Iowa. Ranging from Oct.1-Late November. That being said, I have alway's been a student of temperature and changing weather conditions and there effect on those animals I've hunted. Those comments expressed about the lack of BIG BUCK sightings; what would normally be the prime of the rut; during their stay could very well have happened. However, what I recall during this time frame was an unseasonable warm front passing through out the Mid-West last year. This would have an adverse effect on any area during the Rut. The weather conditions effected us here in Wisconsin too during this time. Buck activety was higher in the early morning due to cooler temperatures from the previous night. It is unfortunate they had low; BIG BUCK; activety. The last time I hunted with Brian was during the 2008 Archery season. I don't claim to be the best hunter out their. However, I can say that the quality of animals I have seen, harvested along with missed can be attributed to the way I hunt. In 12 years of being on his properties and meeting some pretty seasoned hunters, few tend to be the first one on stand and the last one out, every day! Staying put and relocating with minimal disterbance has been key to my success with BIG BUCK sightings. I did have the oppurtunity of seeing a 160" 8pt. one night within 20 yds. and missed on an awsome 180" the next morning. During my years hunting with Brian has been very successful. Seeing countless bucks in the 130"-160" along with the 170" plus animals at least sighted during the week has been common. I'm scheduled to draw a kill permit this year and can't wait for the oppurtunity. In closing, I mentioned how successful I have been over the years with Brian. I must tell you the last buck I killed was back in 2000/143". It has not been because of lack of oppurtunities. Harvesting an animal in my book is not weighed on success alone but rather the enjoyment of seeing these BIG BUCKS up close which has happened countless times for me on his properties. Who knows maybe this year might be different?????????? God luck hunting and please check out Brian's opperation. You won't be sorry!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't been.

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Submitted by: Don Gardner

Review Submitted: Mar 2, 2011

Hunt Date: Oct 27, 2010

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 6

Hunt Type: Semi-Guided

Primary Terrain: Farmland

Method: Bow

Price Range: 2000-2999

Quality Iowa Hunting Operation

I have hunted South Eastern Iowa and Northern Missouri with Brian Lindberg of Soup Creek Outfitters since 2001. I have hunted Iowa 3 times and Missouri 3 times. I have shot 5 bucks with Brian ranging from 130 inches to a 16 point 181 3/8 non typical 16 pt buck. It scored 162 as a main frame 8 pt. His hunting land is better than Buffalo County Wisconsin and I have hunted there with an outfitter and Brian's farms were much better than Buffalo County. One afternoon on one of Brian's farms I saw 3 bucks ranging from 145 class to a 175 inch. His deer are not pressured. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY huge BUCK RUBS. I wish I could hunt with Brian more. His Lodge and hunting cabins have always been clean and comfortable. But you only draw an Iowa non resident bow tag every 3 yrs. Don Gardner 608-669-2817

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Submitted by: Brian Fedorak

Review Submitted: Nov 15, 2010

Hunt Date: Nov 4, 2010

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 6

Hunt Type: Semi-Guided

Primary Terrain: Farmland

Method: Bow

Price Range: 2000-2999

I hunted with Brian on his 800 acre farm and was very disappointed in the hunt all the way around. There were a total of 6 of this on this hunt and none of us were successful at all, we were promised to stay in a nice lodge with all of the amenities of home and ended up staying in a metal building with bunkbeds with eggcrate on them for comfort. I was very willing to look past the comfort issue if the hunting was good but to say the least it was not! Thre were no croplands on the farm and we were pretty much hunting pasture and competing with cows daily. On the upside of this I did see alot of deer daily with the biggest buck possibly scoring 100". We set on this farm and average of 9 hrs a day and none of us seen any shooters. I would definitely not recommend hunting with this outfitter.

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Submitted by: Trey Ward

Review Submitted: Nov 15, 2010

Hunt Date: Nov 5, 2010

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 6

Hunt Type: Semi-Guided

Primary Terrain: Farmland

Method: Bow

Price Range: 2000-2999

Whitetail Archery

I hubnted with Soap Creek Outfitters for the 2010 Archery Season as my first hunt in Missouri. After paying the $ 2200.00 amount to hunt and receiving numerous pics via email of large deer and a bran new lodge that had been built I was extremely excited about the upcoming hunt. On the day of our arrivial we meta t what I thought to be a cleaning shed/tool shed, but to find out it was actually our camphouse with bunk beds with 1 bathroom for (6)six hunters totalling maybe 500 square feet. Mr Lindberg informed us that the lodge was actually in Iowa and for the hunters there, not us hunting in Missouri. I sure would have liked to of known this before I drooped this kind of money on a hunt. We received pictures of deer in velvet throughout the year and was ready to come up and see a true trophy, but unfortunately we didnt see anything over 100" and with his 135" minimum there was no way we could even come close. I personally sat for 7-8 hours a day for the 6 days and saw a total of 9 nine, yes nine deer with most of those being button bucks, does and baskey 6-8 points. The treestands were also in bad shape with most of the lock-ons not having any seat, or the wood was rotten, ladder stand had shooting rails for gun hunters and NO food source on the 500 acres where the "tool shed " of s cabin was where we stayed. Mr Lindberg went on to say how the land was actually for sale and after being told that I saw it on www.soapcreekoutfitters.com website which it has been for sale for quite some time now. So all in all 6 of us hunted for 6 days and only 1, yes 1 doe was killed the last evening before we left. I highly recommend everyone not use this outfitter in the future as I feel like this hunt was a total ripoff and waste of time. I do understand that the deer are not tied to a tree awaiting on our arrivial, but the number of deer was VERY poor as well as everthing else that went along with the hunt.

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Submitted by: J.T. Kreager

Review Submitted: Nov 25, 2009

Hunt Date: Nov 9, 2009

Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer

Days Hunted: 5

Hunt Type: Semi-Guided

Primary Terrain: Farmland

Method: Bow

Price Range: 1000-1999

Missouri Bowhunt

Brian Lindberg offers a good quality semi-guided whitetail bowhunts and gun hunts with shotguns and muzzleloaders. He has managed farms in both southeastern Iowa and north eastern Missouri that consistently produce great bucks. Brian is a "hands off" outfitter meaning he gets you set up on a farm and lets you do your own thing. I like this freedom but some less experienced hunters may prefer more assistance. Aerial maps are available. Hunters are responsible for their own food and can stay in one of his cabins or a local motel. Depending on where you hunt there might be some local restaurants nearby but its a rural area so expect to do some driving. Cabins have all the basic amenities, kitchen, 4 bunks, and one full bathroom. Brian is also building an awesome new timber frame lodge in Iowa. He provides many tree stand locations and the flexibility for hunters to hang their own if they prefer. He told me he has over 90 stand locations across all his farms, all of them are ladders and hang-on’s. I’m not a fan of ladder stands and chose to use my own Lone Wolf stands. The 800 acre farm that I hunted in Missouri reportedly had several shooter bucks on it. During my hunt the weather was unseasonably warm and daytime deer movement was minimal. I didn't see any 150+ class bucks but I did harvest this solid P&Y 10 point and had an exciting and enjoyable hunt.

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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: Barry Schultz on Feb 14 2010

Species Hunted: Whitetail

Game Quality: very good -2 over 150"

Accommodation Quality: excellent

Camp Condition: good

Food Quality: on your own

Guide Experience: semi guided

Other Personal Experience: semi guided

Overall Impression: very good to excellent

Recommend: Yes

Reviewer Comments: I would recommend Soap Creek to anyone looking for a good semi-guided hunt, as long as you bring a couple of your own stands to hang. This was definitely a semi guided hunt, I was shown the property and a few stands he has out but they were mainly short ladder stands or lock on that the chains were grown into the trees! They were in good areas but just needed some tweaking, either moving them 50 yards or limbing them out. The property was one of the nicest properties I've been on, that was mostly Oaks with lots of nice draws. There was some nice bucks on the property with lots of sign. The only problem was Too much food: Acorns everywhere! Which kept the does from moving much, but the bucks were out looking at all times of the day (saw most deer between 8-10am and 1-3pm but had that a 140 class buck chase a doe by me at noon) before the rains came in. We got 3 1/2" of rain the last 3 days I was there, that shut most of the deer movement down! All though I had a 155" 8 pointer come in behind me in the rain the first day it started. I never heard him and didn't see until he was 14 yards behind me on the wrong side of the tree which I couldn't get a shot at. This was a stand that I moved and hung. They shot that buck the following week with a muzzleloader. I did see another 150 class 10 pointer at about 60 yards and that 140 class buck chasing a doe, as well as passed up a 130 class 8 pointer, a couple 120 class bucks and a half rack buck that if the other side matched would have been in 135-140 class. Overall, it's a good hunt for the money and I'll go back sometime in the future whether it's his Iowa Farm or one of his Missouri farms which are only 10 miles away. But, I'll bring a couple of my own stands!

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