Southern Ohio Outfitters
Southern Ohio Outfitters
Rated 4.25 out of 5.0 based on 62 Outfitter reviews.
Contact: Dave Lusk
Location: Jackson, Ohio
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer, Turkey Eastern
State(s) Hunted: OH
< Back
Submitted by: Michael Nastasi
Review Submitted: Nov 17, 2015
Hunt Date: Nov 12, 2015
Species Hunted:
Days Hunted: 3
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Bow
Price Range: 1000-1999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
DO NOT BOOK WITH SOUTHERN OHIO OUTFITTERS
DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS OUTFITTER!!!!!!! My father and I just got back from Ohio. When I booked this trip we were both very excited about the possibility of hunting there. After getting our deposit there was zero communication with the owner. He finally responded to a text message after I told him how horrible I felt with the lack of communication. Two days before Hunt I requested an address to find the property for a drive from New Jersey. I tried texting Dave And Justin no response. I also tried calling and emailing. No response. We finally received an address midway through our drive from New Jersey. We were also told that check in time was two hours later than previously told. Upon arrival at the lodge we were greeted by our guide whose name was Don. Don appeared to be a very nice gentleman and things started to look up. The only place to practice was in the backyard of the lodge into a block target that has been shot so many times the arrows came through the back of it. No 3-D target range as advertised on the website. The lodge itself was decent however unfinished in many areas including but not excluded to no heat, no fireplace, and no smoke detectors. A broken refrigerator, a broken coffee pot, and a dryer that doesn't shut itself off. When the hunt began I felt good. When the sun came up I realized that I had no shooting lanes in the area which I assume the deer would come from. Then I realized another Hunter from our lodge was 100 yards away from me. So any attempt to rattle or grunt would disrupt him or myself and confuse a buck that may have wanted to come see what was going on. The first day was a complete bust due to weather conditions that could not be controlled. Day two we were put back in the same exact spots. I eventually had 125 inch eight pointer come in 25 yards through the area with no clear shooting lanes. I was moved across the field to an area on the edge of the field and 115 inch nine pointer came in and I let him walk. The next morning was beautiful and we were put back in the same spot again, with zero action. We sat all morning and listened to gun shots from a neighbor who clearly was doing it on purpose. Later to find out he has a beef with Dave and SOO. At this point we has to be moved because we were disgusted with everything that has gone on, and in our minds our options were to move to another farm or leave. At that point we were put on a beautiful farm that would have made our trip so much better had we hunted there for 3 days. Too little, too late. At no point did my father have a shot opportunity or have a shooter anywhere near him. We were told when we booked the hunt that we were allowed buck and doe. That was cancelled the first conversation with our guide. Dave Lusk never took 5 minutes to come and say hello to any of the 12 hunters in our camp and was in the driveway to drop something off so he had the opportunity to introduce himself and welcome us. That would have went a long way in improving our attitudes and our moral. Not once did we attempt to hunt the wind or sit down and look at maps to decide where we could have an opportunity to shoot a big buck. The simple fact that I paid 1475.00 and drove 9 hours to hunt 100 yards from another hunter was infuriating to say the least. If anyone has any questions or would like to hear more about this terrible experience please fell free to call me at 732-673-3704. As I am 100% sure this will be deleted, I will repost in multiple hunting forums and all over Facebook.
report this review
Submitted by: Richard Jones
Review Submitted: Jan 14, 2014
Hunt Date: Jan 4, 2014
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 4
Hunt Type: Semi-Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 1000-1999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Had a great time
I enjoyed my hunt with SOO this muzzleloader season. The accommodations were good, food and all your guides were excellent. Dave and the guides appeared to me to have their act together. Dick Jones Sr.
Submitted by: Jake Dougherty
Review Submitted: Nov 24, 2013
Hunt Date: Nov 2, 2013
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 6
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Bow
Price Range: 1000-1999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
thank you
I would like to thank everyone involved at Southern Ohio Outfitters for the amazing week that I had with everyone. A special thanks to Dave and Kevin For putting me on some amazing hunting grounds during my trip. I saw more then 30 bucks that week and passed several shooters that would be a buck of a lifetime for any hunter to experience. From the first day to the last hour I was in company of deer! I was able to take a Buck on the lastnight, in the last hour with the help and determination of Dave and Kevin!! Southern Ohio Outfitters are the real deal when it comes to knowledge of Monster Bucks and deer behavior. I was impressed from the first day after being able to recap what I saw and experienced with my Guides, Dave and Kevin came up with a game plan for the remainder of the week for me! I saw the Buck I wanted and was willing to do whatever I could to make it happen. Kevin and Dave were behind me all the way and lead the charge of my hunting assault. Dave and Kevin filled in the gaps that I needed and steered me from the wrong things I was doing to the right things to make my hunt complete. These guys know what they are doing and there comprehension of the deer in their area is unparrellel to others. I wouldn't be able to think of hunting with anyone else after this hunting trip with Dave and Kevin. I look forward to next year with the guys from Southern Ohio Outfitters and the anticipation is killing me!!! Thank you Dave and Kevin for the awesome Hunting!!! I can't wait for next year which I will be able to take an even Bigger Buck!!! ~Team Mass Assains~ ~Jake Dougherty~
Submitted by: Tom Conant
Review Submitted: Nov 22, 2013
Hunt Date: Nov 11, 2013
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Bow
Price Range: 2000-2999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
My first whitetail
We all had a very good time and i appreciate the efforts that the guides put in to get us in stands with the correct winds. We all saw and had possible opportunities at good deer. The food was great, kudos to your wife, and the lodge was very nice for an active hunting lodge. I shot my very first whitetail....15 yards from a watering hole.
Submitted by: Don Boyton
Review Submitted: Nov 22, 2013
Hunt Date: Nov 11, 2013
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Bow
Price Range: 2000-2999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Great hunt
We all had a very good time (other than my flat tire)and appreciate the efforts that the guides put in to get us in stands with the correct winds. We all saw and had possible opportunities at good deer. The food was great, kudos to your wife, and the lodge was very nice for an active hunting lodge.
Submitted by: Zach Dougherty
Review Submitted: Nov 20, 2013
Hunt Date: Nov 2, 2013
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 6
Hunt Type: Semi-Guided
Primary Terrain: Foothills
Method: Bow
Price Range: 1000-1999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Will be Back
Dave, Kevin, and the boys took amazing care of us and put us on a lot of deer! 5 of 8 released arrows and seen some giants. I look forward to next year with the rest of the Mass Assains in taking down the giants!!
Submitted by: Jake Dougherty
Review Submitted: Nov 20, 2013
Hunt Date: Nov 2, 2013
Species Hunted:
Days Hunted: 6
Hunt Type: Semi-Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Bow
Price Range: 1000-1999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Will be back next year!!
Dave, Kevin, and the boys took amazing care of us and put us on a lot of deer! 5 of 8 released arrows and seen some giants. I look forward to next year with the rest of the Mass Assains in taking down the giants!! See you guys next November!
Submitted by: Pete King
Review Submitted: Nov 19, 2013
Hunt Date: Oct 1, 2013
Species Hunted:
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Foothills
Method: Bow
Price Range: 2000-2999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Incredible Hunt
I hunted with Dave in turkey season and had a great time. I decided I was going to come back for a whitetail hunt and came for the season Ohio opener. After getting a game plan together we decided to hunt a hard shell blind where several mature bucks were coming in during daylight hours. I was in the stand for two hours when this giant came in and gave me a great broadside shot. Buck ran 60 yards and died. Great accommodations, great people & very knowledgable. I will be back. FYI, my buddy shot and wounded a brute 8
Submitted by: Ken Nottle
Review Submitted: Nov 9, 2013
Hunt Date: Oct 22, 2013
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Semi-Guided
Primary Terrain: Foothills
Method: Bow
Price Range: 1000-1999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
report on southern ohio outfitter
bad hunt,few deer ,shot 110 ,8 pt.last day.4people in camp ,total 50 hrs. each in stands saw approx.50 deer mostly does @small bucks took my deer to be butcherd, kepted my deer @sent me home with someold meat from their freezer wrapped in zip lock bags freezer burnt
Outfitter Response: This hunter came the week of Oct 22-26th, pre-rut. We absolutely can not control when the big bucks are moving. The guides scouted, found rubs on massive trees, etc.....hunters wouldn't even go out because the "deer weren't moving", a few sat in the lodge, there were other shooter bucks seen that week in close quarters, so there were more than just small bucks seen. We can not control the weather, and we can not make the big bucks get up on their feet. As for the butcher, this hunter was sent home with his deer meat as any of our other hunters would. As a side note, KEN NOTTLES, never approached me or the guides while on his hunt, and he never contacted me after the hunt via email or via phone call to discuss any of the details you might have read below. I have to find out on my own via the internet. So, 4 hunters in camp, not all hunters hunted each day, there were shooters seen and one connected on out of 4 guys and he got his meat just like any other hunter throughout the last 10 years has. The outfitter can't perform miracles and change deer movement, and there is only so much that we can do. Some weeks can be bad, but don't blame the outfitter behind his back. The following week was unreal, with lots of opportunites and everyone is coming back. Feel free to call these guys Jack Dougherty - 413/977/4512 Zach Dougherty - 413/231/2420 Christian Simmers - simmers88@gmail.com and I have countless others I could put on here.
Submitted by: Lorie Hall
Review Submitted: Dec 26, 2012
Hunt Date: Nov 5, 2012
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Foothills
Method: Bow
Price Range: 2000-2999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Awesome Trip!!!
My husband and I and 2 of our friends went on a 5 day Bow Hunting trip from november 5th-9th,2012 and we chose Southern Ohio Outfitters....this place was amazing!!! We had the owner, Dave Lusk, as our guide for the week and he was great!!! the other 3 guides that were there, Kevin, Mike and Tony were great too!! The lodge was awesome and so was all our meals, thanks to Carlyn and Tish!!! In the 5 days I hunted i seen 49 deer and 3 of them were shooter bucks. I took a shot at a huge 8 point but i shot to low and only shaved belly hair off but what an experience. My husband and I are going back in mid january 2013 to hunt for 4 days with our bows. We are going to Kentucky in September 2013 with Southern Ohio Outfitters to go bow hunting for a buck in velvet, then we are going back in November 2014 for a week to bow hunt. This place is amazing and would highly recommend them to everyone!!!
note: The following reviews predate the numeric rating system and are not included in this outfitter's overall rating.
First Page
Contact: Justin Johns and Ben Harris
Location: Hotchkiss, Colorado
Species Hunted: Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Bobcat, Mountain Lion
State(s) Hunted: CO
Yukon Territory Hunting Information
The Yukon Territory is a legendary hunting destination. Hunters from all over the world travel to the Yukon for wilderness adventure hunting at its finest. This rugged, remote and beautiful province is nearly untouched by man. It is similar in size to the state of California but with a population of only about 30,000 residents. The Yukon is a vast, pristine wilderness that holds a tremendous variety of trophy game species. You should be in excellent physical condition to maximize your success and to enjoy the Yukon experience.
Arizona Hunting Information
Arizona has lots of trophy big game but is probably best known for its trophy elk and mule deer. This partially due to the limited number of tags available.
Colorado Hunting Information
Colorado is one of the best western states for trophy mule deer hunting and has the largest population of elk in the west.
