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Hunter Comments

I hunted with Performance Outdoors 27 Oct – 1 Nov of 2007. We hunted in their Hancock Illinois Camp, Joetta Lodge. Our group had a great time. Jake, Ron and the guides provided everything that was promised. We talked to Jake via e-mail and over the phone many times prior to our hunt and he was prompt in getting us all of the information that was requested as well as keeping us on our respective pay schedules. There were no hassles. The properties were great with lots of deer and most importantly big deer sign. We hunted very hard for six days. I let a shooter walk the first evening at 5 yards. A pretty good 9 point, but not what I personally came to Illinois for. And besides, it was the first day. Ten minutes later I saw another buck chasing a doe that made him look like a punk. Of course, he never got within bow range. 3 out of the 4 of us had an opportunity at a mature buck, but we didn’t score for one reason or another. That’s bow hunting. One of our other guys saw more deer than anyone (like 75 for the trip), but never saw what he was looking for. He saw 37 deer one day while on stand. I think 15 bucks or so. The rut was just kicking in with some chasing going on, but we were a little too early for the peak of it. On our last evening out, we saw one of the biggest bucks I had ever laid eyes on. He was tending a doe in the field on the farm that we had been hunting most of the week. It was a true Midwest monster. I think for the week I saw 37 deer. 5 shooters total. We also saw monster bucks every morning and evening on the side of the road heading to and from camp.

All of the guides were great and fun to be around. The lodge was perfect, nothing fancy but just right after being in the field all day. The guides took turns cooking and those boys can whip up some grub, and plenty of it. The hunt can be whatever you want it to be. We stayed out all day most days unless the wind changed for our respective stands. You will hunt according to the wind! We were in constant contact with the guides via cell phone if need be. If you are looking for a vacation, then this is not it. Our day started at 4am and we never got back to camp until after dark, but that was our choice. After about Wednesday I was wishing I shot that deer on the first day.

About the only thing that I was disappointed in was the fact that at this time of year they gave the impression that they really didn’t want you shooting any does. So, none of our group did. I know, you don’t go to the Midwest to shoot a doe but…

We will definitely be back with Performance Outdoors in the near future, maybe next time in their Iowa camp.

Outfitter's Response

Performance Outdoors has been providing quality Trophy Whitetail Hunts since 1997 in the MidWest. We work very hard year around to provide an excellent experience for our clients. Our common interest is hunting huge Whitetail Bucks. This is the basis of our company, Performance Outdoors, Inc. Our goal is to give our clients the highest quality trophy hunting possible at a price, which is reasonable to the hunter. Performance Outdoors farms are 100% “Fair Chase”. We manage them to the best of our ability. These farms are abundant with Whitetail Deer habitat that has produced many “Boone and Crockett” class bucks in the past and will again. The rugged hollows and creek bottoms spread through food plots, cornfields, soybean fields and CRP grounds. This land has some of the most elusive Trophy Whitetails in the country. We spend months locating the perfect stand locations to give you the best opportunity at a mature buck. Our hard work has been proven time again through our extraordinary success.

This year we have added a new hunt called the Smart Scouter Hunt: This hunt is guided in a 2(hunters) to 1(guide) ratio, which is the our tightest ration. The meals and lodging presentation is exactly the same as our Guided Hunt. It is however, our most premier hunt due to the following values added. Limited to a few clients per week, this hunt has Smart Scouter Cameras (www.smartscouter.com ) placed throughout the hunting properties. The farms have been hand picked by Performance Outdoors owners, and are without question fall into the category “Land of the Giants”. The SS units will be in the woods by early, and will stay active to the end. The SS Units will play a key role of entertainment and scouting for the Smart Scouter Hunters, and will be accessible through www.smartscouter.com. Hunters will essentially start their hunt early by monitoring the units. They will be able to anticipate particular trophy bucks they are going to hunt on their upcoming Performance Outdoors experience. During the hunt, Smart Scouter surveillance will be a scouting tool on where and when to hunt at any given time. The guide and clients will utilize the Smart Scouter’s to strategize and plan out the entire week’s hunt. Smart Scouter Hunting clients will be able to have the SS Pictures sent directly to their PDA Cell phones during their hunting week. One may be setting in a stand on one farm and suddenly realize they need to move because a 190” typical just went by a Smart Scouter Unit at a different location/farm. Thanks for all the support our clients have given us over the paos 10 years.

Shoot Straight, Jake Roach www.performanceoutdoors.com