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This was my return to Whitetail Heaven Outfitters in Ohio for the second time in roughly a 20 day span. My first trip was horrendous, and Tevis worked with me to create a deal in attempts to make up for my previous experience. I came up to hunt 3 days in late muzzy season. The first two days of my hunt, the weather was unbeatable for late season hunting. There was practically no wind with a temperature hanging out in the -2 to -8 range. That’s cold but good for some late season movement. The first two days I saw a combined total of 24 does without seeing a single buck. My last day, I saw 11 does, a four pointer, and an extremely wounded 8 pointer. The guides place bait piles of corn out around the stands, and it took this 8 pointer a matter of minutes to make it up a small hill where the corn was. It’s front right leg appeared to have a hyperextension injury and was broken. I immediately texted my guide who conversed with Tevis, the owner, and I was told not to shoot the animal, as I wanted to put the poor creature out of its misery. I do understand that wild animals, deer included, are relentless creatures, so he had a fighting chance to survive. But I didn’t like the call myself as I could physically see the deer’s condition and his weight loss by visualizing his ribs (and I’m a person that works in the medical field and puts patients to sleep for surgery), so I know sick and hurt when I see it. My first trip was far more unsuccessful than the second, but for the money charged, it’s not worth it.

Secondly, there were over 35 people in camp that week. You physically cannot have that many hunters and keep appropriate deer numbers and movement. It’s not realistic. It’s more of a party atmosphere than hunting atmosphere, which is fine because some people enjoy that. I for one was there to hunt and attempt to kill a trophy animal. Out of my two hunts there consisting of 6 days (ALL DAYLIGHT TO DARK SITS) I NEVER saw a single shooter in accordance to their limitations with the 140” minimum. To say the least, I was utterly disappointed with Whitetail Heaven.

Was the outfitter notified of problems? - YES