This was my first experience with an outfitter. To that point, Tad and his outfit set the bar very high! Camp had a lot of thought put into the design and is exceptionally well appointed. Each cabin has a common area in the middle with a full-sized fridge and washer/drier. The bedrooms (4 to each cabin) has two double beds and two built-in shelving units for clothing and gear-plenty of room. Each room has a private bath. I was there by myself and had a room to myself which I liked as I didn't like the idea of sharing a room with a stranger. The cabins have porches running lengthwise with tables and chairs for lounging. There is also a fire-pit area with ample wood where all the guys hung out after dinner. Tina prepared phenomenal home-cooked meals that were ready when the hunters arrived back into camp.
Although I was not successful in taking a shot, that is no reflection on Tad. I saw numerous deer everyday, including several shooters. This is free range hunting and nature cannot be controlled. The only way the weather could have been worse is if would have been raining. It was unseasonably hot with a south wind, which kept the mature bucks' movement to a minimal until the last day. The temperature dropped 20° and the wind shifted out of the north. It was like a switch was flipped; movement drastically increased.
The time and hard work that Tad and his team puts in shows in the farms, roads, food plots, stand sets and knowledge of the terrain. Its was evident that they have a great deal of knowledge of the bucks on each farm. All of the stands I sat in were either Millennium or Xstand and plenty comfortable for all day sits, which is what I did. Trails to/from the stands were clearly marked and visible both in daylight and dark.
Tad also has Ozonics units available for use if hunters do not have them. Bow/gear hangers are not installed, but provided, to allow hunters to install to their liking/positioning/etc. He also gave each hunter goodies provided by sponsors, which was an added bonus.
Transportation to and from the field consisted of full sized, 4-wheel drive SUVs and electric golf carts once on the farms. Each guide was teamed up with 3 to 4 hunters and the furthest drive my group had was about 20 minutes from camp.
I had an excellent trip, will be a repeat client and would recommend Tad Ladd West Kentucky Whitetails to anyone, especially bowhunters. Tad is passionate about putting hunters on solid, mature deer and is a bowhunter himself.
Thanks Shannon, we try to plan everything from a hunters perspective and their success, and want the overall experience to be great from arrival to departure.
Hot with wind out of the south.
