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FAQ
Questions, answered plainly.
Lodging, permits, kids, discounts, groups, weather and booking. If it is not here, call and ask a guide.
01 · Before you call
The questions we get asked most.
If your question is not here, call 309-337-8396. You will get Travis or one of the guides rather than a call centre, and if the honest answer is that a different hunt suits you better, that is the answer you will get.
02 · Questions
Everything hunters ask.
Is lodging included in the price?
Yes. Every hunt on our board includes lodging in the Bigger Bucks lodge and meals cooked there. There is no separate lodging charge and no per night rate on top of the hunt price.
Do I need an Illinois permit before I book?
No, but you do need one before you hunt, and the nonresident deadlines come around earlier than most people expect. The nonresident combination archery permit is $411 and the lottery window closes on June 30. We walk every hunter through the process. There is a full breakdown on our Illinois deer permits page.
Do you charge trophy fees or have antler minimums?
Call and ask Travis directly at 309-337-8396 so you get the current answer from the person who sets it, rather than a number on a web page that may be out of date.
Can I bring my child?
Yes, and one child hunts free with every paid adult. Same guide, same ground, same lodge. It is the policy we are proudest of and there is more about it on the Kids Hunt Free page.
Do you offer a discount for law enforcement, first responders and veterans?
Yes. We offer discounts for LEO, first responders and military veterans. Mention it when you call and we will apply it.
How far is the lodge from an airport?
We are at 1929 Twp Rd 1000 N, Media, IL 61460 in Henderson County, western Illinois, just over the bluff from the Mississippi. Most flying hunters come into Moline, Peoria or Quincy and drive. Call and we will tell you which one makes sense for your dates.
How far in advance should I book?
For November, as early as you can. The rut blocks and first shotgun season fill first every year and they fill months out. For late archery, turkey and coyote there is usually room closer in.
Do you take groups?
Yes, and the lodge is built for it. Twelve bedrooms and room for thirty-four means a full camp of friends or a company trip fits without anyone sleeping on a couch.
What happens if the weather is bad?
You hunt. Weather is part of it, and a front is usually good news here rather than bad. What a guide can do is move you to ground that suits the wind, which is one of the practical advantages of hunting farms spread across a county rather than one block.
Can I hunt with a crossbow?
Illinois sets the rules on legal archery equipment and they have changed over the years. Check the Illinois DNR for the current position, or call us and we will tell you what we know.
Do you have a deposit or cancellation policy?
Call Travis at 309-337-8396 and ask him directly, so you get the current terms from the person who sets them.