posted
Up again this year is a deer hunt on the family farm in Pike County Illinois. The hunt will last at least 5 days, more possible if all scheduling works out. The timing is somewhat flexible, but historically the winning bidders hunt in the the last 2 weeks of October into the first week of November. Most of November and December is already scheduled with other hunts by family and friends.
The farm is 107 acres of mixed hardwoods and grass pasture. New last year was a camper that my brother put on the place. Last year's winners stayed in it and worked out a deal with my bro instead of staying in a hotel. There are several hotels within a 30 min drive of the farm.
We have had varied success over the years with the St. Jude hunts. A few does have been taken along with one nice buck. Most folks are looking to score on a legendary Pike Co. buck and a lot of smaller bucks have been passed on. Below is a picture of Fred's buck and my doe from a couple auctions ago.
I will do my best to be on the hunt to help out. I live in Pittsburgh, so its hit or miss on whether I can make it. If I do come, I will only hunt for does if at all. My only goal will be to help you kill whatever you want. There is an abundance of deer on the place. The question is usually one of size. Below are a few bucks my dad has killed with a gun over the years.
The way we have worked the hunt in the past is that the winning bidder has the option of bringing another hunter along for the same bid price. I think this has been done 3 times. This is great because it doubles the contribution to St. Jude. We don't care what kind of bow is used as long as it complies with IL state law.
My parents will also take the winning bidder(s) out to dinner somewhere locally one night. If I am unable to make it, both Dad and my brother will do whatever they can to help you.
Depending on how things go, this may be the last year for the hunt in the auction. My grandmother died a couple days ago and there is not a clear solution as to how the estate will be settled. We hope to keep offering this as it brings much joy to the family to share the farm and raise a few bucks for St. Jude. Thanks in advance to all who may bid. Please feel free to ask questions, as I am sure there will be some additional things you may need to know.
[ May 19, 2011, 02:45 PM: Message edited by: Terry Green ]
Posts: 858 | From: Missouri | Registered: Jun 2003
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-------------------- TGMM Family of the Bow Compton Traditional Bowhunters
“Only after the last tree has been cut down…the last river has been poisoned…the last fish caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." - Cree Indian Prophesy Posts: 1859 | From: Westchester County, NY | Registered: Oct 2006
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-------------------- Gods greatest command: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Posts: 1093 | From: Broaddus Texas | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Dang it! I wish I could bid on this! Just don't have the $ right now!
I won this hunt a couple years ago and took a buddy. We had a great hunt and really enjoyed the hospitality from Darren's family!
I saw a monster buck the first morning, which ruined me for the rest of the week! Did shoot a doe and passed on a few smaller bucks. Sometimes I deliberately passed on them and sometimes my arrows just passed by them. Saw alot of bucks like the one in the pic hanging in the barn.
I highly recommend this hunt to anyone! And don't forget it is for the kids!
-------------------- "But, the bestest doctor of all is God!" Katie Jones (7 years old) Posts: 1319 | From: Olathe, KS | Registered: Jun 2003
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Up for the kids! I was fortunate enough to get this hunt the first year it was offered and the quanity and quality of the deer was unbelievable!
-------------------- "People say you can't go back, its like when you get to the edge of a cliff and you take one more step forward or you do a 180 degree turn and take one more step forward. Which way are you going? Which one is progress?" Doug Tompkins Posts: 2047 | From: Ozark, Missouri | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I want to thank all the bidders thus far and especially Chip & Scott for chiming-in. My family has been blessed by all the winners the last 4 years. We look forward to sharing our little piece of heaven with whomever wins. Hopefully you'll be able to bring a partner and double-up the dollars for the St. Jude Kids.
I was able to visit the family and the farm a couple weeks ago. I took several drives in the evenings on the roads around our property and saw a bunch of deer including a lot of bucks with velvet sprouts on their heads. Who knows where they'll all be when season rolls around, but I saw 2 already pretty impressive boys. One, a fat older buck with huge bases and the antlers just begining to split at the ends. The second impressive one looked to be young (small body, immature face, straight back, gut up higher than chest, etc.) and had 3 pts to a side and out past his ears, average mass. Saw lots of fat does too, including one that was coughing - we think she was in the beginning of labor - out in an open field.
Can't wait to see how the auction unfolds and either meet new friends or rekindle a relationship. Whatever happens, thanks to all of you for your generous bids and kind words.
Posts: 858 | From: Missouri | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
I hope I get it already have several buddies dying for the second spot!! But if I lose the bid then the kids win more.
-------------------- Gods greatest command: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Posts: 1093 | From: Broaddus Texas | Registered: Mar 2008
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-------------------- Gods greatest command: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Posts: 1093 | From: Broaddus Texas | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Man! If I didn't already have whitetail tags for two out of state trips plus my home state I would be all over this one!
$300 apiece for a Pike Co. IL private land whitetail hunt?? That's got to be the bargain of the auction!
Posts: 8861 | From: Lake Mills, WI | Registered: Mar 2003
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