Hunters Roost Lodge & Outfitters

Hunters Roost is a family-run outfitting operation in Waverly, Illinois, with roots in the area dating back to the 1830s. John and his family have hunted their whole lives and built the operation around semi-guided whitetail hunting on private farms—no mixing groups, no competition from other hunters.

They offer three main hunt structures:

• •Semi-Guided Archery Trophy Whitetail – Setup Sunday, hunt through Friday. Private farms with pinch points, woods, and creeks. Archery leases only hunted 3 weeks per year.
• •Semi-Guided Firearm Trophy Whitetail – Setup Thursday, 3-day rut hunt Friday through Sunday.
• •Archery/Gun Combo – Setup Sunday before firearms season. 5.5 days of archery followed by 3-day rut hunt.
• •Muzzleloader Hunts – First full weekend of December. Setup Wednesday, hunt Thursday through Sunday.

About 75% of their trophy deer hunters see the biggest buck of their life while hunting here.

Their land is a mix of woods, creeks, and agriculture ideal for trophy bow hunting. They focus heavily on pinch points. Average shot success rate runs 60-70%, and there are no hidden trophy fees—all hunts are fair chase.

Clean, comfortable lodging with excellent meals included at affordable pricing. After setup day, you drive yourself to and from your private farm. When a deer is shot, call the lodge and they'll help with tracking and recovery. Recent addition: Mya, an antler shed dog trained by Rodger Seigler, adds a unique element to the lodge experience.

Setup happens on arrival day. For an additional $100, you can start a day early for an extra afternoon and morning hunt (limited to one day). All hunters sign a liability waiver upon arrival.

"Been to other Illinois outfitters but they are by far the best. Small enough where you get personal treatment and plenty of good land to hunt." – Tim Rowland