Boneyard Outfitters

Boneyard Outfitters is a family-owned guided hunting service based in Whittington, Illinois, about 2 hours from St. Louis or Evansville airports. The operation focuses on fully guided hunts for trophy whitetail deer and Eastern wild turkey across thousands of acres of private land in Southern Illinois's Rend Lake region—one of the best deer hunting destinations in the United States.

Jason Johns, the owner and head guide, grew up hunting these properties and knows the deer patterns, seasonal movements, and travel corridors. The Southern Illinois herd is corn and grain-fed, which means big bodies and big racks. Deer density here is very high, giving hunters genuine chances at mature bucks.

• •October 2025: $2,100 per person (5 days)
• •November Rut: $2,500 per person (5 days, limited dates)
• •December: $1,900 per person (5 days)
• •Group discount: Book 4 hunters, save $200 per person

• •October Youth Hunt: $1,600 (3 days)
• •November Rut (1st season): $2,700 (3 days)
• •November/December Rut (2nd season): $2,500 (4 days)
• •December Muzzleloader: $1,950 (3 days)

• •What's included: Guided hunts, lodging, home-cooked meals, night before and night after your hunt. Meals feature Southern Illinois home cooking followed by bonfire gathering to share the day's stories.

Hunts use lock-on and ladder stands positioned near prime feeding areas, travel corridors, and proven deer trails. Stands have taken many Boone & Crockett-class bucks over the years. Hunters can sit all day or move between multiple stand locations. The Boneyard encourages all-day sits to minimize hunting pressure and maximize deer activity.

Spring turkey season runs April through May in the Southern Zone. Hunts are semi-guided or fully guided across the same hardwood forest and river bottom properties used for deer hunting.

• •Turkey Hunt Rates: $295 per person per day (includes 2 nights lodging), 2-day minimum.

2025 Southern Zone Season Dates: - April 7–11 - April 12–17 - April 18–23 - April 24–30 - May 1–8

• •Youth Hunts: Father & Son specials available. Resident youth permits are only $10.50.

If you kill your turkey early, Boneyard can arrange: - Spring fishing (crappie) - Shed hunting - Morel mushroom hunting - Sporting clays - 27-hole golf course nearby

Bag all four (wild turkey, crappie, morels, wild asparagus) and you've completed the Grand Slam of the Spring—exclusive to Boneyard Outfitters.

A new Boneyard Lodge is under construction featuring: - Themed guest rooms with private bathrooms and showers - Dining area and full-service kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances - Living room with big-screen TV - Outdoor grilling and Blackstone iron - Bonfire area for evening stories

• •Current lodging option: Hard-sided campers sleep 6 guests, available by the night or week. Call Jason for rates.

"This was my first guided hunt. I was concerned about heavily hunted properties, but we saw great numbers of deer during daylight—including regular sightings of large trophy-class bucks. It's a testament to how important pre-season scouting is." — Payton E., Maryland

"I saw at least 6 bucks over 150 inches. These guys will do whatever they can to make sure you have a great hunt." — Rob F., Maryland

"I spotted well over a hundred deer in 7 days—41 of those were bucks. It was like being on the Hunting Channel. I've never seen bigger bucks in 25 years of deer hunting." — Walter B., New York

"The properties they hunt are the best not only in Illinois, but also the Midwest. Their Southern hospitality cannot be beat." — Don Dziedzina, Illinois Outdoors TV

• •Important: Practice with your weapon before arrival. Communicate any physical conditions or shooting limitations to the guides. They can accommodate ground blinds if necessary.

With a high return-rate clientele, Boneyard books up fast. Firearm permit applications open in April, so plan early. Once full for the season, they take reservations for the following year.

Phone: 618-927-3432 Email: [email protected]

15065 Shiloh Cemetery Road Whittington, IL 62897