JM Outdoor Ops

JM Outdoor Ops runs hunting trips across thousands of acres in Hamilton, Wayne, Jefferson, and Franklin counties in Southern Illinois. This is a turnkey operation—you show up, they handle the rest.

Whitetail deer via bow or gun. Bow hunting uses compound bows, crossbows, or air bows. Gun season options include 12- or 20-gauge slugs, muzzleloaders (.44 caliber minimum), centerfire handguns, or straight-wall centerfire rifles (.30 caliber or larger). Season runs October through mid-January.

Spring turkey with shotguns (12-gauge standard, .410 now legal). Five consecutive seasons April through early May. Turkey hunts typically end on day one—they harvest a lot.

Thousands of acres with diverse terrain: rolling hills, river bottoms, hardwood timber, and ag fields. This mix is why mature bucks stay active. The landscape creates natural funnels and forces deer to move predictably.

You hunt from 22-foot ladder stands with lumbar padding (folding design lets you stand or sit all day) or elevated blinds. Guides pick you up before dawn, drop you at your stand, and retrieve you when you're done. During rut hunts (November), they push all-day sits—midday movement is when mature bucks move.

Morning: Light breakfast, hit the stand before dawn. Lunch break back at the lodge. Afternoon sit starts around 1 PM. Evening: dinner waiting at the lodge (typically steak and potatoes). Pack jerky, PB&J, or sandwiches for the field.

You bring your weapon (in a case—Illinois law), your camo, boots, and toiletries. They provide scent-free soap, pillows, and everything else. Shooting test upon arrival required.

6,480 square feet, built in 2021. Seven bedrooms, each with full bathroom. Cedar interior. Full kitchen with dishwasher, three-compartment sink, laundry room. Full bar with multiple TVs. Two large water heaters handle hot water for groups of 5-15 hunters.

• •Whitetail Bow Hunts (5 days, 6 nights, lodging + meals included):
• •October: $3,000
• •November: $3,500
• •December/January: $3,000
• •October + December combo (10 days): $3,500
• •Thanksgiving special (Fri-Wed): $3,000

• •Whitetail Gun Hunts (lodging + meals included):
• •1st Gun Season (3 days, 4 nights): $3,500
• •2nd Gun Season (4 days, 5 nights): $3,000
• •Muzzleloader (3 days, 4 nights): $3,000

• •Combo Packages (bow + gun, lodging + meals):
• •November Bow + 1st Gun: $6,500
• •November Bow + 2nd Gun: $6,000
• •Thanksgiving Bow + 2nd Gun: $5,500

• •Spring Turkey Hunts (3 days, lodging included): $1,000. Meals not included, but they cook most evenings and eat out during the season.

• •October (Early Bow): Productive if temps drop. Slow in warm weather.

• •November (Rut Hunts): Peak activity. All-day sits strongly recommended.

• •Gun Seasons: First weekend before Thanksgiving (Fri-Sat-Sun). Second gun season two weeks later. Muzzleloader follows after.

• •Late Season Bow (Dec-Jan): Often the most productive. Rut-worn bucks hit food sources in daylight. Does still cycling. Through mid-to-late January.

Don't bring deer calls or scents. They educate mature bucks. The guides do the calling. Weather swings from 70°F to 10°F—watch the forecast and coordinate gear needs. Illinois requires weapons in cases during transport. Have your rifle/shotgun sighted in before arrival—they'll test it.