I have been on many outfitted hunts that claim they are one on one and guided hunts---not so. You get there to find out the guides are kids with barely enough knowledge to spell whitetail hunter much less understand movement patterns, tree stand placement, wind direction and a general lay of the land. Camp is full of 10-15 hunters and the land is overhunted and your chances of seeing a squirrel are slim to none much less a monster whitetail.

This is not the case with the Backwoods Outfitter. Jason has a first class operation that placed me in the stand locations that allowed sightings of deer every day. I paid for a 5 day hunt and Jason threw in an extra day of hunting since I arrived a day early. He does the scouting for deer movement while you hunt so he is constantly placing the hunter in the action. I saw 25 different buck in one week, some shooters, some not. I saw 2 monsters going into the hunting area that easily score 165 plus. This may have been my downfall.

By 10:00a.m. Sunday morning (first morning), I had already passed a 130 class buck and a 120 well within bow range. Over the course of the next week I saw several bucks, does, turkeys within shooting range. I had a 140 class 10 point in some brush about 30 yards away that did not allow a good shot so I didn't take it and when the hot doe hit the field he was gone. I am normally quite fidgety in the stand but with all the activity I had no problem hunting all day for 5 days straight. What a great hunt.

I am definitely going back hopefully this year in 2004. He has plenty of great land that is not overhunted. It is a no frills hunt with the accomodations being comfortable. You are on your own for meals, however, there are restaurants with great home cooking nearby. Give Jason and Backwoods Outfitter a try you won't be sorry. Listen folks the hunting area is right across the river from Illinois and you all know the genetics that area has to offer. The great thing about Missouri hunting is that the big bucks are there but it is not as commercialized.

Good Luck to all.

Brad, RN