Deer

Deep in the heart of Texas lies one of the most unique destinations and hunting experience you can imagine. 5,500 acres of high-fenced game reserve: 10 permanent, modern hunting blinds for maximum comfort Year-round feeding program with corn feeders, protein feed stations, and cottonseed feeders spread throughout the ranch 500 yard range with steel gong targets at lodge, 1000 yard target range locations throughout ranch. Our new steel gong “sporting clays type” course will be finished soon 4 bedroom, 4 bath modern hunting lodge with satellite tv, wifi, indoor fireplace, outdoor fire pit, walk in cooler

The acres your hunt will take place on are very strictly managed. South Fork hunters are required to harvest at minimum 140 inch, 3 ½ year old bucks. Having these practices in place for years has only made a good thing that much better. In addition to the doe’s that our hunters harvest, we take heard surveys that enable us to go through late season and remove doe’s in highly populated areas. As a whole – the areas you will be hunting have an excellent doe-to-buck ratio (2 or 3-to-1). Hunter to acre ratio is also very important. Low pressure is a huge part of harvesting mid-west whitetail deer. Here at South Fork, we keep ample ground for the numbers of hunters we run, with some farms not being hunted for entire seasons. This is all to ensure South Fork ground will remain the best of the best. We take stand location very seriously. This is crucial when getting close to giant Illinois bruisers. The wind and thermals are taken into consideration on every set. The stand set ups are for stealth entry and exits. Stand location is one of the biggest keys to a successful hunt- second only to having a piece of great managed whitetail ground. All stands are set by South Fork Guides that have years of experience and the bucks to prove it! The rule of thumb we live by is “if we wouldn’t hunt it, we won’t hang it!” We are as excited to get you into the stand that we hung, as you are to be in it. It’s like we are hunting with you. Our sets consist of hang–on’s with climbing sticks (20′-25′); ladder stands (16′-20′); shooting houses (7′-10′); and assorted ground blinds. We utilize over 70+ Shadowhunter Blinds to provide our gun hunters with a comfortable and solid shooting setup. We put you up close and personal, it’s just a matter of time before a big shooter reveals himself. All hunts are completely free range with no high fences in the “Golden Triangle” of Illinois- Pike, Adams, and Hancock counties. All South Fork properties provide the benefits of a long-standing Quality Deer Management Plan and uphold a Pope & Young deer scoring minimum of 140 inches or better. Trail cameras cover almost every property for the majority of the growing season giving you the chance to see a potential trophy before stepping foot in the woods. Field dressing services and deer transportation are provided by our guides if desired. Our guides will assist in meat & trophy care and preparation for shipping

Deer Club Members will have access to over a 1300 acres to hunts consisting of the 510 acres at Pratt Farm with the surrounding DE farms that are within 3 miles of the lodge. Deer Club members will have access to over 80 deer stand locations made up of box stands with roofs for gun and crossbow hunters, and ladder stands for traditional compound bow hunters. Deer hunters may hunt from climber or saddle. Simply sign out deer stand closest to where you want to hunt. Deer club Members have full access to lodge 24/7, and the ability to Dove Hunt on our sunflower field.