Deer Hunt Info

Our hunting lodge is located in Northwest Missouri, 5 miles from the Iowa border which allows us to hunt both Missouri and Iowa. We hunt Harrison and Worth counties in Missouri, Ringgold, and Decatur counties in Iowa. These counties are considered by many to be one of the best trophy areas in the country, with several giants being taken throughout the years. Missouri has a 4-point restriction that is only in the northern tier of counties which has helped our overall quality of bucks. We conduct our hunts on more than 20,000 acres of privately owned ground that is managed for high-quality trophy whitetails. We have a great mix of terrain that consists of hardwood timber, corn and soybean fields, alfalfa fields, river bottoms, and a lot of CRP fields with food plots.

To ensure trophy quality for years to come, we offer only a limited number of bookings each year. We also have minimum size limits in place for the bucks. The minimum size for all deer hunts is 140" gross B&C, with exceptions for youth and management deer, which is determined by us. A small deer fine will have to be paid prior to departure. Our goal is to protect the quality of our bucks, by protecting the immature bucks, being the 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 yr old bucks. We would love nothing more than to have nothing but 4 1/2-year-old bucks and older to be harvested.

Our average buck, scores close to 150", so our management plan is working. Our overall average on-shot opportunity for archers is 65% and for firearms 75%. Shot opportunities are very hard to figure out for us because we have several clients who return each year that pass on shooter bucks waiting on a giant, or a particular buck. Our hunts are conducted from over 425 large, well-equipped tree stands, ladder stands, ground blinds, and elevated enclosed shooting houses. Our stands are not overhunted, and each and every year we have farms that we do not hunt. We like to rotate our farms to ensure top-quality hunting for years to come.

After you have bagged your trophy, we take care of it for you. We take photos, field dress the animal, and get it to the local processor where you can either donate the meat or have it packaged for your own use. We let the local processor cape out the animal so that it is done professionally. We also have a local taxidermist that does a great job at a reasonable rate.

The licenses in Missouri need to be purchased online from the Missouri Department of Conservation, prior to arrival or at sporting goods retailers in the state of Mo. The licenses for Iowa are on a draw basis, and the application time is the 1st Saturday in May, thru the 1st Sunday in June. You can also purchase preference points in Iowa for increased chances of drawing tags in future years. We hunt Zones 4 and 5 in Iowa. More information can be found at the Iowa Dept of Natural Resources

Lodging and Meals

We offer great accommodations; with 11 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms you will not be waiting in line for a hot shower or to use the restroom. Our lodge is a few years old and offers all of the modern conveniences. Central air and heat, Satellite TV, Wireless Internet, 2 scent-free washers/dryers, boot dryers, 30-yard indoor archery range, and an outdoor 3-D archery range. All of our bedding is washed in Scent Free detergent and we have a complete kitchen and dining area in a separate building to eliminate food odors from the lodge. We are very scent conscious, and we try to keep everything as scent-free as possible.

Our lodge has 2 master suites with queen size beds, each with their own private bathrooms. Some of the other rooms sleep 2- 3 people and have storage for all of your gear. The lodge is a hunting lodge decorated, with numerous trophy mounts that I or the guides have taken over the past few years. We have comfortable sofas and recliners in the great room, a video selection, reading material, and some board games for those that tag out early.

The Kitchen/dining area is a separate area, very close, well stocked, and a great place to eat and drink while trading stories and tales of past hunts. There is plenty to eat and drink; you will not go hungry while you are at Border Bucks. We will keep the drink cooler well stocked with soda and bottled water and the cabinets filled with snacks, and homemade cookies to keep your sweet tooth satisfied.

Breakfast is a glorified continental offering of cereal, oatmeal, breakfast burritos, bagels, pastries, toast, juice, milk, and coffee. Each and every hunter may choose what he or she wants. Lunches will vary with different seasons, and for those dedicated hunters that will spend all day out in the field, there is always plenty to choose from. We have lunchmeat, condiments, and cheese available and each hunter may make their own sandwiches and have as much as they need for the energy to make the big kill. Chips and other snacks are available. Dinner is always a home-cooked meal with dessert. You will not walk away hungry.

If you happen to be with us during the Spring Turkey season, you will more than likely find yourself attending a fish fry, with homemade French fries, fresh crappie, and morel mushrooms!

Base price is per person for an 11-Day Archery & Gun Combo Hunt. Add non-hunters or additional does for additional fees.