Terry Copeland’s Testimonial

In the fall of 2010 after reading an article in Bowhunter Magazine, I called and talked with Steve Phelps, the owner of Illinois Trophy Bowhunters (ITB). Right away I knew he was a serious bowhunter. He explained that ITB only wanted experienced bowhunters who were seeking to harvest 125 plus bucks. If you shoot a smaller buck on one of their hunts, there would be a fine and you wouldn’t be allowed to return. Steve suggested if I was serious to come out and walk their hunting land and get to know the area I would hunt and also look for sheds. I was impressed so I booked a hunt for November 4 through 9 in 2011.

In March I drove out and met with Steve and spent two days walking his leases. I also met Brian Bergmann, his partner, and Travis Dalton, one of his guides. These guys are the most intense bowhunters I have ever met. Their hunting land is equally impressive.

Fast forward to November 2, 2011. A friend from Virginia, Farron Moss (also hunting with Steve) and I drove out to Springfield. We met our guide, Jim Riggins, for breakfast. He filled us in on everything we needed to know, and we followed him to our accommodations.

Farron and I were able to hunt that afternoon. I saw several does and an eight-pointer in the 100 class. On day two I moved my stand (a climber) 100 yards south. I saw 25 to 30 does and probably the same eight-pointer. That night Jim talked with us at the lodge and said he would come in and move me in the middle of the day. That morning I again saw many does and three or four small bucks. Jim came in and showed me an area where the bucks come off a ridge. We picked a good tree and I climbed for the evening hunt. At 2 p.m. I had a doe bedded within 40 yards of me for two hours. She left and by 5:15 I had does steadily walking past from the ridge to the north. A few minutes later a herd of 12 to 13 bucks came off the ridge and began worrying does in all directions. The last buck off the ridge was the largest and it didn’t look like I would get a shot. He turned and walked around behind me downwind at 20 yards in thick stuff. I was wearing clean clothes and also Scentlok. He passed behind me and then turned and walked on a trail that would give me a 25 yard shot. When the buck walked behind a bush I came to full draw, and as he entered my shooting window, he paused. The arrow was gone and the shot looked good. I didn’t see the deer fall, but it sounded like he piled up. Now I have to sit down. Heart pounding and heavy breathing, this is what a bowhunter lives for. I called Jim and he was in the process of helping another hunter retrieve his deer. Jim said to give it 15 minutes and climb down and look for blood. I looked up and I could see the buck had piled up maybe 50 yards. I walked up on this buck, which Jim said was about 300 pounds on the hoof, and the horns looked small compared to the body size. It took four of us to cart the deer to my truck. Brian Bergmann met us at the shed where they field dress deer, and Brian green scored my deer. My buck scored 161. I was in shock. The next morning Brian and Jim took lots of pictures and then caped my deer. Brian then took me to Kurt Hergenrother, a local taxidermist.

By killing my buck early I got to know everyone involved with ITB. Everyone with ITB is committed to their clients and to making the hunt special. They really enjoy what they do and it shows. My hunt was a hunt of a lifetime. These people are more than my outfitter and my guide, they are friends! Yes, I have booked for 2012!