7/18/08

Everyone that is gun hunting with River to River Outfitters I have sent you an
application, please fill it out and send it back in as soon as you recieve it. The
deadline is August 14th.

To all the bowhunters and people still wishing to book a bow hunt!!!!!!!
There is one more day that you will be able to get a tag and that is August 12th. You will need
to call 1-888-673-7648 and give them your information. Our outfitter number is DT0800316, and this will be the only other day that you will be able to get a bowtag.

If you have any questions please call me at 217-491-3456.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

5/8/08

2008-09 bow tags go on sale June 1st. Everyone that is hunting with us will need to get their bowtags at this time. You can do it one of two ways. You can get it online at www.dnr.state.il.us and go to the direct online license sales and go to the out of state Illinois bow tags and it will show you what to do. You can also call it in at 1-888-673-7648 and you can do it that way. You will need to tell them that you are hunting with an outfitter and our number is DT0800316. They are only giving out 25,000 tags so please do this as soon as you can.

For everyone that has already booked I have sent you a letter telling you this same information. We still have some really good hunts still available if anyone is interested or knows of anyone that would be interested. Please call me or have them give me a call. When these tags are sold out there will be no other way to get a bow tag for this season. My number is 217-491-3456.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

2/18/2008

The winner of the free hunt, from the Western Virginia Sports show, was Dennis Fisher of Waynesboro Virginia. We want to thank everyone that stopped by our booth this weekend, and if anyone is interested please contact me by phone or email and we can get something worked out.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

1/31/2008

River to River Outfitters now offers duck hunting in the most ideal area in the United States.
Northeast Arkansas is nationally known for its prime duck hunting and River to River Outfitters is now operating duck hunts there. We have 1500 continuous acres of prime flooded rice and bean fields. On these 1500 acres we have our own 100 acre refuge that holds more ducks than you can shake a Mossberg at. Our refuge, along with others nearby, creates an unbelievable duck hunting experience.

We are stepping up the duck hunting program here at River to River Outfitters. Now we're offering top-notch, duck hunting grounds for an unsurpassed hunting experience for every waterfowler that comes out with us. If you are planning your first duck hunt, or if you've been hunting for 50 years, you gotta come getcha some of this!

Get out here and hunt....we'll be waiting for ya.

--Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

1/25/2008
The deer season has come to an end; we ended up taking 16 bucks this season. We had 52 hunters and we killed 16 bucks -all scoring over 130". We had a 31% kill ratio this season, which is a good number considering there were 73 opportunities where the hunter elected not to shoot at bucks, even though they all scored an estimated 130” or more. Also, there were 15 times that the hunter shot and missed the deer.

So, in a nutshell, we had a 60% success rate actually pulling the triggers and a 100% opportunity rate after averaging all hunter statistics. Not to imply that every hunter had an opportunity at a buck, but almost every hunter had a very good hunt.

If you are interested in booking with River to River Outfitters we still have many Archery openings for the 08 season, but spots are starting to fill up. We do have the late muzzleloader season open for anyone that would like to come on a gun hunt.

You can book your hunt by calling me at 217-491-3456 or e-mailing me at
chrisrshores@hotmail.com

Look forward to hearing from you!
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

12/18/2007

Now that deer season is slowing down, we are really getting into the duck and goose hunting. The ducks and geese have made their way to Southern Illinois. You can still book a hunt for this season. It is a very inexpensive hunt with, $150 a day, and that includes fully guided hunt and lodging. This is the time to book your duck and goose hunt. They are really flyin good and we are getting good numbers every day. If you would like to book, we have many openings, you could call, and be hunting the next day. Just give me a call at 217-491-3456 and come on a hunt with River to River Outfitters.

Deer hunters you need to be booking your hunt for next year, we have many openings but they are filling up fast.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

12/5/07

We are through our second gun season, this past weekend we killed a 172” 9 pointer, it was a absolute giant. It will be posted on the website for everyone to see. We actually missed one that our hunter said was bigger than the 172” this same weekend. We also killed a 150 inch 10 pointer, the second gun season.

So far we had 46 different hunters for the fully guided hunts including bow and gun. We have killed 13 bucks, we had a total of 13 more shots that the hunters missed, and we have had a total of 79 shot opportunities at deer 130 or better, but elected not to shoot. We had one hunter pass up a deer opening day of gun season that was over 150, but he did see a deer that was over 200 inches.

If anyone is looking to book a hunt, we are booking up pretty fast we only have 2 more spots open for second gun, the first gun is full and we have some spots open for late muzzleloader. We have rut bow hunts still available, they are about half full. If you are interested please contact me at 217-491-3456 and we can book it up. You can look on the rates and dates page to see what dates we are hunting and what is open.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

11/20/2007

During the bow season before the first shotgun season, we had 31 hunters we killed 7 bucks all over 130”. We had 17 hunters shoot at deer that were 130 and above. We missed 10 more bucks. We had a 55 percent shot rate with a bow. We had 41 opportunities, we killed 7, shot and missed 10 and chose not to shoot 24 times. That is at deer 130 and above. We actually missed 4 deer that were over 170.

The first gun season we had 14 hunters and we killed 4 bucks. We missed 2 and chose not to shoot 15 more times. We killed a 165in 10pt, a 162in 10pt, a 143in 10pt and a 130in 8pt.

The semi guided first gun hunt: We had 6 hunters and they killed 2 bucks, a 140s 10pt and a 130s 8pt.

We have killed 14 bucks, the new pictures will be up on the website shortly.

If you are interested in booking a hunt, the spots are filling up quick with a lot of rebooks, but there are still many good rut and non-rut hunts still available for the 08 season.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

11/09/2007

From November 3rd through November 7th we had 9 hunters in camp and we killed 4 bucks all over 130 inches. These hunters produced 8 shots (4 misses and 4 kills). We also had 6 more oppurtunities at shooter bucks but did not shoot. This is the last week before the first gun season, the bucks are starting to chase pretty good, so check back later and see how things turn out!

-- Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters
217-491-3456

11/4/2007

We are starting the first week of November and the bucks are starting to look for hot does. They are chasing a little bit, but the big bucks are on their feet. We killed a 135in 8pt Nov. 3rd and missed 2 more on that same day. One which was over 170. We have had two missed shots, one kill and 6 more oppurtunities at deer 130+  since Halloween and now it is Nov. 3rd.

If you are interested in booking a 2008 hunt please contact me at 217-491-3456.
Spots are limited, we will only take 10-12 hunters a week. To find out the dates
that we are hunting for the 2008 season please go on the dates and rates page and
pick your week.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

10/25/2007

We are through the third week of bow season, and almost to the end of October. We got a 150 inch 8 pointer on the 20th of October. We did not have any hunters during this past week due to the October full moon. We are still seeing many bucks out scouting, but the weather has been pretty bad with very high winds and heavy rain. We are starting hunting again on the 27th. The bucks have started a little bit, but it is not real hot and heavy yet. This week they should really turn on through the gun season. I will let you know how things go.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

10/18/2007

We are through the second week of bow season, and the second week we still had the very high temps. and alot of wind. We still managed to see alot of deer and quite a few shooter bucks. We seen 26 shooters many that were over 150 inches. With 3 of them being over 170 and one that is in the mid 180s. I can't imagine what we will see when the weather gets right. We did kill a nice 133 inch 8 pointer. I will have it on the website as soon as I can. All the 08 rates and dates are up, so pick the time that you would like to come and give me a call.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters
217-491-3456

10/09/2007

Deer season has begun and we are already through the first week. Despite having record high temperatures, we still had some really good hunts. We had four people in camp and we seen 251 deer, 124 of them were bucks and 37 of them were shooters. We had 5 shot opportunities and we actually shot at three different shooters. We killed one which was a 146 3/8 inch 10pt and the other two were clean misses. The weather is starting to cool down and the bucks are starting to get more and more active, I will let you know what happens within the next two weeks.
The 08 hunt dates and rates are up, so book your hunt early because it will sell out fast. Just call me at 217-491-3456.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters
217-491-3456

7/16/2007

I have sent everyone that is gun hunting with River to River Outfitters this year an
application and what exactly to do. If anyone has any questions please call me at
anytime and I will help you through it. Please when you get it get it filled out
and put the check in it and get it back to the state. They will not take any
applications after Aug. 14.

For people who are not hunting with River to River Outfitters this season, we can
start taking some reservations for the 08 season. I do save the spots for the
repeat customers if they want them but there will be some spots open. To book a
hunt with River to River Outfitters just call Chris Shores at 217-491-3456.

Thank you
Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters

5/15/2007

Permits go on sale June 1st- 30th !
Non resident bow tags go on sale June 1st- June 30th, any hunter that is bow hunting with River to River Outfitters will need to apply during these dates. We recommend that you do it as soon as possible. You can do it one of two ways you can call 1-888-6permit and do it over the phone or you can go to the DNR website which is www.dnr.state.il.us and go the the direct sales online out of state archery permits and it will show you what to do. Our outfitter number is DT0700316, you will want to say that you are hunting with an outfitter. If you have any questions please call me at 217-491-3456 and I will be able to help you through it.

5/17/2007

All is well here in Illinois, we have got all of our food plots in. We have planted many clover and alfalfa food plots that are already looking very good. Also we have some corn food plots that we will leave standing all year for the deer. We are looking forward to a great season and look forward to seeing everyone in the fall.

---Chris Shores
River to River Outfitters