Illinois Trophy Bowhunters

Illinois Trophy Bowhunters Steve Phelps
Founder – ITB
[email protected]
217-414-4471 (Mobile) Illinois Bow Hunting is what we specialize in at Illinois Trophy Bowhunters!

If you want to bow hunt Illinois, your search for an Illinois Bow Hunting Outfitter is over! At Illinois Trophy Bowhunters (ITB for short), we have been Bow Hunting Illinois since 1991. As one of the oldest Illinois Whitetail Deer Hunting Outfitters you can rest assured we have figured out how to successfully bow hunt Illinois. Take a look at our photo galleries, read or watch our hunter testimoni

als, follow the conversation on our page and you will soon realize that ITB is the place to book your Illinois Bow Hunting Trips. While bow hunting is the core of our operation, we also offer a select number of whitetail gun hunts during the Illinois firearm deer season. The owners and guides at ITB are all avid Illinois Bow Hunters and know the specific requirements needed to successfully bow hunt Illinois. This Illinois bow hunting experience is what you should be looking for in an Illinois Outfitter. This is all we do! Illinois is the only state we hunt and trophy whitetail deer is the only animal we are after. Hence the name, “Illinois Trophy Bowhunters”!

“Where Whitetail Dreams Come True” is not only our slogan, but our mission statement as well. We have fine-tuned every aspect of your deer hunt to maximize your chance of bow hunting success. Since we are 100% fair chase, we cannot guarantee you a buck, but we will do everything we can to give you that opportunity. To accomplish this, we use our experience to maximize your shot opportunities at trophy whitetail deer. All of our farms are managed for trophy quality deer (125” P&Y or better). In addition, our archery hunts are a full, 6 days of hunting, not 5 like many other Illinois deer hunting outfitters. This extra day in the field can mean a lot if the weather has not cooperated during your week in Illinois. But most importantly, we only bow hunt our farms for 3 weeks! That’s right…just 3 weeks. Oh and by the way, those three weeks are during the rut! Trophy managed farms, longer hunts, hunting the rut, experienced bow hunting guides and fewer hunters is what will increase your opportunity for success. Illinois Trophy Bowhunters has been practicing this bow hunting philosophy for almost 25 years and it works!

ITB Turkey hunts 2026Our first week was outstanding!5 hunters harvested 5 gobblers all on the first day of their hunts. ...
04/17/2026

ITB Turkey hunts 2026

Our first week was outstanding!
5 hunters harvested 5 gobblers all on the first day of their hunts. The hunts lasted an average of one hour!
Guide Jim Huecker had spent the prior weeks scouting roost and patterning movements to ensure success.
He had the turkeys figured out !
Week 1 guys have all rebooked too for 2027 !
Below are some photos of their success!

We still have bow and gun hunts available for 2026 deer hunting too.
For more info, hunt details, and to book, contact:
Steve Phelps :
217 414 4471
[email protected]

Check out our website:
Illinoistrophybowhunters

04/16/2026
04/16/2026

Jim Huecker and I love finding shed antlers. For hunt details call me at Illinois Trophy Bow Hunters 217-414-4471

04/14/2026

ITB trail camera review for 2026

I am often asked what’s it like here ?
What’s it like at ITB?

About half our 20 guides are nonresident, and most have been with me 10-20 years. They were ITB hunters, and were promoted to guides.
Many hunters have been with us over 3 years, and some over 10.
So, It’s like a high school reunion for 6.5 days, and then the Celebration of deer hunting every time we take a great buck and even when our hunters just see the best buck of their life !!!
Below are some good bucks from the past that outsmarted us and are part of our 2026 inventory, as far as we know. We have seen and studied some of these bucks for 3-4 years, and have some of their sheds.
We can’t wait to see their growth in 2026 come this November!

If you have any questions about your hunt, or booking call me now. We have bow and gun hunts available.
Steve Phelps: 217-414-4471 [email protected]
www: illinoistrophybowhunters

ITB trail camera review for 2026I am often asked what’s it like here ?What’s it like at ITB?About half our 20 guides are...
04/11/2026

ITB trail camera review for 2026

I am often asked what’s it like here ?
What’s it like at ITB?

About half our 20 guides are nonresident, and most have been with me 10-20 years. They were ITB hunters, and were promoted to guides.
Many hunters have been with us over 3 years, and some over 10.
So, It’s like a high school reunion for 6.5 days, and then the Celebration of deer hunting every time we take a great buck and even when our hunters just see the best buck of their life !!!
Below are some good bucks from the past that outsmarted us and are part of our 2026 inventory, as far as we know. We have seen and studied some of these bucks for 3-4 years, and have some of their sheds.
We can’t wait to see their growth in 2026 come this November!

If you have any questions about your hunt, or booking call me now. We have bow and gun hunts available.
Steve Phelps: 217-414-4471 [email protected]
www: illinoistrophybowhunters

Gun Hunt Special $300 discount during MarchOr book a group of 4, and your hunt is about 1/2 price With a $1200 discount....
03/09/2026

Gun Hunt Special $300 discount during March

Or book a group of 4, and your hunt is about 1/2 price With a $1200 discount. Our regular hunt price is $3300, including lodging and meals.

Shotgun, muzzleloader, and rifles that are single shot with straight wall cartridges are legal. For 2026 the dates are :
11/20 - 11/22/2026.

The deposit to book is $500, and the balance is due in 3 more payments.
All farms are managed with a 140” minimum.

We still have a few bow hunts available too. The photos below are some bucks from past gun hunts at ITB.
For more info, hunt details, and to book, contact:
Steve Phelps :
217 414 4471
[email protected]

Check out our website:
Illinoistrophybowhunters

At ITB,  WE LOVE FINDING SHEDS !Brian Bergmann and Ed Klepeis had a great day last week and found 19 sheds at our Wolf C...
03/07/2026

At ITB, WE LOVE FINDING SHEDS !

Brian Bergmann and Ed Klepeis had a great day last week and found 19 sheds at our Wolf Creek camp.
The biggest shed is off this big ten and scores
74 6/8”. We think that buck will be 7.5 this year based on our history with him.
He will be a Booner by November !
Our hunters saw him last year, but just couldn’t get the shot. When we find his sheds, have him on camera, and make treestand adjustments from those sightings, he is in trouble. Somebody should be taking him home! Good luck guys.

We need Gun Hunters for 2026 at Illinois Trophy Bow Hunters; so during March our gun hunts are discounted $300 to $3000, including lodging and meals.
Shotgun, muzzleloader, and rifles that are single shot with straight wall cartridges are legal. For 2026 the dates are :
11/20 - 11/22/2026.

The deposit to book is $500, and the balance is due in 3 more payments.
All farms are managed with a 140” minimum.

We still have a few bow hunts available too.
For more info, hunt details, and to book, contact:
Steve Phelps :
217 414 4471
[email protected]

I’m excited to announce that ITB now has a company store.  We have teamed up with Primo Designs to offer you the followi...
02/23/2026

I’m excited to announce that ITB now has a company store. We have teamed up with Primo Designs to offer you the following apparel. Some are items you have seen our guides wear, and some are Primo’s new creations.
We will continue to give away a free Tshirt or hat to our hunters each year when you arrive at camp.
We have had a lot of requests for sweatshirts and now you can buy those too. You also have the option of “pro staff” for the sleeves on long sleeved garments.
To make a purchase just clink on the link or scan the QR CODE below after the flyer :

https://shop.primodesigns.net/151910/shop/home

If you have questions about using the online store or any apparel:
Please call Primo Designs at 217 523 6373.

For hunt details for 2026 contact:
Steve Phelps 217 414 4471 [email protected]
www.illinoistrophybowhunters

We have bow and gun hunts available.
Our bow hunts are 6.5 days, including lodging and meals, for $3300. 0ur gun hunts are 3 days and you can use shotgun, muzzleloader, or rifle if single shot and uses a straight wall cartridge. You can
also use a bow or crossbow during the Illinois gun season with a gun tag. I will manage getting gun permits for you. A $500 deposit is required to book.

So now go to the second photo after the flyer and the QR CODE is on the flyer to access the online store. Or click on the link above.
The next photos are some examples of apparel I think our followers would want to purchase.

01/27/2026

We need gun hunters for 2026, call Steve Phelps at 217-414-4471 for details and booking.
$3300 for 3 day gun hunt 11/20 - 11/22/26, $500 deposit to book.

01/27/2026

We need Gun Hunters for 2026 at Illinois Trophy Bow Hunters:

Shotgun, muzzleloader, and rifles that are single shot with straight wall cartridges are legal. All gun Hunts are $3300, including lodging and meals.
For 2026 the dates are 11/20 - 11/22/2026.

The deposit to book is $500, and the balance is due in 3 more payments.
All farms are managed with a 140” minimum.

We still have a few bow hunts available too. The photos below are some bucks from past gun hunts at ITB.
For more info, hunt details, and to book, contact:
Steve Phelps :
217 414 4471
[email protected]

Check out our website:
Illinoistrophybowhunters

We need Gun Hunters for 2026 at Illinois Trophy Bow Hunters:Shotgun, muzzleloader, and rifles that are single shot with ...
01/24/2026

We need Gun Hunters for 2026 at Illinois Trophy Bow Hunters:

Shotgun, muzzleloader, and rifles that are single shot with straight wall cartridges are legal. All gun Hunts are $3300, including lodging and meals.
For 2026 the dates are 11/20 - 11/22/2026.

The deposit to book is $500, and the balance is due in 3 more payments.
All farms are managed with a 140” minimum.

We still have a few bow hunts available too. The photos below are some bucks from past gun hunts at ITB.
For more info, hunt details, and to book, contact:
Steve Phelps :
217 414 4471
[email protected]

Check out our website:
Illinoistrophybowhunters

Address

520 Juniper Drive
Petersburg, IL
62675

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 9pm
Tuesday 8am - 9pm
Wednesday 8am - 9pm
Thursday 8am - 9pm
Friday 8am - 9pm
Saturday 8am - 9pm
Sunday 8am - 9pm

Telephone

+12174144471

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