Darrell and Diane Hanford’s Rocky Branch Outfitters bowhunting-only operation is set in the whitetail-rich woods and farmlands of southern Illinois. Hunters have the choice of 75 stands scattered about 7,000 non-contiguous acres, all offering Imperial Whitetail Clover, 30-06 Mineral Supplement and Alfa Rack. Plantings cover about 120 acres.

“I’ve been planting Imperial Whitetail Clover since 1988,” says Hafford. “I tried a whole bunch of stuff but got rid of everything else.”

In the summer of 1999 the Imperial Clover proved itself by staying green “everywhere but on the hilltops” during a summer-long drought.

“We had seven weeks with no rain until October and when it finally rained it was green within a week,” said Hafford. “It has made a tremendous difference in the numbers of sightings and in the quality of our deer. I’m a believer.”

“The initial rut starts about Halloween week when things get a little cooler around here,” said Hafford, who himself is an avid bowhunter as is his wife, Diane. “Fifty-five percent of our hunters could have had shots at bucks in the 120 class last year and a lot of them were bigger than 130s.”

“A lot of our clients,” he adds, “come here with thoughts of 140s and 150s in their minds and that’s highly possible but all I can guarantee is that you’ll see plenty of deer.”

The Illinois bow season begins Oct. 1 and runs through mid-January.