Thunder Ridge Outfitters
Thunder Ridge Outfitters
Rated 4.25 out of 5.0 based on 46 Outfitter reviews.
Contact: Tony Sehman
Location: Dallas Center, Iowa
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
State(s) Hunted: IA
< Back
Submitted by: Wendell Juneau
Review Submitted: Jan 17, 2011
Hunt Date: Nov 7, 2010
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 0
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Bow
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Best Whitetail Hunt Ever!!!!!!!
This was the first Iowa hunt and will not be the last!!!! I had the opportunity to draw a tag this past season and furthermore, had the hunt of a lifetime with Thunder Ridge Outfitters..The hospitality from Tony and Wade, and their father Gary, was clearly above expectations. As for the hunting, it was the best Whitetail hunt I have ever been on, seeing many rutting bucks every day including huge mature deer daily , from 170"-200"+, but I did not let one arrow fly the entire week!! Cover was dense where we hunted, never having a clear shot at the vitals on these monsters all week.. After seeing these tremendous typicals and non-typs. , I did pass on several deer in the 140-150" class daily..There are several stands in strategic locations which are very safe and secure as well, which we used several days, however, we brought loc on stands/steps also, which were handy to allow us to be more mobile as we attempted to harvest these huge deer. After chasing these majestic animals for 28years with a bow, again, no luck this trip , but this has been the best whitetail hunting operation and property I have ever been on! I hope and pray that I am lucky enough to draw another tag in the near future, and without reservation, I would honestly book another archery hunt with Tony and Wade at Thunder Ridge outfitters.. In closing , I did notice below that a few reviews were made by a "private hunter, and an anonomous hunter". With all due respect to these discrete individuals, it is their opinion, but to say stands were unsafe and difficult is totally bogus..If you cannot climb a 20' vine ladder secured to a tree, providing you have no physical limitations or handicaps, then you must be a heavy weight and need to hunt out of a ground blind, not a tree stand. I am totally amazed these guys gave Thunder Ridge Outfitters 1 star , (which is what caught my attention to read more), after all the positive 5 star reviews and references I discovered , which led me to book an incredible hunt with Thunder Ridge this past November..After all, Iowa is the land of whitetail giants!! Obviously, they experienced high enough reviews as well, which provided them the confidence needed to book this season with Thunder Ridge Outfitters. Its my opinion, but sounds like these 2 dudes should be hunting on a "high fence" preserve!
report this review
Submitted by: Bill Wagstaff
Review Submitted: Jan 16, 2011
Hunt Date: not provided
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Bow
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
2010 Archery Rut Hunt Thunder Ridge Outfitters
My neighbor and I booked this hunt which was our first trip to Iowa. There were initially 4 hunters in camp, but an additional hunter arrived mid week. Hunted mostly hardwoods with good visibility and shooting out to 30 yards. We had good pre-rut action on most days, and once I had a dozen bucks in view at the same time. I saw shooter bucks every day except one day which was really windy. The stands were well placed and there was good action. The accomdations were just right with ample room for gear and getting dressed. The food was good and there was plenty of it. I think Tony and Wade did a good job of putting us in good spots and really wanted us to get our deer. 4 of the 5 hunters shot deer that week. I am looking forward to drawing another archery tag in a few years and plan to go back with Thunder Ridge Outfitters.
Submitted by: Steve Krueger
Review Submitted: Jan 16, 2011
Hunt Date: not provided
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 0
Hunt Type: Hunt Type
Primary Terrain:
Method:
Price Range:
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Late Muzzleloader hunt at Thunder Ridge Outifittte
I hunted with Thunder Ridge outitters this year for the first time. I went on the late muzzleloader hunt rite after Christmas. I had a very enjoyable time with them. Tony and Wade gave me respect as one of the "gang" and made me feel right at home. They tried there hardest to lock me into the "buck of a lifetime". I saw several deer each night out and had nothing but excellent spots,stands, and in general a great hunting experience. Though I did not see the the buck I was looking for, saw several bucks many would consider a true buck of a lifetime, I deffinately would go back and already have told them to reserve a spot for next years muzzleloader hunt. The lodging is excellant,food was great and Tony and his family really put a personal touch to making sure I had a great experience. Hats off to Thunder Ridge Outfitters! I deffinately would reccomned!
Submitted by: Joe Hunter
Review Submitted: Jan 15, 2011
Hunt Date: Dec 15, 2010
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Iowa Hunt gone Bad..
This hunt took place in Iowa during late season.. Absolutely one of the worst hunts I have been on. Guides constantly lying, talking about other hunters in camp in front of other clients, quality of game was mediocre to poor at best.. DO NOT BOOK HERE, waste of time and money.
Submitted by: Steve R
Review Submitted: Jan 15, 2011
Hunt Date: Nov 1, 2010
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Aweful Hunt
What can I say, I should have done my homework... All around terrible bow hunt. Would not recommend this outfitter.
Submitted by: Jeff Manthey
Review Submitted: Jan 14, 2011
Hunt Date: Jan 5, 2011
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Great Hunt At TRO !
This was my first year hunting at Thunder Ridge. My experience with them was excellent ! As the guide had told me prior to going the weather really factors in on deer movement to the foodplots unfortunately we didnt have cold and snow we were hoping for but I still seen alot of deer and alot of nice bucks. The lodging was great and the food was very good ! The week I was there they had 8 hunters in camp and I thought the guides did a great job placing the hunters in stands that give them the best oppurtunity to get the deer they were looking for .Unfortunately there had to be two guys from somewhere out east that they couldnt possible make happy obviously they dont understand late season hunting in the midwest and how the weather affects it. Overall the hunt was super at TRO and if i'm lucky enough to draw another Iowa tag I will be going back !
Submitted by: David Lichtenwalner
Review Submitted: Jan 14, 2011
Hunt Date: Dec 11, 2010
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Shotgun
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
everything good but the weather
I have been on many hunts over the past 30 years. I've seen both good and bad. I've had booking agents and outfitters oversell hunts and have learned what questions to ask of both the outfitters and their references. I booked a hunt with Thunder Ridge Outfitters for a shotgun whitetail hunt in December of 2010, Tony Sehman answered all my questions and was very helpful as far as advising me on what to bring, what to expect as far as the hunt went, etc. On the first day of my hunt a blizzard blew in and we experienced atrocious conditions. Single digit temperatures and winds up to 45 MPH. Through it all tony and Wade encouraged us to suck it up and continue to hunt despite the conditions as long as we were able.As it turned out we saw many more deer than I ever thought. I passed up several 140-150" bucks holding out for a stud. One evening I had 26 deer in one small food plot at one time including 11 bucks but not the one I wanted. Several of the hunters in our group killed good bucks. I passed and at the end of the week was not sorry that I had held out. Iowa tags arent easy to come by and I wasnt willing to burn one on the kind of buck that I already had on my wall. In fact on the last night I saw the kind of buck I wanted to take but ran out of daylight before he got close enough to shoot at with a shotgun. I beleive that if the weather had cooperated a bit more I would have killed the buck that I came to Iowa for. I fully intend to hunt with the Sehman brothers again as soon as I can draw an Iowa tag again. They are great guys and straight shooters.
Submitted by: Chris Walker
Review Submitted: Jan 14, 2011
Hunt Date: Jan 3, 2011
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Thunder Ridge Outfitters, IA
This was my second late season muzzleloader hunt with Thunder Ridge Outfitters in Iowa. Had another outstanding hunt and killed my biggest buck to date (164"). Hunting during the late season is very dependant on the weather. The colder days it was not uncommon to see 60 to 80 deer during an evening sit. When it warmed up the deer didn't hit the food sources as early and numbers of deer seen were in the range of 20 to 30 per evening sit. This is an evening only hunt and I have come to see why. The deer bed very close to the food sources and hunting in the morning only blows them out and ruins the evening hunting. You are mainly sitting on standing food sources (corn and beans) that seem to bring the deer in from miles around (especially when it is cold). I would recommend this hunt to anyone. The numbers and size of their deer is incredible. The only negative part of the hunt were a couple of guys in camp that whined about everything. Hard to blame the outfitter for that.
Submitted by: John R
Review Submitted: Jan 14, 2011
Hunt Date: Dec 26, 2010
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Thunder Ridge Outfitters, IA
Just wanted to say I really enjoyed my experience with Thunder Ridge Outfitters this year for late muzzle loader season. This is my third time booking with these guy's and have been fortunate enough to harvest a 154", 146"... and took a 148" this year. Ya, I was holding out for something a little bigger but after looking at the extended weather forecast while I was in camp I figured I might have to get it done if the oppurtunity presented itself. Late muzzle loader in IA is always tricky and is really really weather dependant.. It has to be cold...really cold and snow always helps. The only thing on the mind of those big bucks is food this time of year and it has to be really cold with snow to get those big boys coming out in daylight!.. Ya you could hunt the morning if you want but the chances of you beating a big buck back to his bedding area is few and far between!...All you end up doing is screwing up the bedding area for that evenings hunt. So that is why you see 99% of the late muzzle loader big buck kills take place in evening hunts in IA!... Do some research my freinds...Evening is the best time to get that big boys coming out. Watch all the hunting videos of IA late muzzle loader and you will see that 99% of them take place in the evenings. If you want to go out in the morning and freeze your &#$!..off go ahead!.. That is why you don't hunt mornings in IA for late muzzle loader. Tony and Wade are both good guy's and after booking three different years with them I have become great freinds with them both and their families. Ya, and I AM NOT ON THE BUDDY PRICE PROGRAM EITHER!!!.. I pay full price just like everybody else!.. Ya Tony and Wade both might be kind of smartasses and give ya $%&@!..but so am I kind of...and I would rather hunt with an outfitter that knows how to kill big deer rather then and outfitter who has the fancy lodge, 5 star food and don't do #$%@!..to put you on deer. After the last few years I have been able to hunt with many different clients while I was at Thunder Ridge. I have to say most of the guy's are down ol good guy's and enjoyed the freindships I have been able to build. But some of them are whining pre-madonnas!!!... That think it should be a guarenteed deal. Trust me this outfitter wants you to harvest a deer...I don't think they want the bad press either. I have never felt like I have been gar-holed in a hunting spot at TFO and have always felt that they are putting me in the best spots they can. This is fair chase hunting my freinds and nothing is for sure. Yes, I have had the golden horse shoe the last several years but my luck will soon run out too...Thats hunting man!.. I would deffiantely suggest booking with this outfitter!!!.....
Submitted by: Jeff Miller
Review Submitted: Jan 14, 2011
Hunt Date: Jan 3, 2011
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Semi-Guided
Primary Terrain: Farmland
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 2000-2999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Late muzzleloader hunter
Good hunt, as always weather dictates success on late muzzleloader hunt. Camp had 8 hunters. Father/Son hunters from Jersey were greenhorns and complained some. Could tell they had too high of expectations. Outfitter did everything he could to make us successful.
note: The following reviews predate the numeric rating system and are not included in this outfitter's overall rating.
First Page
Contact: Justin Johns and Ben Harris
Location: Hotchkiss, Colorado
Species Hunted: Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Bobcat, Mountain Lion
State(s) Hunted: CO
Manitoba Hunting Information
Manitoba is known as a top destination for avid waterfowl hunters. Huge flocks of ducks and geese can be found from the Arctic coast of Hudson Bay to the prairie potholes on the southern border of this Canadian province. There is no legal requirement for non-resident waterfowl hunters to use a guide, but many are available and a high percentage of non-Canadian hunters utilize them. In addition black bear, Canada moose and whitetails are hunted throughout the province.
New Mexico Hunting Information
New Mexico is one of the top destinations for trophy Elk and Antelope hunting. Draw odds can be tough depending on the unit but landowner tags are also available for those who don't draw. Mule Deer are plentiful but generally of average size. Only a couple of units and reservations consistently produce big muleys.
Quebec Hunting Information
Quebec is probably best know as an excellent caribou hunting destination. Hunters from across the globe travel to Quebec to hunt their big Quebec-Labrador caribou migration. In addition to caribou hunting, Quebec offers black bears, Canada moose and whitetails.
