My name is Donna Shoop. I'm the better half of Steve, and part owner of J&S Trophy Hunts.
Between Steve, Jeff, Rod, William, Tim, Terry, Greg, and of course me, we have an amazing staff.
I handle all the bookings for J&S and when you contact us, I'll be the one you talk to.
Throughout each year, I try to keep you informed of what's happening in our neck of the woods through this web site.
I get the information from Steve, the guides and our hunters.
However, every now and then, I'll form my own opinion, but that usually gets quickly deleted when I cool off. :)
I hope you enjoy my updates.
****************************************************************************************
We will be at the Harrisburg, PA sports show Feb 4-12, 2012. Hope to see you there!
*******************************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
****************************************************************************************
This post was put on the J&S Facebook page and received so much positive feedback, that I posted it here as well. I'm sure many neighbors will read this as they seem to know everything we're doing. Probably should have left that part out. :0
"Don't not get me wrong people. There is absolutely the possibility of harvesting a 200+ inch buck with J&S. Hunters see them, and hunters attempt taking them at times, but this year, a 180 was a high as it went. Is there any one of us that wouldn't love to take a 180?
The 200 plus buck isn't around every tree, but just because another outfitter or celebrity personally took a 200 inch buck, doesn't mean they have them and we don't. It just means they have one LESS now for their clients to hunt. The truth is that their CLIENTS never got the opportunity to hunt that 200 inch deer as it was being saved for an outfitter or celebrity's personal wall. We're all hunting the same deer.
If you really want to see a 200 inch buck dead on our website, I'm sure Steve or even me would be happy to make that happen, or would you rather you get the chance at it? Hum????"
*************************************************************************************
I admit that Steve needed and deserved this elk hunting and be somewhere without cell service. He was successfull this year with a
300 plus inch bull. Great...don't know where we are going to hang that! Now whitetail will be on his mind and getting our hunters on them, and getting our crops out of the fields as quickly as possible. **************************************************************************************************************************
Aug 27, 2011 Our crops and food plots could sure use some rain. The deer are putting a real dent in our corn and soybean yield as well, but I guess you have to take the good with the bad. The bucks continue to grow as fall approaches.
In Iowa, we have a new long term lease of 2000 additional acres of good crop / timber ground in the area we already hunt. It's an exciting addition to our Iowa properties. This addition puts us close to 7000 acres in Iowa alone.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
2010 Hunting
Early Season Hunting in Missouri Oct 25, 2010
!st hunter in camp: It's not a normal practice of ours to do any drop camp or semi guided hunts,
but because of various reasons, we had a limited number that came early this year.
Jon Robinson was one of those hunters. After several days of hunting in the hot Oct weather,
Jon finally connected with a nice typical mid 140's buck.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oct 21, 2010
Tom Pedley is a long time client of ours. He's also one heck of a shot. He sat in patiently, didn't move around.
He was persistent in the stand, and it paid off big. Our largest MISSOURI bow kill to date just went to Tom Pedley.
Here's his picture and story behind it.
"The thing that I like best of this early hunt is that I come to it being relaxed with no expectations
and willing to accept whatever comes of the hunting, fortunately the last 2 years have been my
most successful hunts ever, but I really value being able to ride with Steve in the combine
and be able to visit with him, share thoughts and ideas and catch up with each others lives.
Seems like even that time isn't enough as we didn't get to talk much about his elk hunt or future
plans for that or any myriad of other things. These things mean far more to me than the hunting.
Thursday afternoon we had a chance to talk in the combine and I don't know how confident he was,
but while I had hopes of getting a chance at this deer after seeing him 2 of 4 nights, I really didn't think
it would happen. I usually don't have that kind of luck. I think he was as surprised when he got back to
the garage and I told him I got him as I was when I saw him standing on the edge of the beans on my
side of the ditch. I wanted to wait for Steve and Jeff to go get him with me as I go back so far with
those 2 that I wanted to share that special time with them and see and hear their expressions when
they saw him the first time. As the commercial says - it was priceless! Made it all the sweeter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oct 30, 2010
OH THAT'S TOO BAD. Sorry Tom, You were the king of the Missouri archery record for a total 9 days.
A really big congratulations goes to Bart Bartakovits who inched ahead of Tom Pedley and took the lead for our biggest Missouri bow harvest measuring 178 2/8
Jeff Dudgeon, Bart and Steve Shoop
Here is an email I received from Bart BartakovitsDonna. I wanted to share my hunt with you after driving 15 hours to J&S Trophy hunts farm I got into camp Friday Jeff and Steve took me out to the stand that I was going to be hunting in Friday afternoon I got in the stand the wind was blowing. I was getting frustrated. That the wind was going to blow my sent down the draw before you no it it was getting dark I saw so does out of the stand Jeff came an picked me up and took me back to camp to get some dinner I got a good night sleep I got up around 3:45 am Jeff took me to my stand the wind was blowing that morning Jeff said have patients its going to happen I got in my stand around 5:45 am I got settled. In my stand the wind was blowing I heard deer walking around but I couldn't. See them because. It was still dark out around 7:00 am I saw a deer walking towards me I could see that it was a buck but didn't. Now how big he was because. The trees were in the way the buck was about 25 yards the buck started walking towards me it got within 8 yards I still didn't now how big he was I pulled my Bowtech bow back I shot the deer the deer ran about 25 yards and fell over I was so excited that I almost. Fell out of my stand I text Jeff I told him I shot a big buck he said stay in your stand I will be there in 45 minutes I couldn't. Wait for him I had to get my hands on my deer I couldn't. Believe. How big he really Was I was so excited I called Jeff and asked him were are you it seemed like it took him for ever to get there I just wanted. To thanks to my guide Jeff and Steve for letting. Me have the hunt of the life time I will never forget that day thank you J&S my buck scored 178 2/8 13 pointer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 9, 2010
It has turned hot here. Personally, I love it, but the hunters, not so much. It is warm and windy here in the Midwest, but hey, it's the rut. Let's see how it affects the hunting. Our hunters are staying out all day this week to make the most of it. The deer have been seen moving at all times of the day, and the bucks are chasing. What a great time to be in the woods.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Nichols Missouri Archery Hunt
Joel Harman Iowa
Archery Hunt
Jerry Mikesic Missouri Archery Hunt
Chris Schatz
Iowa
Archery Hunt
Russ Nichols
Iowa
Archery Hunt
Casey Woody
Iowa
Archery Hunt
Ed Engelbretch
Iowa
Muzzleloader
Tom Pedley
176+ B & C
Missouri Archery
Johnny Walter
Iowa Shotgun
Muzzleloader
Cole Fenton
Iowa Shotgun
Muzzleloader
David Buckner
Missouri
Some Pictures Are Just For Fun
| ||||||
It's hard to see but click on the picture above.
It was sent to me by a hunter.
Various comments have been...
It would make an interesting mount.
Must be a girl cause there ain't no horns, and
I'm never going in the woods again.
All in fun.
My International
Harvester
It wasn't me but I know both the deer and the combine are in bad shape.
Cole and Johnny
Unloading
Deer Rubs
Show Booth
Tom Pedley
152" - MO
Jerry Mikesic
155 2/8 - MO
Derwin Bales
158 2/8 Iowa
Chad Master
178 1/8 Iowa
Jeff Buckwalter
140's - MO
Derwin Bales
Missouri 152
Dean Humphrey
137 - MO
Russ Nichols
MO 125"
Greg Duda
Iowa 130's
Jeff Shuman
MO - 139 2/8
Jack Paczosa
Iowa - 152 7/8
Robert Ferry
Iowa - 149 7/8
Carl Sens
Iowa - 151 1/8
Ron Wiessner
Iowa - 138 4/8
Tim Miller
MO 134 4/8
Darwin Bennett
MO High 130's
Joe Underwood
Missouri 145"
Rich Donofrio
MO 150 4/8
Ron Moore
MO 134
Mike Gibson
MO 137
Brian Boone
MO 144
MO Lodge
Iowa Lodge
James Turney
Iowa 140 7/8
Brad Justus
Iowa - 139
Louis Justus
Iowa - 132
Steve Test
Iowa - 135 4/8
Great Group
of Guys
Mark Zong
Iowa
Donna's Updates
The Latest J&S Information
Brian Rucienski MO 140's 10 ptt.
Joe Underwood Missouri 159 4/8
Dean Humphrey
MO
Brandon Lovely
MO 100"
John Radar
MO 120" 8 pt
Okay, that's just nasty!
Logan Lovely
MO 130" 8 pt
Corey Boone
Missouri 127:
Pete Aiello
MO126 4/8
Craig Johnson
MO 130" 11 pt
Friends
Brian Rucienski &
Barry Yenchik
Brian Rucienski
MO
Waiting for score
Darwin Bennett
Missouri 134 7/8
Good Looking
Group
2011 Trophies
Dave Groff
Iowa 2nd Shotgun
125
Anthony Kampen
Iowa 2nd Shotgun
130's
Joe Berenato
Iowa 2nd Shotgun
130/s
Mark's buck only had a 13" spread but had an amazing 6" base.
It scored in the 150's.
Tim Fenton
Iowa Late Muz
High 140's
Ryan Lowe
Iowa Late Muz
145
Robert Goodhart
Iowa Late Muz
133
2011 has been two things for our hunters. A year of missed opportunities, and during the Iowa gun seasons, just plain old missed shots. Muzzleloader hunters have had an especially difficult time making those shots count. But even with the misses, whether they be missed opportunities or missed shots, it's all a part of the hunting experience that we can learn from and even laugh at hopefully.
In spite of that, 2011 has still been a very good hunting year for us. The season was unusable warm even into January, and while we didn't harvest any "monster bucks" this season, our average in both Iowa and Missouri continues to rise. Our overall average in Iowa for 2011 is at 150". Missouri is the same right at 150". Therefore, Steve and I want to express our gratitude once again to our hunters. You guys prove that we are all doing it right. This isn't just hunting, this is Trophy Hunting. Our hope is set on making our average antler score climb even higher next year and the year after that.
Who knows what challenges 2012 will bring to all of us. This could be the year that our country, and even our world will face its most difficult challanges. But with God's help, we can do all things, face all things, and conquer all things together.
Please get your deposits to me for your next hunt right away. Remember, you are not booked until you have given me a deposit. Again, I realize that times may be tough on you and on us right now, but I am willing to give you some flexibility on how you pay your deposit. You absolutely can afford a hunt by saving just a little at a time. Don't give up on your hunt. In today's troubled world, you need the enjoyment that hunting can bring you. Email me if you need flexibility in reaching your deposit goals. We can work it out.
God bless you all and have a very happy New Year. Steve and Donna Shoop
2010 Success
Anthony Kampen,
Dave Groff &
Elvin Groff
Elvin Groff
132"
