Close Encounters Bowhunts

Close Encounters Bowhunts Close Encounters is a relatively small, but personalized Booking Agency, specializing in Bowhunts. Call Today!

We offer most of the species found in North America, a nice selection of African Outfitters, South Pacific, New Zealand, & Russia.

Jon Cesafsky (Lynchburg, VA) was sent on yet another adventure in August. Jon went on a 2-week trip that started with a ...
09/06/2025

Jon Cesafsky (Lynchburg, VA) was sent on yet another adventure in August. Jon went on a 2-week trip that started with a Croc hunt in Zambia. Jon was (Rifle) hunting with his trusty PH (professional Hunter) Anthony from Dries Visser Safaris. Jon & Anthony saw lots of Crocs before "Thee Particular" Big old Croc came to the bait. Jon made a nice shot, which closed out a fun week of hunting in Zambia.
Jon & Anthony drove back to South Africa to meet Jon's son and grandson at the airport for their 1st hunt. Dries' PHs are very patient with in-experienced hunters and it's no surprise to me that Anthony did a great job coaching the guys up for their hunt. You could say they're spoiled as the two of them shot 6 animals while in camp.
This was quite a trip for Jon and while talking to him in the post hunt review, he said it was his best hunt to date. A pretty nice review in my eyes.
Africa continues to produce at a high level and when comparing to any other top of the line hunting destinations, it's still a significant value. Please contact me if you have any questions or interest in adding this to your personal bucket list

I sent Denis Weisensel (Sturdavant, WI) and his son, Neil (Waxhaw, NC) out to Wyoming to hunt Antelope with their Bow in...
09/06/2025

I sent Denis Weisensel (Sturdavant, WI) and his son, Neil (Waxhaw, NC) out to Wyoming to hunt Antelope with their Bow in August. This is your classic Bow Hunt from a Pop-up blind at a waterhole. This hunt has been very productive for my clients, and it was again this year as both guys shot nice Bucks. The guys were very pleased with the hunt and the outfitter and are in the process of re-booking. Please contact me if you have any interest in this, or other hunts offered by Close Encounters.

I sent 3 hunters to New Zealand to hunt Red Stag & experience the "Roar" in late March. Bob Mendlik (Marine on the St Cr...
04/27/2025

I sent 3 hunters to New Zealand to hunt Red Stag & experience the "Roar" in late March. Bob Mendlik (Marine on the St Croix, MN), Shot a 360 class Stag & a good Fallow Buck with a rifle. Gary Brooks (Fargo, ND) shot a 400 class Stag & a beautiful Bull Tahr with his bow. Jeff Herman (Carver, MN) shot a really good, 420 class Stag & an exceptional Arapara Ram with his Bow. The guys had a great hunt and really enjoyed their stay in camp.
New Zealand is a true Bucket-list" destination and reasonably priced when comparing to any high - end excursions. I have a 4-day Gold Medal (up to 360 SCI) Stag packages available for $8,000.
I highly recommend bringing your spouse and add a week for Sight-seeing as New Zealand is my favorite trip to blend hunting and Sight-seeing.
Call if you want to learn more (715) 554 - 3302

I just got back from my annual trip to Lake Winnipeg, where we were once again targeting trophy Walleyes through the ice...
03/21/2025

I just got back from my annual trip to Lake Winnipeg, where we were once again targeting trophy Walleyes through the ice. My good friend, John Rawlings (Shell Lake), his brother in-law Scott Foltz (Ellsworth), John's friends, Pat O'Rourke (Baraboo) & Dan Gray, (Eau Claire) fished the 1st 3 days before being replaced by my son, Travis and his buddies Chad Strilzuk, Adam Anderson, Andy Anderson, and Cole Mortel, (all from the Luck Area) for the last 3 days. My cousin Steve Close (Menomonie), Brent Hacker, owner of Hack's Pub in Milltown, and Jon Irlbeck, owner of Irlbeck outdoors in Milltown and I fished all 6 days.
The 1st 3 days were good, but not great, with turbulent weather and a sluggish bite. We caught 23 fish over 25 inches, which is just a touch over our average. Jon Irlbeck led the way with his 1st 30-inch fish of the trip, but everyone caught at least one good fish.
The weather stabilized, and we landed more big fish the last 3 days. Our group of 9 caught 55 fish over 25 inches, with 2 more over 30 the last 3 days. Jon Irlbeck, once again, led the way, but everyone got in on the action.
This is a great trip. We've got a great guide that knows the water and works hard to get us on fish. Give me a call (715) 554 - 3302 or email ([email protected]) if you'd like to learn more about this trip and perhaps you could head up next year.

I just got back from my annual Lake Winnipeg ice fishing trip. We target big walleyes and have done really well through...
03/26/2024

I just got back from my annual Lake Winnipeg ice fishing trip. We target big walleyes and have done really well through the years. We fish with Brenden Walker, owner of Walker Adventures. Brenden's right hand man, Will Dolinski was on hand as always and an important contributor to our success.
There were 4 of us staying in our (VRBO) house, Brent Hacker, (owner of Hack's pub in Milltown), Jon Irlbeck (owner of Irlbeck outdoors in Milltown), my cousin Steve Close (Menomonie) & I stayed all week.
John Rawlings (owner of Northwest Title in Milltown), his friend Pat O'Rourke, and my friend Gerard Helscher (Urbandale, IA) and Tim Anderson stayed in the 2nd house for the 1st 3 days of fishing before going home. My son Travis, his good friends (Adam Anderson, Andy Anderson, Cole Mortel, Chad Strilzuk) came up to fish the last 3 days.
We caught 50 fish over 25 inches with 3 over 28 inches for the week. Several days we landed over 100 fish. Travis caught the biggest fish of the trip for the 2nd year in a row, Ouch.. Congrats to Trav with a 28 3/4" Greenback. We had fish fries most nights and a few Whiskeys every night..
We had good fishing by any standards, but we did not get into the top-end (30 inch plus) fish that we normally do. All in all a good trip, as I believe everyone is rebooking for 2025.
Let me know if you have any interest in doing a trip like this. Our group is full, but there are other (good) dates available. A 3-day fishing trip for a party of 4 is priced at $2,415 + meals & accommodations. Let me know if you have interest and I can better explain what is / is not included. Give me a call (715) 554 - 3302 or send an email [email protected]

I sent a rifle hunter (Jeff McDonald), a non-hunting observer (Steffanie McDonald) and a Bowhunter (Steve Huppert) to Ne...
03/19/2024

I sent a rifle hunter (Jeff McDonald), a non-hunting observer (Steffanie McDonald) and a Bowhunter (Steve Huppert) to New Zealand to experience the Roar (Rut) and hunt Red Stags with my go-To outfit, Rangitata Safaris. By all accounts, they had a great trip and were successful in the field as Jeff & steve both shot good Stags. Steve has already picked dates for 2025, as he's in the process of re-booking another trip, this time focusing on Tahr.
Let me know if you have any interest in hunting NZ or learning more about the trip. The prices have begun to moderate some with COVID in the mirror, and I can now offer a 4-day Stag hunt for $8,000. This includes round trip transfer from Christchurch to camp, all the meals & (4 nights) accommodations, services of professional guide (3 plus days) along with the trophy fee for one Stag up to 360 SCI inches. You can upgrade (to bigger Stags) or add more animals if you like, but a 360 Stag is a nice animal
This is a top-of the line outfit at a competitive price.
Give me a call (715) 554 - 3302 or an email [email protected]

Africa Cape Buffalo (Cow) for $4,300 This is an all inclusive package with a great outfit, one that I've personally hunt...
03/05/2024

Africa Cape Buffalo (Cow) for $4,300
This is an all inclusive package with a great outfit, one that I've personally hunted with (3 times) and have sent hunters almost every year for 15 plus years. This is Dries Visser Safaris - the best
Bowhunting Specialists
More about the special
The $4,300 includes the trophy fee for a Cape Buffalo Cow, 7-full days of hunting, the non-hunting travel days the day before and the day after the hunt. It also includes the round trip transfer from the airport to camp along with $2,000 to use on other animals

The $2,000 of trophy fees can be used to add the following animals
My personal suggestion to best utilize the $2K
1) Standard Impala ($600)
2) Standard Warthog ($350)
3) Common Blesbuck ($700)
You'd have another $350 to use towards other animals on the list.

You are limited to 2024, but the best bowhunting (June thru September) is still 3 plus months out.

Let me know if you have questions
Tom Close
(715) 554 - 3302

Tayte Wuethrich (McGregor, IA) and Travis Wolfe (Loyal, WI) were sent to Gillette, Wyoming to rifle hunt Antelope with ...
10/27/2023

Tayte Wuethrich (McGregor, IA) and Travis Wolfe (Loyal, WI) were sent to Gillette, Wyoming to rifle hunt Antelope with Doug Miller, owner of Doug Miller Outfitting. Doug's a great guy, and good outfitter with a good area, and to no surprise to me, Tayte & Travis came home with 2 nice Bucks. Antelope with Rifle or Bow are fun to hunt, and popular with my clients. Let me know if you have any interest in this type of hunt or others offered thru Close Encounters

I just returned from a great trip to Alaska where my son, Travis & I were bowhunting Moose out of a Drop Camp supplied b...
10/03/2023

I just returned from a great trip to Alaska where my son, Travis & I were bowhunting Moose out of a Drop Camp supplied by Stan Parkerson, owner of Denali Hunts. Stan dropped us into a nice camp on a small (33 acre) lake in the wilderness of northwestern Alaska, 200 miles by floatplane. We were fortunate to have good weather and good action, which is the always the recipe for a fun time. I was the designated caller and was able to get 7 bulls called in during our hunt. This area has a 50 inch (spread) or 4 Brow-time minimum for non residents, and several bulls were too small, or too close to tell, so they were passed. Several others hung up in the brush and didn't allow a clear shot, but on day 9 it came together as Travis arrowed a good solid 57 inch Bull. I caped and quartered the bull while Trav packed it out (150 yards) to the lake. This was one of those rare trips where you get enough action to learn, and really fine-tune your calling and hunting strategies and looking forward to returning in a couple years.
Let me know if you are interested in this or other hunts offered by Close Encounters. (715) 554 - 3302

Tammy & I just returned from our (4th) trip to New Zealand. We spent 4 days in Camp with one of my outfitters and anothe...
04/13/2023

Tammy & I just returned from our (4th) trip to New Zealand. We spent 4 days in Camp with one of my outfitters and another 7 days sight-seeing the South Island. We were accompanied by a wonderful group of friends, John & Barb Rawlings (Spooner, WI), Jeff & Debbie Schutts (Hudson, WI) John & Pam Klatt (Luck, WI) and "The G-Man" from somewhere in Iowa. I didn't hunt, but the other guys did, and they had a great time in camp. Stag's were the focus and all 4 hunters took beautiful trophies. The "G-Man" added a Tahr as well. The Gals had a lot of fun in camp too and joined their husbands hunting some, an all-day off-site touring trip, but the highlight was their side by side ride to top. New Zealand is a special place and is the very best "couples destination" that I've found to blend quality hunting with great sight-seeing. Give me a call (715) 554 - 3302 or check out my web site (www.closeencountersbowhunts.com) if you would like specific information on the trip.

Brian Janovec (River Falls, WI), Dave Langlois (River Falls, WI), Steve & Vicki Huppert (River Falls, WI), Phil Larson (...
04/12/2023

Brian Janovec (River Falls, WI), Dave Langlois (River Falls, WI), Steve & Vicki Huppert (River Falls, WI), Phil Larson (Bayport, MN), Clay & Pam Larson (Stillwater, MN) just returned from New Zealand. This group was originally booked 4-day Red Stag packages for 2020, but was rescheduled twice because of COVID. NZ finally opened up for travel last summer, which allowed us to get them into camp this spring, NZ's fall. The guys had a great hunt as they all shot big Stags. Brian shot the best, a stag that scored nearly 500 SCI. I've booked for this outfit for over 20 years and they always produce happy customers.

I just returned from our annual Fishing trip on Lake Winnipeg with Brenden Walker, owner of Walker Adventures. We had a ...
03/23/2023

I just returned from our annual Fishing trip on Lake Winnipeg with Brenden Walker, owner of Walker Adventures. We had a big group of family & friends this year. My son Travis (Luck, WI), son-in law Brandon Boe (Ellsworth, WI), cousin Steve Close (Colefax WI) bother in law Troy Klatt (Hudson, WI), Trav’s father in law, Doug Lehmann (Roberts, MT) Good friends, John Rawlings (Spooner, WI) Jon Irlbeck (Osceloa, WI) Brent “Hack” Hacker (Luck, WI) Steve Schultze (Woodbury. MN) and Doug Schultze (Whitebear Lake, MN). We had tough luck with the weather and lost nearly a whole day due to “White-out winds” but we had a great time and caught some nice fish. We ended up with 13 fish over 26 inches and 2 over 30”

Address

989 State Road 48
Luck, WI
54853

Telephone

+17155543302

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Close Encounters Bowhunts posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Close Encounters Bowhunts:

Shortcuts

Share

Category