<PAGE>
[Heartland Advisors Letterhead]
May 4, 1998
VIA EDGAR
- ---------
Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Re: Heartland Group, Inc.
1933 Act Reg. No. 33-11371
1940 Act File No. 811-4982
497(j) Certification
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of Heartland Group, Inc. (the "Registrant"), in lieu of filing
under paragraph (c) of Rule 497 with respect to the Prospectuses and Statements
of Additional Information, each dated May 1, 1998, relating to the Heartland
Large Cap Value Fund, Heartland Mid Cap Value Fund, Heartland Value Plus Fund,
Heartland U.S. Government Securities Fund, Heartland Small Cap Contrarian Fund,
Heartland Value Fund, Heartland Short Duration High-Yield Municipal Fund,
Heartland High-Yield Municipal Bond Fund and Heartland Wisconsin Tax Free Fund
that were included in Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, in accordance with Rule 497(j), we hereby
certify on behalf of the Registrant that each form of Prospectus and Statement
of Additional Information that would have been filed under paragraph (c) of Rule
497 would not have differed from that contained in Post-Effective Amendment No.
34, the most recent amendment filed relating to these Prospectuses and
Statements of Additional Information, and that the text of such Post-Effective
Amendment was filed electronically on April 29, 1998.
Please call me at (414)289-7840 if there are any questions or concerns with
respect to this filing.
Very truly yours,
JILAINE HUMMEL BAUER
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
cc (w/ paper enc.): Mrs. Patricia Williams
Conrad G. Goodkind, Esq.
Fredrick G. Lautz, Esq.
Mr. Michael R. McVoy
Mr. Joseph C. Neuberger
Mr. Stephen T. O'Hearn
Mr. Charles Stadler
