Rio Piedra Plantation

Rio Piedra Plantation, located in the geographic heart of the legendary Southern Plantation Belt, offers classic Georgia quail hunting with breathtaking scenery and vintage bobwhite habitat.

The hunting experience at Rio Piedra is unlike any other you may ever have known and harkens back to a more genteel era. This is classic wingshooting as it once was, when by day sportsmen matched wits with birds in their native environs, and by night enjoyed fine dining, gracious service and luxurious surroundings.  Plantation-style, challenging quail hunting is alive and well at Rio Piedra.

The two-story main lodge and well-appointed guest lodges feature amenities that immerse their guests in traditional Southern charm and hospitality, where you can be equally comfortable in dinner attire or in blaze orange and khaki. 

The dining at Rio Piedra has been described as “relaxed 5-star” and truly sets them apart from all other Georgia wingshooting lodges. This combination of incredible cuisine, first-rate accommodations and classic quail hunting is a big reason why 98 percent their guests choose to return the following season. Call (229) 336-1677 or visit www.riopiedraplantation.com.

Buck Ridge Plantation

Buck Ridge Plantation is a prime hunting resort located on more than 6,000 acres of well-managed natural forests, grasslands and beautiful terrain in the South Carolina Midlands.

Divided into four parcels that are rotated throughout the season, we maintain a low-pressure hunting environment. Buck Ridge enjoys one of the longest white-tailed deer seasons in the country from August 15 to January 1 and also offers upland bird and pheasant hunting, supported by savvy guides, top pointers and spaniels.

Perfect for corporate and group events, Buck Ridge has on-site accommodations and excellent dining options. Call (803) 531-8408 or visit www.buckridge.com.

Deer Creek Lodge

Established in 1978, Deer Creek did not evolve overnight. Rather, it was borne of passion, dedication and relentless determination. Legendary for it trophy whitetails and unsurpassed wingshooting, Deer Creek is truly a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

Activities include whitetail hunting, upland birds, Eastern turkey hunting, trophy catch-and-release bass fishing, horseback riding, five-stand sporting clays, birding and hiking. Whatever your sporting interests may be, Deer Creek’s world-class facilities and amenities provide the perfect corporate meeting location or family getaway. Call (888) 875-3000 or visit www.deercreeklodge.net.

Pine Creek Sporting Club

Pine Creek Sporting Club is an exclusive, members-only, champion clays and wingshooting club located in Okeechobee, Florida. Pine Creek consists of 23, 40-acre ranch sites, 1,000+/- acres of quail-hunting fields, dove fields and range facilities. The club also has an aviary, dog kennels, sporting clays course, rifle and pistol range, simulated quail flush course, trap field and tower shoots.

Pine Creek offers guided quail, pheasant and turkey hunts, while deer and wild hogs may be hunted in designated areas and on private land. The gun-friendly development also boasts non-shooting amenities including concierge service, helipad, a tree-house restaurant, bocce courts, swimming pool, private spa and horse stables.

The community includes smaller cabin properties in addition to the larger ranch estates. Cabins start at $545,000. Call (561) 514-9920 or visit www.pinecreeksportingclub.com.

Shadow Oak Plantation

Shadow Oak Plantation, nestled in the beautiful wiregrass and long-leaf piney woods of south Georgia, is a quail hunter’s paradise.

John Rex Gates, hunt manager and Pointing Dog Hall of Fame member, invites you to shoot over some of the very best hunting dogs in the country. Along with each guide, a brace of pointers including an English cocker, Boykin spaniel or lab working the retrieves – all are part of a truly great hunting experience.

Coupled with good folks, great hunting country, hard-flying, early release quail, top guides and dogs with first-class accommodations and mouth-watering Southern cuisine, we know you will enjoy hunting with us. Call (229) 686-7454 or visit www.shadowoakplantation.com.

Greystone Castle

Located 90 miles west of the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, Greystone Castle rises from the valley overlooking a magnificent 5,000-acre property.

An elegant, 24-room English-style castle, Greystone is an Orvis Endorsed Wing Shooting lodge that offers pheasant, quail, chukar and Hungarian partridge as well as European pheasant shoots and mallard duck hunts.

Greystone also has trophy white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey hunts available, along with exotic hunts for more than 30 different species. From fine dinning to exquisite lodging, Greystone Castle offers something for everyone. Call (254) 672-5927 or visit us at www.greystonecastle.com.

The Maurin Ranch

Maurin Ranch is 25,000 acres of whitetail, mule deer, javelina, quail and turkey habitat. The ranch is located in the Trans Pecos Region of Texas where the vast, open spaces allow them to be the darkest spot in the U.S. seen from space at night.

Their motto is, “The stars are bright, the people are few, and the deer are in abundance.”  Deer seasons start in September and run through February. The new lodge boasts a rustic décor and large patio with a fire pit, perfect for those after-dinner drinks. Call (432) 345-3093 or visit www.Maurinranch.com.

CoveyRise Plantation

After viewing all the ads in this magazine, how do you choose the right quail-hunting destination? The ads are well-made, excellent photographs and script. We all hunt quail with fine bird dogs on beautiful properties. So why CoveyRise?

We make you special, accommodating only one group at a time. No strangers hunting or dining with you, no one interrupting your enjoyment. We hunt two people per Jeep, you are hunting the whole time. During your stay, the entire plantation is yours to enjoy.

Our pricing is inclusive. You know the total cost before you hunt, not after.

CoveyRise Plantation, located on the banks of the Flint River in southwest Georgia, invites you to experience the CoveyRise difference. Call (229) 336-8600 or visit www.CoveyRise.com.

Wilson Whitetail Ranch and Lodge 

Wilson Whitetail Ranch prides itself on providing a truly high-quality hunting experience. Since the ranch’s inception in 1998, its clients have taken numerous trophy whitetails scoring from the 130s to mid-220s. Wilson also offers the opportunity to hunt record-book-scoring exotics and fast-action wingshooting for dove, quail and upland birds.

Its knowledgeable, courteous, professional staff will make your stay relaxing, all the while offering good habitat management, fine lodging and a high level of culinary mastery.

Call (210) 844-7036 or visit www.wilsonwhitetails.com. 

Pine Hill Plantation

Enjoy the authentic experience of South Georgia quail hunting at its finest at Pine Hill Plantation. Pine Hill is one of a select group of 25 Orvis-Endorsed wingshooting lodges and the only luxury lodge where quail hunting is done exclusively from horseback and mule-drawn wagon as it has been done on fabled South Georgia plantations for generations.

Each group of four or more hunters enjoys the comfort of a private lodge and is served country gourmet fare by the attentive house staff in a private dining room. Georgia’s best wild and early release quail hunting steeped in the traditions of the Old South make Pine Hill one of the most exclusive hunting destinations in North America. Call (229) 758-2464 or visit www.pinehillplantation.com.

Doug’s Hunting Lodge

No waterfowler’s life list is complete without experiencing the wintering grounds where the fertile freshwater edge of the coastal marsh meets the rich ricelands at Doug’s Hunting Lodge in South Louisiana’s Cajun Country. 

The whir of duck wings tearing predawn, the stadium-roar of blues, snows rising into the sky and the haunting cry of speckle-bellied geese make sweet a sweet backdrop for a morning hunt. Add to this Cajun cooking and hospitality and there’s no need to wonder why so many have turned this “trip of a lifetime” into an annual reunion at Doug’s Hunting Lodge. Call (800) 888-0960 or visit www.dougshuntinglodge.com.

Quail Country Plantation

Quail Country Plantation is located in Arlington, Georgia, the heart of the “Quail Hunting Capital of the World.” With the finest bird dogs and the most beautiful woodlands, the grounds are managed and cared for specifically to take you quail hunting. We offer genuine Southern hospitality combined with incredible wildlife habitat, diverse landscape, great food and professional, courteous guides.

The lodge sits on the banks of Mill Creek, which is spring-fed and a constant 67 degrees year- round. The lodge sleeps 28 and we offer a fully stocked pro shop and first-class gunroom. Call (866) 597-8245 or visit www.quailcountry.com.

Moree’s Sportsman’s Preserve

One of the most diverse sporting operations in all of the South, Moree’s Sportsman’s Preserve offers hunting for big game and birds on 6,000 acres replete with two lodges, a lakeside cabin, bunkhouse and rustic clubhouse.

Located in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Moree’s specializes in upland hunts for bobwhites and pheasants behind top-flight pointing dogs. Gunning for mallards is available from comfortable blinds on the preserve’s many ponds in addition to tower shoots for ducks and pheasants.

For big game enthusiasts, Moree’s provides “guaranteed opportunity” hunts for both trophy whitetails and wild boar. Their two-day hunt packages, which include the chance to shoot at a buck scoring from 120 B&C or larger.

The spacious 5,000-square-foot lodge on the Pee Dee River can accommodate corporate outings or family groups of up to 60 guests. The Preserve Cabin is a cozy log structure tucked away on a large fish-filled pond. Guests also stay at the Preserve Lodge and Bunkhouse, where they will find all the comforts and conveniences of home and absolutely wonderful southern-style meals. Contact General Manager Mike Johnson at 843-378-4831 or visit www.moreespreserve.com.

White Oak Mountain Hunting Lodge

If you miss the good old days of quail hunting in south Virginia, White Oak Mountain Hunting Lodge is the place. From rye fields overgrown with lespedeza and broomstraw to open woods, you’ll find all different types of terrain here.

Whether you are looking for an afternoon hunt for a couple of buddies, a family outing or a corporate hunt, we can help. Half-day, all-day and overnight packages are available. Quail, pheasant, chukar and Hungarian partridge can be mixed to provide all the action you want. Use our dogs or bring your own. Call (888) 432-4868 or visit www.whiteoakbirdhunt.com to book your hunt.

River Hills Lodge

Looking to shoot wild birds, walk beautifully groomed pheasant habitat without having to ride a bus miles to your shooting destination? Then come to River Hills Lodge, a wingshooter’s dream in south-central South Dakota.

The hunts are fully guided with trained Labradors, five-bird daily limit with option to shoot more, ammunition, hunting license and top-of-the-line guns for you to use. After an exhilarating day in the fields, you can relax in the Western-themed lodge, enjoy your favorite beverage and a delicious meal, then retire to your comfortable private room.

You’ve seen us on Benelli’s American Birdhunter with Tom Knapp. We’d love to send you a DVD and brochure.

For package options and pricing call (605) 680-1515 or visit www.riverhillslodge.com.

Spring Island Plantation

The hunting at Spring Island Plantation is done from horseback, like it was 100 years ago. Four horsemen follow a mule-drawn hunt wagon with three sets of dogs. When a covey of quail is located, new dogs are brought in to flush the birds and after the quail are either grounded or gone, the third set of dogs is called out to retrieve the birds.

The hunt is typically followed by a Southern lunch with fried chicken, black-eyed peas, cornbread and greens. Call (866) 740-0400 or visit http://www.springisland-sc.com/hunting.aspx.