Hunting Preserve Check

By C.C. McCotter

Perhaps the most often asked question we receive from our readers in the fall is: "Do you have any good places I can hunt?" The answers lie below in alphabetical order.

W2 has compiled a list of hunting preserves and outfitters that can take you upland bird, deer, turkey and waterfowl hunting. The terrain varies from place to place from mountains to Piedmont hills, rugged valleys to farm fields, so be sure and know what you can handle before making your arrangements.

In many cases, W2 has personally visited these establishments or will be in the coming months, so we know they are worthy of your visit. When making plans to visit one of these businesses you should expect to make reservations via a phone call or email, then be required to send a deposit in advance to hold your day. Each establishment has its own rules, but all require proper licenses you must obtain often before arriving. Blaze orange is also necessary. Be sure and inquire about tipping policies and total cost for the trips so you won't be surprised at the end of the hunt.

Good luck and let us know how you do with a Reader Letter or email.

A.C Daniels Farm

Have you ever wanted to rent a dove field and put on your own dove shoot? This can now be a realty. A.C. Daniels welcomes your call. Located in McKenney, Virginia (just outside of Petersburg on Interstate 85), the Daniels farm has sunflowers, corn, millet and buckwheat and fields that will accommodate up to 25 hunters a day. A.C. arranges hunts by appointment only. Call 804.478-5033 or email him at acdanieljr@aol.com .

Clover Creek Farm

Clover Creek Farm is located in southwestern Virginia in Bedford County, one of the most sought after counties in the state to hunt in. Bedford County is well known for producing massive whitetail bucks along with plenty of turkeys. Near Smith Mountain Lake, Clover Creek Farms are surrounded by farm-lands and timberlands which add to the finest deer and turkey hunting. Clover Creek is a 100 % fair chase operation specializing in bow, gun, and muzzleloader hunts. Clover Creek is now in it's 13th year of current ownership with 10 years of deer management. At Clover Creek you will find hundreds of acres to hunt on with terrain to suit everyone. Clover Creek offers accommodations for everyone who enjoys hunting or just wants to get away. Two-and 3-day hunts are available. All hunt packages include lodging, meals, and a guide service. Contact Clover Creek Farm by calling 434/832-118 or visit www.clovercreekfarm.com

Chincoteague Hunting & Fishing Center

This highly rated outfitter offers guided waterfowl hunting on the Virginia's Eastern Shore; the wintering grounds for one of the largest, most diverse populations of waterfowl found anywhere. This area also draws the largest concentration of greater snow geese in the country.

Chincoteague Hunting maintains approximately 100 blinds from the Maryland-Virginia state line south for approximately thirty miles. They also have blinds in and around the Saxis Wildlife Management area on the Chesapeake Bay. These blinds include marsh blinds, which overlook ponds and creeks and pole blinds, which are located in the open waters of the bays and sounds. Grass boats, floating and portable blinds are also available. Guides provide you with transportation to and from the blinds. Each are licensed Coast Guard Captains with Coast Guard inspected vessels. Your guide will remain with you through-out the hunt to set out decoys, retrieve your birds and relocate you as necessary. Moving a few times throughout the hunt depending on weather conditions, tides and the type of waterfowl you are hunting is another way Chincoteague guides keep the shooting hot. It is possible to hunt puddle ducks, divers, sea ducks, brant and geese all in the same day. The September rail season is something every hunter should try.

Captain Pete Wallace started in this area approximately fifteen years ago as a Charter Boat operator. The business expanded into a sporting goods store and waterfowl guide service currently employing five full time guides. Chincoteague Hunting & Fishing Center is a Virginia hunting license agent and offer a full selection of ammo, hunting accessories and locally carved decoys at competitive prices.

Flintshire Farm

Conveniently located on Rt. 17 about eight miles east of Massaponax, Flintshire Farm is a Holloway family endeavor. Manager Gordon Holloway will hold a public dove shoot on Sept. 2 that includes a pig roast for $100. The gate will open at 11 am. With that fee you get a year membership in the Flintshire Farm Sportsman's Club entitling you to hunt birds on the 300-acre tract. Once you are a member you can hunt guided or unguided. The farm includes two lakes and plenty of good cover including wheat, millet and sunflower. 540/373-6685 or go to www.flintshirefarm.com .

Forest Green Shooting Preserve

If you are looking for a place to hunt birds this fall and winter, try Forest Green located near the south end of Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County. Forest Green features guided and non-guided hunts for pheasant, chukar and quail on over 500 acres of managed wildlife habitat. Owner David Sutter holds an opening day dove shoot and pig roast that is open to the public, but call ahead to reserve your spot each year. 540/582-2566 or email forestgreen@1bigred.com .

Green Valley Hunter's Paradise

Located in the mountainous Bath County of Virginia, Hunter's Paradise is a secluded hideaway offering visitors the chance to hunt deer, turkey and upland birds and trout fish. The Lyon's family runs the show and does much of the guiding, however you are welcome to bring your own bird dog. There are seven different fields to hunt over. Hunter's Paradise also now offers a skeet range and continental hunts for pheasants and ducks. Stationary blinds offer hunters (disabled, too) a great chance at pass shooting. This is a privately owned, game-managed, 2,500-acre prime area for wildlife and outdoor fun. For the trophy deer hunter, there are 900 acres of managed deer habitat for buck of eight points or more.

When you stay with the Lyons, they can provide meals for you or you can prepare your own, the choice is yours. Don't forget that Hunter's Paradise offers many other activities (fishing, hiking and mountain biking) for those not hunting as well as other seasonal hunting experiences. Contact Green Valley Hunter's Paradise by calling 540/996-4134 or by visiting www.greenvalleyhuntersparadise.com .

Hunt's Game and Training Preserve

For hunters that want to train their dogs or just hunt quail in a secluded section of Sussex County, Virginia along the beautiful Nottaway River, this new preserve sounds great. If you check with many of the preserves, you'll find that some do not hunt quail any more. Hunt's is a quail hunter's place. Overnight lodging is available. Located six miles west of I-95 (Jarratt Exit). For reservations call Clint Holloway at 434/246-5986.

K/O Lodge

If a Canadian adventure is on your To-Do list this year, contact K/O Lodge in Deep River, Ontario. This is an American-owned, family operation that has been guiding hunters (and anglers) for the past 31 years. Black bears are plentiful in this part of Canada and most of the hunting is done via baited stands. Bring your bow, blackpowder rifle or rifle and a fishing pole for after the hunt. Ontario only has a Fall bear season, so call as soon as possible if you want to go this year. Contact K/O Lodge by calling 1-877-584-2411 or go to www.kolodge.com

Marshland Expeditions

Sonny Insley invites you to join him on a Marshland Expedition trip into the estuaries around the town of Poquoson, Virginia. Insley guides clients to ducks, lots of them.

Mystic Marsh Waterfowl Hunting

Tim and Corey Aikens have operated this waterfowling destination for the past three years and this should be the biggest yet. Mystic Marsh is located in Gloucester, on Virginia's middle penisula, not far from the York River. The Aikens manage their own private section of marsh and offer a very limited number of hunters the chance to spend a morning or afternoon in one of their stationary blinds. These structures are accessable via wooden walkways that wend their way through the marsh, so the experience is akin to a deep south, central flyway hunt. Guests can anticipate shots at geese and a number of species of ducks. Accommodations are available at a nearby hotel and Corey is known for her hearty southern style brunch after the morning hunt.

To book a hunt with Mystic Marsh, be sure and call well ahead of time 757.810.5530 or visit www.mysticmarshwaterfowl.com

Orapax Plantation

Known as the largest bird hunting preserve in Virginia, Andre Dykers' Orapax Plantation has been operating since 1987 in Goochland County, Virginia. Dykers maintains nearly 700 acres for visiting pheasant and quail hunters and has many, many repeat customers. You can bring your own dog or use one of Orapax's guides and their dog. The cover varies from grains to natural field edges and woods.

To book your trip contact Dykers at 804. or visit him online at www.orapax.com.

Razorback Guide Service

Brian Bodine has been living in the Central Virginia area for the last 15 years. An avid outdoorsman, he has taken whitetails up and down the east coast as well as elk and mule deer out west. Growing up along the coast, he spent his adolescence mating on charter boats in pursuit of marlin, tuna, sharks and learning the art of waterfowling.

Now living in Scottsville, he quickly came to value the James River which provides some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the east and maybe the country.

Hunting the same countryside that Teddy Roosevelt once did, (his hunting cottage, Pine Knott, is three miles from our headquarters) this area of the country holds as much game as it is scenic. Its rolling hills in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains contain deer, turkey, bear, and a variety of bird hunting opportunities.

Brian has the skill and local knowledge to make your adventure as enjoyable as it will be successful. Razorback owns and leases over 2,700 acres of farmland with exclusive hunting rights in the Central Virginia area for our clients.

Much of it is river bottom land containing planted grainfields, oak ridges, planted pines and cutovers. Many hold farm ponds offering opportunities for mixed bags of ducks and geese. Deer are abundant and some of the land is managed for trophy bucks only. Turkey populations have exploded in recent years.

Bodine offers southern style dove hunts on a 110-acre cut cornfield that loads up with doves in the fall. He even transports you to and from your dove station via hay wagon. Once the hunt concludes, feast on the pig roast barbecue served with all the fixings. This makes a great corporate hunt or a perfect day with that special group of buddies. This year's shoot is scheduled for September 15. To reserve your spot contact Bodine at .

Rooster Run Hunting Lodge

Picture 5,000 undeveloped acres of reclaimed strip mine and forest teaming with deer and turkey in the foothills of western Kentucky. Now toss in a three-year old hunting lodge, folks that welcome hunters and and you have Rooster Run's operation. With so much land you can literally get lost so Rooster Run will provide you will detailed maps and guides to get you to your stand and back again. For reservations call 270.667-0212 or visit www.roosterrunlodge.com .

Schrader's Hunting

Schrader's Hunting, a well known Eastern Shore outfitter for the past 24 years, is expanding their operation and moving to Bridgetown, Maryland. The new location, formerly the Chesapeake Sporting Clays and B & B adds sporting clays and lodging to Schrader's already long list of services.

The new Schrader's Bridgetown Manor is located in rural Caroline County and is situated on over 600 acres of ground. The 11-room lodge offers hunters gracious accommodations with continental breakfast. All bedrooms include a private bath. Additional amenities include an on-site dog kennel.

The world class sporting clay range includes one 36-station course, a challenging five stand and a wobble trap. The course with its forested paths and trails offers different target presentations emulating rabbits, teal, doves and pheasants both crossing and angling. It can be tailored to challenge the most expert shooters as well as beginners. Future plans include on-site instruction for individuals and groups.

Ken Schrader, along with his wife Donna, own Schrader's Hunting. Over the past 24 years, they have grown the business into one of the finest outfitters in the country. The business started with three farms and a couple of local guides and waterfowl hunting only. It now includes over 25,000 acres of prime Eastern Shore hunting grounds in two states, a shooting preserve, a 3-D archery range, sporting clays and lodging. Hunters are able to shoot down doves, upland birds, turkeys and waterfowl. Schrader's Hunting has a staff of 15 guides experienced in waterfowl, deer and upland bird hunting. They pride themselves in being the highest quality professional outfitting service available, offering an Eastern Shore way of hunting.

Waterfowl hunting, including Canada geese, snow geese and wild duck harvests a mixed bag of 4-7,000 birds per season. All of the hunting grounds are in established flyways in Maryland and Delaware and only the highest quality commercial decoys are used. The inventory includes silhouettes, shells hand painted full bodies and stuffers. The hunts are conducted from field pits, A-frames, shore blinds and permanent off shore blinds. The guides work hard to arrange the decoys in either feeding or roosting patterns to ensure the finest possible hunting opportunities on a regular basis.

Deer hunting with Schrader's is trophy managed to produce large bucks and available in a variety of settings for hunters to choose from. The lands are carefully scouted so the last minute adjustments can be made, providing the perfect hunt. The stands are strategically placed and provide a safe vantage point for the shot of a lifetime. In addition to Schrader's regulated feeding stations, the deer are provided with standing corn, soy beans and a wide variety of clover and grasses.

Dove hunts, with some of the fastest wing shooting in the world are available in September. Large managed plots with sunflowers and cut corn offer great shoots. Schrader's also offers upland bird shoots on their shooting preserve. Pheasant, chukar, quail and released mallards are all raised with the hunter in mind. Fully trained and professionally handled setters and pointers add to the hunt.

Also offered by Schrader's Hunting is a 3-D archery range. The 30 target course will raise the enthusiasm of the novice and expert alike. Targets include deer, black bear, wild boar, elk and turkey. The course is open year round.

Convenient to major highways, Schrader's Bridgetown Lodge is within an easy commute in time and distance to Washington, D. C. Baltimore and Philadelphia. For more information contact Schrader's Hunting at 410-778-1895 or visit us at www.schradershunting.com.

Smoke Hole Outfitters

Tucked in the valley that also holds the South Branch of the North Fork River and just minutes from incredible additional destinations like Seneca Rocks, the Dolly Sods Wilderness, Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley, Smoke Hole Outfitters is a great West Virginia destination for area hunters.

The Hedricks family that owns and operates Smoke Hole Outfitters actually hunt. Josh Hedricks is the head guide. You can hunt turkey and deer with Smoke Hole while choosing from a log motel or immaculate log cabins. You can even use Smokehole as a base camp and do your own hunting trip. Take the whole family because while you are hunting, the wife and kids can horseback ride, visit the caverns, go hiking, arrange for an ATV or Jeep tour or just enjoy relaxing at the fully furnished cabins.

Southbound Sporting Preserve

This upland bird hunting preserve is located just northeast of Buggs Island Lake not far off Interstate 85. Owner Rene Thibault and manager/dog trainer/guide Patrick Casey have worked hard over the past two years to offer area hunters a first class hunting preserve complete with the finest accommodations one could wish for. Quail, pheasant and chukar are the main quarry at Southbound and hunting from horseback is not uncommon among their clients. Casey maintains a dog training service and kennel for hunters that want their dogs worked and puppies ready for the season.

To book your hunt with Southbound call 434.447.3350 or visit www.southboundpreserve.com

Southampton Outfitters

This hunting destination is located in Virginia peanut farming country - Southampton County, not far from Franklin. The 5,000-acre farm where the hunting takes place has been operated by the Pope family for the past 100 years and carefully managed for wildlife. They'll be the first to tell you that it's the peanuts that make em grow big in Southampton. Take a look at their website deer photos and you'll see a big difference in the antler mass.

Southampton offers three-day and week long deer hunts, fall turkey hunts and new this year, upland bird hunting and dove shoots. The dove shoots will be held September 1, 3 and 8. If you want to participate, you need to call immediately to make your reservations. There's also lake for fishing after the hunt and a beautiful lodge on its shore for overnight stays. Bowhunters are welcome at Southampton.

To book your trip call them at 757.620.9386 or email them at popeman@southamptonoutfitters.com . The website is www.southamptonoutfitters.com

White Oak Lodge

This hunting preserve located near Chatham, Virginia has been a well kept secret for a number years. Owner operator Russell East manages his land for hunters that like to get into the woods a bit and hunt natural condition.s Through careful management, he even has some wild coveys of quail. White Oak Mountain Lodge is, as its name implies, a full service hunting destination, complete with a lodge for guests and even a bunkhouse. If you miss the good old days of quail hunting, you'll want to book a hunt with White Oak. Russell has wheat and rye fields overgrown with weeds, lespedeza and broomstraw, open woods, hedgerows and creek bottoms, milo fields, sunflowers and millet ready for your visit. There's even a lake for fishing. Wife Betsy is said to make a blackberry cobbler that's "foot-stomping good" so try and stay for dinner.

Whether you are looking for an afternoon hunt for a couple of buddies, a family outing or a corporate hunt, packaged plans with accommodations are available. Quail, pheasant, chukar and Hungarian partridge are available and you can use your dog or one of White Oak's guides and dogs.

To book your hunt call 1-888-432-HUNT (4868) or email them at revrusty@gamewood.net or log on to www.whiteoakbirdhunt.com

Winter Haven Game Farm & Preserve

Lee Winter has created a wonderful place for bird shooting enthusiasts wanting to hunt central Virginia terrain. Forest, field, water and cultivated cover await. Woods & Waters Adventures will be visiting this preserve on November 4 with six hunters for an upland bird hunt. See page 11 to reserve your spot. Winter really enjoys introducing youngsters to the sport so keep this in mind when you are looking for a place to hunt this season. Winter Haven is located in Fluvanna County about 30 miles from Lake Anna, Winter Haven offers visitors guided and guided hunting options for quail, pheasant and chukar. Call 703.494-2081 or visit www.winterhavenpreserve.com

Whistling Wings

Russ Cavender operates a hunting preserve that offers something for everyone. From the upland bird hunter to the waterfowler to the deer hunter, you'll find what you want at this facility located less than an hour from Washington, D.C. Not only does he operate the hunting preserve, he also is a noted dog trainer specializing in Labs, German shorthair pointers and Brittany spaniels. He welcomes hunters to bring their own dogs for live bird training. This year, Cavendar has access to some specially managed deer leases and invites you to try your luck with him.

For reservations call 703.494.1906 or visit www.erols.com/remken .