You’re in a time machine. It’s late fall 2018, and you’re upset with yourself. Three of your hunting buddies are also very disappointed with you. You didn’t make reservations for a quail hunt in Sampson County early enough this year, and now you and your buddies won’t be going. You’ll miss the Southern breakfast, the early morning dew, the joyful hunting dogs, tales of adventure and friendship. All because you didn’t make the time to get a reservation at one of Sampson County’s premiere quail hunting lodges by mid-June.
Luckily, time travel is just a dream. You can still be the hero to your friends. You can still make reservations for a top-notch quail hunt in Sampson County early this summer.
Birds of a Feather … or the 411 on Quail:
- Quail hunting provides 1 million Americans with treasured memories each autumn.
- Quail are birds who live on the ground and rarely fly.
- Quail are found on land that has a combination of open land and woody cover. Fields that have diverse vegetation such as annual weeds with native grasses that provide quail with the seeds they feed upon.
- Quail like to hide in briers, especially if they feel threatened, so be prepared with adequate clothing to walk through briar patches.
All this means that Sampson County with its lots and lots of wide open spaces with field cover
is a quail’s paradise and the perfect place for a quail hunt. The North Carolina quail hunting season doesn’t begin until November — but now’s the time to make reservations to hunt and stay at one of Sampson County’s premiere quail-hunting lodges (listed in alphabetical order):
George Hi Plantation — an Orvis endorsed Wingshooting Lodge
3192 Ebenezer Forest Rd.
Garland, NC 28441
Phone: 910-590-1020
www.georgehi.com
Email: mmehaffey@duboseindustries.com
With nearly 1,000 acres of mature quail hunting habitat, experienced guides and well-trained hunting dogs, this plantation provides Southern quail hunting at it’s finest along with a relaxing, effortless place to stay during your hunt.
George Hi Plantation offers acres of diverse quail courses varying from native warm grasses, open pine woods and select plantings. To add to the experience, George Hi Plantation English Cocker Spaniels are provided to flush and retrieve.
Accommodations include an inviting historic guest house built in 1855, an 8-room lodge complete with a charming waterfront gazebo. Hunters and guests can also enjoy trap and skeet shooting.
The eight-bedroom Lake Lodge is the central gathering place for all hunters and their guests. This main facility includes sleeping accommodations, dining and entertainment areas, expansive porches, outdoor cooking pavilion and lakefront gazebo. Watching the beautiful lakeside sunsets provide the perfect backdrop for talking with friends on the dock.
George Hi Plantation’s attention to detail from the hunt-to-table exemplify honored Southern
traditions.
Six Runs Plantation
Rose Hill, NC 28458-8654
Phone: 919-532-4810
www.sixrunsplantation.com
Email: rebeccatoddedwards@yahoo.com
A former rice plantation has been converted into a charming bed & breakfast. Six Runs Plantation Bed and Breakfast is a gracious slice of Southern hospitality along with hunting and boating. A hunting preserve, Six Runs Plantation has been licensed with the NC Wildlife Association since 1980.
Encompassing more than 1,000 acres, Six Runs Plantation offers the finest Bobwhite Quail hunting between Raleigh and Wilmington. Bordering the property is Six Runs River where guided, or self-guided, canoe and kayak trips are available to explore a four-mile stretch of primitive waterway.
The lodge is a 7,000-square-foot, two-story structure. One step inside and you know that you’re in for a treat. The Todd House section was built circa 1800.
The Great Room, with exposed juniper log beams, reflects an openness from the lounge to the private spa. Bedrooms feature antiques, oriental rugs, and comfortable Queen Anne chairs and Chippendale decor.
Along the rear of the lodge is a 70-foot-long sunroom that provides seclusion for guests’ comfort relaxation.
A continental breakfast is served in the sunroom or on the deck. A gourmet Southern-style breakfast can easily be arranged upon request. Dinner is served in the beautifully appointed formal dining room.
Yes, these lodges are special places to get away from it all, with family, lifelong friends and hunting buddies.
Make plans today to come to Sampson County so you’ll be able to revel in a frosty morning during quail season with fresh brewed coffee, worn boots, tall tales, great shots made, and friendly reminders of shots missed.
The dogs know the covey call and help guide you and your hunting party to just the right spot for a successful day of quail hunting.
Don’t let this autumn dream pass you by — make reservations now. You’ll be glad you did…and so will your hunting friends. It’s always the right time to be the hero!
