Award-winning Kentucky lodge delivers sporting  

When the topic of wingshooting arises in southern Indiana circles, talk is generally heated by the unfortunate decline of wild quail and rapidly disappearing grouse.

            It’s a fact, our wild game bird populations are suffering. Bird hunting in our region doesn’t have to disappear though. Game preserves offer an opportunity to continue the tradition. Mentalities just have to change with the times.

Two or three generations ago, no one would have ever dreamed of leasing land to deer hunt. Now it’s a regular practice. Acceptance of put-and-take wingshooting is continuing to grow as well.

What put-and-take means is birds are raised in a hatchery, bought by a game farm, and then set free. Birds are released into the wild under no guarantee of remaining on the property they are intended to inhabit. Hunters then pay to hunt on the game farm which has been “stocking” their fields with birds.

The practice of stocking fish has been going on for hundreds of years. It began when fishermen who were not satisfied with the quality of their fisheries took it upon themselves to supplement natural regeneration. Fishing improved so the practice remains. Wingshooting lodges are essentially doing the same.

I recently experienced upland wingshooting at Deer Creek Lodge just south of Sebree, Kentucky. This was the first time I had ever experienced a game farm style hunt, so of course prior to my arrival I had questions.

“Was this for me?”

“What would the birds be like?”

“How would we be hunting them?”

Immediately upon pulling through the gate at Deer Creek, my questions began to find their answers. The property is vast and wild. It appears the way you would imagine a 2,000 acre sportsman’s paradise to look; large tracts of wooded hillside separated by distinct fields of cover, all surrounding a timber filled lake. Deer Creek could easily be perceived as the masterpiece of an architect who set out to develop a paradise for sporting souls.

I was invited to Deer Creek for an event sponsored by Toyota. Representatives armed with new Tundras were on hand to introduce the features and benefits of their product, which were many, but we’ll save that for another story. After a Tundra powered property tour and a brief socializing event, myself and number of other guests began our shooting exploits of the day on the sporting clay course. We shot a few rounds of 5-stand. The clay course was as good as any I’d ever experienced.

Lunch was served in the 10,000 sq. ft. lodge which rests upon a wooded hilltop, appearing as if it should be situated in Hollywood Hills as opposed to a Kentucky hallow. After an incredible meal, hunters were broken into pairs and teamed with one of Deer Creek’s top notch guides. Gary Garth, an outdoor writer from Murray, Ky., and I hunted with guide Randy Corbett. We had the privilege of hunting over a pair of professionally trained dogs. Our flushing dog, a black lab named Buck, was partnered with a shorthair pointer named Nickel. They made quite a team.

It’s hard to explain how good the hunting was in terms relative to anything I’ve ever experienced under true wild conditions. Birds were everywhere. The dogs were constantly on point. It was Nickel’s job to locate birds, hold a point until Buck arrived, and then back off allowing the flusher to crash down on the cover, scattering birds into the air. Shots came so frequently my shoulder remains bruised.

Dinner followed, highlighted by energetic socializing over the unbelievable experience we had just shared in field. The birds were cleaned for us while we dined on distinguished cuisine.

Deer Creek Lodge is a reality for anyone willing to spend the money on a level wingshooting experience attainable at very few places. In fact, Deer Creek is such a high-quality operation, it won the prestigious Orvis Wingshooting Lodge of the Year award in 2007. This highly distinguishable award is a stamp of approval from some of the world’s foremost authorities on upland experiences.

Wingshooting isn’t all that’s available at Deer Creek. Deer hunting, turkey hunting, duck hunting, trophy largemouth bass fishing, horseback riding and more awaits guests of the lodge. All the information you need to book a hunt or fishing trip at Deer Creek Lodge is available on their website www.deercreeklodge.net or by phone at (888) 875-3000.

If you’re interested in visiting an upscale outdoor resort close to home for a private weekend get-a-away, or you’ve been searching for the perfect place to impress a special client, Deer Creek Lodge is sure to satisfy.

See you down the trail…