Tempest's Highlights from Our 2012-13 "Hunter's Road:"
North Carolina Pheasants, Quail and Waterfowl
Every year we have planned to hunt at least one new state in some different terrian or pursuing different game birds. This year took us to North Carolina during Christmas vacation. My Dad had hunted there often, many years ago when he was stationed at Ft. Bragg. He told me about hunting quail, doves and mallards around the Fayetteville area. However, we enjoyed some new wonderful "Carolina Mornings" with two hunting outfitters that brought back some fond old memories and made spectacular new ones as well.
B & B Waterfowl Guide Service http://www.bandbwaterfowl.com/ gave Dad and I one of the best times we ever had hunting divers and sea ducks (and Dad has been hunting waterfowl since 1972). First, let me tell you these guys know their business. They were set up and ready to go the night before with a huge rig in not one but two places, so depending on the wind we could have the best opportunities for shots. It was a wet and wonderful duck hunting experience, with our guide Jay who was an expert small craft handler on par with watermen I know on the Chesapeake and Narrgansett Bays. His calling was perfect turning flights of ducks around to our set. With several of B and B's guides on a "busman's holiday" that day, they all went to great lengths to give Tempest opportunities to make retrieves in some pretty choppy water. Dad had asked for a shore spot with no oyster beds and they said "No Problem." Hats off to Jay and his merry band of duck hunters for a wet and wild morning. I loved the sausage and egg biscuits those guys shared with me too.
Allen Brothers Hunting Preserve http://allenbrothers.org/ saw us there at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The first hunt was a last minute one where Dad called RJ and plead our case that we were alone and couldn't miss a Thanksgiving without bird hunting. After greeting me us with a huge smile and solid handshake, he set Dad and I up in a fine "lone gunner" field with a combination of pheasents, chuckars, and quail. When we were done there was a nice fire and a couple sandwiches ready (one for me too), while the birds were perfectly cleaned and packaged at no extra costs. Christmas brought us back with a friend we made earlier at Thanksgiving. Jeff, Dad, and I were once again welcomed and hosted like we were the first and only clients they ever had. The birds were dispersed well over a large area, so we had a mix of open and wooded cover that Dad asked for. Oh, and the cover was superb for spaniel hunting, which is normally sparse by that time of year.
Both of these outfitters were professional and exceeded mine and Dad's expectations. We are adding both to our "rerun" list for the 2013-14 season. They knew their business and treated the client like they were royalty. (I may be but but Dad is not.) If you love the sight of bluebills dumping into a spread or the bust of a covey under feet these two places will not disappoint you.
Tempest
