Marshtown Preserve
Plantation-Style Upland Hunting
***New for 2012***
Marshtown offers an authentic plantation-style upland hunt. Join us
for an unforgettable hunting experience as one of the only lodges
that offers this style of hunt in the Mid-Atlantic States. No need
to travel to Georgia or Alabama. Many of our birds are raised here
on the farm and liberated (not planted) prior to your hunt. In this
way the birds tend to covey upon an early release, quickly becoming
acclimated to the habitat and therefore flush and fly as well as any
wild birds.
Your hunt takes place from a custom-built wagon pulled by a team of
Spotted Draft/Morgan Cross horses.
They are a very quiet and impressive team standing 16 hands
and weighing 1,200 pounds each. They are Amish broke that started
life in Ohio on a farm.
But this painted team was just too handsome to be stuck pulling hay
wagons. Our drafts are a 10
year old mare and 8 year old gelding (full siblings) that have been
well exposed to gunfire and considered very safe.
Your party includes a guide on back of a Tennessee Walking
horse that will handle the pointing dogs in the field and a driver
responsible for the wagon and the flushing/retriever dogs. Our new
stable is located next to the Inn, where your guide will meet your
party.
Most of that flushing duty will fall to Jimi, a five year, black and
white old English Springer Spaniel that twice finished the National.
He is a gentleman on the wagon and one of the nicer flushing dogs
you will have the opportunity to meet. For safety reasons, a second
staff-person will be on the wagon since the driver can’t dismount
while the team is hitched.
These gentleman guides are present to ensure every detail of the
hunt is perfect. The wagon is a recently renovated “hitch” style
with large rubber tires to smooth the ride and cushioned bench seats
for comfort. The
seats are positioned over dog boxes since it is often necessary to
bring as many as four dogs on the trip. There are step-stairs with a
railing leading to the ground with a gun rack and cooler area in the
rear for storage.
The hunt takes place over three adjacent farms on 800 acres.
The wagon trail follows wood and brush lines, hedgerow and
cut crops along with grass pastures with fields planted in thick
tall cover. We pass freshwater ponds, tidal ditches and the marsh
overlooking a Federal Wildlife Refuge. We travel over a stream and
though a forested area depending upon the route we choose. The
trip is 5 to 6.5 miles and can be covered in approximately four
hours. The wagon will generally follow the guide on horseback who
will be watching the pointers.
The pointers are very steady and are broke to wait for the
hunters on the wagon to disembark.
Our flushing dogs will get the birds up which can be singles
or coveys. The flushing dogs are steady to wing, shot and fall and
will not retrieve until released.
The accommodations and food complement this hunt making it a truly
exclusive experience.
Your visit includes:
-
This hunt is designed to accommodate up to 4 hunters and
includes overnight accommodations at the Historic Inn at
Marshtown which sleeps up to 7 comfortably
-
Continental breakfast
-
Release of up to 50 birds on the day of your hunt
-
Guided hunting with the assistance of professionally-trained
dogs and their handlers
Availability:
-
10 hunts per year
Cost: $1,500 or $375 per hunter inclusive of gratuities