I do NOT recommend hunting at Shady Grove preserve!!!
 

A while back I asked about paying for a guided upland bird hunt, and I appreciate all your feedback. I decided to try it, and started looking for a place to do it.

One place I checked out was Shady Grove preserve in Virginia (here is their site: http://www.shady-grove.com/Preserve.htm ). I sent them an email with three questions and one follow-up question (four questions total). They replied with an answer that was either poorly-worded or intentionally ambiguous. They sort of answered one of my questions, but not really because their answer was so ambiguous I was still confused. They didn't bother to address the other three questions.

I was a little put-off. After all, here I am getting ready to drop a lot of good cash for them to take me hunting. I want to know exactly what I'm getting into and be able to compare one business to another so I can make a good selection. I replied and asked them to answer ALL my questions!

I got a second reply, stating they did not want my business. Very well, you're not getting it!!! Seriously, if you want to sell something to someone, answer their questions! It's a pretty simple rule of capitalism. I will spend my money elsewhere, and I recommend everyone else do the same. None of my questions were invasive; I wasn't asking a woman her age for Pete's sake!

What exactly were they hiding? I imagine this is a second-rate business with a flashy web site and they got antsy when I started asking questions.

And no, there is NO danger of a libel / slander suit here. In order for them to file such a suit against me or huntingnet, they have to prove the accusations I made never happened. As such, I've kept the email :)

So, Shady Grove preserve, take a hike! :mad::rant:

What questions were you asking?

Here is a copy-and-paste from my first email:

"1- Can you provide references regarding your pheasant hunts?

2- What other charges are in addition to the $160 guided 1/2 day?

3- How many people can be in a group? Does each person pay the $160 if we use your guide and dog?

Thank you."

I would have to agree with your statement then that the place is not a preserve I would hunt at. Those are simple questions. Every preserve that I have hunted with can and will provide references on request. The second one a simple answer would suffice either there are cleaning fees on the birds if you choose to have them cleaned or no additional fees or whatever the case may be. The third question is a valid question. I have 4 preserves I frequent and each one has different rules on this. One of them you can have up to 8 people in the same group hunting how ever many birds you want to put out but each hunter is an additional $15 (no additional guide fee per person, another preserve it is you have to have a package for each hunter, ie $160 per hunter, another one is a 2 bird minimum per hunter but no hunt fee unless you are using their dog and guide and then it is $30/hunter per half day hunt. And another place I can have up to 12 hunters for no additional charge, no bird minimum, no additional guide costs.

So yes all of your questions were reasonable and should have been answered by the preserve. Where are you located? I can do some checking and try to find you a suitable place to hunt.

Andrew Cutting

Even though I'm from Colorado, the Army has me in Virginia this year. So I need a place in Virginia. I have found the web site for a different place, but they don't have email. I'm going to call them and ask the same questions as above.

Mac266, sent you a PM
Sorry to hear that preserve couldn't answer such simple questions

It does strike me as odd that they wouldn't answer your reasonable questions. It also would make me wonder just how service oriented they are. Their 2nd response would strike me as arrogant.

Go to Remington Whistling Wings.

Or give me a PM. There are other - cheaper - options.

Wow, thanks! Have you hunted at this place? Do you work there?

Yes I've hunted there. No, I don't work there.

Some folks I know in DC who lobby for the NRA introduced me to them.
Its a well run operation. A bit pricey - generally - for me but its close to DC. I've been there 3 or 4 times.

I've also been to Shady Grove once before. Didn't have any problems, but it sounds like they were a bit obnoxious. The Rappahanock Retriever Club does practice sessions out there for dogs - guy I got my dog from runs the club. I've actually been meaning to get out one Sunday to work my dog for some time, but just haven't managed to find the time.

Check out Primland. I hunted there about 10 years ago with 2 other guys and we absolutely loved it. Lots of birds and the guide had several sets of dogs he would swap out to give them a rest. We had 3 in our party but they only wanted two hunting at any given time. So we swapped out. When one guy got a bird, he broke open his gun and hung back to let the other guy hunt. It worked great.

My only regret is not getting back there in 10 years. :( For me, it is maybe the only bird hunting I will get to do as we just don't have much grouse, quail or pheasant around.

I have shot at Shady Grove a few times. They have been very good to deal with and have provided a very nice day of shooting. This place is in NOVA (maybe an hour from the DC beltway?) and can only handle a limited number of people, so I believe that preference is given to regulars that buy multi-hunt packages. A friend took me out for a shoot and introduction the first time and I bought a 10 hunt package after we had a great day of quail shooting. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to cater to every single-hunt guy considering the nearby population.
If you are in need of a shooting preserve, I would try either driving further from NOVA or asking Shady Grove about the availability of their multi-hunt packages.

Wow, if I wasn't already happy with my civilian job AND my military one (Reservist on active duty), I would apply for that one. Life Member, Certified Instructor, Range Safety Officer, and *VERY* politically involved :) :party0007:

I have to admit I'm a little jealous.

They all like it, but at the end of the day even a dream job is still just a job.

Pricing Information
Half-day Pheasant hunt
$369/hunter (opportunity to harvest 8 birds)Half-day Quail hunt
$369/hunter (15 quail released)Half-day Chukar hunt
$369/hunter (opportunity to harvest 10 birds)Half-day Combination hunt
$369/hunter (6 pheasants & 4 quail)
(6 pheasants & 3 chukar)Additional Birds
Pheasant—$25 each
Quail—$9.50 each
Chukar—$14.95 eachBird cleaning—$4 each
(All cleaned birds are packed in a cooler.)Our count is based on birds shot, not birds retrieved.

Wow. That's pretty damn pricey.

I'm headed up to PA for a wild grouse and stocked pheasant hunt this weekend. Its a 4 1/2 hour drive from DC, $35 for the non resident small game license, and free to hunt the state game lands (lodging is $60 a night)

Yes, that explains why I have only done it once in 10 years. :( Though it was ONLY $300 when I went. It is really the only way I will get to bird hunt so it was worth it. If the government knew how much fun it was they would make it illegal.