I already had seen this firsthand, an example of Southern hospitality at its finest. And have I mentioned the meals? Sharlene and Marcelene outdid themselves in the lodge's big kitchen -- dinner the first evening was Southern fried chicken with all the trimmings; dinner the second evening was stuffed, bacon-wrapped quail grilled over mesquite.

Breakfasts were equally sumptuous, with everything from chocolate chip pancakes to eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and biscuits and gravy. (A special recommendation: If you go, be sure to try some of the lodge's homemade mayhaw jelly on the biscuits.) Needless to say, hunters always left the table feeling well fortified for the day's activities.

FINAL THOUGHTS
The usual itinerary for a hunt at Pine Hill Plantation begins with a late afternoon arrival, social time and dinner, and hunting the following day or days. As described above, my stay was typical of this schedule, but more specific needs can be accommodated, and the plantation also offers a variety of additional activities (see "If You Want to Go," page 46).

I had flown to Atlanta, rented a car and driven down to the plantation (about a 31⁄2-hour drive through country that was definitely a sight for the sore eyes of someone who'd come from a Midwest winter), and I left right after breakfast the morning following the day of our hunt, as I had a flight home that afternoon.

Other guests had arrived the previous evening, and I found myself wishing I could stick around and join them for their hunt. If I had been able to do so, I know one thing for certain: I'd have spent more time on horseback watching the dogs -- and dismounting to shoot -- and a lot less time on the wagon taking notes.

IF YOU WANT TO GO...
Pine Hill Plantation is located in Seminole County in the southwest corner of Georgia, near the Alabama and Florida borders. It's about 60 minutes from the Tallahassee airport (for commercial flights) or 15 minutes from the Bainbridge, Georgia airport (for corporate and general aviation). Commuter flights from Atlanta are available to Tallahassee and the airport at Albany, Georgia, also nearby.

Two lodging facilities are available at the plantation. Pine Hill Manor, (shown in the opening photo) where I stayed, is the larger of these, with two formal dining rooms, a master bedroom suite downstairs plus five large bedrooms and four private baths upstairs.

The Manor can accommodate up to 12 guests comfortably.

Quail Covey Lodge is a 3,800-square-foot facility with a formal dining room, master bedroom suite and four bedrooms with two private baths; it will accommodate nine guests. Both lodges have a "great room," a breakfast room overlooking a 90-acre lake -- filled with trophy bass, by the way -- and a gentleman's lounge and gun room. In addition, the Manor has an Orvis pro shop well stocked with clothing and shooting accessories. Loaner guns are also available.

Besides quail, Pine Hill also offers hunts for dove, duck and turkey. Other activities include skeet shooting, bass fishing, canoeing, horseback riding and mule-drawn wagon rides.

For more information, see the plantation's website at: www.pinehillplantation.com, or call 229-758-2464.