Author Topic: Chestnut Hunting Lodge (Read 866 times)

Matt in AK · « **on:** December 26, 2004, 08:31:46 AM »

I'm feeling a strong need to get out of town and put some tasty pork in the freezer. If the hog's a nice one, I'll put him on the wall.

It looks like Chestnut Hunting Lodge, NC is one of the closest places to me. Has anyone hunted there? Care to share your experiences?

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2004, 01:09:36 PM »

Haven't been personally but know several personally who have. They had fun but it was their FIRST adventure into the world of fenced enclosure hunting. After more of it they came to realize it was a pretty much canned hunt affair but at the time in their innocence they didn't fully understand. It's not a real large enclosure and hunting as I understand is mostly from box blinds with guides out of sight kinda shooing game your way. At least that's the take from those I know who have been there.

Matt in AK · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2004, 02:01:05 PM »

Thanks Graybeard. Pretty tough these days to come by honest info. I think I'll drive a little further and head to Tennessee instead. I'm leaning toward the Wilderness Hunting Lodge or Ken Moody's outfit. Any thoughts?

Greybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2004, 01:02:17 AM »

I have no experience with either of those two. I saw a short think on TV the other day with the Bushnell crew at Wilderness and I've got or seen a couple of videos made at Ken's place. Me and Dave Quick were setting up a hunt there but he had to go in for surgery and we never got it rescheduled. I have been to Tellico Junction as has Dave and we both rate it highly. Ownership has changed and then I think changed back again. Joe and Mazie Meeks owned and run it when both of us were there. I think they own it again and now their son runs it. Not sure tho.

If I recall correctly I think Joe told he he had 2000 acres under fence. I'd not call it exactly a hog proof fence tho as I saw several places down and hogs could come a go as they wished thru them. Back then at least he had traps in his fence all along the area it sided with the National Forest land. Hogs run wild on the NF land. He caught them and if large enough turned them loose on his side. If he felt they were too small he turned them loose on NF side again. So his hogs weren't pen raised like most are. They came from the wild on one side of his fence and were stocked and shot on the other side.

Nice accomodations and a fun hunt.

Terrain at Ken's place is pretty rough so I've heard. Some of it really rough. What I saw of Wilderness on the show the other day looked nice and fairly easy. One guy was in a ground blind with bow and Dave Watson used muzzle loader and walked up to a large patch of ragweed and shot one there.

Like I said the only one of the four I've got personal experience with at this time is Tellico Junction.

mehunter2 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2004, 04:19:31 AM »

Matt,
I have been there twice. It is a small area, but my kids had a great time, and if meat is what you want they had very nice hogs on both trips I went on. Good luck.

swifty · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2004, 01:26:47 PM »

I have hunted in GA,twice and Texas Twice.
I would like to try Tennessee Tellico Junction.
Are these feral hogs or are they the black European strain?
Tennessee is just across the mountains.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2004, 04:11:14 PM »

Quote

I have hunted in GA,twice and Texas Twice.
I would like to try Tennessee Tellico Junction.
Are these feral hogs or are they the black European strain?
Tennessee is just across the mountains.

They are a mixture. While I was there I saw more black ones but a fair number of red colored ones also. None of any other color and no spotted ones like you see commonly in TX running wild on free range land. Can't say you'd never see them at Tellico tho, just that I didn't. The black ones have a very strong European boar look to them.