2010 Dove Hunt

Well folks, I am happy to report that this year's dove hunt at Sleepin' Bear Lodge and Farms was a great success!  Man what a great day we had.  Beautiful weather, good eatin, skeet shooting, oh and the dove hunting wasn't bad either!

Our hunters began their day by receiving a monogrammed Sleepin' Bear Carhartt winter coat when they checked in.  After registration, the hunters were invited to try their hand at one of our three skeet shooting stations.  I must say... their aim gets better every year!  Once the dinner bell rang we all headed to the new mess hall or banquet room.  It sure was nice to eat indoors this year cause it was hot!  The ribs and chicken that were smoked by the Gary's son Shaun were tenderlicious!  The side dishes were prepared with love and care by the ladies in the family... all except for the baked beans and corn on the cob which Shaun cooked.  I tell ya, you've never seen such an array of desserts, these ladies really know what they're doing!  Blackberry cobbler, pineapple cake, pecan pie, peach cobbler, white cake and chocolate chip cheesecake!  I sewanee, they should open up a bakery those gals!

Once the viddles were down it was on to the prizes, which there was no shortage of!  Every hunter went home with a prize.  Some went home with a new shotgun or rifle!  Our prizes are mostly donated to this event by our wonderful sponsors.  We couldn't do it without them!

When the bellies were full and the prizes were gone it was off to the fields for the hunters.  They boarded the tractor-pulled wagons and headed out for delivery to their hunting stations.  The afternoon was filled with sounds of shotguns here and there.  The dove count was good this year.  Almost all hunters bagged close to their limit of doves.

At the end of the day there were a lot of smiling faces coming in from the fields.  Birds being cleaned and left overs handed out.  We're proud that another successful year of the opening day of dove season is under our belts. 

The most important thing is that we raised money to help a very important cause.  The Ronald McDonald House of Nashville.  Never miss an opportunity to give back!