Going Places

It wasn’t the best shot I’d ever made on a rising quail, but it did the job. I hadn’t afforded enough lead as the bird broke cover and arched to my right, wings drumming as it headed for the hardwood bottoms at the edge of the field. My shot was too far back, and I saw the bird wobble in midair before falling in a tangle of Illinois bundle flower and switchgrass.
    Russell Edwards’ pointer Snap was on the falling quail before it could run and gathered up the bird for the retrieve. I had just reloaded when Snap spun halfway around at the edge of a grass strip and locked up, my last bird still hanging from her mouth.
    “We’ve got another one,” Russell said, moving toward Snap. I reminded myself about the issue with lead as I approached the tall grass, ready to redeem myself . . . .
    Edwards had no intention of starting an upland-hunting lodge when he and his wife, Michele, bought 54 acres in western Kentucky’s Tradewater Valley in 2000. The property originally was purchased as a weekend getaway, but Russell’s focus soon turned to managing the habitat for wildlife. He began buying and leasing property and working to recreate upland habitat and food plots to attract and hold game. When Michele commented that his hobby had taken on a new level of intensity, Russell responded by booking deer and turkey hunts to help finance his dream. A hunting lodge called Tradewater Outfitters was established in 2002, and two years later upland hunting was added. Today much of the focus has switched to upland hunting, and the name has been changed to WingHaven Lodge.
    Russell and Michele have developed WingHaven into a first-class upland destination that blends modern gamebird management with Southern tradition and hospitality. From the original 54 acres, the Edwards’ holdings have grown to 3,500 acres. The terrain varies from flat river bottoms to small fields divided by overgrown fencerows and hardwood ridges, all of which are intensely managed and maintained to hold gamebirds. Quail hunting is the mainstay at WingHaven, although there is also hunting for pheasants, chukar and (new this year) Huns. One of the lodge’s missions is to provide excellent upland hunting at an affordable price. “We offer the best value anywhere in no-limit quail hunts,” Russell said. The location on the Tradewater River in the Ohio River Valley also makes WingHaven a favorite destination for duck hunters.
    Another development this year is the addition of Tim Stull, formerly with Deer Creek Lodge, who has signed on as a consulting associate. Tim will be offering advice on habitat improvement, covey management and overall operations.
    In 2008 WingHaven opened a 4,000-square-foot lodge with six private guest rooms. Russell and Michele already have plans to expand the rooms to suites and to include decks overlooking the two large lakes behind the lodge.
    Despite the success WingHaven has enjoyed, the Edwards remain hands-on with the daily operations of the lodge—everything from cleaning birds and maintaining the guest quarters to Michele’s remarkable Southern cooking. Hospitality is one of the hallmarks of the lodge, and it is another reason that WingHaven enjoys such a high percentage of repeat business.
    This repeat business has allowed for the planned expansion of the shooting facilities as well. “We’ve installed a 5 Stand layout,” Russell said, “and we are planning to build a pistol and rifle range. We already have a 25-target archery range that loops around the lakes.”
    Not long after breakfast on my first day of hunting, Russell, guide Glenn Cummings and I were into birds. We were hunting near the lodge in a sea of switchgrass and bluestem cut into rows. Most of our quail that morning were singles and doubles, although we did raise several small coveys of three or four and one large covey of at least 30. At midday we unloaded our birds into Russell’s vehicle and started back to the lodge for lunch.
    Like most experienced upland hunters, Russell has an affinity for blue-chip bird dogs. WingHaven’s kennels contain top dogs of a variety of breeds, including English pointers, pointing Labs, Brittanys and German shorthairs. Hunters are welcome to bring their own dogs, and WingHaven has an indoor kennel facility that is well maintained and secure.
    What impressed me most about Winghaven was the attention paid to clients. Every guest was treated like family. Combine this with more than 1,000 acres of prime quail habitat and a large dose of Southern hospitality, and the result is an upland adventure not to be forgotten. I intend to be counted among the growing base of repeat customers.
    For more information, contact WingHaven Lodge, 270-836-7998; www.wing havenlodge.com.