I had searched several hundred web pages researching hunting lodges in my resident state of North Carolina. Two where prominient across many pages but of the two one stuck out to me. That one was Chestnut Hunting Lodge located near Taylorsville, North Carolina. After talking it over with my hunting buddy and cousin, Roy, we decided to schedule a hunt at the beginning of the third full week of March. The weeks leading up to the hunt was full of anticipation and plenty of practice. We worked hard to increase our effect range and to fine tune our bows as much as possible.

We arrived just before 5:00 P.M. on the day before the hunt. We were promptly greeted by the owner of the lodge, Jerry Rushing, and a few of the other hunters. The field below the lodge was already starting to fill with whitetail deer. We all commented on the number of deer that were already out in the field. One in particular that caught my attention was a piebald. According to Jerry he was an eight pointer last year. I would have loved to see him with a rack.

Next we began to explore the lodge affectionately called the "Boars Nest". Its not some fancy hotel but in my opimion it was awesome. The lodge had most of the comforts of home, a TV with VCR, gas fireplaces for heat, AC, a small kitchen, a dining area with pinic tables, a full bath and several bedrooms with bunk beds to accomidate the guests. The lodge was also full of different mounts of the game available at the lodge to be admired before the hunt. Also available to hunters for an extra fee is a private cottage. The cottage contains a small kitchen complete with a small refridgerator and stove, a full bath, two bedrooms, and a living area with a TV and VCR. Prior to the hunt we had elected to spring for the cottage as we were really unsure of the arrangements. After the fact I will say that we were pleasantly surprised with the lodging.

After getting settled in we setup a target and shot a few practice rounds to make sure our equipment was in proper working order. While we were shooting we could hear a tunderous gobble ringing through the hollows. It was like Disney Land for a kid for me. Deer grazing in the fields, a turkey gobbling in the background and the ability to witness and enjoy the mystical flight of the arrow as it screamed from our bows. Heaven on Earth I tell ya.

The night for me was very restless because of the over whelming anticipation of the next days events. Of the 11 total hunters my cousin and I were the only bowhunters on top of that this was our first attempt at a guided hunt of any fashion. I was already wide awake when my alarm went off at approximately 5:00 A.M. I promptly took a shower and then woke Roy and his wife Jennifer. At 6:30 we headed over to the main lodge to meet the guys and prepare to start the hunt. After explaining to the guides what we wanted they came up with a game plan to set us up for success. I cant say enough good things about our guides Barry and Dean. They are both very professional yet maintain a very open and friendly aire about them. Shortly before 7:00 A.M. We all piled into the pickup trucks and headed up the mountain. As we entered the gate off to our right were several rams. A few of each I would say, a corsican, a muflon, a four horn and some spanish goats. It looked like it was going to be a good morning for us. A little further up the mountain and Roy was let out to get on his stand. The plan was for us to get on stand and then the guides would return to fetch us for an attempt at a stalk.

The sky was cloudy and treatened rain but my spirits were as high as an eagle. Off in the distance I could see a group of rams and occassionly caught a glimpse of a hog, a gobbler was kind enough to serenade me as I waited. Shortly I heard a rustling behind me on the hill, I turn slowly to see a herd of about 20 whitetails skylighted by the morning horizon, a truely breath taking sight. Our guides returned soon and retrieved us from our stand to attempt a stalk. Our plan was simple, we would slowly stalk the lower valley in an attempt to get a shot at a nice ram. It was not long before we located a nice group of rams which also contained a couple of nice Spanish goats. I quickly scanned the group but opted to pass a shot out of fear of possibly hitting another animal. About 50 yards down the hill I notice a lone corsican ram and decided to attempt to get a shot at him. I closed the distance to about 23 yards but the ram was behind a small dirt hill with more than half of his chest covered. Suddenly the ram darted out from behind the hill and ran directly toward me with his head down. Was he looking for a fight?! Luckily he stopped about 15 yards away and turned slight. Realizing I was not another ram he turned move away. As he angled away from me I knelt down on one knee and settled my pin in front of his third rib. At the touch of the release the arrow hit its mark passing through the opposite shoulder and buried into the dirt mound he once stood behind. He ran a few short yards and laid down and peacefully passed to the heavens.
 
Now it was Roy's turn. We stalked slowly farther down the hill and ran into a few groups of beautiful corsican rams and a few hogs. Roy had seen a spanish goat whihc had caught his eye earlier so we turned around and headed back up the ridge in an attempt to locate the goats again. The goats had bedded down close to where we had last seen them. As Roy was moving up the hill to get a shot the goats noticed him and nervously started to move away. Roy was finally able to get into a position to get a shot. He settled the pin on the chest of the goat and touched off his release. The arrow zipped toward its quarry in a blurred streak passing through the goat and then striking a rock deceminating the broadhead. The shot was lethal but for good measure Roy sent a second shaft screaming through the vitals when his game stopped to get its bearings.
The guides made quick work of the field dressing chores and we loaded the animals onto a four wheeler to be transported to the truck. Once at the truck it was a waiting game for us until the other hunters had completed their morning hunt. During the wait we saw several groups of hogs, deer and rams. At about 11:00 A.M. it started to snow. At the end of the day the hunters had harvested 2 corsican rams, 1 texas dall, 1 spanish goat and 6 hogs. All the animals were gathered up by the guides and then taken back to the lodge where they where skinned and quartered. The hunters happily exchanged stories and laid out their individual hunts for all to share. Even though the snow had tranformed to rain it was truely a great day to be a field.

Overall I would rate my experience at Chestnut Hunting Lodge a 4.5 out of a possible 5. My only negative point is outside of the control of the Lodge itself. Due to CWD the state of North Carolinia has banned the import of deer species into the state which reduces Chestnuts huntable species to rams, sheep, goat and hogs. Needless to say we are anxiously making plans to return to Chestnut Hunting Lodge at the end of this year or maybe the beginning of 2007.

You can contact Jerry Rushing, the owner of Chestnut Hunting Lodge, via:
 
Chestnut Hunting Lodge
525 Chestnut Hunting Lodge Drive
Taylorsville, North Carolina 28681

http://www.chestnuthuntinglodge.com
PHONE : 828-632-3916