Tradition is taken seriously in plantation quail hunting in the deep south. Perhaps it is because tradition emanates more easily from the leisure pursuits of the wealthy than from the necessary pursuits of the yeoman. But nowhere have traditions evolved and been romanticized more than on the southern quail plantations.

There is a proper way to hunt bobwhite quail, and an etiquette born of the need for safety, combined with the gentility of southern manners. One of the hallmarks of a true plantation hunt is the mule-drawn quail wagon,and at Pine Hill Plantation this experience, usually found only on the great private plantations of the coastal plain, is nurtured to the point where the visitor is no longer a visitor, but for a moment, the owner of the plantation.

The mule is a beautiful creature with the hardiness of the donkey and the courage of the horse. A matched pair of mules is a magnificent example of harmony and efficiency, and at Pine Hill, “Jim Bob” and “John Boy” pull the quail wagon together. In a traditional quail hunt, the hunters are mounted. The dogs are put out and immediately begin to range out front. The hunt master is the lead rider, followed by the mounted hunters and then the quail wagon carrying the other pointers, refreshments, and supplies for the day’s hunt. When the pointers lock up on a covey of quail, the hunt master raises his hat, the hunters dismount, unsheathe their guns, and move forward to honor the point. The covey flushes in a whirring explosion, and the report of fine shotguns signals either success or failure. To the southern quail hunter, the sight of this train moving through the open fields and pine forests is the most sacred of experiences.

Pine Hill is in the southwest corner of Georgia near the point where the Alabama/Georgia line intersects the Florida border. It is the center of bobwhite quail habitat. The two houses on the plantation, Pine Hill Manor and Quail Covey Lodge, are designed as private plantation homes into which the visitor steps as if it were his own. Amenities include a graciously-appointed master suite, a cigar/gun room, a private dining room, a porch overlooking the private lake, a great room with fireplace, and guest rooms with private bathrooms. These two houses rival many of the plantation homes on private estates.

To partake in this experience, one needs either an invitation from one of the owners of the South’s great private plantations or to visit Pine Hill Plantation.