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Tag Archives: hogs

Clark range Hunting Lodge Has Personality!

 

AmericanPressTravelNews-Sept. 19th, “Bob and Barb On The Road Again”–What would make a modern family leave California, and pioneer backwards towards the east coast of the U.S.?   When the Echternacht family; Jim and Sandy and their son Ian headed to Tennessee, from their home in Santa Barbara, CA. in a circuitous adventure, they had made the decision to purchase Ken Moody’s hunting lodge, and the many hundreds of acres it afforded for client-hunters since the 1950’s.The family wanted to change their life’s paradigm. No more super highways to sit in traffic, no more anti-hunting,  and negative target shooting people to have to deal with, no more incredibly high prices for everything to continue dragging them down.

Son, Ian loves the shooting sports life, handling the dogs, putting hunters on to a wild boar, or the various other game animals on their hunting lodge properties.  I had a chance to shoot with Ian at their range, try out some fine weaponry, and master-blast a few sporting weapons-it was great fun and in an environment where booms and rifle cracks were perfectly acceptable.

The family are happy campers since purchasing the lodge in September, 2016.  “We knew we wanted to leave CA. so we made an RV out of a 1986 shuttle bus. The bus had a fine diesel engine, and no fancy electronics. We traveled all over looking for a place to land outside of CA. We wanted a rural, quiet place to spend our lives that had water, trees and hunting opportunities. So we coined the term: “Go east young man.”  We finally found it here in Clark range.  Just down the road from great service,  and shopping in Crossville, great neighbors, plenty of room, and very happy hunters are our lot now”, said mom Sandy.

When they got into to TN. they stayed at Fall Creek Falls State Park. “We loved the park, the people and the feeling of being in a state that was more laid back than any other we visited, and upon our return to CA. we looked on a land and business sale site, found this lodge here in Clark Range, and studied the idea of buying and settling in the woods and waters of TN. We took quite awhile to decide, and after selling our home in Santa Barbara, and a few trips to, and from Clark Range, here we are”, said Dad, Jim.

Hunters can stay and hunt at the lodge for boar, Fallow Deer, Black Buck and anything non-indigenous to TN.   Whitetail deer, black bear, and other specially licensed animals require a state license. People who wish to have a mount, and the meat hunt here. Several of the long term clients have stated that actually hunting is secondary to being in the wild with family and friends just to hang together-being happy to just be together with those they enjoy  in a relaxed, non-working environment in nature.

The property has diverse terrain with waterfalls cliffs and caves for the adventurer, as well as accessible locations with blinds for the more laid back hunter. First hunts for youngsters with their parents are welcomed. A few groups have come year after year for decades.

There is no plan for clear-cutting; just cleanup as the previous owner wasn’t around for controlling usage of his lands perimeters. Today, Ian is on it all! A great sportsman in his own right, he appreciates, and has the drive to renovate and upgrade the lodge to its original condition, yet upgrade in the style and manner of what a true hunting lodge really feels and looks like. Mom, Sandy, treated us to a great chicken dinner, and we slowly began to lose the trappings and feelings of the life in hustle-mode. Yes, while visiting, we relaxed and understood why folks from all over would come and de-stress at the Clark Range Hunting Lodge. A guide with 16-years experience takes you & your party on guided dog hunts. There are tree stands, and ground blinds also available for hunters of any age, and physical condition is what you’re in for. Parties of 10 or more have exclusive use of the Lodge and Preserve, and smaller parties too are always welcome! We’re going back for some more of that “personality.”

Located at 1640 Campground Road, Clarkrange, TN.  www.clarkrangehuntinglodge.com

 Phone- 931-863-3203

Note* There are several hunting  and sporting lodges in Tennessee, and we plan on visiting a few of these that are in, or are close to Crossville for Fall features.

 

The Great Tree Inn – Mayville, N.Y. – A feeling that you have come home

www.americanpresstravelnews.com – June 24th. When we arrived at The Great Tree Inn, we were welcomed by Innkeepers Mark and Shelia. This Inn is a 1850’s farmhouse and barn on 10 acres, in a beautiful country setting. Very private, yet just a couple of minutes to the town of Mayville. After we settled in to our room, we toured the other rooms and found that they are all furnished attractively and have private bathrooms. If you like farm animals, this is your B&B. From horses to pigs, ducks and chickens {their fresh eggs fed us our omelettes) and all manner of critters in between, this is a real down to earth spot for you.

After settling in, we decided to explore Mayville. It is situated at the northwest end of Chautauqua Lake and is the closest town to the Chautauqua Institution. The steamboat, Chautauqua Bell was parked on the lake which still operates out of Mayville and runs between Point Chautauqua, the Chautauqua Institution and the vessel’s home port in Mayville.

Mark and Sheila have a large selection of magazines, anytime coffee pot with home made goodies (great cookies) and a very comfortable living room to relax any time of the day. We enjoyed sitting outside in the cool evening chatting with touring couples who biked all over the area.

In the morning, we both were able to enjoy Mark’s creative, very tasty breakfasts that gave us a great headstart for the day ahead. The portions are extra-large, and all left overs are recycled by his many animals. Since Bob was leaving at 6:00 in the morning to go fishing, Mark insisted that he could not leave the Inn without one of his terrific breakfasts.  For more information the web site: www.greattreeinn.com or call: (716) 753-7989 or (1800) 421-0082

Florence, SC, So Many Ways To Enjoy a Visit and So Many Venues For Tourists and Others!

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Yes, great Kayaking and WOW do you get hungry after getting some prime, upper body exercise! SEE BELOW

APtravelnews-November 16th—Florence, S.C.—We met Holly Beaumier on a drive up  I-95 towards our ultimate goal of visiting Vermont again. We stayed and played in her dog-friendly city enjoying great foods and fine accommodations, but most importantly: very friendly caring locals.

Last week,  we had occasion to meet up with her again at the 5oth Anniversary of SEOPA held at Fontana Lake in N.C. She was in attendance to assist in spreading the word, along with other Counties CVB’s from all around the South about their respective excellent travel opportunities for tourists and other visitors.

Holly is a true professional and very passionate about Florence, S.C. and surrounding locals ability to offer great travel opportunities to everyone and anyone “stopping to smell the roses” off I-95 and from all around the USA and the world!

She introduced us to a whole set of opportunities that should encourage us all to make a reservation and head to Florence when possible. Here are some of them:

  • Farm to table and what’s in season? The SC climate lends itself to agricultural produce year round. Local restaurants (we agree having enjoyed many of them) often change menus to serve locally sourced, in season foods.
  • Middle Sparrow Ranch, SC’s only producer of farmstead cheese. Crafted on site from grass fed cows. The cheese has its own unique flavor. Other products are dairy and whey-fed pork.
  • U-Pick farms offer strawberry, muscadine grapes, blueberries are ready from April through October.
  • Tours are available at Ovis Hill Farm where they graze 250 sheep and provide high quality, natural foods.
  • Fishing in local rivers how about giant catfish? Shad are caught in Hoop nets and even drop lines for “cats.”
  • Hog Hunting on horseback? Inquire and Give it a go in SC.
  • Cooper Black Recreation Area has National Sporting Dog field trials: there are equestrian trials in endurance and runs in this 7000 rolling acres of longleaf pine forests and the fields provide the ultimate venue for these and much more events.
  • Birding: More than 100 species of migratory birds to spot at. Take your binocular to Woods Bay State Natural Area.
  • There are so many other things to see and do: Camp, be an Archeologist, check out enigmatic Carolina Bays, the Darlington Marathon races, Marsh Tacky Horses, a South Carolina Horse with stripes dating to Revolutionary times, Heart of Carolina’s 3-day horse competitions, The Kings Three Trails with great jockeys, Lancing tournament on horseback started in 1899. These opportunities and too many others are in and around Florence, SC. For more info. Go: visitflo.com  843-664-0330
    As pet friendly a city as you can find!
    As pet friendly a city as you can find!
    Lamb Chops from Colorado, Risotto, goats cheese. Unreal tastes!
    Lamb Chops from Colorado, Risotto, goats cheese. Unreal tastes!

    New York Cheesecake and strawberries. Terrific!
    New York Cheesecake and local strawberries. Terrific!

Punta Gorda A Day in the Wild With Babcock Wilderness Adventures

We traveled through some of the wild areas of the ranch in this bus with no windows or frames to obstruct our view of the animals and vistas. Safe and relaxed we viewed more turkeys than Winn Dixie has in their freezers and these turkeys were wild!
We traveled through some of the wild areas of the ranch in this bus with no windows or frames to obstruct our view of the animals and vistas. Safe and relaxed we viewed more turkeys than Winn Dixie has in their freezers and these turkeys were wild!

Aptravelnews-Dec. 26th, Punta Gorda, FL.–Bob and Barb Stopping to Smell the Roses, with Babcock Wilderness Adventures, at the 90, 000 acre Crescent B Ranch.

No matter where we are or what we do, we always opt in when it comes to a look at the natural areas of where we travel. This time it was Punta Gorda’s turn to “WOW” us with G-D’s original plan for this amazing earth of ours. So, after our walk to nearby Punta Gorda Farmers Market, where we found the local wildflower honey we enjoy so much, we found ourselves on the Crescent B Ranch, viewing all manner of water birds, wild hogs in hasty retreat, probably thinking we wanted pork tenderloin (they are not stupid and take no chances)  both jakes and tom turkey, early Spanish heritage cattle as interested in us, as we were interested in them. Gators, anyone? All sizes of gators both swimming and sunning themselves on the bridges to “a land that once was all over Florida, and fortunately still is here at the Crescent B Ranch. Barb and I loved the narrated ride through diverse eco-systems such as open prairie, pine-flat woods, cypress swamp and freshwater march. The “cracker” cattle, along with the all the other bird and animal life truly punctuated a trip back in time for us! Go: www.babcockwilderness.com and set up a trip for yourself! Besides the numerous excellent things to see, do, eat and boat to, this trip to Babcock was worth the 3-hour drive all by itself!

Other tourists on our bus viewed and photographed gators for the very first time and were quite excited about it!
Other tourists on our bus viewed and photographed gators for the very first time and were quite excited about it!
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Gators were anywhere they could sun themselves all over the bridge adjacent to their fish ponds!
Lulu the "horniest" cow in the land. No kidding this cow in addition to side of the head horns had a center of the head protruding horn too!
Lulu the “horniest” cow in the land. No kidding this cow in addition to side of the head horns had a center of the head protruding horn too!

 

Wild Turkeys followed the bus because our fearless driver fed them corn on each of her trips around the Ranch.
Wild Turkeys followed the bus because our fearless driver fed them corn on each of her trips around the Ranch.