Deer Hunting at Donavan Inn 2007- 2008 Season
Marion, Perry County, AL

"Black Belt Prairie … Famous for Big Bucks"

Contact: Thomas Wilson, Manager 1-334-683-6389 (home)
wils5789@bellsouth.net

This is the Bar-D Deer Hunting Property

shooting house
Guests at the Donavan Inn may schedule the following hunting options: Deer, deer/quail, quail.

Deer hunting is on Donavan property located on the Black Belt Prairie, Perry County, Alabama. There are two hunting areas: Donavan Inn property and the Bar-D property.

Quail hunting is eight miles from the Inn at the Brierpatch Hunting Preserve which is also on the Black Belt Prairie.
   
Hunting at Donavan Inn is an unusual and rewarding experience for the entire family. The hunter and his family (group) have exclusive use of the Inn and its hunting property. No one else will be at the Inn or will be hunting the property.

Guests at the Inn may utilize all facilities and activities of the Donavan Lakes Fishing Club.
Ladder stand
   
View from shooting house

The Donavan hunting area called Bar-D is five miles from the Inn and is on the Black Belt Prairie which produces the largest deer in the South. We have one custom built 14-foot tall shooting house which comfortably holds four people. We have two big buddy deluxe ladder stands ... one on the edge of a swamp.

A second hunting area is located on the Donavan Inn property. .

Renting the Inn is required for hunting on the property. There is a two day minimum for renting the Inn and hunting on the Donavan property.
   
   
Chad and Hudson Wilson in ladder stand
Ladder stand
   
Ladder stand

Chad and Hudson Wilson pose in a Deluxe Buddy ladder stand that is located in a tree-line next to a big hardwood bottomland swamp. Many scrapes and rubs occur along this ridge. We expect a big deer from this stand.

There is a Deluxe Buddy ladder stand that holds two people across the field from the shooting house. The shooting house and ladder stand overlook a large, well-managed, four acre, food plot area.

   
View of food plot from shooting house
Long hay field at the shooting house
   
The food plot is at the end of a long hay field and is on the edge of a large, hardwood swamp. An intense deer management program is maintained for this area which includes, year-round supplemental feeding, food plots, mineral licks, and the planting of forage trees.

We put two tons of lime per acre on our food plots. A shooting house can be seen in the dinstant forest edge.
Six tons of lime were placed on this 3 acre food plot
   
Woods behind shooting house
Many large white oaks and persimmon trees border the food plot field. Four lakes and a large swamp surround the hunting area.
   
Woods behind shooting house
Woods behind shooting house
   
A third ladder stand has been installed on the Bar-D property. This stand is on the large oak tree in the above image (image of stand will appear soon). Donavan Inn property Hunting Area
   
   
   
Donavan Inn:

Donavan Inn rents for $300/day for 1 to 6 people. Additional guests pay $50/day.

The Inn has six beds and a foldout couch. Twelve people can sleep in the Inn. Refer to the Donavan Inn web site for more information and images of the Inn and the sleeping arrangements.

The Inn has fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. Meals are not included, nor, are they served at the Inn. Catering can be arranged for evening meals (subject to availability of cooks).

Hunters may transport themselves to the hunting areas. Inn employees will shuttle hunters to and from the shooting houses for a $25 fee per trip. The roads are good and a family car can easily make the trip. If hunters need the services of a Donavan employee in tracking or transporting a deer to the processor, the cost is $50 per trip.

Guests may arrange their sporting activities at the Inn in a variety of ways. Bass/bream fishing, deer, and quail (pheasant/chukar/Tennessee Red quail) hunting are quality activities for Inn guests. Refer to the Hunting Rates chart for examples of planning a hunting trip to the Donavan Inn.

Rules and Regulations:

All hunters and those accompanying hunters into the field are required to sign a "Hold Harmless" agreement before any hunting trip.

Get a copy of the current Alabama Hunting Season and Bag Limits pamphlet. Obtain hunting licenses before arriving at the Inn. If required, complete the Hunters Safety Course. We do not sell hunting licenses or ammunition. Licenses may be purchased online.

Donavan hunting charges are based on a fee per hunter. A hunter is defined as the person assigned to a gun. Guns can not be shared in the shooting house or stand. Hunters must remain in the shooting house or stand. There is no stalk hunting on the property. Another hunting club leases the land across the fence from our club. Hunters have permission to track hit deer across the fence into the swamp.

Donavan Inn Hunting dates: Refer to the Alabama Hunting Season and Bag Limit booklet.
   
Rates:


Renting the Donavan Inn is a requirement for hunting on the Donavan property. In order to hunt on the Donavan property, hunters must rent the Donavan Inn.

In addition to the unique experience of a stay at the Donavan Inn, our guests have the opportunity to enjoy unlimited fishing at the Donavan Lakes and the option of deer and quail hunting.

Donavan Lakes Fishing Club members qualify for a discount on the Inn.

Package Hunts:

All prices require a 2 day minimum stay at the Donavan Inn.

Inn - (1 to 6 quests) $600 for 2 days. Inn guests that hunt quail at the Brierpatch Hunting Preserve received a $50/night Inn discount for each day that guests hunt quail.

Deer - Limited to two hunters (guns) sharing the same stand; = $200/day/hunter for both ½ and full day hunts.

Quail - ½ day hunts, $165 per gun. Includes dogs, or, bring your own dogs. Does not include shells, guide gratuity, or tip for bird cleaners.

     Brierpatch Quail Hunting Preserve  
     Bobby and Jenni Moore 334-683-8039  
     e-mail: quail33@bellsouth.net  
     Quail Hunting Season: Oct. 1 - 31 March, 2007  
      Rate: ½ day hunt $165/hunter plus tip for guide and for bird cleaners.  
       
Deer/Quail Combination - A custom package can be tailored to include both deer and quail hunting.

The following Rate Chart is provided to give guests an idea of options and their costs.