Rio Piedra Plantation

Rio Piedra Plantation has earned the Orvis Wingshooting Lodge of the Year Award three times (2001, 2002, 2010)—a feat no other hunting lodge has achieved. They also took home Sporting Classics' Hunting Lodge of the Year in 2009. The accolades aren't accidents.

Geographic positioning changes everything. Rio Piedra sits in the geographic heart of Georgia's Plantation Belt—that narrow stretch of land running from Albany to Tallahassee that includes nearly 100 private plantations managing approximately 400,000 acres exclusively for bobwhite quail. Bobwhite quail travel up to 37 miles seeking food and fleeing predators. Unlike most operations, Rio Piedra benefits from the deliberate habitat management of surrounding plantations, creating a sustained influx of birds that complements their native populations.

Wild quail populations have declined up to 90% across the Southeast, but the Plantation Belt now boasts populations exceeding peak 1950s levels. Rio Piedra capitalizes on this through decades of habitat restoration—replacing dense hardwood canopies with longleaf pine forests that allow sunlight to reach the forest floor. The result: thick wiregrass and broomsedge that provide both protection and food sources quail need to thrive.

Rio Piedra was the first commercial plantation to introduce English Cockers to its kennels. The breed is now synonymous with quail hunting—and for good reason.

English Pointers and Setters range across the sprawling plantation with limitless stamina, leveraging keen scent to locate coveys. Once found, they lock into statue-like points. Then the English Cockers take over—described as "the stars of the show." Their explosive covey rises are legendary in wingshooting circles. After the hunt, Cockers charm guests with their affectionate personalities. Rio Piedra assigns at least one Cocker to each guide, building personal partnerships evident in the field.

Guides grew up in the Plantation Belt and have spent most of their lives leading quail hunts. Their landscape knowledge is encyclopedic. They balance hard hunting with what they call "The Hunt"—the traditions of the Plantation Belt, the opportunity to untether from daily rigors with close friends and colleagues, the strengthening of old bonds and forging of new ones. Whether coaching new shooters or positioning veterans for perfect shots, these guides create safe, memorable experiences.

Executive Chef Houston brings 30+ years of experience from private sporting clubs, high-end restaurants, and personal chef roles. His philosophy: "Southern game with world-class taste"—soulful flavors blended with five-star finesse.

Sample dishes include Cold Smoked Bob White "Dirty Birds" stuffed with Carolina Gold Dirty Rice and Apple-Rutabaga Hash, and Roast Saddle of Axis Venison with Braised Neck Agnolotti and Warm Quail Consommé. Breakfast and dinner are served in the main lodge. Lunch often appears al fresco on the lodge patio or open-air deck overlooking the Flint River.

The sprawling lodge features well-appointed rooms alongside spacious, beautifully decorated guest cabins. Multiple dining areas, fireplaces, social spaces for large groups, and intimate settings for close conversations. Multiple indoor and outdoor settings infuse Southern hospitality throughout the property.

• •Orvis Wingshooting Lodge of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2010
• •Sporting Classics Hunting Lodge of the Year: 2009
• •Coverage: Featured in Shooting Sportsman ("The Business of Bobwhites," October 2016) and Covey Rise Magazine ("Beneath the Longleaf Pines," June 2017)

Owner Bill Atchison's grounds encompass historic Sisters Islands on the Flint River—the original fording site where Hernando de Soto crossed in 1540. Rio Piedra serves al fresco lunch there on pleasant days.

Contact Rio Piedra Plantation at 1-229-336-1677 or [email protected] to discuss dates, group size, rooming preferences (double or single occupancy), and number of hunting days desired.