Islanders Hunt Club operates a serious whitetail and turkey hunting property 3 miles north of Windsor in Bertie County. The club manages roughly 3,500 acres of pine plantation mixed with hardwoods, anchored by 2 miles of powerline corridors and a maintained road system designed specifically for hunter access and deer management.
The property features:
- •Pine plantation timber stands of various ages
- •Hardwood bottoms and creek systems
- •2 miles of powerline corridors
- •Extensive food plots for year-round management
- •Mowed shooting lanes throughout
- •Mix of club-provided stands (tower, tripod, double ladder) and approved personal stand locations
- •Clubhouse with bunks for overnight stays
- •NC Wildlife certified scales for harvest logging
Annual Dues: $1,200 (June 1 – May 31)
Membership includes:
- Rights to 1 mature buck (minimum 8 points, 18" width/height)
- One turkey
- Small game hunting
- Full access to all property areas
- Use of club stands on first-come basis
- Clubhouse access
"We want a club where each and all members are treated like friends and family and hunting buddies rather than customers or clients. This is a team effort."
Islanders enforces minimum standards to grow bigger bucks:
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|
| Minimum Points | 8 |
| Width Measurement | 18" minimum |
| Height Measurement | 18" minimum |
| Gross Score Target | 120+ inches (recommended, not mandatory) |
Members evaluating a buck must consider age, antler growth, and future potential. Cull bucks (identified by trail camera and committee vote) can be harvested without counting against member limits. Youth hunters 14-16 get one "Buck of Choice" per year that counts toward adult's limit but encourages them to target bigger deer each season.
The club maintains accountability through:
- •Sign-In Board System: Required for every hunt (location, time, initials). Morning hunts (45 min before sunrise to 1.5 hrs after), afternoon hunts (2 hrs before sunset to legal light), or all-day hunts. $25 first offense, $100 second, termination third for signing in at wrong location.
- •Harvest Reporting: All deer logged within 24 hours with weight, points, photos showing width and height. $25 fine for first late report, $100 second, termination third.
- •Work Day Requirements: Each member must complete at least 2 mandatory work days by Sept 1 (8-hour days). $100 fine per uncompleted day. Work includes stand maintenance, food plot planting, shooting lane trimming, and property upkeep.
- •No Drugs or Alcohol: Absolute prohibition on club or owner-controlled property. Automatic dismissal, no refund.
- •No Profanity at Clubhouse: Family-friendly environment enforced.
- •Archery Season Only (Sept-Oct): Guests may hunt does only. $300 fine if guest takes a buck. $35 guest fee required.
- •After Thanksgiving: Guests allowed to hunt throughout remaining season with same rules as archery.
- •Maximum 5 hunts/season per guest with a member.
- •Waiver Required: All guests must sign liability waiver before entering property with weapon.
- •President Notification: Member must notify John Creef (club president) by phone, text, or email before guest arrives.
Club encourages youth participation:
- •Ages 14-16: Can hunt own stands with shotgun, black powder, bow, or crossbow (safety harness required in tree stands, hunter safety course required)
- •Ages 16+: Can use rifles with valid driver's license/learner's permit, safety harness, and hunter safety completion
- •Each youth gets one "Buck of Choice" annually, encouraged to hunt progressively larger bucks year-to-year
- •Youth under 16 allowed one buck per year (counts against sponsoring adult's limit)
- •New Members: Must bring at least one tower or tripod stand (club president's discretion)
- •Personal Stands: Maximum 2 per member, only usable during archery season, black powder, and first week of gun season (then must be removed)
- •Stand Types Allowed: Ground blinds, climbers, lock-ons (marked for safety)
- •Club Stands: First-come, first-serve on hunt day for all members
- •Approval Required: All stand placements must be approved by John Creef for strategic placement and safety
Turkey Hunting
- One turkey per member
- One turkey per member's children
- Guest rules apply: $35 fee, waiver required
- Limit on member guest hunting (5 times/season)
- Circle reasonable hunt area on club map
Small Game
- All small game besides rabbits included with membership
- Rabbits: Leased annually (typically Jan 2 – end of Feb), dog hunting only, contact lessee
- All harvests must follow NC Wildlife regulations
Bear Hunting
- Included in standard membership for non-dog hunts
- Bear dogs allowed only for members who purchased bear rights
- No baiting after March 1 through end of turkey season
To reduce pressure during peak hunting:
- •Members asked not to drive roads 45 min before sunrise to 1.5 hrs after sunrise
- •Members asked not to drive roads 2 hrs before sunset to legal shooting light
- •Hunters with harvested game remain on stand during peak morning/evening hours
- •Courtesy protocol: check in at clubhouse, maintain distance from other hunters
- •Hunters expected to check on each other's safe return
- •No nails or spikes in marketable timber
- •Game cameras: Private property, max 2 per membership, do not check others' cameras without permission
- •Vehicle restrictions: No road hunting from vehicles (immediate $100 fine, loss of privileges on second offense)
- •Gate protocol: Keep all gates locked, emergency contact required for early exit
- •ATV/Vehicle parking: Do not park in front of or downrange of stands
Club insurance covers club and landowner liability only. Does not cover:
- Member injury expenses
- ATV, vehicle, or personal property damage
- Theft or fire damage
- All personal property left on club premises is member's responsibility
- •Club President: John Creef
- •Phone/Text: (252) 473-0444
- •Vice President: Roy Pike
- •Administration: Mike Hardison
- •Work Day/Stand/Food Plot Committee: Roy Pike, Roy Pike Sr., Jim Ganey, Brantley Twiford
- •Deer Cull Committee: John Creef and outside non-members
Located approximately 3 miles north of Windsor, North Carolina in Bertie County. The property circumference is about 8 miles by highway. Clubhouse features bunks for overnight stays and an aerial map used for sign-in/out procedures.