2022-’23 Readers & Writers Adventures

If you’re like us, the hunting season flies by at breakneck speed while the off-season drags and drags and drags. Our antidote to the winter wingshooting malaise? Start planning for next season—right now! We’ve taken the liberty of doing some of the work for you.

Chasing chukars at Castle Valley Outdoors.

We’re excited to announce the 2022–’23 Shooting Sportsman Readers & Writers Adventures—taking place at four premier destinations from South Dakota to Georgia, Utah to Illinois. Our intrepid hosts—Editor in Chief Ralph Stuart and SSM Director of Wingshooting Terry Bombeke—will be racking up frequent-flier miles as they crisscross the US to bring world-class wingshooting to enthusiastic participants. All of the hunts are certain to sell out, so book accordingly.

We kick things off October 9 at Castle Valley Outdoors, in Emery, Utah, where we will chase chukars and pheasants across the wheatgrass fields, river bottoms and desert landscape. This is the American frontier, with no bag limits. Ralph Stuart will lead this hunt, where there will be three hunters to a guide. This is our most affordable trip at $4,350 for single occupancy, and the price includes airport pick-up in Salt Lake City (a three-hour drive from the lodge) as well as lodging, meals, licenses and ammunition. Hunters depart October 13 with full bags and a lifetime of Kodak moments.

Some of the luxury accommodations at Heartland Lodge

Next, from October 17 to 21, we embark on a traditional pheasant and quail hunting trip in classic Midwestern farm country. The venue is Heartland Lodge, in Nebo, Illinois, positioned between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers two hours from St. Louis. The three-day adventure offers unlimited bobwhite and pheasant hunting behind pointers, German shorthairs and French Brittanys amid fencerows, food plots and prairie grasses. Terry Bombeke will lead this hunt, and the $4,995 price includes single-occupancy accommodations and everything but gratuities, taxes and the cost of shipping birds home.

Enjoying time between hunts at Firesteel Creek Lodge
Riding for quail at Pine Hill Plantation

In time for Halloween, Ralph Stuart hits the road again, this time to host a group at the 200,000-acre Firesteel Creek Lodge, in Isabel, South Dakota. This is the American prairie, where the roads run straight (mostly) and sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge and ringneck pheasants challenge even the most competent shots. Participants fly into Bismarck, North Dakota, on October 30 and depart November 3. The cost is $4,895 for a double-occupancy room and includes airport pickup, meals, licenses and ammunition. When not in the field, highlights of this trip are the group cocktail hours and banquet-style dinners.

After a break for the holidays, we head to Georgia for a vintage quail hunting trip. Pine Hill Plantation, in Donalsonville, is at the epicenter of South Georgia quail country. Terry Bombeke will be there from February 16 to 20, 2023. Hunters will be transported back in time by mule-drawn wagons as they pursue covey after covey of bobwhite quail. We will manage everything from airport pickup in Tallahassee to the three memorable days in the field. If you’re looking to break up the winter, this is the trip to add spring to your step. The cost is $5,880 for a single-occupancy room and includes everything except airfare, taxes, gratuities and the cost of shipping birds home.


For more information about our Readers & Writers Adventures, visit the “Trips” page, or contact Terry Bombeke at 207-594-9544, ext. 478; tbombeke@shootingsportsman.com.

We look forward to seeing you!


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