Southern Exposure

A Hunt Like No Other

Now entering its eighth season, South Fork Hunting Preserve has changed a lot from its humble beginnings hunting in former cow pastures and the dirt floor office that they started with in 2013. Come experience the welcoming environment and comradery from staff and members alike that give you the biggest bang for your buck. No visit is complete to South Fork without a trip to the “crows nest” which features breathtaking views of dogs on point in the hunting fields below, and also the Appalachian Trail in the nearby Carolina mountains.

Since its inception in 2013, South Fork Hunting Preserve has provided a unique experience in a welcoming environment for outdoor sportsmen. Situated on 215 acres in the beautiful countryside of Franklin County in northeastern Georgia, South Fork is a tailored oasis for popular hunting species like duck, quail, and pheasant and a perfect host for new and seasoned hunters.
Jacob Nash and Colby Phillips started South Fork with the intention to provide clients with an escape from daily routines. Their dedication to ensuring a safe, eventful, and unique experience for all who visit has proven successful and allows them to share their passion for doing what they love with novices and experts alike.

Knowing the lay of the land is a factor in one’s success in a hunt, and guides are essential to helping new hunters, or seasoned hunters new to South Fork, find success. The guides at South Fork not only provide the necessary means to bring home dinner, but also streamline the process so guests can focus on what’s important: hitting the target. South Fork has a reputation for staffing some of the best hunting guides in the state.
Many hunters bring their own dogs for retrieval, but South Fork’s guides also have well-trained four-legged staff to accompany hunters and their guide in the fields. Guides take great pride in their dogs and their regimented training. They run a variety of dogs including Brittany spaniels, Boykin spaniels, Llewellin setters, German wire-haired pointers, German short-haired pointers, and English pointers. Every guide has at least five seasons of experience running dogs at South Fork, and nothing makes them happier than showing customers a great time while doing what they love. Guides also share their skills and training experience to help guests prepare their own pups for a lifetime of successful hunts.
The gentle rolling hills and flat open fields at South Fork are designed for easy walking with manicured lanes cut through for convenience. They are bordered by wood lines that create perfect habitats for quail and are planted with a variety of thick cover including sorghum, millet, and other native grasses ideal for field hunting.

Every moment spent in the woods should be enjoyed. Whether you’re alone with nature or with closest friends, you’ll be in good company.

Some of the more experienced hunters prefer the challenging hardwood courses at South Fork as a change of pace from field hunting. These wooded courses place a premium on well-timed, quick shots and superior dog performance as hunters and dogs work their way through virgin white oak bottoms and into the field.
The Southern tradition of hunting is rooted in respect for nature’s bounty. Hunters are sportsmen, but they also generally operate under the premise that one kills to eat, not to waste. Hunters take the time to appreciate and understand the work that goes into a field-to-table meal. With that in mind, South Fork offers cleaning services for hunters to prepare their kills for the kitchen or access to cleaning stations for hunters who prefer to clean their own kills.
South Fork offers quality lodging for guests who want to make their hunting preserve experience last more than a day. There is just nothing like waking up in the morning and having a cup of coffee while taking in spectacular Appalachian mountain views from a well-appointed three-story clubhouse before a hunt. Once the field is ready and guides have been introduced, hunters simply walk out the front door to their hunting fields. Overnight packages are ideal for a bachelor party, group getaway, or just a weekend escape.
While many of South Fork’s guests grew up hunting or around hunters, South Fork welcomes those experiencing a hunt for the first time. The only requirements for hunters are a valid shooting preserve license and one article of safety orange clothing. Shotgun rentals and shells are available on site and guests can prepare for live game with clay pigeon target practice.
Hunters have a vast choice of guided hunting packages, including a half-day hunt, a full-day hunt, a pheasant hunt, and a mixed bag hunt. The pheasant and mixed bag packages are also available in ‘XL’, with more time, more birds, and catered lunch. The mixed bag hunt is the most popular package because hunters do not know what will fly out of their covey rise that day. Guests can also book private hunts for corporate events or parties.
Many hunters who visit South Fork once quickly realize they want to return again and again. The preserve offers great membership packages that include a reserved block of quail for the season, discounts on pheasant throws and lodging, and a free Member Day pheasant shoot in April. Packages are split into Hunt-Your-Own-Dog and Guided Hunt memberships, each providing an opening day dove pass and different quantities of birds based on the level selected.

Pheasant throws are an extremely popular event at South Fork and are held monthly October through March. Shooting stands surround a tower in the center of the preserve’s beautiful front field. A signal is given from the tower where pheasants are released and fly toward the stands. After 10 birds are released, another signal is given and the shooters move clockwise to the next stand. This process is continued until at least 250 birds have been released. After the shooting is over, the fun continues with a delicious catered meal and lots of stories to share with new friends. Although food may be the last thing on hunters’ mind after eating their fill of fine cuisine, they still get an even portion of the day’s harvest to take home.
Hunting is not a sport for everyone, but the views at South Fork make it easy for non-hunters to enjoy themselves too. The property at South Fork is great for corporate events and gatherings, and the preserve recently turned part of its property into an open-air venue with a sweeping landscape perfect for a dream wedding.
South Fork offers exceptional customer service in addition to the unforgettable hunting experience that an avid hunter should expect at a high end upland hunting facility. Whether guests are hunting their beautiful property independently with their own hunting dogs, hunting with one of the preserve’s seasoned guides, or competing at a monthly pheasant tower shoot, they will leave with a lasting impression and plans to return for another memorable day at South Fork.