Poteet Dove Club is situated in a flat valley at the end of a long, county road surrounded by never-ending Tennessee farmland. You know you're getting close when greeted with yellow bands of sunflowers stretching as far as the eye can see, and volleys of gunshots bouncing off the distant mountains, all aimed at the small gray birds darting wildly in the sky. It was among these fertile fields about four years ago that an idea took root with Davenport. Seeking access to prime dove country, the now 32-year-old entrepreneur had formed the Poteet club with 30 friends. Its success spurred more clubs, and pretty soon a lifelong passion - some might even say obsession - had blossomed into a business.
Elliott Davenport"Options for a bird hunter can be limited," explains Davenport. "Typically, you either own your own ground, which is a costly proposition, or you're an invitee of someone that does. The purpose of these dove clubs is to provide a hunter access to a well-managed property without spending the time or money to do it on their own."
Today he manages numerous recreational properties as owner of The Wings Group, and wears a lot more hats than the camouflaged one he's accustomed to, including land broker, entrepreneur, conservationist, farmer, consultant. Ironically, the workload from his growing company has prevented him from hunting very much these days, but his clients will tell you it's paid off.
"I find what Elliott offers on turkey and dove is about as good as you'll find in the U.S.," says Tom Rowland, member of the Poteet Dove Club and Meadow Creek Farm lease. With 20 years in the guiding business and two top-rated fishing television shows, Rowland has hunted and fished all over the world. Last year he recalls dove hunting in the snow at Poteet - a first-time experience.
"Growing up here we hunted doves the first couple weeks in September and that was it," says Rowland. "But what Elliott has done, by managing the property year-round with the farmer, we're able to hunt all the way into December. That's very special for this part of the country."
Justin GuthriePrepping a productive field can mean everything from running a few thousand feet of power line - a preferred perch for dove - to knowing how to farm. Corn and millet are used to lure birds but sunflowers, a dove delicacy, is the primary crop. Davenport notes his relationships with the farmers are essential. "Not only are our farmers very good at their trade, but they have a genuine interest in the bird program being a success," he says. Even with all of this, it can be difficult to predict what impact certain actions will have until opening day.
"It's pretty subjective," explains Davenport. "In the burger business if you're able to improve speed of service by X seconds, you will see a correlated increase in sales," alluding to his family's business. Davenport, whose great-grandfather started Krystal restaurants in the 1930s, comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Deciding not to follow in those footsteps, he's proven a success in his own field. "In the bird business, Mother Nature is a huge factor. You can do everything right and maybe get poor results, so we're constantly evaluating our wildlife management practices and making sure we don't cut any corners."
But it takes more than land management to have great hunting ground. Like a lot of things, location is critical and scouting for these properties requires a trained eye. For this, Elliott spends a tremendous amount of "windshield time" sourcing potential new leases. He's knocked on numerous doors and cold called countless farmers, all in hopes of learning a piece of information that will lead him to that next coveted spot. And while he regularly reminds prospective clients that he can't possibly guarantee wild game, so far they haven't been disappointed.
Covey Camaraderie
"It's outstanding dove hunting and it's professionally done," notes Libby Duff, the sole female member. After tagging along on dove hunts all her life with her father and husband, Frank, she learned to shoot about 10 years ago when her children got old enough to enjoy it, not wanting to get left behind.
Jeff and Mary Austin MorganNew to the White Oak Club this year, Duff has so far been impressed. "He has done something that I did not think was possible when he started out," she says. "He's carved out a successful career developing a variety of habitat that all produce outstanding dove, quail, duck, turkey and deer hunting. It's pretty incredible as far as I'm concerned."
Fox Johnston also enjoys the family benefits of spending time with his father-in-law and two teenage sons, ages 15 and 17. "They're at an age where I'm not very cool, but they always want to go dove hunting," laughs Johnston.
He's been pleasantly surprised with the family atmosphere of the hunts, with many members bringing sons, daughters and even grandchildren. His 12-year-old daughter has even joined them in the fields, downing a few birds last winter with a .410, a small-bore shotgun.
"What I like best about it is it's just the right mix of well organized and laid back," says Johnston. "You might think of it as a bunch of highfalutin, well-to-do-men with expensive shotguns, but it's really not. It's very family friendly and comfortable."
Dove hunting has three seasons in Tennessee and Georgia, totaling about 70 days in September, October, December and January. Many hunters suggest that opportunities as well as bird numbers have dwindled in the past 20 years. After opening weekend, shots from other hunters typically deplete game numbers on crowded public land. And even if you can afford to buy or lease private property, extensive work must be done to attract and maintain birds well into the season. That's where the Wings Group comes in.
"The model that he's developed is essentially fractional ownership of a dove field and that's a beautiful concept," says Chuck Chitty, a member of Black Fox and Poteet clubs. "You have a tremendous resource at your disposal and get to share it among a group of great guys. The fellowship aspect is incredible."
EveRetrieving Rewards
Of course, any dove hunter will tell you the enjoyment comes from more than just shooting. The sport allows a certain camaraderie in the field. Instead of sitting silently in a stand, you're among friends and family in an open field dotted with sunflowers and corn. And as any member with a dog will tell you - particularly a "Roddy" dog - one of the highlights is watching them work. Known for their muscular build and aptitude for finding downed birds, Labrador retrievers from well-known trainer Roddy Reynolds were built for these hunts.
One such dog is Eve, a 5-yearold chocolate lab with floppy ears and earnest eyes. Sitting at the heels of owner Fox Johnston, she watches the sky for falling birds, waiting for his command to retrieve them. Johnston, a shopping center developer for Fletcher Bright, has spent years training her, admitting their twice a day regimen can be a bit "obsessive" but well worth it.