Dear Friends of Hollywood Farms,
Our last letter went out in December, and somehow three full months slipped by. That was not the plan, but it turns out a busy farm has a way of keeping a man occupied.
Christmas and New Year were spent the right way, with family and friends gathered at the house. Then January came, and with it the kind of stretch a man hopes for every season.
For ten straight weeks, from the first of the year through mid-March, the quail woods stayed alive. We hosted 24 groups over more than 40 days of hunting, all private, all different, and all built around the same idea. Good dogs, good ground, and birds that fly the way they should.
We added three new guides to keep up with it all. Some days saw groups of ten hunters moving through the courses, dogs working hard, and coveys rising just right. By the time it was done, we had hosted more hunts and more hunters in that stretch than ever before.
Along the way, we also opened the place for family gatherings and ministry events, which may be just as important as anything that happens in the field.
Our team also stayed busy on the road, attending three major events.
We started with the Dallas Safari Club show in Atlanta. Last year was strong, but this year was even better with a larger space and more visitors.
The following weekend, we attended the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, where we met even more people who appreciate the idea of a completely private hunting experience rooted in the classic Old South tradition that defines Hollywood Farms.
Finally, we were honored to be invited to SEWE at the Bluff in Palmetto Bluff, just south of Hilton Head and Bluffton. That was a special few days.
Good people, good conversations, and the kind of place that reminds you why you enjoy this life in the first place. We expect to see several of those folks at the farm this coming season.
It has been a full winter, and we are grateful for it. Grateful for those of you who hunted with us, those we met along the way, and those already planning their return.
Now we turn back to the land.
We are working on two new quail courses, adding six new dogs and more kennel space, bringing in another hunting buggy, building a new dove field, and planting two more wildflower plots.
The farm has always been beautiful, but it keeps getting better, and that is part of the work.
Going forward, I will do a better job of keeping in touch.
Through the summer, we will start walking you through the courses themselves. Where they came from, how they are built, and what they become by the time the season opens again. The first one we will share is Bel Aire, coming in a couple of weeks.
If you are thinking about hunting with us next season, now is the time to reach out. The best dates never sit still for long.
We would be glad to have you and we hope to see you soon.
Warmly,
Chuck Duggan & The Hollywood Farms Team
