Spots On Darden Dove Field In Today’s Online Auction

Two hard-to-get spots on one of Georgia’s most famous dove fields are available to the highest-bidder in today’s online GON Online Auction.

The annual Claibourne Darden dove shoot in Taliaferro County has a 30-year history. The previous year’s participants have guaranteed spots on the field each subsequent year. Most folks come back year after year, which makes this a difficult dove shoot to attend. If these spots on the field were available to the general public this season, they would go for $125 each, for a total value of $250.

Bidding ends at 9 p.m. this evening, Friday, Aug. 10. The GON Auction is a daily absolute auction featuring outdoor products, and on special occasions hunting and fishing excursions are up for auction to the highest bidder.

Last year’s Darden Dove Shoot was a success, both as a fundraiser for sportsmen’s programs and in terms of good action on the field

“I’ve attended the shoot eight times over the last 10 years, and this year’s shoot was great yet again,” said Capt. Ron Mullins with The Striper Experience guide service on Lake Lanier. “The BBQ is always fantastic, Claibourne is always entertaining and unbelievably hospitable, and the birds are always cooperative.”

Mullins was just one of a number of hunters who limited out on the two well-prepared millet fields last season.

“The shoot is a day I look forward to for 364 days a year,” said Mullins. “Getting to see folks that I have not seen in a year makes the event so special. It never fails that I get to meet someone new on the field that I look forward to hunting with the next year.”

Proceeds from the hunt have always gone toward supporting youth hunting programs. Last year, $6,000 was split between the National Wild Turkey Federation’s JAKES Program, the Georgia affiliate of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, 30-30 Ministries and the Lake Oconee Shotgun Team (LOST).

For more information on the daily absolute auctions, go to gon.com/auctions.