Wounded Warrior Retreat, Inc., wrapped up outdoor activities for wounded warriors with a family deer hunt at Hart of Dixie Outdoors on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 26 and 27, 2025, and then kicked of the 2026 season with a pheasant shoot at Mont Royal in Swainsboro on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
The Hart of Dixie Deer Hunt finished 2025 in style. Wounded warriors were able to participate in hunts for dove, quail, pheasant, and deer in various locations in Emanuel, Toombs, Tattnall, Evans, and Burke counties. A weekend of coastal fishing in McIntosh County was also enjoyed. These activities were sponsored and provided by individuals and organizations who appreciate the service of United States Military personnel, and especially those who were wounded in that service.
Hart of Dixie Outdoors is located on the Tattnall-Toombs County line in the Altamaha Community. Johnny and Angie Wilson own and operate the business, and they have a busy schedule involving all kinds of outdoor hunting and fishing, including quail, pheasant, turkey, and deer hunting and are planning freshwater fishing events and a youth squirrel hunt for the future. This is the second year that Johnny and Angie have opened up the facilities for wounded warriors to hunt deer.
Several individuals and organizations volunteered to provide meals for the hunters during the event. The CMVA Motorcycle Club provided a Boston Butt meal including various side orders on Sunday evening, January 21. Bubba Nation and Nick Drake volunteered to cook breakfast on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
For Monday at lunch, Shane and Susan Todd provided a spaghetti dinner. On Tuesday night, Providence Baptist Church provided a Low Country boil, and on Tuesday at lunch Daniel Anderson Trucking cooked hamburgers, hotdogs, and French fries. On Tuesday night, VFW Post 7764, Reidsville, grilled chicken, and Southern Flair of Reidsville provided side orders and dessert.
A devotional is provided for participants each day. Reverend Robert Ferrell of Providence Baptist Church, Reverend Matt Brady of Eastside Baptist Church in Claxton, and Richard Driggers provided the devotionals.
It was a successful event even with the fact that some hunters left early to finish getting ready for Christmas. Organizer Richard Driggers stated that he hoped to reschedule in 2026 so hunters would not feel pressed to leave early. “We did it as a family event where children might get in the stands with parents, but being that close to Christmas, a lot of hunters had to go home to complete last minute Christmas preparations. We will try to figure out a better time for the event with Johnny and Angie in the coming year.”
The first pheasant hunt at Mont Royal in Swainsboro on January 10 had a good turnout, but temperatures approaching 80 before the noon meal had many shooters keeping an eye on the ground as there was a real possibility snakes might be moving. None were seen, but some hunters said they were consuming a lot of water to combat the unusual heat. A continuous breeze helped make it a successful event. The next pheasant hunt at Mont Royal will be Saturday, January 31, and third and last pheasant hunt of 2026 will be February 26.
The annual quail hunt at Lamar Smith’s farm near Collins will be Saturday, February 7, 2026. Breakfast will be served and VFW Post 7764, Reidsville, will smoke pork ribs for the noon meal. Southern Flair will provide side orders and desserts. As in the past, volunteers will provide birddogs and guides for the event. A shooting event may be held either before or after the quail hunt at Lamar’s shooting house based on weather conditions for those warriors who would like to sharpen their shooting skills.
The above events are part of the yearly schedule of outdoor events sponsored by Wounded Warrior Retreat of Swainsboro to help Wounded Warriors get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Most participated in these activities before their military service and getting back in the outdoors helps provide relief from PTSD and other issues. Wounded Warrior Retreat is a Christian Faith Based organization specifically designed to serve our wounded warriors.
Finally, Wounded Warrior Retreat President Terry Reynolds and Vice President Richard Driggers would like to thank all sponsors and volunteers for their support of WWR in 2025 and ask them to continue in 2026.
