Ames Plantation

• Hunting Club
  • Membership Application
  • Newsletters
  • Notes and Notions
• Photo Gallery
  • 2007 Deer Harvest
  • 2006 Deer Harvest Part 1
  • 2006 Deer Harvest Part 2
  • 2006 Deer Harvest Part 3
  • 2006 Trail Camera Photos
  • 2005 Deer Harvest Part 1
  • 2005 Deer Harvest Part 2
  • 2005 Deer Harvest Part 3
  • 2005 Deer Harvest Part 4
  • 2004-05 Trophy Bucks
  • 2003 Trophy Bucks
• Research Findings
  • 2005 Census
• Guided Hunting

Ames Plantation Hunting Club

An Exclusive Hunting Club has been established on the 18,600-acre Ames Plantation. A Limited Membership of no more than 125 individuals will be accepted. Each member can maintain his or her Membership with the payment of an annual fee. Memberships are currently available; however, new Members are accepted on a first-come basis.

The Ames Hunting Program has been developed to preserve the tranquility and grandeur of the outdoors experience. It is at Ames Plantation that Members can find a place where the ultimate attributes of sportsmanship, hunter ethics, and the highest regard for safety are expected and maintained.

The Hunting Program will be carried out as part of scientific research focused on a better understanding of the deer herd and the application of Quality Deer Management. Members will have the chance to participate in, and benefit from, these efforts.

Members will have access during the following periods:
Squirrel hunting: from the first day of fall Squirrel Season until October 31, unless otherwise specified.

Deer hunting: from the first day of fall Deer Season, beginning with archery season until the last day of the deer season, unless otherwise specified. It is possible that some area restrictions at the end of any deer season will be required on rare occasions, either with regards to fewer days, confinement of hunting due to the need for field trials or other events.

Any Member will be able to bring a son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter who is 10 to 16 years of age. Members may bring one guest at a time and ATV's may be used to retrieve deer during specific time periods and on specific roads. Two primitive campgrounds have been set aside for use by members. These are amenities that enhance the hunting experience, but they are also monitored to protect Member’s experience.

Information has been collected for the past three years from all deer harvested from Ames Plantation. This information has been used to develop a Quality Deer Management (QDM) program that began in the 2004-05 season. The goals of the program will be to manage the herd below carrying capacity, create a balanced sex ratio, and recruit bucks into older age classes. To accomplish this, a restriction has been placed on the buck harvest based on a specific Boone and Crockett score. This scoring system will provide a greater proportion of older bucks in the herd, a greater proportion of older bucks in the herd with successive age classes generally represented with larger racks.

Because the QDM program has been established from information obtained directly from the Ames herd, it is clear what the harvest restrictions should be. Bucks with a gross antler score of less than B&C 120 inches will not be harvested. This score will protect a reasonable number of bucks younger than 3.5 years of age.

To ensure that the highest respect and regard for safety is achieved, evidence of successful completion of a state administered hunter safety course is required from all hunters, guests and all youth. It is each Member's “tip of the hat” toward an atmosphere of safety. Each Member, regardless of age, knows that he is hunting with fellow Members that have taken “extra time to be extra safe.”

There are several other items on this Website that may interest you.  Hunting "Newsletters" detail some of the recent changes and the regulations spell out how the Club operates. There are photo galleries of deer harvest over the last several years. We invite you to take time to look over each item and explore the opportunities for hunting on the Ames Plantation and QDM on 18,600 acres.

We are accepting Memberships now. Members can participate in a September 16th supper to become familiar with the regulations. They also will learn about QDM and how to judge a 120 class animal. One of the first questions asked by hunters is "how can we tell?" Our secretaries have become pretty good judges, and they have never hunted and never intend to do so.  After a 30 minute lesson you will know what to look for. It is not the difference between two basket racks and an 8-pointer - it's the difference between an 8-pointer and WOW! Join and learn.

The yearly fee will be $1,250. A holding fee of $100 will be required until your application has been processed and accepted. The remainder of the fee must be paid by July 1. Any person interested in becoming a Member of the Ames Plantation Hunting Club, should call or send a letter requesting an application and contract to:

Ames Plantation
P.O. Box 389
Grand Junction, TN 38039
or, call the Ames Office at (901)878-1067. Or, print a copy of the Membership application: Click here for a printer friendly "Adobe Acrobat" version of the Membership Application.

A Member may automatically renew Membership each year with payment of the $100 retainer and full fees by the appropriate deadlines. Once Membership is established it may be renewed for as long as: 1) a Member desires, 2) good standing is maintained in relation to contractual terms or reasonable judgments that may, from time to time, be called into play by Ames Plantation, 3) fees are paid, and 4) the herein described program is available at Ames Plantation. Ames Plantation reserves the right to sever any membership during, or at the end of, any hunting season, or to end or change the program at the end of any payment period.

This is big country hunting! New Members are welcome. Once the final spots are filled, we will be happy to place your name on our waiting list.