"How We Got Started"
In 2014, Joe Lewis started Modes Island Hunting Club. Joe had hunted all his life and had the vision to lease a place where he could enjoy hunting with his family, so he began looking for land to lease to start a little family club. One day, Joe discovered that RMS had a lease available located in the green swamp, so he contacted them about it. The plan was to lease around 4 blocks, just enough for everyone to hunt and enjoy. Unfortunately, back then, RMS required clubs to lease a minimum of 6 blocks if they planned to use dogs to hunt. Knowing they couldn't afford more than 4 blocks, Joe began calling some friends who would possibly be interested in starting a hunting club.
Soon after, Joe hosted a meeting at his house to see if there would be enough interest to start a hunting club; just around 20 people attended this meeting. Considering the extensive interest shown, it was decided to birth Modes Island Hunting Club. The name "Modes Island Hunting Club" was chosen because the Modes Island Road would proceed through the club's property. Also, it was decided to lease more than 6 blocks, which was the minimum required to have a dog hunting club.
In the first year of operation, Modes Island Hunting Club leased 2,189 acres that were divided into 11 blocks; dues were $275. The blocks leased were Jacob's Bay, Middle Bay, Camp Block (which currently is the A Block), B Block, Center Block, Sugar Hole, Rocking Chair, Gator Hole, Bear Block, Little Block, and Sore Thumb.
Soon after, Joe hosted a meeting at his house to see if there would be enough interest to start a hunting club; just around 20 people attended this meeting. Considering the extensive interest shown, it was decided to birth Modes Island Hunting Club. The name "Modes Island Hunting Club" was chosen because the Modes Island Road would proceed through the club's property. Also, it was decided to lease more than 6 blocks, which was the minimum required to have a dog hunting club.
In the first year of operation, Modes Island Hunting Club leased 2,189 acres that were divided into 11 blocks; dues were $275. The blocks leased were Jacob's Bay, Middle Bay, Camp Block (which currently is the A Block), B Block, Center Block, Sugar Hole, Rocking Chair, Gator Hole, Bear Block, Little Block, and Sore Thumb.
In 2023
We had 31 members with no probation members. Our dues were $950 ($800 for those who participated in fund raisers). For partial members, we had 19 bear hunters, 6 coon hunters, 3 rabbit hunters, 15 turkey hunters, and 2 turkey/squirrel hunters. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 25 bucks and 17 does, totaling 42 deer. This year, we continued following the same deer rules 60 pound weight limit, minimum of a fork on one side for bucks, and no does during December. The widest buck was 19" wide, harvested from the Half Block. Our deer averaged a weight of 94 pounds. The following blocks had deer harvested from them: CC Block - 1 buck, Tower Block - 1 doe, Half Block - 1 buck, Hide Away - 1 buck and 1 doe, Boundary Block - 1 buck, Eddie Block - 2 bucks, Joe Block - 1 doe, Camp Block - 2 bucks, Little Block - 1 doe, Bear Block - 4 bucks and 2 does, Cain Block - 1 buck, Sugar Hole - 2 bucks and 3 does, Center Block - 4 bucks and 3 does, A Block - 3 does, B Block - 1 buck, C Block - 1 buck and 2 does, and Jacob's Bay - 4 bucks. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joey Lewis
Vice President - John King
Trustee's - Jeff Clark, Adam Jacobs, & Tyler Andrews
In 2022
We had 30 members and 3 probation members for a total of 33 members. Our dues were $850; however, due to the field trial and gun raffle, participating members only paid $640. For partial-members, we had 20 bear hunters, 5 coon hunters, 3 rabbit hunters, 9 turkey hunters, and no predator hunters. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 20 bucks and 15 does for a total of 35 deer with an average weight of 101 pounds. John King won the big buck contest. We harvested 2 bears. This year we continued following the same deer rules: 60 pound weight limit, minimum of a fork on one side for bucks, and no does during December. Widest buck was 17 7/8" (harvested in the C Block) and the heaviest deer was 140 pounds. We harvested 2 does in September, 5 bucks & 1 doe in October, 10 bucks & 9 does in November, 5 bucks and 1 doe in December, and 2 does in January. The following blocks had deer harvested from them: CC Block- 2 does, Tower Block- 1 buck, Boundary Block- 1 doe, Hide Away- 1 buck, Middle Bay- 1 buck, Camp Block- 1 buck, Eddie Block- 2 bucks and 1 doe, Bear Block- 1 buck, Jacob's Bay- 2 bucks and 1 doe, Rocking Chair- 1 doe, Cushion Block- 1 buck, Center Block- 1 buck and 1 doe, Sugar Hole- 2 bucks and 2 does, Cain Block- 4 bucks and 1 doe, A Block- 1 buck and 2 does, C Block- 2 bucks and 3 does. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joey Lewis
Vice President - John King
Trustee's - Jamie Godbolt, Jeff Clark, & Adam Jacobs
In 2021
We had 27 members and 8 probation members for a total of 35 members. Our dues were $850. For partial-members, we had 20 bear hunters, 6 coon hunters, 4 rabbit hunters, 11 turkey hunters, and 2 predator hunters. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 20 bucks and 10 does for a total of 30 deer with an average weight of 101 pounds. Tyler Andrews won the big buck contest. We harvested 1 bear weighing 541 pounds. This year we implemented the following deer rules: minimum of a fork on one side for bucks and no does after the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joey Lewis
Vice President - John King
Trustee's - Jamie Godbolt, Jeff Clark, & Adam Jacobs
In 2020
We had 22 members and 10 probation members for a total of 32 members. Our dues were $850. For Partial-Members, we had 18 bear hunters, 3 turkey hunters, 6 coon hunters, and 2 rabbit hunters. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 25 bucks and 13 does for a total of 38 deer with an average weight of 87 pounds. Clint Morgan won the big buck contest. We also harvested 1 bear. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joey Lewis
Trustee's - Gary Sams & Ray Rarrell
In 2019
We had 19 members and 11 probation members for a total of 30 members. Our dues were $720 for current members and $770 for probation members. This year we created "partial memberships" along with the bear hunting club. We had 3 turkey hunters, 5 coon hunters, and 4 rabbit hunters that paid a partial amount of dues to only hunt those specific species. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 28 bucks and 24 does for a total of 52 deer with an average weight of 96 pounds. We harvested 1 bear weighing 175 pounds. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President's -Joe Lewis & Joey Lewis
Trustee's - Gary Sams & Ray Rarrell
In 2018
We had 22 members and 15 probation members for a total of 37 members. Our dues were $540 for current members and $590 for probation members. This year we allowed a bear hunting group to join. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 26 bucks and 18 does for a total of 44 deer equaling to 4,136 pounds of deer. We harvested 1 bear. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President's - Joe Lewis & Joey Lewis
Trustee's - Jonathan Bullard, Gary Sams, John King, & Micheal Long
Secretary - Carl Seashore
Security Detail Coordinator- Ray Harrell
In 2017
We had 23 members and 4 probation members for a total of 27 members. Our dues were $400. We leased 4,069 acres that were divided into 17 blocks. We harvested 18 being bucks and 15 being does for a total of 33 deer. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President's - Joe Lewis & Joey Lewis
Trustee Members - Jonathan Bullard, Gary Sams, & John King
Note Taker - Carl Seashore
In 2016
We had 37 members. Our dues were $400. We leased 4,069 acres that were divided into 17 blocks. We harvested 17 bucks and 8 does for a total of 25 deer. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joe Lewis
Vice President - Todd Morris
Secretary/ Treasurer - Joey Lewis
Trustee Member - Jonathan Bullard
In 2015
Our club grew to 35 members. Our dues were $275. We lease 6 more blocks giving us a total of 4,069 acres that were divided into 17 blocks. We harvested 12 bucks and 8 does for a total of 20 deer. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joe Lewis
Vice President - Todd Morris
Secretary/ Treasurer - Joey Lewis
Trustee Members - Keith Lewis & Danny Heath
In 2014
We started our club with 25 members. Our dues were $275. We leased 2,189 acres that were divided into 11 blocks. We harvested 3 bucks and 3 does for a total of 6 deer. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joe Lewis
Vice President- Curt Flynn
Secretary/ Treasurer - Joey Lewis
Trustee Members - Keith Lewis & Sandy Flynn
We had 31 members with no probation members. Our dues were $950 ($800 for those who participated in fund raisers). For partial members, we had 19 bear hunters, 6 coon hunters, 3 rabbit hunters, 15 turkey hunters, and 2 turkey/squirrel hunters. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 25 bucks and 17 does, totaling 42 deer. This year, we continued following the same deer rules 60 pound weight limit, minimum of a fork on one side for bucks, and no does during December. The widest buck was 19" wide, harvested from the Half Block. Our deer averaged a weight of 94 pounds. The following blocks had deer harvested from them: CC Block - 1 buck, Tower Block - 1 doe, Half Block - 1 buck, Hide Away - 1 buck and 1 doe, Boundary Block - 1 buck, Eddie Block - 2 bucks, Joe Block - 1 doe, Camp Block - 2 bucks, Little Block - 1 doe, Bear Block - 4 bucks and 2 does, Cain Block - 1 buck, Sugar Hole - 2 bucks and 3 does, Center Block - 4 bucks and 3 does, A Block - 3 does, B Block - 1 buck, C Block - 1 buck and 2 does, and Jacob's Bay - 4 bucks. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joey Lewis
Vice President - John King
Trustee's - Jeff Clark, Adam Jacobs, & Tyler Andrews
In 2022
We had 30 members and 3 probation members for a total of 33 members. Our dues were $850; however, due to the field trial and gun raffle, participating members only paid $640. For partial-members, we had 20 bear hunters, 5 coon hunters, 3 rabbit hunters, 9 turkey hunters, and no predator hunters. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 20 bucks and 15 does for a total of 35 deer with an average weight of 101 pounds. John King won the big buck contest. We harvested 2 bears. This year we continued following the same deer rules: 60 pound weight limit, minimum of a fork on one side for bucks, and no does during December. Widest buck was 17 7/8" (harvested in the C Block) and the heaviest deer was 140 pounds. We harvested 2 does in September, 5 bucks & 1 doe in October, 10 bucks & 9 does in November, 5 bucks and 1 doe in December, and 2 does in January. The following blocks had deer harvested from them: CC Block- 2 does, Tower Block- 1 buck, Boundary Block- 1 doe, Hide Away- 1 buck, Middle Bay- 1 buck, Camp Block- 1 buck, Eddie Block- 2 bucks and 1 doe, Bear Block- 1 buck, Jacob's Bay- 2 bucks and 1 doe, Rocking Chair- 1 doe, Cushion Block- 1 buck, Center Block- 1 buck and 1 doe, Sugar Hole- 2 bucks and 2 does, Cain Block- 4 bucks and 1 doe, A Block- 1 buck and 2 does, C Block- 2 bucks and 3 does. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joey Lewis
Vice President - John King
Trustee's - Jamie Godbolt, Jeff Clark, & Adam Jacobs
In 2021
We had 27 members and 8 probation members for a total of 35 members. Our dues were $850. For partial-members, we had 20 bear hunters, 6 coon hunters, 4 rabbit hunters, 11 turkey hunters, and 2 predator hunters. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 20 bucks and 10 does for a total of 30 deer with an average weight of 101 pounds. Tyler Andrews won the big buck contest. We harvested 1 bear weighing 541 pounds. This year we implemented the following deer rules: minimum of a fork on one side for bucks and no does after the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joey Lewis
Vice President - John King
Trustee's - Jamie Godbolt, Jeff Clark, & Adam Jacobs
In 2020
We had 22 members and 10 probation members for a total of 32 members. Our dues were $850. For Partial-Members, we had 18 bear hunters, 3 turkey hunters, 6 coon hunters, and 2 rabbit hunters. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 25 bucks and 13 does for a total of 38 deer with an average weight of 87 pounds. Clint Morgan won the big buck contest. We also harvested 1 bear. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joey Lewis
Trustee's - Gary Sams & Ray Rarrell
In 2019
We had 19 members and 11 probation members for a total of 30 members. Our dues were $720 for current members and $770 for probation members. This year we created "partial memberships" along with the bear hunting club. We had 3 turkey hunters, 5 coon hunters, and 4 rabbit hunters that paid a partial amount of dues to only hunt those specific species. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 28 bucks and 24 does for a total of 52 deer with an average weight of 96 pounds. We harvested 1 bear weighing 175 pounds. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President's -Joe Lewis & Joey Lewis
Trustee's - Gary Sams & Ray Rarrell
In 2018
We had 22 members and 15 probation members for a total of 37 members. Our dues were $540 for current members and $590 for probation members. This year we allowed a bear hunting group to join. We leased 5,341 acres that were divided into 22 blocks. We harvested 26 bucks and 18 does for a total of 44 deer equaling to 4,136 pounds of deer. We harvested 1 bear. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President's - Joe Lewis & Joey Lewis
Trustee's - Jonathan Bullard, Gary Sams, John King, & Micheal Long
Secretary - Carl Seashore
Security Detail Coordinator- Ray Harrell
In 2017
We had 23 members and 4 probation members for a total of 27 members. Our dues were $400. We leased 4,069 acres that were divided into 17 blocks. We harvested 18 being bucks and 15 being does for a total of 33 deer. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President's - Joe Lewis & Joey Lewis
Trustee Members - Jonathan Bullard, Gary Sams, & John King
Note Taker - Carl Seashore
In 2016
We had 37 members. Our dues were $400. We leased 4,069 acres that were divided into 17 blocks. We harvested 17 bucks and 8 does for a total of 25 deer. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joe Lewis
Vice President - Todd Morris
Secretary/ Treasurer - Joey Lewis
Trustee Member - Jonathan Bullard
In 2015
Our club grew to 35 members. Our dues were $275. We lease 6 more blocks giving us a total of 4,069 acres that were divided into 17 blocks. We harvested 12 bucks and 8 does for a total of 20 deer. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joe Lewis
Vice President - Todd Morris
Secretary/ Treasurer - Joey Lewis
Trustee Members - Keith Lewis & Danny Heath
In 2014
We started our club with 25 members. Our dues were $275. We leased 2,189 acres that were divided into 11 blocks. We harvested 3 bucks and 3 does for a total of 6 deer. Our Board of Directors were the following...
President - Joe Lewis
Vice President- Curt Flynn
Secretary/ Treasurer - Joey Lewis
Trustee Members - Keith Lewis & Sandy Flynn