PRICE REDUCED!!! The moment you roll into the gated entrance you will realize that you are at a stellar place, Stan and Suzanne Wood have created a property that is incredible! Their vision, design and implementation of the timber and wildlife management plan are second to none and as you travel across the land it will be evident. Their efforts have garnered many awards including Treasure Forest, Stewardship Forest, Certified Family Forest, Tree Farm of the Year and recently the prestigious Helene Mosley Treasure Forest Award. All of these accolades are great, but that is not the reason that the Wood family manages this property so intensively. The main reason is to leave something better for the next generation, educate others, to help promote excellence in forestry and wildlife management, produce timber income and to enjoy hunting opportunities with family and friends. Timber management with a focus to also improve wildlife habitat has always been paramount to reach the set goals. The property has tremendous diversity in stand types and arrangements across the landscape. There are many stands of mature pine plantations that are being managed for quality saw timber and poles. Other stands are younger pines that will soon be ready to thin. Intertwined across the tract, are stands of natural hardwood/pine mixed stands, these areas are maturing and represent excellent timber production possibilities. There are countless miles of firebreaks and gravel roads throughout the property, and controlled burns have played a key role into improving the quality of timber, by killing the brush and competing undesirable trees. A burn regime and herbicide spray program has been in place and very active for over a decade and the results are amazing in the quality of the timber and the absolute abundance of wildlife that comes as a result of such management. From day one, creating a habitat that favored wildlife was of utmost importance, which benefits both non-game and game species. There are over 100 +/- acres dedicated to wildlife food plots. These plots vary in size but there are several very large plots, planted with a wide variety of crops including soybeans, corn, clovers, wheat, rye, brassicas, and even sunflowers for doves and other birds. The whitetail deer population is thriving and with a very selective harvest of mature bucks for over 15 years its impressive at the bucks this tract produces year after year, if you scroll through the pictures, I think you will agree. Well-equipped stands/shooting houses are already in place on the food plots and in other strategic locations throughout the property. The turkey population is tremendous as well, with large flocks seen regularly throughout the year. While shooting photos, I got a few pictures of 7 gobblers in a plot called “Bluff View”, it got me excited to know how many will be thundering out gobbles this coming spring! The stands of mature pine forests are exemplary of what a prime pine forest should look like, tall straight trees with the open midstory, it reminds you of the classic look of a quail hunting plantation. It makes the perfect picturesque backdrop to work bird dogs. Acres of natural areas of early successional cover provide critical nesting/brooding habitat for birds that also doubles as browse and cover for deer. A predator trapping program has been in place and with all that work and effort it really shows, in the amount of wildlife that thrives and calls this place home. The improvements to the infrastructure of land are numerous but there are a few that stand out. The interior roads that lead throughout the property were constructed with longevity in mind, they are wide, ditched, crowned, and well compacted with a layer of gravel. Even on the rolling terrain, it’s easy to drive a two-wheel-drive vehicle to most areas of the property. This is a tremendous asset when it comes to getting timber harvested and hauled out or just being able to traverse and see your farm. The roads take you all the way up to the panoramic views of the top of Prospect Mountain and down to the flourishing bottomland of Marriott Creek. There are flowing mountain streams and unique rock outcroppings that make this place so pristine and unique. There are 2, 40’x60 storage barns with 20’ lean-to for equipment storage. A small cabin makes for a great small camp house adjacent to one of the barns. It is powered by a Kubota diesel generator to provide electricity for lights, TV, microwave and coffee pot. A 1000 gallon stainless steel cistern holds water and it supplies the half bath. At the heart of the property is a 7+/- AC stocked lake, the surroundings are stunning and it would make an ideal location to build a dream home or cozy lodge. Located less than 30 minutes from downtown Birmingham, approximately 30 minutes from Smith Lake/Cullman and an hour from Huntsville, this paradise is very convenient to I-65. There is so much more to know and see at this one-of-kind property. It is a true treasure in central Alabama and it needs someone that will carry on, manage it, enjoy it and cherish this legendary tract. If this sounds intriguing, please let us know and we can schedule a private tour… Could this property be your legacy farm to enjoy with family and friends and pass down for generations? I think so!