HEAVEN FOR HONKERS

Each year as cold winds whip down the Atlantic Coast tens of thousands of Canada geese drop into the waters of Currituck Sound along the isolated shores at Corolla, N.C. Here, on a strip of sand only yards from the ocean, the rambling elegance of the Whalehead Club plays host to hunters from most of the eastern states. Once a private home, it has been converted by its owner, Ray T. Adams of Washington, D.C., into a unique sportsmen's club. For $50 a day carefully chosen guests may make Whalehead their private shooting ground for a weekend, enjoy its traditionally southern hospitality, excellent accommodations and some of the finest goose shooting in the country. Along its five miles of sound and sand dunes more than 30 widely scattered blinds offer a variety of gunning for ducks as well as for big honkers. And for those who bag their limits before midmorning—at Whalehead this is common—there's wonderful bass fishing practically from the back porch.

Sloshing through shallow waters of Currituck Sound, Abram D. Voorhees (left) of Manasquan, N.J. and guide leave blind.

Scanning skyline, N.J. State Representative Alfred Beadleston (left) of Shrewsbury crouches in an off-shore blind with guide.

Whalehead owner Ray T. Adams watches shooting activity from cover of reeds with club's only lady guide, Naomi Simons.

Partially hidden by pine boughs of typical Corolla beach blind, hunters (from left) Abram Voorhees, Bernard Evans of Maple, N.C. and Alfred Beadleston peer at distant hill dotted with thousands of Canada geese seeking shelter from high winds.

Spoils of sportive morning are examined by guest Clifford Kingston of Long Branch, N.J. outside entrance to club gun room.

Southern comfort at hunt's end finds Whalehead's guests (from left: Dr. Harry Brindle of Brielle, N.J.; Clifford Kingston, Peter Brown of Spring Lake, N.J.; Munroe C. Hawes of Sea Girt, N.J.; O. H. Brown II, Spring Lake; William Russell of Ladue, Mo.; Walter R. Woolley, Brielle; and Ed Peters, Pittsburgh) relaxing in club's spacious recreation room after good day afield.

SIX PHOTOS

VIRGINIA KRAFT