OYFF—Wildlife Division
Jim Bo Robinson has worked on his family’s land ever since he can remember, but while farming has always been his life, he never imagined that one of his commodities would be the wildlife that abounds on his Chambers County property.Although he started out as a dairy farmer, today Jim Bo and his wife Lynn partner with his older brother and other family members to manage the more than 400 acres of timber near his home. The Robinsons stay busy as they have two children, Beau, 7, and Addie May, 3. In addition, Jim Bo holds a job off the farm, and he and his brother run a successful 150-cow beef cattle operation.Working on land that his family has been farming for more than 100 years, Jim Bo is grateful for where he is.”I have always been a part of this farm,” he said. “From my earliest memories, my grandfather and father…have showed me all aspects of the farming life, both good and bad.”Lately, the good has seemed to outweigh the bad as his wildlife operation has grown in recent years. The Robinsons first began hosting turkey and deer hunts about three years ago, taking a risk and hoping that it would be a good way to supplement their farm income.”We took a gamble, hoping we could get the money we were leasing for it,” he said. “The first year was hard, but after that, word got around, and we have a lot of repeat visitors.” The Robinsons don’t just provide hunts for their guests, but cater to all of their visitors’ needs. Their land has plenty of wildlife, but they make certain to manage it diligently and are careful not to exhaust its resources.Their farm has grown in popularity, attracting visitors from as far away as Florida and Michigan. “It’s a chance to get out of the rat race and get out in the country for a while,” Jim Bo said. “I love meeting all the different people.”