Hunting Lodge & Land in Miller

[goldenboy]

I know I didn't make this clear in the first post, but I do not own the land and will not have anything to do with managing it. Basically we are trying to set up a mobile home as a rental to people staying in town to hunt on our relatives land.

He runs his land anyway he wants, I don't have any say over it. We are just trying to provide a nice little place to stay at a reasonable rate for those who do come to hunt. We plan to use it for 3-4 days anyway and figured we might as well set it up for others and then charge a decent rate.

As far as where you stay when you hunt, what do you look for?



This is our plan so far:
Beds for 6-10 guys
kitchen
living room for lounging
heated bird cleaning space
heated space for dogs
outside dog run
hot water, toilets
couches, appliances, TV (no cable though)
Freezer for storing birds
Possible hook-up for RV
Just a hop-skip and a jump from the down town bars

John B has a good point. I wouldn't spend too much money unless you have a solid business plan. Advertising is key. Make sure you can "get the word out" about your potential place for housing. If it is reasonable guys will use it and hunt the land they are hunting around there. Possible options are social media, business cards posted around town like gas stations and motels. I think you have your answer as far as what guys are looking for in accommodations maybe we are just over analyzing your initial thread. Good luck and keep us posted with pictures of your progress.

 

[jonnyB]

The process of "business planning" never ends, it only evolves.

After the last Post that indicated "no control" over the land, I got to wondering what business he intends to be in - hunting lodge with land or the hotel business. Or perhaps a little bit of each?

I think the motels offer most of what the "plan" proposes, with the possible exception of bird cleaning. Unless there is a dramatic price difference, what is the competitive advantage?

For years I stayed at a farmer's facility - an extra house on site. The price at that time, to stay and hunt, was $100 or if you wish, hunt only for $50. The price now is $140 - hunt and stay, but the wild birds have severely declined. This farm is a "preserve" and has very few wild birds.

Why?

The surrounding land had gone under the plow, including this farmer's land. It's not managed for hunting as it once was...

 

[goldenboy]

The process of "business planning" never ends, it only evolves.

After the last Post that indicated "no control" over the land, I got to wondering what business he intends to be in - hunting lodge with land or the hotel business. Or perhaps a little bit of each?

I think the motels offer most of what the "plan" proposes, with the possible exception of bird cleaning. Unless there is a dramatic price difference, what is the competitive advantage?

For years I stayed at a farmer's facility - an extra house on site. The price at that time, to stay and hunt, was $100 or if you wish, hunt only for $50. The price now is $140 - hunt and stay, but the wild birds have severely declined. This farm is a "preserve" and has very few wild birds.

Why?

The surrounding land had gone under the plow, including this farmer's land. It's not managed for hunting as it once was...

Very good points jonnyB. Tuff to make any money at the motel business if you are only open 4 days per week for 3 months out of the year! Unless you have lots of birds and lots of land options to choose from the point of lodging is null. I hope he sees the value of input like yours from a guy who has hunted a lot in that area in the past.

 

[jonnyB]

For years (at Miller) we dropped off our birds at the bird cleaner, especially when it's cold. The undertaker (Vince) used to employ his whole family in the affair and it was reasonably priced. He would ask if we wanted a pull on a bottle he kept in his desk...quite a character and a cordial family.

The bird cleaner in Miller used to charge $4 a bird - reasonable, and they were frozen and vac. sealed.

If you have several producing farms to hunt and can offer your lodging service less than your competition (hotel/motel) you may have a viable business. Quality hunting comes first; good lodging is a bonus...

 

[Lake Itasca]

Sad to report but Vince died several years back. I used to call him Dr. Death as all his business's (pheasant cleaning, headstones, long distance
hearse service), had to do with dead things!

He was a great guy and his wife Bobby too! He charged a buck fifty a bird when I first used him, we clean our own now.

Vince used to always offer up the blackberry brandy when we dropped our birds off each night, he's to ya Vince! :cheers:

 

[jonnyB]

Thanks for the update re Vince. I know he had a heart attack several years ago and was in bad health. I used to see him in the Miller restaurants occasionally and jaw with him a bit; we had other eating arrangements and didn't get to the restaurants very often.

The owner of the Highlight Cafe had sleeping quarters in the upstairs of the restaurant. Her dad (Dale) charged $40 a day to hunt his farm - this was at least 10 years ago or more. Wonder if he still has hunters?

 

[hunter94]

John B has a good point. I wouldn't spend too much money unless you have a solid business plan. Advertising is key. Make sure you can "get the word out" about your potential place for housing. If it is reasonable guys will use it and hunt the land they are hunting around there. Possible options are social media, business cards posted around town like gas stations and motels. I think you have your answer as far as what guys are looking for in accommodations maybe we are just over analyzing your initial thread. Good luck and keep us posted with pictures of your progress.

as many have said, with no control over the land, you simply have a lodging option, with no land to hunt. if you can get the word out, you may have some takers, especially early season when lodging might be tight, otherwise finding a place to stay is no big deal.