Is there a demand for no frills hunting lodge in Winner?

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Notinks

New member
I grew up in Winner and have an opportunity to buy my childhood home. I know there are huge lodges all over the area with land, guide service, etc. but I am wondering if there would be any demand just for a small 3+ bedroom home with small kitchen?
 
Notinks said:
I grew up in Winner and have an opportunity to buy my childhood home. I know there are huge lodges all over the area with land, guide service, etc. but I am wondering if there would be any demand just for a small 3+ bedroom home with small kitchen?
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Guys doing a DIY type hunt trying to save $$$ in prime areas of SD will always be interested in a cheap place to stay so I'd say yes but like u guide say next question the hunters are gonna ask is do u have any land connections etc...

Look at duxdog place I believe is his name on this forum... I am think u are trying to do
Something like he has going? Look under hunting group builder thread bird dog bunkhouse is the place... He looks like he having fun & could answer a few questions u have???
 
UGUIDE said:
Notinks, my experience tells me that the lodge is not worth much without some land tied to it. Meaning, lodging only becomes important when you have some land to hunt and strong demand.
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Does UGUIDE team lodging owners up with land owners at all?
 
I know when we go to KS we stay in houses owned by locals with no ties to private land. However ,that is the first question we asked before staying there . I guess what Im saying is that we stay in a house not tied to land but would probably choose a house that did have some private land tied to it if the prices were close. I think you will get business though if your price is right. AKA cheap.
 
The local bird cleaner - Kooch has a couple of houses he rents during the season; however, he does seem tied to several land owners. He would be a good resource for you to discuss your business ideas. Maybe a partner?

I assume his houses are empty in the off season...

Pm me and I'll provide his phone number.
 
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We have rented houses in eastern SD and West river. Going rate we have seen is $30 to $35 night per person for home with TV, all appliances, and cookware. The houses have always been older and a little rough but perfect for hunters and clean. Hope that helps.
 
Gettin Birdy said:
We have rented houses in eastern SD and West river. Going rate we have seen is $30 to $35 night per person for home with TV, all appliances, and cookware. The houses have always been older and a little rough but perfect for hunters and clean. Hope that helps.
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We pay about $60 per man per night. Small town and really only game in town for us. We could stay in Aberdeen but would have a hour drive each way. I would gladly pay $30-35 per hunter.
 
Yep, there is certainly a demand for just such lodging. Privet land to hunt along with it would be a plus but not a necessity. Of course then the price of the lodging jumps dramatically.

My wife and I have hunted SD pheasants for the last ten years or so. All on our own, all on public land, we have no connections to hunt privet lands. Have we not had our own travel trailer to camp in, we would have preferred renting a small house rather than trying to book motel rooms.

We would rather hunt those wild SD Ringnecks than the White Tail Deer here in PA. Although we have gotten our share over the years. :)
 
Questions:

Do you rent the house in the off-season? To whom?

Are you paying cash for the house? Or do you have a mortgage?

What are the fixed costs for the building? And variable costs?

Would assume one would need to rent to large groups in order to make the numbers work.

A few motels in the Winner area have closed in recent years - if they can't
make it, how will you? They are open all year...

Just some thoughts and ideas to ponder...
 
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Good questions johnnyb. You are thinking like a business man.

I find there is not much cashflow in the lodging side vs. land.

However, guys like haymaker have made it pay a little better by finding good paying off season occupancy for their lodges like construction worker crews. Gets the asset paid for a little quicker.

$60/night/person let alone $30-35 barely keeps the lights on. Maybe good deal for hunters but not real good for owners.

I have a lot of hunters call me right before hunting season scrambling to find a place to hunt after their screaming good deal disappeared overnight.

Without sufficient cashflow, any businesses lights go out.

You can do pheasant hunting in SD on the penny, nickel or dollar. Either way you get what you pay for in most cases.
 
The lodging options are very limited around winner. A decent place to rent would be a plus. Especially, if you worked with the reservation to provide places for clients.

Having said all that, I would think the window would be so compressed that I am not sure it would be a real profitable venture.
 
UGUIDE said:
Good questions johnnyb. You are thinking like a business man.

I find there is not much cashflow in the lodging side vs. land.

However, guys like haymaker have made it pay a little better by finding good paying off season occupancy for their lodges like construction worker crews. Gets the asset paid for a little quicker.

$60/night/person let alone $30-35 barely keeps the lights on. Maybe good deal for hunters but not real good for owners.

I have a lot of hunters call me right before hunting season scrambling to find a place to hunt after their screaming good deal disappeared overnight.

Without sufficient cashflow, any businesses lights go out.

You can do pheasant hunting in SD on the penny, nickel or dollar. Either way you get what you pay for in most cases.
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Yes I am housing pipeline workers putting in the oil pipe this year. I have no great advice, but I am glad I built what I did. I use it alot for alot of different things, but then I live here.
 
I would not even entertain $35 a night. If a hunter is driving all that way and not willing to pay $50 a night, I doubt you want him staying there anyways. It needs to be a mutually beneficial relationship to be sustainable.

I have stayed in some real rough places. I would happily pay $50-$60 if the place is clean and accommodating. I want to see good lodging be successful so I am willing to pay a fair rate.
 
Didn't read Pointing Lab's comment, sorry for duplication of thoughts.

I think most hunters would be willing to pay up to 75 per night, having the room and place for dogs to stay is huge, I'm always looking for this type of accommodations when I go out west. I've stayed in some pretty run down hotels just for the fact you can have your dog in the room and there nightly rate was in the 60-70 dollar range. If this were in the area I hunt I would be calling you to book nights. The lack of private hunting ground is not a factor with me, I enjoy the public lands and if I want to hunt private I also like the leg work it takes to establish a relationship with said landowner.
 
Years ago, when hunting in the Miller area, private families would open their homes to a few hunters...for a fee. They were able to accommodate a few hunters and continue to live in the home.

If you lived in the home year-round, this idea may make sense, or could rent the home the rest of the year, it may cash flow.

Have no idea what the taxes and utilities are in Winner; heat could be a large factor in renting. Also, cleaning the home after hunters (if you can find cleaners) could be expensive and a large headache.

Home for sale - Winner: $16,000 in foreclosure. It's a dump and needs lots of love!
 
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I have found too that the market for lodging rates is relative to the competition which is usually the Super 8 or other year round hotel/motel.

Super 8 in Miller gets anywheres from $60-100/night depending. That is probably for double occupancy so you have to factor that in too.

A house is different than a hotel room too.
 
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