Pay to Play rates in SD
- Thread starter PairOfLabs
- Start date
Benelli Rooster
Member
Always a good discussion, and strong opinions on both sides. I'm not at the point where I would pay to hunt just yet, but I wouldn't rule it out. I know, everybody wants "wild birds" and way, way too many people selling hunts for birds that are far from "wild birds". I would most definitely consider a relationship/transaction with a landowner that was basically allowing trespass and definitely had some birds. The problem is, finding those kinds of "vendors" if you will that have that ideal compromise of a reasonable rate for a couple guys ($150/day/gun still seems a little steep for merely allowing trespass?) and some reasonably fruitful shooting.
You can find stupid pen-raised birds in probably more than half the states in the country, I don't need to go to SD to do that. Now that I have a house up in north central SD, I would love a few more places to hunt for me and my aging hunting buddy to extend the season, more good times for me and my two labs and wouldn't mind shelling out a modest amount to do that at all.
You can find stupid pen-raised birds in probably more than half the states in the country, I don't need to go to SD to do that. Now that I have a house up in north central SD, I would love a few more places to hunt for me and my aging hunting buddy to extend the season, more good times for me and my two labs and wouldn't mind shelling out a modest amount to do that at all.
Winchester30
Active member
You guys really think you’re “harvesting wild bird” 8-9 man limits a day?
John Singer
Well-known member
This thread reminds me of an old saying:
"Anybody can get laid in a whore house."
You just have to pay for the experience
"Anybody can get laid in a whore house."
You just have to pay for the experience
benelli-banger
Well-known member
Have spent much of my $ in those establishments…the rest I’ve just wasted!
GW from Tenn
Member
Yeah, I'd definitely be up for paying a landowner a trespass fee to shoot hopefully a limit of birds in a day if I could find some of those landowners where we hunt in eastern SD. 150 dollars for my group to have a great hunt on one of our ten days out there would not be that bad since we're driving right at 1000 miles from TN.
Goosemaster
Well-known member
I can't believe there is a discussion about wild birds, and paying landowners to hunt. I find it revolting and absurd.
benelli-banger
Well-known member
I think you need to get in touch with your feelings…come on, let ‘em out! We’re here for you…no judgement…
carptom1
Well-known member
Didn’t you just talk about paying a guy to stay there and hunt his land?
Goosemaster
Well-known member
It was 1992.My dad paid.I have never paid to hunt.
Goosemaster
Well-known member
You are missing the point.I think you need to get in touch with your feelings…come on, let ‘em out! We’re here for you…no judgement…
carptom1
Well-known member
I think we got the point 1000 posts ago.
carptom1
Well-known member
But you still went and had a good time….
benelli-banger
Well-known member
YES! DEAR GOD! Goose, I allocate 1/2 my time with my therapist to deal with YOUR feelings!
Goosemaster
Well-known member
Yeah but I didn't give them 1000 dollars.
benelli-banger
Well-known member
I keep 10 acres in food plots, depending on what’s planted it costs a couple grand per year…same with taxes…thistle remediation can be a chunk of change…not a huge deal, but 97% of my buddies NEVER offer anything to acknowledge the modest costs I incur. Obviously I don’t charge, but I make sure I offer something when I’m on the receiving end. Will be smoking 18 LB of pork shoulder before I head out in a week…split between 3-4 farmers.
Reminds me of a story. A guy saw this beautiful young lady and ask if he could have sex with her if he gave her a million dollars. She thought about it for a while and said yes. He then asked her if he could for 1 dollar. She said no what do you think I am. He replied lady we have established what you are we are just negotiating the price. All in fun Goose.
Here's how I see they break down:
Dude Ranches- Deluxe packages for mostly easterners that might include a stop at the Aberdeen western wear store when they get off the plane. Wife heads to the winery tour while the hunter joins 20 other guests for the hunt. These are done on isolated food plots, often milo and are planted pen raised birds. These fields get hit up to twice a day so birds are restocked frequently. I watched two of these fields run and I think they got about 30 out of 50 based on what flew out or was running out behind them. I went back the next day to one of their fields and 20 or so birds were still around roosting in the trees. Doubtful that any planted on opener weekend will ever make it to winter and zero chance they make it to next year after running the gauntlet twice a day. They will fill in open rooms and weekday lots with cheaper rates and let you loose to clean up scratch birds. For the recreational hunter that enjoys the hotub and trap range as much as the field. But they need to pay off the lodge investment and managing large tracts of land with wild birds is not their business model.
Guided hunts- Whatever you are short on- dogs, hunting partners, experience, time or access to good ground- these local farmhands and businessmen will moonlight as guides and provide it. They have paid flat fees for access to so many places and know exactly where the birds are down to individual coveys they watched from nest to feathered out. It's too costly and time consuming to manage pen raised birds when they can get wild ones just as easy. They are looking to attract higher paying customers will high numbers of wild birds. Landowners get responsible access and someone reliable to keep an eye on their land. There are plenty of guys that start out as guide-assistants that try and break out on their own so there's no guarantee on quality except for references. They might provide housing as well and try to differentiate with nicer accommodations but that's a side gig for them.
Trespass fees- Farmers/landowners cutting out the middle man (the guides) will give you self-guided access to their land. They are looking for supplemental income off their acreage. If the birds are really down in a year they might just resort to pen raised to keep people coming back. They have the mindset of applying inputs to get the yields they desire so they have no problem with quantity over quality. It's hit and miss if you are looking for wild vs. pen raised and the lower prices reflect this.
Dude Ranches- Deluxe packages for mostly easterners that might include a stop at the Aberdeen western wear store when they get off the plane. Wife heads to the winery tour while the hunter joins 20 other guests for the hunt. These are done on isolated food plots, often milo and are planted pen raised birds. These fields get hit up to twice a day so birds are restocked frequently. I watched two of these fields run and I think they got about 30 out of 50 based on what flew out or was running out behind them. I went back the next day to one of their fields and 20 or so birds were still around roosting in the trees. Doubtful that any planted on opener weekend will ever make it to winter and zero chance they make it to next year after running the gauntlet twice a day. They will fill in open rooms and weekday lots with cheaper rates and let you loose to clean up scratch birds. For the recreational hunter that enjoys the hotub and trap range as much as the field. But they need to pay off the lodge investment and managing large tracts of land with wild birds is not their business model.
Guided hunts- Whatever you are short on- dogs, hunting partners, experience, time or access to good ground- these local farmhands and businessmen will moonlight as guides and provide it. They have paid flat fees for access to so many places and know exactly where the birds are down to individual coveys they watched from nest to feathered out. It's too costly and time consuming to manage pen raised birds when they can get wild ones just as easy. They are looking to attract higher paying customers will high numbers of wild birds. Landowners get responsible access and someone reliable to keep an eye on their land. There are plenty of guys that start out as guide-assistants that try and break out on their own so there's no guarantee on quality except for references. They might provide housing as well and try to differentiate with nicer accommodations but that's a side gig for them.
Trespass fees- Farmers/landowners cutting out the middle man (the guides) will give you self-guided access to their land. They are looking for supplemental income off their acreage. If the birds are really down in a year they might just resort to pen raised to keep people coming back. They have the mindset of applying inputs to get the yields they desire so they have no problem with quantity over quality. It's hit and miss if you are looking for wild vs. pen raised and the lower prices reflect this.
