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roberta_z5

How do I research this?

19 years ago

We are on 58 acres of great hunting land. We are out in the middle of nowhere and I am wondering if somebody living the big city life would pay to stay here for a week in the summer or fall. We have a wonderful guest house (cedar home) that we built and lived in while we were getting our main house together. It is fully furnished with appliances, kitchen stuff, and one bedroom/one bath. There is also a Murphy Bed and bunk beds so it easily sleeps 6.

We raise chickens (75 layers) and I garden extensively and hybridize daylilies. We need to bring in some money and wonder how we would price a week here to a family or even a group of people wanting to hunt during hunting seasons.

What do I 'Google' to research this? We are an hour from the Quad Cities and 2 hours from Chicago. There is a deep creek that runs through the middle of the property and hiking is great. We have lots of woods and the property is very hilly.

What about insurance? Would liability just kill the whole idea?

Comments (3)

  • 19 years ago

    I'm not sure, but maybe talking to someone at Fish and Game, or Wildlife, or whatever your state agency that regulates hunting is called, might give you a few directions to look. One of the hunting/game magazines might give you a few ideas, as I am sure they have ads for similar set-ups around the country. Your county Extension office MIGHT be able to help, although it's a slight stretch to call it agriculture... If there are any rifle clubs or shooting clubs in your area, you might talk to some of the members.

    You might check with your neighbors, and see if any of them would allow your "guests" to hunt over their land - you would have to pay a fee, but even with the best hunting, a weekend's hunting over 58 acres won't guarantee game, and you do need to provide a good chance of seeing some, if not actually bagging any.

    As far as liability goes, I would talk to your insurance agent, if he/she is open to different ideas. If the office is fuddy-duddy, then maybe not, as they might say no off the bat. Having even a semblance of a business plan would probably help. You would need a fairly comprehesive liability coverage, as the capacity for people to do stupid things, for which they will blame anyone else, is amazing! If there is an organization of "hunting lodges" or B & B's in your area, then they might offer a group/umbrella liability policy.

    Try googling for hunting rentals, shooting rentals, or hunting vacations, and see what you get.... You might want to limit the search to your general area....

  • 19 years ago

    Is there some kind of tourist board in your area? Could you check the classifieds in area papers? A lot of them are on-line these days. That way you would get a feel for what people in the area are charging for that kind of set-up. Then talk to your insurance people.

    Your place sounds wonderful. I would think their are lots of city folks who would enjoy getting away from it all in a place like yours. Good Luck!

  • 19 years ago

    My husband & his brother have gone on many hunting tours. They fly into whatever area, are picked up by one of the guides, they are driven to a hotel or cottage on the property that is owned by at least one of the guides, they are given some basic instruction & then dropped off there for a set amount of time to hunt.
    I know they pay a few hundred dollars (at least) per person for this. They've done it in Georgia & alabama.
    I seriously doubt the guides had any type of special insurance. DH said the whole set up is very primitive.
    I'm not sure if that helps you at all.
    I can also tell you about a great book called "Rural Renaissance", the author & his wife have a B&B to supplement their income, "Better off" is another one.
    I think you could easily market it yourself by running ads on Craigslist in the nearby cities.