They Charge Hunters To Hunt Their Land

1982 - Volume #6, Issue #5, Page #17

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Two South Dakota farmers with good hunting land have found they can make money charging hunters a fee, then helping them "get their limit".
Don Schindler and Kent Hamiel, both of Reliance, made a total of $4,500 last season by opening their farms to pheasant hunters, and charging them a fee of $50 a day to hunt.
"There are always people who want to hunt," comments Hamiel. "I figured if they can afford to rent motel rooms, buy their meals, and maybe travel from out of state, they can also afford to pay for the actual hunting."
"But you have to have good hunting," cautions Schindler. "We went along with the hunters, as guides, to make sure they got good shooting, and their limits of three roosters each."
Hamiel accommodated some 20 pheasant hunters during the 1981 season, charging a flat $50 a day, while Schindler, who had more guests, charged $50 for the first day a person hunted and $25 for the second day. Neither farmer stocks his land with birds. The winter of 1980-81 was mild, so the pheasant population in the fall was good. "Everybody got their limit," notes Schindler.
He has 2,500 acres to hunt on, while Hamiel has 1,000. Schindler took large groups ù one of 20 hunters ù and furnished a dog for retrieving. He also hauled hunters to fields in his pickup.
Poachers and road hunters are problems, so Schindler and Hamiel post their fields well ahead of the season opener. "But, some still come in," says Schindler. "We show them the road out quick!" Both men let friends and relatives hunt free.
The South Dakota Fish and Parks Dept. took the position that even though, by state law, all wildlife belongs to the public, the fees being charged by Schindler and Hamiel were for the privilege of hunting the land, not for the game itself. The Department's only requirement was that the birds be killed in a hunt ù not sold as merchandise.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Reliance, S. Dak. 57569 (ph 605 473-5410); or Kent Hamiel, Reliance, S. Dak. 57569 (ph 605 473-5433).

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They Charge Hunters To Hunt Their Land AG WORLD Ag World 6-5-17 Two South Dakota farmers with good hunting land have found they can make money charging hunters a fee, then helping them "get their limit". Don Schindler and Kent Hamiel, both of Reliance, made a total of $4,500 last season by opening their farms to pheasant hunters, and charging them a fee of $50 a day to hunt. "There are always people who want to hunt," comments Hamiel. "I figured if they can afford to rent motel rooms, buy their meals, and maybe travel from out of state, they can also afford to pay for the actual hunting." "But you have to have good hunting," cautions Schindler. "We went along with the hunters, as guides, to make sure they got good shooting, and their limits of three roosters each." Hamiel accommodated some 20 pheasant hunters during the 1981 season, charging a flat $50 a day, while Schindler, who had more guests, charged $50 for the first day a person hunted and $25 for the second day. Neither farmer stocks his land with birds. The winter of 1980-81 was mild, so the pheasant population in the fall was good. "Everybody got their limit," notes Schindler. He has 2,500 acres to hunt on, while Hamiel has 1,000. Schindler took large groups ù one of 20 hunters ù and furnished a dog for retrieving. He also hauled hunters to fields in his pickup. Poachers and road hunters are problems, so Schindler and Hamiel post their fields well ahead of the season opener. "But, some still come in," says Schindler. "We show them the road out quick!" Both men let friends and relatives hunt free. The South Dakota Fish and Parks Dept. took the position that even though, by state law, all wildlife belongs to the public, the fees being charged by Schindler and Hamiel were for the privilege of hunting the land, not for the game itself. The Department's only requirement was that the birds be killed in a hunt ù not sold as merchandise. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Reliance, S. Dak. 57569 (ph 605 473-5410); or Kent Hamiel, Reliance, S. Dak. 57569 (ph 605 473-5433).

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