Dove Club Prices

[Sasha and Abby]

I am probably going to plant a small 23 acre field in Darlington (6mi off I20) next year. Going to be a small group with no guests. Probably shoot once a week (Saturdays) unless we have more birds.

What is the going rate for something like this? Just trying to see if it would be worth messing with before I commit. I'm thinking about 20 stands or less... is this too many? Corn or sunflowers would be planted.

What are comp prices for something like this? If it works out, I will put it here next year. Thanks.

[Glenn]

Whatever it cost to lease it + whatever it cost to plant it + whatever profit you want to make/the number of people you want to not show up for work days and complain about the field = "dues"

[centurian]

Whatever it cost to lease it + whatever it cost to plant it + whatever profit you want to make/the number of people you want to not show up for work days and complain about the field = "dues"

don't forget insurance?

[Glenn]

If you need insurance you're inviting the wrong people.

So yes. Budget in insurance as well. Why not.

[AnythingFeathers]

If you operate a dove field for profit- you better have insurance. You’re now running a business. No matter who you invite.

[huntinghagen#12]

I haven't had a dove field of my own in about a decade now, but one thing I learned from owning one (along with having multiple duck clubs) and from friends that own fields is to eat the costs and make it invite only. Get some buddies to chip in some money if they feel inclined, but keep the 'control' in your hands. It doesn't happen every time, but there are people who feel like they have 'equity' in a field/club just from paying for a membership and it should make their opinions count the same as yours, when in actuality their contribution isn't a drop in the bucket for what it actually costs to provide a quality setup.

Just my 2 cents.

[ecu1984]

Just let me know and I'll drop my share off

[617huntsc]

I haven't had a dove field of my own in about a decade now, but one thing I learned from owning one (along with having multiple duck clubs) and from friends that own fields is to eat the costs and make it invite only. Get some buddies to chip in some money if they feel inclined, but keep the 'control' in your hands. It doesn't happen every time, but there are people who feel like they have 'equity' in a field/club just from paying for a membership and it should make their opinions count the same as yours, when in actuality their contribution isn't a drop in the bucket for what it actually costs to provide a quality setup.

Just my 2 cents.

quality advice right there.

[Whackumstackum]

5-700$/per person

[SilverFox]

I paid $450 two years ago for a field in that area that sucked.

Right down the road a few miles south it's $500 for the year.

One you could hunt as you liked after the first couple Saturdays. The other is a Saturday only deal. Both are comparable in size.

[Remy]

I got no clue what is fair for a dove club, but I'm right down the road so let me know if you need some help.

[2thDoc]

good luck!
23 acres aint small.
easily 10k in the planting alone.

[Sportin' Woodies]

Maybe you could just do something nice for your family and friends and not ask for money in return

[Duck Tape]

The problem is expectations exceed value.

One good hunt, then one average hunt followed by two hunts of complaining.

[Duck Tape]

And then there are years of crop failure, weed control and hurricanes.

[Catdaddy]

Shoot me a pm with the location. I can tell you where your competition fields are in that area. That can make a big difference.

10 acres is a big sunflower field.

Sent from my motorola edge 2024 using Tapatalk

[Maggie Glover]

I was in a field last Friday that had 27 people in it. An engineering firm hosted it at a very nice hunting lodge. It was about 18 acres carved out of 1,500 acres of woods with a few hardwoods remaining, but planted in sunflowers. The field was completely surrounded by a temporary hog fence with three strands of hot wire above it to keep the deer out. We drew numbers out of a hat that corresponded to numbers on haybales, which were the stands. They put us out at 2 and picked us up at 6. There was plenty of opportunity, was not a barn burner.

I asked how many hunts per year they have on that field, and his response was, "Well, we do opening day for us (I guess the owner and guests) and then this one. That's all, just those two."

The cash register started spinning in my head of what an immaculate sunflower field in the middle of an impressive piece of property must cost to produce. Then you think it is for only two hunts. Ponderous. MG

[Buckin Bronco]

One you could hunt as you liked after the first couple Saturdays. The other is a Saturday only deal. Both are comparable in size.

Hope that works out for you.

[Carolina Counsel]

The problem is expectations exceed value.

One good hunt, then one average hunt followed by two hunts of complaining.

The man speaks the truth. That's why the folks invited to hunt our field 1) don't pay a dime, and 2) are told not to have any expectations. If it's great, great. If it sucks, drink a beer on us.

[Duck cutter]

The man speaks the truth. That's why the folks invited to hunt our field 1) don't pay a dime, and 2) are told not to have any expectations. If it's great, great. If it sucks, drink a beer on us.

The first time I ever shot yalls field was the best shoot I’ve ever been on