Fees

Swanson Lake Ranch is a private hunting and fishing club for the exclusive use of its members and their guests.  While membership is extremely limited, we will occasionally seek new members and offer, for these prospective members, the opportunity to experience one or more of the recreational activities provided today at SLR, which primarily include hunting, fishing, camping, clay shooting, archery, canoeing, bird-watching, and hiking.

Hunting

For its members, guests, and prospective members, SLR offers access to the ranch for self-guided or guided individual and group hunts.  Members and their guests can stay at Swanson Lake Ranch Lodge, or we can recommend nearby sleeping accommodations and offer other helpful information, but it is the responsibility of members and guests to secure lodging, food, and transportation, as well as all applicable hunting licenses, guns, ammunition and game processing services, if desired.

Hunting at SLR includes: waterfowl, turkey, dove, upland, and white-tailed deer.  Squirrel, cottontail and other small game hunts are also available.  In addition to the ranch itself, hunts may include access to other farms in the Stratton, Trenton and McCook area.

See the Membership section of our website for more details regarding hunting and SLR's Private Hunting Club.  For prospective members, the ranch also currently offers limited, one-time hunting slots, subject to the fees noted below.  Please note that these one-time hunt opportunities are limited and subject to availability, depending upon the membership status of the SLR Private Hunting Club.

One-Time Fee Schedule 2013/2014 (all fees are subject to change prior to contract signed, are irrespective of hunting success, and do not include state and federal hunting licenses):

• Waterfowl $200 per day per gun

• Turkey $300 per day per gun

• Dove $50 per day per gun

• Upland birds $150 per day per gun

• White-Tailed deer $3500 per 5-day hunt per gun

• Small game and varmints $100 per day per gun

Please note: 

Waterfowl and Upland hunts are limited to 5 hunters per day per party and two days (for waterfowl and upland) per week on Swanson Lake Ranch.  We also offer packages which can include waterfowl and upland shooting on SLR and other farms.  Planted upland birds, if desired, are $10 per bird planted plus the breeder's cost per bird. 

Turkey hunting includes the opportunity to take up to three toms per hunter, if desired.  A separate Nebraska license is required for each turkey.

Deer hunting is for a five-day, non-guided hunt for one buck.  Does can be added for $200 and, as with the waterfowl and upland shooting, hunts can include access to other farms in the Stratton, Trenton and McCook area.

Guide service for all hunts (including dogs, decoys and other equipment), if desired, runs $500 per day per guide.

Lodging and Meal planning, if desired, is $50 per person per day (excludes cost of accommodations, meals, liquor, etc).

Please see the Calendar for upcoming seasons and see the attached document for more information regarding hunting at SLR - Hunting at SLR

Fishing

For the angler, SLR offers a relaxing opportunity to fish one of five private ponds.  Whether fly-fishing from the shores for that elusive bass, or spin-casting from the canoe for bluegill or crappie, you are sure to enjoy the ponds.  And with the addition of the new dock at Horseshoe Pond you can escape the summer time heat, enjoy a picnic lunch, and cast at your leisure.  The ranch is also within a 10 minute drive to the landing at Swanson Reservoir, where the more ambitious angler can try his luck for large northern pike, walleye, wiper, crappie or black bass.

Please see Other Recreation, below, for more details regarding fees for fishing.  Please note that a valid Nebraska Fishing License is required to fish the ponds and Swanson Lake Reservoir.

Other Recreation

SLR also offers opportunities for camping, clay shooting, archery, canoeing, bird-watching, and hiking - and for prospective members these activities are complimentary (however subject to the same availability restrictions noted above).  Guns, ammunition and bows & arrows are not provided.

State & Federal License Fee Highlights (Non-Resident) 2012-2013

• Small Game Annual $81
• Small Game Two-Day $56
• Rifle Deer $209.  Frenchman Unit.  Permit is 1 WT buck and 1 antlerless WT deer
• Antlerless Only Season Choice Deer $55 (permit is for two WT deer)
• River Antlerless Deer $55 (permit is for 2 antlerless WT)
• Archery Statewide Deer $209 (permit is for any deer)
• Muzzleloader Statewide Deer $209 (permit is for WT deer only in Frenchman Unit)
• Turkey $91
• Annual Habitat Stamp $20
• Annual Nebraska Waterfowl $5
• Annual Fish $60.5
• Three-Day Fish $27.50
• One-Day Fish $9.50
• Aquatic Habitat Stamp Free
• Federal Duck Stamp $15
• Fur Harvest $225

State & Federal Hunting Rules & Regulations

In order to hunt or fish at Swanson Lake Ranch, in addition to membership, you must have a valid Nebraska hunting or fishing license and a Nebraska Habitat Stamp and, if hunting waterfowl, a Nebraska Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Duck Stamp and HIP registration.  The state of Nebraska additionally requires that anyone born on or after January 1977 have completed a state certified hunter education course.  Please note that for deer hunting Nebraska has a MANDATORY check-in requirement.

As a helpful resource, we have created a document highlighting Nebraska hunting regulation details specific to SLR.  As with all states, there are numerous regulations and requirements for hunting & fishing in Nebraska, and many of these regulations are revised annually.  Please refer to the NGPC website for the most accurate, complete and up-to-date guide on hunting and fishing in Nebraska. 

In general, a small game hunting license is required for pheasant, quail, dove, and waterfowl and a turkey and deer license is required for these species, but it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to have the appropriate hunting license to hunt at Swanson Lake Ranch. 

More Questions?  See our FAQ