Memberships

Private Club Concept

Thank you for your interest in Swanson Lake Ranch.  SLR is a general agricultural ranch for farming, livestock and other ranching activities but has unique recreational value as well.  The property is blessed with extraordinary wetlands, forested river-bottom and native grasslands habitat, supporting a rich array of wildlife, and the SLR management team, its members and partners have helped improve this amazing habitat to bring the ranch’s recreational value closer to its fullest potential.  These efforts have involved extensive land management practices such as crop rotation, food plot cultivation and invasive-species management activities, carefully researched and monitored resource management, and continued investment in infrastructure, and the results to-date clearly validate the effort.  That said, we think we can do more and expect to maintain a high level of land and resource management over the coming years to maximize the potential of the property.

As a result of the recreational potential of SLR, in 2008 we launched the SLR Private Hunting Club to create a world-class hunting and fishing club as an adjunct to our Ag operations.  Our primary consideration for this private club is that we limit the membership and hunting to levels appropriate for the natural resources of the ranch so that we maintain a quality hunt and social environment for the members.  Annually we review harvest levels, habitat quality, species observations and other factors to help us determine what future harvest targets are appropriate for the ranch.  This research helps define the annual membership cap as SLR is a wild game ranch with NO HIGH FENCES or “put and take stocking” (that is, we offer opportunities to hunt.  We DO NOT sell animals).

For the past five years we operated a model which catered to a very limited number of individuals who have had the ability to make numerous trips out to SLR, and while we placed limits on game harvests this model was, in essence, a one fee, all-you-can eat structure (from a ranch-usage perspective).  The old plan worked reasonably well for both SLR and its club members, but several considerations prompted us to institute procedural changes last year and revisit the structure more thoroughly this year.  In 2013, after careful review and intent to adhere to the principles discussed above, we decided to revise the structure of the hunting club and the result is a new plan which expands our membership base to 10 but creates a “pay-per-slot” plan.  The benefit to our members is the upfront cost of membership is far lower than in previous years, allowing members to tailor their use (and cost) to their busy schedules each year.  The benefit to SLR is we can cater to a few additional guys who have shown interest in Swanson Lake Ranch, but unable to join due to time constraints.  The larger membership base will be a hunting and (potentially) business networking benefit to all members and the new structure will allow us to better manage ranch usage and rest days between hunts.  Please note that while the membership numbers will potentially increase, harvests and hunting access will be restricted in ways to maintain the vision of quality of hunting described above.  Details are discussed, below.

Individual Membership Details

Fee Summary (for the 2013-2014 hunting season - Sept 1 2013 - August 31 2014)*

• No Initiation Fee*

• $2,000 annually for a Buck Membership ($1000 for a doe/bird-only membership)*

• $500 annually Waiting List - Upper Level*

• $100 annually Waiting List - Lower Level*

* These are annual membership fees.  Additional hunting slot fees may apply - see below for more details.  Fees apply to the current year only and are subject to change for future years.  For the 2013-2014 hunting season there is no initiation fee but SLR reserves the right to impose an initiation fee for members signing on after the 2013-2014 season.  Hunting and summer access are subject to the overall ranch rules, Nebraska State and Federal rules and regulations for hunting and fishing, and restrictions on hunting and memberships, defined below, and Swanson Lake Ranch, LLC makes no guarantees or representations as to the quality of the hunting or fishing, hunting or fishing success, or the quality or quantity of animals available for harvest. 

How the New Club will Operate

There are Four levels of membership: Buck, Doe/Bird, Waiting List - Upper Level, Waiting list - Lower Level.

• Slots are picked by seniority

• During slots that have waterfowl and upland seasons, waterfowl hunting may be conducted no more than 2 days per slot and upland bird hunting only one day per slot and those hunts are restricted to whomever “owns” the slot

• Most slots are 7 days but only 5 of the 7 may be hunted.  

• As long as a member is either a Buck or Doe/Bird member he has seniority with respect to choosing slots (and stepping up to a buck level membership if at a Doe/Bird only level). If he does not renew at either of those levels he loses seniority.  So a Buck member might decide to drop one year to a Doe/Bird member level but he retains seniority and the following year he is first in line to grab his Buck level back (if he wants it and if available).  Only when he drops to waiting list status (or out entirely) does he lose his seniority.

• Rounds of picks are based on time of year/what’s in season (deer season, turkey, etc)

• Full level members (Buck and Doe/Bird) get two rounds of selecting slots before other slots can be filled by the Waiting List – Upper Level and/or member guests

• Buck only stands/blinds can only be used by members paying for a Buck membership

• The member(s) that have a time slot reserved have access to all hunting, fishing, etc that is in season on SLR for that particular slot.  If two or more members share a slot, deer hunting prioritizes over bird hunting.

Payment

• Membership fees are due Sept. 1^st (to retain seniority) and are non-refundable

• Slot fees and guest waivers must be received by SLR before arriving at ranch

• 50% of the slot value must be paid for slots reserved but not used – unless another member or paying-guest takes the slot

     DISCLAIMER: Swanson Lake Ranch LLC retains the right to modify the SLR hunting club structure including, but not limited to, expanding or narrowing the membership base, revising the fee schedule, expanding or limiting game harvest levels, expanding or limiting slots, terminating members (fees for any slot paid but not yet used will be refunded), not renewing a member for the following season, and abolishing the hunting club entirely.  Additionally, while the owners intend to adhere to the guidelines set forth herein for all members, as has generally been the case in the past, the owners retain the right to exempt themselves from any and all such guidelines.  A member’s SOLE RECOURSE if he disagrees with such actions by the owners or has any grievance against Swanson Lake Ranch LLC, its owners or its hunting club members, will be to resign his membership for a refund of fees for any slots paid but not yet used.

Deer Hunting                       

Deer may only be hunted from established stands.  No still-hunting and no moving/setting up new stand locations.  Stands should be chosen daily for wind direction, timing of deer movements and access to stands must also be as instructed to minimize impact on deer movement.  Please note that several stands require access across the Republican River.  If the river presents a dangerous crossing situation, these stands should NOT be used.  That determination (and assumption of risk) is to be made by each member and/or his guest.

-          TS1   Archery Only   either

-          TS2   Archery Only   Buck ONLY

-          TS3   Rifle/Archery   either

-          TS4   Archery Only   Buck ONLY

-          TS5   Rifle/Archery   Buck ONLY

-          TS6   Rifle/Archery   either

-          TS7   Archery Only   either

-          TS8   Rifle/Archery   either

-          TS9   Archery Only   Buck ONLY

-          TS10  Archery Only   Buck ONLY

-          TS11  Rifle/Archery   either

-          TS12  Archery Only   Buck ONLY

-          TS13  Rifle/Archery   either

-          TS14  Archery Only   either

-          TS15  Rifle/Archery   either

-          GB1   Archery Only    either

-          GB2   Rifle/Archery    either

-          GB3   Rifle/Archery    either

-          GB4   Rifle/Archery    either

-          WBB  Rifle only         either

-          EBB   Rifle only         either

 

        A separate document and supporting map will provide locations to tree stands and blind locations along with wind directions and access instructions.

Waterfowl Hunting

Waterfowl hunting is restricted to zones designated by SLR and from a stationary position only.  Scouting and hunting the best locations within designated zones is encouraged - but jump shooting is not allowed.  All labeled Ponds are waterfowl hunting zones unless otherwise communicated by SLR. 

Upland Hunting

Upland Bird Hunting is restricted to zones designated by SLR to minimize impacts to other hunting opportunities on the property.  Designated upland zones are the CRP field, Farm Ground, sandhills around the Corral Windmill and SW Grazing Zone unless otherwise communicated by SLR

Turkey Hunting

Turkey Hunting is from existing blinds/stands set for deer hunting.  Temporary sets are also allowed but only OUTSIDE designated sanctuary zones.

Guests

• One guest is allowed per member during the time slot paid for, full members only (Buck and Doe/Bird members)

• Guests must use same stand, blind, etc that member is in.  If a member wants his guest to hunt independently, the guest has to pay the $500 Waiting List – Upper Level fee and purchase a hunting slot, if available.                                                                                                                                                                        

Limits for Harvest (and Guest restrictions)

• Buck membership:  Full membership allows the potential to harvest 1 buck, 3 does, 3 turkeys, waterfowl and upland hunting, plus attend the SLR Annual Dove Hunt.  Allowed one guest per slot.

While SLR encourages the harvesting of mature bucks, there is no minimum size for bucks taken.  For wounded and unrecovered bucks, the member’s buck quota is considered filled but the member may continue to hunt does.  A member's limit of one buck, three does and three turkeys harvested per year includes those harvested by the member's guests.

•       Doe/Bird membership:  Full membership allows the potential to harvest 2 does, 3 turkeys, waterfowl and upland hunting plus Annual Dove Hunt.  Allowed one guest per slot.  This is a full membership and maintains seniority with the Buck memberships for picking slots.  A member's limit of two does and three turkeys harvested per year includes those harvested by the member's guests

•       Waiting List – Upper Level: In addition to the Annual Dove Hunt, allows for the option to visit and hunt the ranch independently (own blind or stand) once per season.  Adam, Mike or Sponsoring Member must be present on SLR to provide guidance.  Has no seniority relative to the Buck and Doe/Bird membership levels.  May select slot only after full members have had two rounds of selecting slots.  Must pay for value of the slot plus the $500 Waiting List – Upper Level fee.  Potential to harvest 1 doe, 1 turkey, waterfowl and upland hunting.  No guest allowed.  Has priority/seniority over the Waiting List – Lower Level for Buck or Doe/Bird memberships.

•      Waiting List - Lower level: Includes Annual Dove Hunt but no other independent visits to the ranch.  Maintains seniority on the lower level waiting list only.

Membership Levels (max 10 full members for 2013/2014)

$2000 Buck Membership:  Limit 6, most-senior members can choose buck option 1st

$1000 Doe Membership:  Limit 10 (if zero buck memberships are purchased)

$500 Waiting list - Upper level:  Limit to one trip to SLR per year

$100 Waiting list - Lower level:  No use of ranch other than Annual Dove Hunt invite

OTHER FEES: Members will be expected to pay a minimum $50 per stay cleaning fee.  Please leave more if you feel there is extra work to be done.  Also an additional $10 per persons if above 4 people.  No more than 6 in the lodge for any one stay.

Slots Dates and Slot Fees

Slots are generally a 7-day long period; only 5 of the 7 days for the time frame may be hunted. 6 -Day slots are expected to have one rest day.  Rifle season will have zero rest days.  Waterfowl hunting is limited to 2 days per slot and upland bird hunting is limited to one day per slot. Goal is to have at least two rest days on the ranch between hunts when possible.

Discount for offsite stay:  SLR will discount $50/night any slot purchased where the member and his guest does not lodge, tent, camp, car-camp, etc on the premises of Swanson Lake Ranch.

      Early Dove and Teal Season: Three slots available per period, one guest per member; guests must be hunting same area/blind as member.  If guest is to hunt independently, a $500 Waiting List – Upper Level must be purchased in addition to the slot itself.

• Aug 31 to Sept 2                     Annual Dove Hunt included in membership dues

• Dove 1 Sept 3 to 6       $300

• Dove 2 Sept 7 to 13     $500 (also includes early teal)      

Deer Season: Two slots available per period (three slots for rifle season, but all hunting must be done from designated Rifle Stands), guests must share stand/blind with member.  If guest is to hunt independently, a $500 Waiting List – Upper Level fee must be paid in addition to the slot itself.  During open waterfowl and upland seasons, waterfowl hunting is limited to two days per slot and upland hunting to one day.  During a given period no more than two stands may be occupied (three during rifle season). 

• Archery 1 Sept 14 to 20          $800(also dove and early teal)

• Archery 2 Sept 21 to 27          $500 (also late dove)

• Archery 3 Sept 28 to Oct 4      $500 (also late dove)

• Archery 4 Oct 5 to 11             $500

• Archery 5 Oct 12 to 18            $500

• Archery 6 Oct 19 to 25           $1000 (also includes waterfowl)

• Archery 7 Oct 26 to Nov 1       $1500 (also includes waterfowl, upland, etc)

• Archery 8 Nov 2 to 8              $1500 (also includes waterfowl, upland, etc)

• Archery 9 Nov 9 to 15             $1500 (also includes waterfowl, upland, etc)

• Rifle 1 Nov 16 to 20                $2000 (no other hunting during rifle)

• Rifle 2 Nov 21 to 24                $1600 (no other hunting during rifle, short slot)

• Archery 10 Nov 25 to 30          $1000 (also include waterfowl, upland etc)

• Muzzle/Archery 1 Dec 1 to 6     $1000 (also include waterfowl, upland etc)

• Muzzle/Archery 2 Dec 7 to 13    $1000 (also include waterfowl, upland etc)

• Muzzle/Archery 3 Dec 14 to 20  $1000 (also include waterfowl, upland etc)

• Muzzle/Archery 4 Dec 21 to 27  $1000 (also include waterfowl, upland etc)

• Muzzle/Archery 5 Dec 28 to 31   $800 (also include waterfowl, upland etc)

• Doe season 1 Jan 1 to 4           $700  (also includes waterfowl upland etc)

• Doe season 2 Jan 5 to 11          $700  (also includes waterfowl upland etc)

• Doe season 3 Jan 12 to 17        $700 (also includes waterfowl, upland, etc,)

Late season waterfowl and upland bird season: Three slots available per time period, guests must accompany member.  If more than 1 guest, additional slots must be purchased.  No more than 6 persons can hunt waterfowl or upland game on SLR during a given period.

• Late waterfowl and upland 1 Jan 18 to 24      $500

• Late waterfowl and upland 2 Jan 25 to 31      $500

• Late goose Feb 1 to 7                                $500

• Spring snow  goose 1  Feb 8 to 14                $300

• Spring snow goose 2 Feb 15 to 21                $300

• Spring snow goose 3 Feb 22 to 28                $300

• Spring snow goose 4 March 1 to 7                $300

• Spring snow goose 5 March 8 to 14               $300

• Spring snow goose 6 March 15 to 21             $300

• Spring snow goose 7 March 22 to 24             $200 (short slot)

Turkey Season: Three slots available per time period, guest must accompany member.  If guest is to hunt independently, a $500 Waiting List – Upper Level fee must be paid in addition to the slot itself.  No more than 6 persons may hunt at any give time period and no more than three separate locations on the ranch can be hunted at a time. 

• Archery 1  March 25 to 28                         $500 (includes snow goose, short slot)

• Archery 2 March 29 to April 4                     $500 (includes snow goose)

• Archery 3 April 5 to 11                              $500 (includes snow goose)

• Shot gun 1 April 12 to 18                           $500 (includes snow goose)

• Shotgun 2 April 19 to 25                            $500

• Shotgun 3 April 26 to May 2                       $500

• Shotgun 4 May 3 to 9                               $500

• Shotgun 5 May 10 to 16                            $500

• Shotgun 6 May 17 to 23                            $500

• Shotgun 7 May 24 to 31                            $500

Summer Fishing: 

• $50 per night for up to 4 guests; $25 per night per each guest over 4

• Member must also pay a $50 cleaning fee for the stay.  $10 additional for each guest over 4.  No more than 6 people in the lodge per stay.

• No charge if headed out there to work on project list with Mike or Adam

• No slots, just first come first serve

 

Work Detail

Each full member (Buck and Doe/Bird) must contribute at least two work days annually or $250 toward maintenance projects.  Work detail will entail such items as tree-stand lane clearing and maintenance, cattail control, surrogator maintenance, trash and timber removal, trail maintenance, and pond management work.

Licenses, Waivers and Membership Revocation

Members and guests are obligated to adhere to their assigned slots, hunt ethically, responsibly and safely, obey all state and federal wildlife hunting and fishing laws, have in possession all required state and federal hunting and fishing licenses, refrain from damaging or littering the ranch, and maintain as little impact as possible to the environment.  Memberships DO NOT include hunting and fishing license fees or guide services.  Members and their guests are also required to read certain documents which go into greater detail about ranch rules and safety, and read and sign the Liability Waiver and Release Agreement.  Note that Swanson Lake Ranch, LLC may revoke a membership at any time and membership fees are not refunded, whether a member leaves voluntarily or involuntarily.  Swanson Lake Ranch, LLC, makes no guarantees or representations as to the quality of the hunting or fishing, hunting or fishing success, or the quality or quantity of animals available for harvest.

 

Please note that at certain times, members may be hunting or participating in their recreational activities with other members, guests, and the SLR owners.

SLR Lodge

Members and guests must adhere to the Lodge Cleaning Checklist and Rules and abide by all other SLR written requests regarding the use and maintenance of the facilities.  Please note that open fires are not allowed at SLR at any time.  Grilling is permitted only in the grill provided and fires are allowed only in the wood-burning stove.

Progress Update - as of April 2012

We have reached a milestone with our fifth season is in the books and we are again happy to report record harvests and/or viewed numbers in all species categories.  The spring turkey season is underway but promises to be a good one with record number of birds on the property.  We again saw notable gains in upland, waterfowl and deer, leading us to believe our habitat management and wetlands restoration work are paying dividends.  Also, after four years of site evaluation and impact studies, we constructed Swanson Lake Ranch Lodge – a beautiful three-bedroom facility with a large wrap-around deck overlooking Horseshoe Pond.  We are please to note that within days of completion, and through the remainder of the season, Horseshoe Pond held thousands of migratory ducks and geese - providing a spectacular view from the lodge.

In the waterfowl category our aeration work, contracted with Absolute Natural Resources, continues to pay dividends and we secured bids for new aeration locations, perhaps for the 2013-2014 season.  Concurrent with the SLR Lodge construction, a new length of aeration conduit was run toward Horseshoe Pond, our next aeration site.  The most notable impact on waterfowl, however, came from the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) wetlands restoration work completed late summer 2009.  This work resulted in the elimination of a large number of invasive Russian Olive and Cedar trees and the creation of six new shallow-water ponds.  The invasive tree removal work has helped maintain higher levels of ground water for the wetland habitats and should allow for higher-quality native trees, shrubs and grasses to grow in their place.  The partial dredging of the mile-long slough that runs east-west through the property, that created the new wetlands ponds, removed a large quantity of cattails, which are water-intensive and a poor cover plant, and will allow for growth of native wetland grasses which will provide better cover and nutrients for migratory waterfowl.  As noted previously, within weeks of the completion of the WRP project we witnessed a substantial increase in waterfowl on the property, utilizing the new wetland ponds and this has continued throughout the past three fall migratory seasons and resulted in some spectacular (“World Class,” as one member described it) duck shooting, both in these newly restored wetland regions as well as on the older SLR ponds. This past season saw several successful waterfowl shoots – including one donated by SLR to the Aspen Ducks Unlimited chapter

The moist soils that were displaced from the WRP slough dredging work were deposited in certain areas that became our newest food plots (now numbering six).  Adam Wells has considerable experience in food plot development and has deployed a custom mix of seed varieties for SLR to establish our food plots.  The results to date are impressive.  Our alfalfa food plots have taken extremely well and are now home to a large number of turkey, deer and pheasant and our first planted food plot – a pheasant mix of milo, sorghum, etc – showed amazing growth again this year and continues to hold more birds each year.  In short, the food plot effort at SLR is underway and should be a significant contributor to the property in the coming years.

We last reported that the upland hunting remains a work-in-progress and we continue to expect this to be the case for some years to come.  In 2009 SLR made a significant step forward in its upland bird program after evaluating several early-release pheasant and quail field systems and finally selecting a system called the Surrogator – a self-contained watering, feeding and heating system for quail and pheasant chicks.  We purchased two Surrogators and in each ran three cycles of 125 quail or 75 pheasant.  The birds were placed in the Surrogators as day-old chicks and released into the wild at five weeks, with low mortality rates.  Human contact with the birds during these five-week timeframes was minimal which enhances the birds’ ability to survive in the wild, integrate with our existing wild bird species and, possibly, imprint to the Surrogator locations.  Early in the program we located several large coveys of quail and increased numbers of pheasant and came across our first coveys of quail during that fall hunting season.  And the results continue to be promising.  Throughout calendar 2011 we heard and/or saw increased numbers of pheasant roosters on the property and harvested a few more roosters than in previous years.  For the 2011-2012 season SLR resumed its Surrogator work, releasing 300 five-week old quail chicks to the wild.  Our current plan is to run Surrogator cycles every other year.

In deer hunting the 2011 hunting season was a big success.  One highlight of the season was continued increased doe harvesting efforts by our members and an increased quantity of large bucks viewed on the property - but we are also happy to report that a few large bucks were also harvested.  The big bucks in and around the property are elusive but patience paid dividends in 2011.  Congrats to our members for a very successful year!  As noted previously, there were a few improvements in stand locations and access last year and we believe these changes will again result in a better doe harvest and increased opportunities for large bucks.  For 2012, SLR is also adding two new bale blinds and four new ladder stands.  These items have been acquired and will be in place this spring and summer.

As mentioned previously, the ultimate vision for SLR centers largely around ongoing habitat management, though we think the land is already quite unique and the less we impact the better.  That said, there are some notable infrastructure improvements we have made in our first 48 months of ownership and we have plans in place to do more.  In addition to the aeration system mentioned above, we have a large five-man duck blind on one pond and are planning to add aeration and a second blind to another pond.  We also have waterfowl ground blinds and, as noted, added several 15-foot ladder stands for deer hunting to compliment the box blinds already on the property (and this year will add more blinds and stands, as noted above).  In 2008 we acquired several 3-D archery targets and two years ago we completed an 11-station sporting clays course.  Our first year of ownership, we installed a covered boat dock located on Horseshoe Pond and this past year SLR acquired a new bass boat for the ponds.  For the 2011-2012 season we are pleased to report our members had good success fishing for bass, crappie and bluegill and for 2012-2013 SLR is going to embark upon a bass and crappie re-stocking program to further enhance the fishing experience at SLR.

The final infrastructure project on our roadmap, as mentioned previously, was the addition of a ranch home completed late 2010.  Timber Creek Homes of Stratton, NE and other local contractors helped construct a beautiful three-bedroom home with a wrap-around deck and large garage and in 2011 we completed the landscaping and road and driveway improvement work.  Some interior improvements were also made in 2011 and a few more enhancements will be added in 2012, but the project is largely complete which will allow us to focus on related additions such as a bird cleaning and deer processing facility, dog kennel and storage area.

As you can see, there are a lot of interesting things going on at SLR and more to come in the future.  Please note that the above mentioned improvements and services will be evaluated on an ongoing basis and provided only if determined to be in the best interest of the Club and Swanson Lake Ranch, LLC.  While we expect future funds from membership fees and other sources of income will be used for these improvements and services, Swanson Lake Ranch, LLC makes no representation to current or future guests or members that these improvements and services will be provided, and may, at any time, revise membership fees, rights & obligations to reflect the addition of improvements and services or other factors.  Contact us for more.

Other

We feel it is important for our members and prospective members to know we are committed to running SLR as a professionally-managed business.  The property is owned by a Nebraska LLC which maintains liability and asset insurance in-force covering all aspects of agricultural farming, ranching, hunting, fishing and other related outdoor recreation activities.  We have developed relationships with over forty vendors, established memberships for SLR in Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and the National Wild Turkey Federation, work closely with the NRCS and WRP, and maintain a website geared toward promoting the club and establishing and maintaining relationships with noted individuals in the outdoor world to help our venture along.  In all aspects we endeavor to make SLR a well-managed, safe, enjoyable hunting club.

Thanks again for your interest in Swanson Lake Ranch.  We look forward to hunting and fishing with you in the near future.

More Questions?  See our FAQ