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'Old Fashioned' hunting experience is goal of Eustis wildlife management business

“If a hunter is looking for an old fashioned hunting experience – the way it used to be, the type of hunt your parents and grandparents talk about – we are the destination of choice,”says Arlo Schurr.

Schurr and his father LaRaye and their families manage 4,000 acres of habitat near Eustis, Nebraska, and provide hunting privileges for pheasant, quail, turkey, Nebraska mule deer and whitetail deer, rabbit, and coyote from September through March.

“We are a family-owned farming, ranching and wildlife management business,” said Schurr. “Since I can remember, our family hosted hunters from Texas, Colorado and other states, and now we are expanding this opportunity to ethical hunters from across the globe.”

The Schurr family’s hunting business evolved from both the increasing demand from hunters searching for hunting opportunities and the continuing drought on the Great Plains.

“The farming economy is never certain, and we wanted to find another use for our land,” said Schurr. “We considered many options and decided hunting seemed like a good fit for us.”

Great Nebraska Hunting manages over 4,000 acres for hunting.

“We try to maintain our costs at reasonable rates so middle-income hunters can afford to enjoy a hunt in Nebraska,” said Schurr. “Our service particularly appeals to experienced hunters who like to spend all day and never leave the land until dark. Hunters usually bring their own dogs, and as much as they like shooting their limits in birds, they enjoy watching their dogs point and hunt.”

Hunters comment that they especially enjoy the hunt on Great Nebraska Hunting property because when Schurr stocks birds, he puts them out in stages so they quickly regain their wild instincts.

“We don’t raise our game birds on site,” said Schurr. “We buy pheasants from a supplier north of Eustis, so our birds do not fly back to the flight pens once they get the chance.”

Marketing is important to business success

Potential customers can find Great Nebraska Hunting in a number of ways. A search of the Internet will turn up their Web site at www.greatnebraskahunting.com, after which hunters can contact them by phone or email. The firm also has a booth at outdoor sports shows in Des Moines and North Platte, and is considering adding other shows in Denver, South Dakota and Nebraska.. Great Nebraska Hunting also has a regular ad in Bird Dog & Retriever magazine, among others, and also conducts an Internet advertising program.

Still, Schurr says, “Our best marketing tool is word-of-mouth. Hunters who enjoy the experience at Great Nebraska Hunting tell their friends. We do everything we can to make the experience enjoyable because our customers are important to us, and we want them to return.”

To hold body and soul together during the renovation, Dusti, who had cultivated skills in graphic design and computer animation, worked for the University of Nebraska from home, while Joseph worked for a professional film lab in Lincoln.

Though the period required a lot of hard work and sacrifice, today Alma can boast a state-of-the-art film lab in addition to a very pleasant coffee house with historic brick walls, rich jewel-toned paint, memorable landscape photos and comfortable seating that calls to mind favorite coffee houses in cities like Minneapolis or San Francisco.

Getting an edge wiht EDGE

In considering his business options, Schurr took EDGE (Enhancing, Developing, and Growing Entrepreneurs) classes offered through the University of Nebraska.

“I put in over 400 hours preparing a business plan, and the EDGE class instructors and EDGE coursework are invaluable,” Schurr said. “Researching, developing, and writing a business plan is an immensely useful process. I’d advise anyone who wants to get into a business to take the EDGE course.”

Among the considerations in Schurr’s plan were the availability of nearby services.

“The Eustis community provides excellent services to our hunters and is supportive of the business,” Schurr said. The firm reciprocates by using local people who are experienced hunters as guides.

An Eye on the Future

The canyon land near Eustis offers excellent habitat for game, and habitat development is among Schurr’s interests in continuing the hunting business. Schurr noted Great Nebraska Hunting is increasing the acres seeded to natural habitat to feed and shelter additional pheasant and quail chicks.

The company also has plans to build onsite lodging for hunters.

“Most hunters want to stay on the ranch,” Schurr says. “I have lost business because I have no lodging here. Hunters tell me that they enjoy being out in the canyon country and away from towns and urban lifestyles, so it makes sense.” Currently, hunters reserve rooms in Cozad or Elwood.

Still, Schurr is eager to keep his operation affordable.

“I want to keep the prices reasonable so hunters in this region are able to hunt on the property as well as out of state hunters.”

Great Nebraska Hunting tries to gives its customers a simple, straightforward hunting experience in the old fashioned tradition. And for many, it’s just what they’re looking for.

Who To Contact...

Great Nebraska Hunting
Arlo Schurr
RR1, Box 55
Eustis, NE 69028
877-685-7305
www.greatnebraskahunting.com
greathunt@atcjet.net

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