A guide for BirdDog operators on diversifying beyond hunting with 17 revenue-generating experiences, from fishing and clay shooting to farm-to-table dinners, corporate retreats, and weddings. Covers pricing principles, seasonal calendar planning, and how to get started by listing new experiences on your BirdDog profile.
Most operators come to BirdDog for hunting. That makes sense — it's the anchor experience for outdoor recreation on private land. But if hunting is the only thing on your profile, you're leaving money on the table.
Take a walk around your property. The fields, the timber, the water, the views, the lodge, the barn, the open sky at night — every piece of your land has value to someone. Hunters see game habitat. Families see an adventure. Photographers see golden hour. Corporate groups see a retreat. A bride sees the best backdrop in the county.
BirdDog lets you list any experience on your property — not just hunting. And the more experiences you offer, the more reasons hunters, families, and groups have to find you, book you, and come back.
Here are 17 experiences worth considering. You don't need to offer all of them. But chances are, at least a few of these are already possible on your land — you just haven't listed them yet.
Hunting is the foundation for most BirdDog operators. Demand is seasonal and species-specific — whitetail rifle season, spring turkey, dove opener, waterfowl. Pricing varies widely by region and what's included: day hunts for dove or quail can run $200-500 per person, while multi-day guided trophy hunts command significantly more. If hunting is your primary experience, the rest of this list builds around it — filling shoulder seasons, attracting new audiences, and generating revenue when the blinds are empty.
Fishing is the natural complement. If your property has water — stock ponds, rivers, streams, lakes — you've got a fishing experience. Day access, guided trips, and catch-and-release sessions all work. Demand peaks in spring and summer, which is exactly when most hunting seasons are closed. Fishing fills the gap.
Clay Shooting works year-round, doesn't require hunting season or licenses in most states, and appeals to corporate groups, bachelor parties, and families. A basic sporting clays setup has low overhead once it's built, and it fills calendar gaps during shoulder seasons when hunting is slow.
Horseback Riding appeals to families, couples, and guests looking for a non-hunting outdoor experience. Trail rides, sunset rides, and ranch tours on horseback pair naturally with lodging packages. Staffing is the biggest consideration — you need experienced wranglers or guides.
ATV/UTV Rides have broad appeal — families, groups, and hunters who want to explore the property. Guided trail rides on maintained paths offer a high-energy experience that's easy to repeat. Groups who ride once often come back.
Camping and Glamping turns your scenic land into an overnight destination. Basic tent camping requires minimal infrastructure — cleared sites, fire rings, water access. Glamping — furnished tents, yurts, or converted structures — commands premium pricing and attracts a broader audience. Either way, overnight stays increase the chances that guests book additional experiences while they're on property.
Stargazing is one of the easiest experiences to add because it requires almost no infrastructure. If your property is far from city light pollution — and most BirdDog properties are — you already have the venue. A telescope, some reclining chairs, and a clear night sky. Bundle it as an add-on to lodging stays or offer standalone guided sessions on summer and fall evenings.
Birdwatching is a growing market. Serious birders travel specifically to add species to their life lists, and if your property sits on a migration corridor, near wetlands, or has diverse habitat, you're a destination. Guided walks during spring and fall migration windows are the sweet spot. Pairs well with photography workshops.
Foraging Walks are guided experiences where guests learn to identify edible plants, mushrooms, wild herbs, and berries on your property. Minimal equipment needed — a knowledgeable guide, collection baskets, and a species guide. Pairs beautifully with a farm-to-table dinner: forage in the morning, eat what you found that evening.
Photography Workshops package access to your already-scenic land for photographers. Landscape sessions, wildlife photography from blinds, golden hour shoots — your property is the studio. Partner with a local photography instructor or offer self-guided property access during sunrise and sunset windows. Demand peaks during fall color and spring wildflower seasons.
Farm School Field Trips are an underappreciated revenue source with built-in repeat demand. Schools, homeschool co-ops, and youth groups are constantly looking for educational destinations. Animal encounters, planting, harvesting, nature walks, and land stewardship lessons all work. Groups of 30-60 students add up fast, and schools book months in advance.
Farm-to-Table Dinners are a premium experience with strong demand from couples, corporate groups, and food-focused travelers. A long table in a field, locally sourced ingredients, a hired chef or local caterer — one dinner can generate significant revenue in a single evening. Run them monthly or quarterly and they'll book out.
Working Ranch Weekends let guests pay to participate in real ranch work — moving cattle, mending fences, feeding livestock, riding. No special infrastructure needed — your working ranch is the product. Strong appeal to families, couples seeking a unique getaway, and corporate team-building groups.
Dog Training and Retriever Trials serve a niche but loyal audience. Hunting dog owners need land to train on, and retriever clubs need venues for trials and hunt tests. If you already run a hunting operation, the infrastructure is largely in place — open fields, water access, and a safe training area.
Hay Rides and Corn Mazes are seasonal agritourism with massive family appeal. Fall is the primary window, and demand on weekends is intense. Lower per-ticket pricing but high volume — a busy Saturday can bring hundreds of visitors. Requires more setup than most items on this list, but the revenue potential and community visibility are significant.
Corporate Retreats and Team Building work if you have lodging, a gathering space (even a covered porch or barn), and a few activities from this list. Bundle lodging, meals, clay shooting, horseback riding, or a farm-to-table dinner into a package. Companies pay a premium for offsite team experiences, and they fill midweek calendar gaps when individual hunters aren't booking.
Weddings and Private Events can be a major revenue driver if your property has scenic views, a barn, or outdoor gathering space. A single weekend venue rental can generate more than a month of hunting bookings. This requires more infrastructure — power, restrooms, parking, a rain plan — but for properties with the right setting, the return is substantial.
Every experience on this list has a different pricing model, but a few principles apply across the board.
Price based on what's included, not just the activity. A guided horseback ride with a sunset stop and a packed dinner is worth more than a one-hour trail loop. A hunting experience with lodging, meals, and a guide is a different product than a day pass. The more complete the experience, the more you can charge — and the more a guest feels taken care of.
Look at what comparable experiences charge in your region. You don't need to be the cheapest option — operators who compete on price attract price-sensitive customers. But you do need to be in the ballpark. If guided fishing trips in your area run $200-400 a day, pricing yours at $800 without a clear reason will slow your bookings.
Don't undercharge because the experience feels simple. A stargazing session might feel "easy" to offer, but the guest is paying for access to your land, the darkness of your sky, and the memory of the evening — not the telescope. Price the experience, not the equipment.
The biggest opportunity on this list is filling the calendar year-round. Most hunting seasons cluster in fall and winter. That leaves spring and summer wide open — and that's exactly when families travel, corporate groups plan retreats, and event season peaks.
Map your experiences to the calendar: hunting and waterfowl in fall and winter, fishing and horseback riding in spring and summer, farm-to-table dinners on warm evenings, corn mazes in October, stargazing on clear summer nights, corporate retreats in the mild shoulder months. The goal isn't to offer everything at once — it's to have something bookable in every season so your land is generating revenue twelve months a year.
You don't need to launch ten new experiences tomorrow. Start with one or two that your property can support right now with minimal new equipment or infrastructure. List them on your BirdDog profile under Experiences, add strong photos (see our Photography Best Practices guide), write an honest description, and set your pricing and availability.
Pay attention to what generates interest. Your listing views, inquiries, and bookings on the dashboard will tell you which experiences resonate — and which ones might need adjusting. Then build from there.