There’s a quiet shift happening in luxury travel.
In place of another beach resort or ski chalet, sophisticated travelers are flocking to private sporting preserves. Enormous properties that span thousands of acres of protected habitat, these exclusive estates provide anything from clay shooting to upland bird hunting.
But the numbers back it up. The wildlife hunting tourism market size is expected to reach $3.25 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 21.9%.
Here’s why it matters:
One thing private preserves have that no five star hotel can match is acres of room service with top-notch sporting opportunities.
Let’s take a closer look…
In this guide:
- The Rise Of Private Sporting Preserves
- The Bulk Ammunition & Gear Question
- What Makes These Estates Different
- What To Look For When Booking
- The Experience Beyond The Shooting Range
The Rise Of Private Sporting Preserves
Private sporting preserves aren’t new. However, their popularity with luxury travelers is booming.
Based on recent statistics, hunting and shooting activity generated $16.5 billion in outdoor recreation economic activity, making it one of the fastest-growing conventional outdoor activities in the country.
Why the sudden interest?
Discerning travelers want experiences that are:
- Private and exclusive
- Off the beaten path
- Skills-based (not just passive)
- Backed by high-end service
Preserves has it all. Guests can spend the morning on a 19 station sporting clays course, take lunch made by a chef, then venture out to hunt upland birds in the afternoon without ever having to leave the premises.
That’s the kind of experience a Caribbean resort just can’t offer.
Changing travel habits since the pandemic have contributed as well. Travelers are seeking out wide open spaces, minimal crowds and hands-on activities. Preserves hits the trifecta and then some.
The Bulk Ammunition & Gear Question
When visitors first learn about preserves, one of the first questions they ask is what to expect regarding gear. Does a preserve provide everything? Do you travel there with your own shotguns and shells?
Here’s the deal:
Many premier preserves will provide loaner shotguns, safety gear, and shells at your destination. Most avid hunters however will travel with their own equipment.
This is why planning ahead comes in handy. Most folks that travel to preserves often will purchase bulk ammo prior to leaving on their trip. Purchasing your ammo in bulk keeps prices down while allowing you to maintain uniformity throughout your shoot. Shooting 200-300 shells in a day on a sporting clays course is very common, staying at a preserve for multiple days can rack that number up significantly.
Bulk ammo has another major convenience factor if you intend to shoot at multiple preserves during a hunting trip. You can purchase large amounts of the same ammo and not have to worry about mixing and matching boxes. Same shells, same performance, no surprises.
Please verify the preserve’s ammunition policy prior to your arrival. Some estates mandate certain sizes of shot for upland bird hunts.
What Makes These Estates Different
Traditional luxury resorts sell relaxation. Sporting preserves sell experience.
Think about it…
Guests aren’t merely hanging around a pool. They’re checking their aim, under the tutelage of certified instructors, and experiencing solitude made possible by 3,500 acres of private forest.
Most preserves offer a mix of:
- Sporting clays courses
- Upland bird hunts
- Fly fishing
- Equestrian activities
- Big game hunts (on select estates)
- Fine dining and spa services
The best part is that these activities come complete with luxury accommodations: think cedar hot tubs, five star restaurants, private cottages, award-winning service. Many estates have hired Michelin trained chefs to operate their culinary programs.
That’s a very different vacation than a typical hotel stay.
Plus since most preserves are family owned or member operated, service is more personalized. Employees learn your name, what shot loads you like and your favourite spot on the property. You just won’t get that kind of attention at a big brand resort.
What To Look For When Booking
Not all sporting preserves are created equal.
Some preserves are members-only and difficult to get into. Some are lodges that allow overnight stays and cater to novice visitors. When selecting a preserve, there are a few factors to consider:
Size: Size matters. The more acres you have the more secluded you will be, longer trails to ride and more diversity in terrain. Avoid preserves under 500 acres as they can get crowded.
Variety in styles: Search for sporting clays, five stand, trap, skeet and long-range facilities. An excellent preserve has options for all abilities.
Guide quality: Definitely makes or breaks the trip. Verify qualifications of on-site staff prior to purchase.
Standards for lodging: Ideally, preserves should feel like a five-star resort that just so happens to have a shooting range on the property – not a rundown hunting lodge with plywood bunks.
Activities outside the range: Fly fishing, dude ranches, spa treatments and gourmet restaurants. Don’t forget about these things. You might even be traveling with family or friends that don’t shoot.
Get these right and the trip becomes something guests will talk about for years.
The Experience Beyond The Shooting Range
Here’s what most people don’t realize about sporting preserves…
Facilities are geared toward much more than shooting. Some of the premier estates have even evolved into little luxury resorts with championship caliber ranges conveniently located on property. No wonder they draw families, couples, and corporate groups as well as hardcore marksmen.
A typical day at a top-tier preserve looks like this:
- Morning: Sporting clays or upland hunt
- Midday: Chef-driven lunch at the main lodge
- Afternoon: Fly fishing, horseback riding, or spa treatment
- Evening: Fine dining, wine tastings, and time by the fire
Other estates offer helicopter entrances from nearby cities. There are estates with full equestrian centers, off road driving ranges, and private homes that you can purchase membership into for full time access.
Variety like that is why travelers are moving away from luxury resorts. Curious travelers don’t want just a hotel room with a pool anymore.
They want an experience. And preserves deliver that in a way few destinations can.
Bringing It All Together
Private sporting preserves have become one of the most interesting corners of luxury travel.
They offer:
- Privacy that hotels can’t match
- World-class sporting facilities on-site
- Five-star lodging and dining
- Activities that engage the whole family
Preserves offer vacationers something different from another beach towel to set their stuff on. In fact, with the wildlife hunting tourism industry expected to nearly quadruple in the next ten years, they will continue to increase in popularity.
The best move?
Make reservations early. Presets book up quickly during the busy fall shooting season. Plan your trip, get your equipment together, purchase bulk ammo well in advance and prepare for one of the most rewarding travel experiences you will ever have.
