Frequently Asked Questions

We hope you understand that it is our goal to provide our guests the best experience and memories possible. In order to give our staff the needed time to complete their tasks and be ready for your arrival, they cannot address guest needs properly while preparing lodgings for occupation. Therefore, in an effort to make everything run smoother and have the guests have a better arrival experience, please arrange your travel plans so that you arrive at Reed Ranch's gate no earlier than 6pm for check-in at the manager's cabin on the day of your scheduled arrival date. 

Yes, but please stay on the trails. The only time off-roading is acceptable is during the hunt and you are retrieving your deer or getting off the road to let another vehicle pass. There are too many stumps hiding in the high grass and may be non visible animal burrows, wires old fencing or other unexpected farming debris from the last century in unknown places. Be safe and stay on the trails please. Please no speeding.

Yes. Unfortunately, it is a sign of the times that to ensure the continued existence of the ranch for your and other guest's use, part of doing business includes this hassle.  Please read it carefully and if you have a question on anything feel free to call us at 888-284-4145.

You can have Carla send you one by e-mail, fax or mail or print one off of the website here, and bring it with you. Just give it to the ranch manager when you arrive. Or tell the manager when you check in that you need a waiver for your guest and return the signed copy to the manager right away.

No. You may list all minors on your rental agreement, but any children not considered minors any longer need to sign the waiver for our files.

It is suggested that those guests who are bringing unrelated children, would be advised to get a temporary power of attorney for the care and welfare of those children traveling with them in the case of medical emergency.

It helps us track how many hunters we have and coordinate our management needs with our hunters' activities and needs. The money helps fund our Quality Deer Management program.

Yes. It is for the opportunity to hunt on the ranch for a buck and or doe (dependent upon the target doe harvest number).

Your hunting access fee is good from bow through the end of the year, until you get your deer. Lodging costs are separate.  If you harvest a deer, you must gain permission from the manager and pay a second hunting access fee to continue hunting.

If you give your name to Carla, our reservations person, to be added to the hunters list, she will send you a hunting packet when it comes out in the summer.

It meets every year at on November 14th at 1:00 PM in Liberty Hall. If you wish to observe, please contact either your group committee representative Tom Proctor or Carla for details. All Reed Ranch hunters are welcome.

Yes, but speak with the Manager before locating it in the woods. You are still to use the Stand reservation system the rest of the hunters do & stay in the close vicinity of the designated wooden deer stand. This should keep you out of another hunter's area. 

The Reed family has been eating the Ranch venison for over 80 years, and it is tasty! Proper field dressing technique and meat handling protocol is important as with any raw meat.
We are situated within a MI DNR Deer Management Unit (DMU 452) that is located within the larger DMU 487.  This area is the core Bovine TB section of the state. Due to the lack of agriculture fields near our land, the deer do not congregate in a way the transmits the disease readily.  As a result, we have had less than a half dozen reported bTB positive deer for as far back as anyone can remember. Symptoms are easy to spot when field dressing a deer, but as a precaution, we still recommend using the free lab testing available at the DNR check stations.  
We are nowhere near any area that has reported CWD cases.

NO, not during rifle season. Stalking is not appropriate as you may wander into another hunter's hunting area (bad idea). This activity for rifle hunting is actually counter-intuitive and serves to spread your scent all over the forest scaring a good number of deer into bedding down or fleeing all together, and can ruin the hunting in the area for a day or more. They generally hear, smell and see you long before you can see them. Bring a book, surf the net on your cell phone, write a letter, but don't ruin your hunting and possibly someone else's by crashing about in the brush.
Bow season hunters may "still hunt" but must stay in their designated area for the same safety reasons and considerations to fellow bow hunters on the property.

If you need to track a deer you have just shot, allow at least 20 minutes to elapse before setting out after it, then be aware if tracking for a distance that you might end up in another hunter's area. Be cautious and courteous.
Ranch staff can help with tracking.
Do not track beyond the ranch property without contacting the manager.  Permission must be obtained by him from our neighbors first.

No. We need to keep disturbances at a minimum from October through December and therefor it is policy not to allow touring of the side roads during deer seasons. We ask that every hunter restrict vehicle movements on side roads to driving to and from their blinds by the agreed upon routs that have the least impact on other hunters that may be hunting near you or near where you may be driving past. This includes not speeding. please be considerate.

Yes. This is a nice thing to do and makes hunting much more fun. However, it is unlawful to carry a firearm to the stand with you unless you are carrying a valid state hunting permit.

Yes, but only in Lakes David and/or Shamrock during a period when hunters are present - due to the severe restriction of movement on the side roads during the hunt. If there are no hunters on the property at the time of your stay you can fish in any of our lakes you like.

Yes, just remember we have a catch & release policy, and please only keep the number of fish that you can eat in a day during your visit.  Remember that we don't stock these lakes. If you strip them out they won't be there next time.

Yes, however, your boat must be very clean and dry, free of any Lake mud or weed material from previous fishing trips, otherwise you will not be allowed to put your boat in the lakes. We ask you to please use hot soapy car wash power washers 104°F and or strong salt water , vinegar or cleaning solution on all external surfaces (trailer included please) live boxes,and to dip your anchor and rope into a bucket of cleaner to kill any aquatic hitchhikers, any where gobies, bits of plant material or zebra muscle fry could have gotten caught or trapped and find their way out again and into our lakes. This will go a long way to preserving the fishing here from being ruined unintentionally. Many places close by have already become victims of infestations. This is why we need to be extra careful. Thanks