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Idaho farmers turn to hunting for economic survival – Folks start up small businesses to cope with slowdown
Nestled on a bench in Hatwai Canyon just north of Lewiston is a barn where farmers Barry and Cindy Holben are raising 400 pheasants and 400 chukars.
The Idaho Statesman
When the birds are old enough, the Holbens will release them in their fields for hunters to shoot.
A decade earlier, the same barn was where the Holbens fed a small herd of cattle. Now the economics of that operation have changed, making it so small-scale that ranching doesn´t pay.
Looking for a way to stay on the land, the Holbens, who also raise wheat, peas, lentils and garbanzo beans, have opened Hatwai Hills Farm Upland Gamebird Hunting Preserve. They are among a number of farmers who are looking beyond crops to make their farms pay.
It´s part of a struggle to maintain a way of life that in many cases generations of families have followed. Barry Holben´s great-grandfather purchased land in 1884 near Uniontown that is still a part of the operation, although not a part of the hunting preserve. They like the freedom and flexibility of the lifestyle, Cindy said.
“Although we work a lot, it´s still our own time, our own schedules.”
Cary and Leigh Ann Newman have started Cavendish Sporting Clays on the prairie between Kendrick and Orofino.
The hope is the business eventually will be profitable enough that it can replace Leigh Ann´s full-time job in the marketing department at Potlatch Corp. in Lewiston.
Five days a week, she makes the hourlong drive with their 2-year-old son and leaves him at day care while she works. She tried selling vitamin supplements from her home for a short time. But she found the out-of-town conventions she was expected to attend were too costly and took too much away from family time.
Cary believes the sporting clays will make more money than extending his 750-acre farm, which includes his own and rented ground. Crops are selling for prices similar to those in the 1950s and 1960s, yet the costs of running a household have risen dramatically, Cary said.
“It´s a full-blown depression in the farm environment.”
About half the farm land near Cavendish is in the federal Conservation Reserve Program, but Cary said what he can afford for rent is less than the government program pays.
On the Anatone Flat just south of Asotin, Shannon and Rich Eggleston Jr. are operating Asotin County Wingshooters on CRP land they lease from Keith Ausman, Shannon´s father. It fits well with Eggleston´s other business, Aardvark´s, a boat rental outfit where the busiest time is the summer.
“Basically I´m trying to earn a living,” Rich said.
“Doing everything you love to do,” said Shannon, completing the sentence for him.
It´s also allowing Eggleston to raise his four daughters on the same property where his wife lived as a girl. The Egglestons have tried being a more conventional couple. He used to be a commercial building contractor in Silverton, Colo., while she stayed home and tended to their first child.
With her farming background, Shannon prefers being a partner with her husband in a family business. It was the example set by her own parents.
Businesses such as these are obvious choices for farms. Little investment is involved if the land is already in a family. The Newmans spent about $3,000 on targets, equipment to shoot targets, insurance and brochures, Cary said.
The Holbens refurbished the barn and bought pheasant and chukar chicks, along with adult birds. These alternatives also make it possible to earn income from land in canyons and other types of terrain that´s difficult to farm.
In the Newmans´ case, some of the business is on ground that´s too wet to cultivate. The experience for outdoor enthusiasts at each of the businesses varies.
The hunting preserves provide a longer season than those for wild birds. Cavendish Sporting Clays gives shooters a place to hone their skills year-round.
The Holbens knew their farm was an ideal spot for a hunting preserve long before they opened. They don´t hunt, but for years they have had requests from hunters to use their land.
They describe themselves as people with “hearts for hospitality.” They hope to add special accommodations for hunters with disabilities. They´ve turned a side of a shed where farm equipment is repaired into a sitting area with a couch, folding chairs, microwave, coffee pot and a large dog bed.
Raising chickens in the past made it easy to learn the skills they needed to grow pheasants and chukars. Cindy and one of their daughters spent a day taking blood samples from 300 pheasants to screen for disease.
At Hatwai Hills Hunting Preserve, it´s a minimum of $113 for an adult for a half day of shooting. The price includes an access fee plus the charge for four pheasants, the minimum number allowed.
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