I've been working on the house for over a year. The last of the carpet goes in tomorrow. Fully furnished - dishes, cookware, silverware, towells, bedding - everything. Now - where do I find my hunters? Our deer season opens in seven days. We are in SE Ohio.

I tried the Akron paper and I come out in the local weekly paper with my ad this Wed. No nibbles yet. Any web sites that you know of that I could post on to find vacationers or hunters. I'm not going to offer them hunting, - just lodging. The state hunting ground is 20 min. from us.

I'm going to try this. May hate it. I have a lot of work in the house and it may be hard to take if they abuse it. I haven't a clue as to what to charge. Any ideas? It is super nice and I have beds for seven. What is that worth. TV, VCR, all kitchen appliances and gadgets - is it all going to walk out the door with the first renters?

Anybody done this successfully or bad experience?

-- homestead2 (homestead@monroecty.net), November 20, 2000

Answers

Also, 20 min. from 2600 acre Seneca lake. Where do I find those kind of vacationers?

-- homestead2 (homestead@monroecty.net), November 20, 2000.

Hi fellow dweller of Monroe county, the local paper ad should get some reponse, but would have been better a few weeks earlier, so folks could plan ahead on their lodgings and all. You might try the Plain Dealer, in addition to the Akron paper. All the local real estate people have the best luck selling and renting through the Akron paper, so maybe it's just a matter of response time yet. You are very brave to start out with the deer hunters, a pretty wild bunch of out of county people invade us here, make sure you get a hefty deposit, and check to be sure the credit card is valid if they use one as a deposit. Check with the local motels, see what they are charging at this time, and charge a little more than that. Good luck, Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), November 20, 2000.

I agree you are starting a bit late. I used to be married to a deer hunting finatic (actually that is really too mild of a word for it). Him and his buddies would start scouting, planting, baiting, putting up stands etc. a couple of months ahead of time. I think they had as much fun getting ready for hunting as doing the actual hunting. You have waited too late to get the serious hunters. The people that will be looking for a place to hunt this time of the year probably won't be willing to pay much so you might consider charging less this first year and see if you can cultivate some serious hunters for next year. By the way make sure you make a rule that the adult beverages are to be enjoyed after dark back at camp and not before.

-- Amanda S (aseley@townsqr.com), November 20, 2000.

Bed & breakfast sites on line. bbonline.com and go-native.com are two I just got done looking at for my travel plans.Sounds like your place will fit right in with this.I saw rates at $50/night/room and up.Some had weekly rates.not all serve breakfast,just provide cookware.Our friends did this and were happy with their customers.

Get deposit,make some rules,some don't allow children under 12,some no smoking,some no alchohol.Screw down what can be and don't sweat the small stuff. See what the others have done on these lists to get ideas

We rented a room in our house to people and had little trouble, but they worked with my husband. We stopped bc we liked our privacy too much.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 20, 2000.

Also might try (next year) advertising in the various outdoor magazines like "Outdoor Life" "Field and Stream"(is that one still around?) etc....they have whole sections in the back of those for ads just like that.

I advertised in the Cleveland PD for steelhead fishing in NE Ohio and got many responses.

-- JimR (jroberts1@cas.org), November 21, 2000.

Contact local hotels/motels that might already be all booked up and let them know that you "still have a little space available", and "would be able to consider their overflow, since you'd prefer to run full up". Be sure to leave a flyer with a description of your facility and your phone number (a photo of someone with a high point buck they just shot really catches the hunters' attention - doesn't have to be on your land, just for illustration). Also give this information to the local Chamber of Commerce, if there is one. And consider leaving it with area ammo outlets, shooting ranges, and deer check in stations. (I'm glad my degree in Public Relations can possibly help someone:).

-- Lori in SE Ohio (klnprice@yahoo.com), November 21, 2000.

First off you might try posting on the bathroom walls. Also in and around trailer parks would probably do wonders. BEWARE if they drink Bush Beer.

-- Hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), November 22, 2000.