For founder Skipper Bettis, Legends Ranch in Bitely is “a place of dreams.”
The ranch offers visitors five square miles of terrain to hunt whitetail deer and turkey; two lakes and numerous creeks to fish for blue gill, crappie, bass, pike and brook trout and a cozy lodge to escape the fast pace of life.
“We wanted to give a quality experience in the outdoors to people,” Bettis said.
Open since 1998, Legends is the largest managed whitetail deer hunting operation in Michigan.
A variety of guided deer hunt packages are available from September to December ranging from $3,100-9,100 per person. The rut hunts in November also include a $3,000 harvest fee. In May, hunters can take aim at turkeys in a 3-day guided outing for $1,500.
Lost Guide Lake and Railroad Lake decorate the property, which consists of woodlands and open marsh grasslands.
With a charitable heart, the ranch offers Quest Ministries, a variety of hunts offered free of charge to the less fortunate.
“We’re looking for a unique opportunity to try to help people with hurt and pain, to try to take that away for a few days and let them enjoy hunting and God’s great outdoors,” Bettis said.
The Billy Ray Parnell Memorial Purple Heart Hunt, for instance, takes nine purple heart recipients on a hunt each year.
Additionally, over the past decade, more than 150 kids who suffer from birth defects, the aftereffects of disabling accidents and other unfortunate circumstances have hunted free of charge.
Those children have come from all over the country — including Michigan, Florida, Idaho, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia — to experience the outdoors Legends style.
“There’s a lot of kids out there that have special needs and also have parents that can afford to do these things,” Bettis said. “We’re looking for special situations with kids who wouldn’t be able to do this otherwise.”
In addition to its scenic natural setting, Legends features a lodge with exposed-wood interiors which give it the feel of a rustic cabin, while also containing modern-day amenities for a comfortable retreat.
The lodge also boasts a spacious conference center and a fine dining restaurant, the Supper Club.
The menu at the Supper Club includes an aged certified black angus steak, a Manistee strip steak, a salad bar and weekly specials such as wild boar, trout and wild fowl.
During the off season, February through July, the Supper Club hosts steak dinners on Fridays and Saturdays. The meals are open to the public by reservation only.
For more information regarding any of the programs or facilities at the ranch, call (231) 745-8000, e-mail legends@legendsranch.com, visit www.legendsranch.com or write 2022 West 14 Mile Road, Bitely, MI 49309.