Proprietary Considerations

DEFENSIBLE ASSETS

The ranch’s defensibility comes from the combined land base, existing 10-foot enclosure, outside-the-fence building campus, captive-cervid operating history, site-specific permits, habitat knowledge, partner network, operating procedures, guest data, and a trusted regional brand. The fence alone is not a durable competitive advantage unless its inspection, maintenance, escape response, and documentation are excellent.

REGISTRATION AND HERD RECORDS

Confirm the current Michigan Privately Owned Cervidae facility registration, class and permitted activities, legal ownership of every animal, official identification, inventories, additions and removals, mortality records, testing history, movement documents, and any quarantines or compliance actions. Michigan’s Privately Owned Cervidae Producers Marketing Act, 2000 PA 190, and MDARD/DNR standards are central references. Start with:

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-permits/privately-owned-cervidae-facility-registration/poc-standards

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/cervids

BIOSECURITY AND CWD

Maintain a written chronic wasting disease program with the attending veterinarian. Control animal introductions, carcass and high-risk-part disposal, shared equipment, visitors, feed, water, escape events, and contact across the fence. Follow current MDARD surveillance and testing requirements:

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/cervids/chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-surveillance

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Search and register the business name, logos, signature package names, and relevant domains before major promotion. Use written ownership clauses for photography, video, menus, training material, maps, and software. Protect non-public customer lists, pricing logic, herd-management data, vendor terms, recipes, and standard operating procedures with role-based access and appropriate agreements.

CONTRACTUAL PROTECTION

Use attorney-reviewed agreements for hunts, lodging, events, vendors, guides, processors, caterers, forestry work, aqua-park operators, sponsorships, photography, and data use. Agreements should address scope, deposits, cancellations, weather, disease shutdowns, indemnity, insurance, intellectual property, guest conduct, and incident reporting.

DATA AND PRIVACY

Collect only necessary guest, payment, health, waiver, and preference data. Use reputable booking and payment systems, access controls, retention schedules, breach-response procedures, and Michigan-compliant privacy notices. Never combine a waiver with misleading claims that safety obligations have disappeared.

Transferability of registrations, permits, memberships, domains, customer lists, wildlife records, and vendor contracts must be confirmed during due diligence; none should be assumed to transfer with the real estate.