My family of non hunters has purchased a country store in deer heaven and hunters will be our customers during that season...can anyone waste a few minutes with this question to help us stock our store to meet their needs correctly? We are avid campers and our stocking question is more related to specific deer corn, ammo for rifles, camo type needs. We already have can opener and matches on the list
I thought I would take my question to the most experienced group I could find and you men seem to be them. After reading your posts for several hours I still could not determine what kind of ammo we should order or whether you loose a cap to a varmit often enough to need a new one and so on...

Thank you again for taking the time to help us out. We may not be hunters but we do appreciate their business and want to be helpful.

give a discount to THF members?

Oh, good idea...I think we could post that somewhere in the store.

Of course I need to know what you might be looking to buy other than breakfast:0)

where is your store?

In my opinion, I think most hunters have most of the important things when they go afield. It's the things that hunters run out of when hunting You should carry. As far as ammo goes, there many types, weights and projectile options out there. It would be very difficult to carry all these in smaller stores. I think most hunters will carry enough ammo. What I would like to see in a small type store is, Copenhagen Long Cut. No one ever seems to carry it. Another thing that I am always looking for in Small hunting community stores is an ATM. IMO think about things that hunters use up the most when hunting. TP, munchies, scent remover spray, food and drinks. Another thing that comes to mind is first aid stuff, Peroxide, anti-biotic ointments, band-aids and first aid kits. Repair equipment comes to mind, Super glue, duct tape twine that type of stuff. Another thing we seem to use alot of is ice.

Propane bottles? keep notes this year when hunters ask for things you dont have, ask some of the other stores what their best sellers are at hunting season

On the shotgun(FM410) north of Detroit between Clarksville and Paris, along the Red River loop.

Our family has owned a store in this area for over a hundred years but when my Uncle passed at 93, three years back the last store closed. We will open in mid July 2009 and gear up for all the hunter traffic we have observed in the three year renovation we have been part of.

There are so many white tail deer in this area, we went for a walk half a block from the store and a pair of them were resting in a shallow ditch within 15 feet of us.

Toilet Paper

Painkillers...hangover stuff...

Gloves of all sorts.

Seafoam (fuel additive) for 4wheelers or boats and such

bandaids

Duct tape

zip ties

batteries of all sorts

plastic sheeting

epoxy (QuikSteel or JB Weld)

THANK YOU!
I just knew I came to the right place.

Flashlight, and batteries.... even feeder batteries

There is tons of different ammo, to try to stock something for everyone would be outside of your scope. However, some of the more popular calibers in Texas for deer hunting include .243, .270. 30-06 standard bullet weights from 125 gr to 165 gr depending on caliber. Won't need any fancy bullets for deer just soft points. I mean if they are out of ammo they can't be too choosy.

Also, 6 volt rechargable batteries for feeders and the standard AAA, AA, C, D and 9 volt for other stuff. Propane cylinders, I think they are 16oz., for portable heaters. Portable heaters, Coleman. Gloves, if you are into clothing and long johns (insulated underwear). Beer. Deer corn. Ice. Camo cap with store name/logo.

oops wrong thread

Bailing wire
Tposts
Tpost driver
Camo burlap
Great Stuff expanding foam
Ear plugs
Game gloves
Tarps

we go through a lot of Run Flat for the ATV wheels

tire plugs
fix-a-flat
disposable cameras
rope/twine
batteries of all sizes
charcoal/lighter fluid
flashlights

everything ive seen so far hitsit on the head, might add
ratchet straps
coolers

Since it is east Texas you'll sell a ton of

NO TRESSPASSING SIGNS!

Spinner plates for the feeders too!! Went out to the lease on a couple different occasions over the years to find mine was broke from the coons playing on it! Took forever to find one in a store remotely close to me.
Mantles for lanterns, the little green propane bottles, maybe think about becoming a trade in station for the bigger propane bottles as well.

a hot cup of coffee, on the go hot breakfast and a clean toilet for settin' on

Ice
Breakfast Tacos
Coffee

I haven't seen 6 and 12 volt feeder batteries mentioned.

Corn,protein pelletts,c'mere deer, deer caine etc....
Lots of ice, snuff/chew, scent blocker,
feeder parts

On the ammo I think 30-30 and 7 mag/mm are also common deer rounds. Some 12 guage 2.75" by number 8 or 7.5 might sell in dove season. I ususally go through a couple 3 boxes on a weekend. Duck season get some drylock duck rounds. I like around a number 2 or so.

I think you are close to public hunting land, you could try keeping a cheap orange vest and hat. Its the law to wear that on public hunting land.

You might try finding a European deer mount or some antlers to hang outside so people know your hunter friendly.

A good store for hunting gear and equipment and everythign a hunter needs should be one part hardware department, one part feed store, and one part hunting clothing accessories/ammo.

As far as ammo:
12, 20, and 410 gauge various size shot from slugs to #7
Rifle - 30-06, .243, 25-06, 270 Win, 270 WSM, 300 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, .223, 22-250 to start. As customer request you will get an idea of what you need but this is the most common stuff I see hunters hunting with me use on our hunts.
I'd go to the local or nearest Wal-Mart and just ask them what they sell the most of.


8x40mm binocular and 12x50mm binoculars would be good to sell as well I think.