THERE'S KNOWING THE LAND AND THERE'S BEING A PART OF THE LAND.

One of my favorite aspects of performing our mandatory vetting visits for new CBEOs is learning their origin stories. There are a few that go back this far in a family on the same ground, darn few. I'm going to let PARADISE OUTFITTERS's owner, Wayne Henderson tell it in his words:

"My Great Grandfather, Chet, originally came from Northern Wisconsin to this area (Northern South Dakota) around 1900. He homesteaded a quarter section in Perkins County S.D. about 1905. The family farmed, ranched and ran and broke horses. They built the house and outbuildings in 1912. My Grandfather Kenneth, born in 1907, was raised along with 2 brothers on the same land and worked with their father as he expanded and acquired more land and primarily raised beef cattle.

My Grandfather married in 1928. He worked for his father mining coal up in the pasture where we now hunt deer. They lived in a native tree draw, in a sod house built into a steep bank, that had an artesian spring coming out of the hillside about 100 yards above the home. Water was collected and piped through the home for their needs. My father, Dennis, was born in that sod house in 1930. A few years later their family moved down closer to Lodgepole, near where the great-grandparents lived, closer to developed roads and schools. My Father ranched here on his Grandfather Chet's original homestead until his death in 1991 when my mother, Marie, moved to town. I commuted from town and managed the ranch for 4 years before my wife Diane and I moved down to the homestead in 1995. We still live in that original home although it has been added onto and remodeled.I spent over 30 years with my father on this land hunting, ranching, fixing fence, developing tree shelter-belts, building water tanks piped from that artesian spring, and hunting for artifacts and have grown to know the land intimately. Our children, 3 boys, were raised here and now occasionally help me guide. We have continued to improve the land for outfitting by adding numerous large shelter-belts, CRP plantings, food plots, tree & box stands, elevated shooting blinds, and riparian areas for wildlife water and habitat. This is all private land we hunt on. We have also built a cabin/lodge, sauna, covered decks, fire pit, and party cabin. Facilities are equipped with all amenities for renting when my outfitted clients are not using them. We are also going to build another cabin and explore wildlife viewing/bird watching opportunities for individuals, couples, and families."

PARADISE OUTFITTERS hunts all wild birds with no fenced in areas. They offer whitetail, mule deer, antelope and varmints for both rifle and archery hunters. Their camp is well thought out, comfortable and interesting. Plan on taking a sauna in Wayne's custom built sauna. Their amenity listing is long. Most importantly you won't go home hungry and you will go home with a heck a couple of good friends: Wayne and Diane Henderson!

Today, Wayne and his wife Diane live in paradise, operating PARADISE OUTFITTERS together. He's an active volunteer and fundraiser for a number of conversation organizations. He and Diane continue to improve their facility relying on their four hands and help from their sons.

‍

If you've never seen this part of America, take a look at the photos on PARADISE OUTFITTERS' website. The landscape is enchanting to the point of being otherworldly.