King Sire Ranch offers high-quality deer, diverse terrain, and guided hunts just minutes from Clio.
A buck even more impressive than he had imagined stood in the scope of Eric Smith’s Smith & Wesson 1854 .44 Magnum rifle. It was late August, and the Vassar resident had come to the newly opened King Sire Ranch, a sprawling 150-acre hunting preserve along M-57 less than four miles west of Clio, seeking to bag a velvet buck.
Family bragging rights were also at stake.
“Velvet refers to the soft, vascular skin present on a deer’s antlers during its summer growth phase. It is usually shed by early September, meaning this was likely Smith’s lone opportunity to secure such a rare and distinct prize in 2025.”
“I had not had the chance to hunt for a velvet deer yet, but both of my kids had already taken one, so I decided I really wanted to land one of my own,” Smith said. “I had viewed the buck I wanted on (King Sire Ranch’s) trail camera—it was nice, with a full 24-inch rack that carried out to the tips and had six visible points.”
Now, as he sat in a tower blind with ranch co-founder Sheldon Miller at the edge of a 15-acre soybean field, that buck was in Smith’s sights. A short time later, his hunt reached a successful conclusion. Smith was in awe upon seeing the statuesque mammal up close for the first time.
“It was beautiful and had two extra points that weren’t visible on camera,” he said. “That buck was even more amazing to see in person.”
Smith also was impressed by his overall experience at King Sire Ranch, founded by lifelong hunters Miller, Mike Mathews and Cliff Hart to give back to the sport, guiding clients on unforgettable hunts.
“My time at King Sire was just excellent—the quality of deer compared to other places I’ve hunted was amazing when I looked at their body and rack sizes,” Smith said. “It was great hunting in brand new blinds, and the terrain was really cool—swamps, farm fields, pine thickets, food plots. There’s a bit of everything, and it’s only five minutes from town.”
Costs for King Sire’s hunts vary by desired antler score, from under 170 inches ($4,500) to between 201–230 inches ($10,000). Between 171–185 inches is $5,500 and 186–200 is $7,000. Outings include one hunter and one guide or two hunters and a guide.
Miller emphasizes that the price includes plenty of perks. From first-time hunters to veterans with racks on their walls, everyone will be well taken care of.
“We offer a full hunting experience in the woods and wild with experienced guides,” he said. “Blinds and everything hunters need are prepared beforehand.”
Still, all that preparation and expert guidance doesn’t lessen the thrill of the hunt. “Make no mistake, there is still the challenge because our deer remain wild animals with a natural instinct to survive,” Miller said.
“Our bucks are looking incredible—heavy antlers, great variety, and trophy potential at every turn.”
– King Sire Ranch
King Sire Ranch also offers an ideal environment for novices hoping to harvest their first deer.
“We’re good for hunters of all skill levels, but first-timers, especially those without access to private land, can really benefit,” Smith said. “We’re a great alternative to state land, which can get crowded and competitive. That can be intimidating for beginners.”
Unsure of your shooting skills? King Sire covers that before hunts begin.
“We offer target practice and shooting support to perfect skills like timing and range,” Miller said. “You don’t want to be learning that in the woods.”
No need to worry about tracking deer or preserving meat, either.
“We provide full tracking and recovery service with our fleet of UTVs and help with cooling meat, so our clients can work with our processing partners,” Miller said.
Miller, 33, began hunting and fishing as a child in Mid-Michigan with his father and twin brother while growing up in Frankenmuth. He served as president of Central Michigan University’s fishing club while earning a construction management degree, finishing as high as sixth in college tournaments. He has hunted big game across the country.
“Outdoor sports have been a huge part of my life ever since dad started taking me as a toddler,” Miller said. “I’ve had great experiences everywhere from Arizona to Alaska and am probably most proud of a 168-inch whitetail deer I took.”
Miller, a project manager at Servpro of Saginaw, Mathews, who works in construction, and Hart, an insurance agency owner, met through business. A shared love of hunting soon bonded them.
Nearly three years ago, they began contemplating turning that passion into a business.
“We were on a business trip and started talking about doing something together outside of work,” Miller recalled. “We had heard how other hunting preserves had been started and decided to look into doing that ourselves.”
They visited other preserves and soon concluded that transforming a section of land and growing a deer herd would be ideal.
“There’s sometimes a misconception about hunting preserves,” Miller said. “They shouldn’t be considered places to easily bag a deer—there’s still a real hunt involved.”
The process began soon after purchasing the property. They secured proper permits to construct a high fence and excavate the land. Progress was shared on social media starting in early 2023. King Sire now boasts birch forests, pine thickets, ridges, swamp bottoms, peat grass, and 20 tillable acres of soybeans and corn. The terrain includes ponds and a stream.
“With so much terrain, it felt like 450 acres when the work was done,” Miller said. “People say it feels like hunting in northern Michigan, not near cities like Flint or Saginaw.”
Meanwhile, the deer herd matured. “I had studied deer pedigrees and found a great supplier,” Miller said. “We carefully selected the right bucks and does.”
As of early October, the herd included roughly 60 bucks and 70 does.
Smith learned of King Sire through his boss and friends who knew Miller. Intrigued, he reached out and toured the property in June.
“I went out there to plan the velvet buck hunt and ride around,” he said. “I was struck by how beautiful the property was and how healthy the herd looked. That sold me.”
On August 17, King Sire Ranch announced on Facebook it was booking hunts. “Our bucks are looking incredible—heavy antlers, great variety, and trophy potential at every turn,” the post read.
Response has been strong and feedback overwhelmingly positive, including from a 9-year-old boy seeking his first deer. Miller and the boy’s father beamed with pride as the youngster bagged a hefty 10-point buck.
“Everyone we’ve hosted so far has loved the experience,” Miller said. “It’s really satisfying to pass on the knowledge we’ve learned and help new hunters get their first deer. That’s a memory they’ll always have.”
Next year, King Sire’s experience will be enhanced with a 3,000-square-foot lodge. “Our first year has been mostly local hunters,” Miller said. “The lodge will be a comfortable, rustic place that makes us a destination.”
He added that future plans include offering elk hunting. More information is available at kingsireranch.com.