Executive Perks

By Greg

I am the director of marketing at a large fortune five hundred corporation with headquarters on the east coast. I have been steadily working my way up the corporate ladder for years and have made all the right connections along the way. Over time I have proven myself to be reliable, effective and committed. Upon reaching this level I now enjoy some of the perks of the job and I don’t just mean the keys to the executive restroom.

Our business interests span the continental United States. I am frequently required to fly to our operation centers on the west coast. We have the luxury of a corporate jet. It is used only by the higher level executives within our company. The company holds quarterly meetings in addition to fiscal year end meetings. I am also required to meet with other fellow officers at our west coast offices during any large acquisitions or mergers.



The jet is able to hold about fourteen persons including the flight crew, but it has a limited fuel range which requires making a couple stops during a cross country flight.

One of the refueling stops seems a little bit out of the way, but we almost always have a layover there. The jet refuels and there always seems to be some necessary service work scheduled to be done. This airfield seems a bit small for full sized commercial flights. Almost every time I have been there are just corporate jets or smaller private planes on the runways or in the hangers. I have come to expect a stay from just a few hours to usually an overnighter if we arrive later in the afternoon.

Just a short drive from this airport is an exclusive hunting ranch available to only a few select officers within our company. I can’t give its exact location, but I can tell you this area is only a couple of hours drive from the southern United States /Mexican border. Limos from this airfield come and go to this ranch at all hours of the day and night.



The ranch is a sprawling complex of buildings. Although I am not a hunter myself, I have been told this ranch has some of the best elk and mule deer hunting areas found anywhere in the southwest. It seems to have been here for a long time and to the casual observer it looks to be just a private hunting club.

The only access to the ranch is from a securely guarded private road. Each time I have been there the limo will pass multiple security personnel in shaded spots parked alongside the road. Many of them seem to be rather intimidating type people. I know if you were not expected or supposed to be on this road they would react quickly and stop you immediately.



I have never inquired as to exactly who owns this place and I suppose I would rather not know. I have a suspicion that the actual owners might be associated with some kind of Mexican cartel, but again you learn not to ask too many questions.

There is always a lot of activity going on at the ranch. In the early morning jeeps can be seen heading out into the countryside carrying three or four men each. Racks of most of them coming back later contain the trophies of their successful hunt.



This is a very “macho” environment. This place is the ultimate man cave on steroids. Whistles and high-five are constantly exchanged as guys vie for bragging rights. I know that anyone staying there is somehow a high level person of some major company. I recognize some familiar faces occasionally, but almost everyone there just goes by a first name only.

I’ve never had anyone tell me this outright, but it is just kind of understood that it would be rude to ask anyone else too many personal questions. The taking of pictures is strictly a no-no even to the returning hunting parties taking any trophy pictures near the lodge itself. I’ve seen a couple guys try, but someone will immediately come up and ask you to delete the pictures.

The ranch consists of a main lodge and many out-buildings surrounding it. The staff and security people stay in the other buildings. I’ve noticed rows of cabins out maybe a mile or so, but I have never been up to close to them and again no one volunteers much information about anything there.

The amenities at the ranch all seem gratis. No money is ever exchanged for anything. There doesn’t seem to even be tipping of any kind allowed either. Everything you want or need is simply made available to you. No questions asked and nothing is refused.