Will Saputo
Owner & Operator
Lauryn
Guest Manager
Jason
Site Manager
Steve
QDM Manager
Will Saputo
Will is the visionary founder of Yuba Vineyards, a thriving sanctuary for wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs. Nestled in the heart of Northern Michigan, Yuba Vineyards reflects Will’s passion for crafting exceptional wines that capture the essence of the region’s rich terroir. With a deep respect for sustainable farming practices, Will has dedicated his life to creating a harmonious balance between innovative winemaking techniques and the natural beauty of the land.
J P
Joshua Patrick (JP) Heintz is the Chief Operations Officer at Royal Stag Companies and owner of Heintz Global LLC. Raised in Traverse City, Michigan, and educated at Albion College, he brings a background in Industrial Psychology and a penchant for entrepreneurship honed across diverse landscapes from the Midwest to Hawaii. JP’s career reflects his commitment to leadership and community, driven by a belief in tackling life’s challenges with honesty and grit. His ventures span industries including brewing, aviation, excavation, and construction, where he applies his skills to build and enhance both businesses and relationships. As he leads Royal Stag into the future, his focus remains on creating a lasting impact through collaboration and community engagement.
Jason Hunt
Jason Hunt here. I was on one of my hikes out where the Whiteford Farm is and they were excavating stumps. I approached the operator and found out the property was going to be a Pheasant Preserve. Immediately I went for my resume and a note to Will. Call me He did almost 2 yrs now. Happy to be a Stag man. Many more to come hopefully. As a Manufacture Representative in the Plumbing & Heating Industry retired since 2016 I’ve been married to Kathy for 48 yrs and have 3 Children & 7 grand children. I live next to the Royal Stag Preserve. How convenient right. Through the woods 5 minutes. My Love of Pheasant hunting started when I was 6 w/my Dad & still continues. God & Family & Friends are the staple of my life. And if you have your health you’re blessed. That’s me. Blessed more than I deserve but I’ll take it.
Ryan Smith
My experience that brought me to stag was having a small family homestead where I raised various types of animals and was looking to expand my knowledge in the world of farming and growing crops. For stag I am vineyard manager/ grounds manager where I oversee all things vineyard related. I also maintain the grounds of all stag properties. Hobbies outside of stag are hunting, fishing, snowboarding, bike riding, and going on various adventures with my family. I’m married and 2 beautiful kids.
Lane Rinehart
I am 25 years old and I have lived in TC all my life. I love to hunt, race my RC car and even race a car in bump-n-run races and tough trucks. I have always wanted to work in the brewing and excavation/construction field and I have several years of experience. I love animals and have had dogs, cats and a horse. I am glad to be part of the Royal Stag team.
Sam James
My name is Sam James, I’m originally from Battle Creek MI but in 2017 I moved to northern mi to pursue my passion for the outdoors through upland guiding. Since then I have guided over a 1000 hunts and have trained many four legged partners. When I’m not upland guiding, my free time is spent whitetail and duck hunting. During the spring and summer, I spend my time guiding Bowfishing trips and lake trout jigging trips on the Grand Travers Bay through my charter Uncharted Guide Service. I recently joined the team at Royal stag to continue my guiding career. The beauty of the property and the determination of the team to ensure the highest quality experience for the clients makes me proud to be part of the Royal Stag Preserve.