John,

I have been to almost a hundred hunting and fishing lodges in my television career, some good, some not, several abysmal and very few exceptional. The list of those who consistently deliver on their promise of excellent hunting and hospitality is short. Ruggs Ranch belongs in that top tier.

Over and above everything (actually, I guess it would be under everything) is the land. I have never seen such variety and sheer volume. One of the reasons my viewers cite for going hunting is to be enveloped in natural beauty. Ruggs has it in spades, from stately timber strands and hushed forests, to limitless vistas of sage and bunchgrass. Thank goodness your string includes cockers for the wicked-thick bunchgrass and riparian areas, and horses for the big-sky chukar hills.

That abundant and high quality habitat leads to incredible hunting. Wild chukars, valley quail and Huns in their native surroundings, elk, deer, turkey ghosting through the pines, and of course pheasants skulking in the CRP and crops. It only gets better when you hunt horseback.

Your staff is top-drawer, driven to meet the needs of guests. Guides go out of their way to help, Gene takes dogs to the highest level, Vicky in the office is relentless in her attention to detail, and of course, Keith’s food is to die for. I warn you every time I visit that you’d better count your cocker spaniels before I leave because someday I will dognap one!

As their leader you’ve instilled in staff a willingness to go the extra mile and strive for excellence. A successful businessman told me years ago that the key to success was to be ten percent better than one’s competitors. In every respect Ruggs is that, or more.

Every time we broadcast an episode at Ruggs, my viewers express awe at the vastness, the “westernness” of Ruggs Ranch. It is every hunter’s dream to “cowboy up,” explore the wild west, be part of our rugged bast. Nowhere but at Ruggs can one live the dream.

Sincerely,
Scott Linden
Creator/host
Wingshooting USA TV