Thanks for looking at Ruggs Ranch and giving us a chance to earn your business.
Our ranch is actually over 100,000 acre’s, we operate the hunting portion on approximately 86,000 acres, or 134 sq. miles. If you are trying to put that in perspective, imagine the state of New jersey or maybe Rhode Island. It’s big!
That alone is staggering to most folks when they have been hunting at a club, for instance, that is 3000 acres and they have never seen all of it. We have two state high ways that cut through our property, and we surround two small towns. When we talk to hunters at shows from coast to coast, there are some commonly asked questions that you might wonder about while searching our web site, so hopefully we will clear up any confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: “Are the animals on your ranch wild”?
A: All of our big game is wild.
Q: “Are they in a fence”?
A: We are NOT a high fence operation.
Q: “Do you have pen raised birds”?
A: We do release birds in our preserve.
Q:”Are all of the birds wild”?
A: All of the birds you will encounter on our horseback hunts are 100% wild. If you go on that hunt you will see why it’s the only way it could be.
Q: “How large is your preserve?”
A: Our preserve is 8000 acres and is located in parcels all around the lodge. We offer 30+ unique hunting areas, showcasing our diversified terrain and landscapes. Inside of our preserve we farm for food plot and wild bird habitat. We have a better percentage of wild Pheasant and Chukar in our preserve than pre-released birds. If you come to the ranch to hunt pheasant, we can assure you that the hunting is just like going to other states known for great pheasant hunting, except we have no bag limits. The overall hunting area on our ranch is huge; you won’t hunt the same piece of ground twice.
Q: “Is it crowded?”
A: Though we can accommodate 16 guests, our usual group size is closer to 12, and we don’t ever overload the hunting. We break our upland bird hunting guests into groups of no more than 4 hunters per area. Some of our hunts are very limited- horseback hunts are limited to a maximum of 4 hunters, and our deer and elk hunts are limited to 8 hunters.
Q: “Does it snow a lot at the ranch?”
A: We can get light snow, but normally you can expect a pleasant outdoor climate. January can be cold, if you are up on a horse we suggest talking to our pro shop about the proper clothing.
Q: “How is the weather?”
A: The hunting at Ruggs is as good as it gets any where in the world. The weather is generally predictable as to the season. By that we mean September to the middle of October is very pleasant and temperate. From mid-October through mid-December we enjoy a typical western fall, low to mid 20’s at night and mid-50’s in the day.
Q: “When is the best time of year to hunt at Ruggs?”
A: Hunting around the lodge in December and January can be the very best for pheasants, though it can also be cold. February is like hunting in November, with cool mornings and mild afternoons, however we can get some rain. March and October are very temperate. If you need more information please don’t hesitate to ask us, we are happy to help.
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
