Are Wilderness Unlimited and Golden Ram the only games in town in terms of a private ranch or membership situa

[Kbhunts888]

Hi gentlemen(and ladies if applicable)
I spent a lot of yesterday reading many of the old post regarding these two clubs and there definitely seems to be 2 camps on the topic. But it brings a new question, are there any other players in this game?

Thank you all in advance!


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[matt392]

Let me know what you find out for northern CA. I have yet to find anything else.

 

[Kbhunts888]

Well if you don't, at least both of them have the majority of their ranches in your area. I'm in LA, I think GR has like 2 within a few hours of me, but WU has quite a few within those that parameter.

 

[sfjeeper]

If you are talking about multi property hunting clubs, then I believe they are the only two major players in town. As for private ranches, there are always people looking to lease hunting property if you have the money. You can check Craig's List or check with the DFG.

 

[Hoghunter9]

Yeah I believe they are the only 2... I'm currently in WU and I'm only speaking from my experience with the club, but we've been very successful on bear deer and pigs on some of our local ranches. Just got this guy on Saturday at a local ranch

 

[4x4Buck]

They might be the only 2 large games in town that lease a lot of ranches, but there are still a few single landowner/ranches that have exclusive hunting clubs on them. I for one have one in the southern part of Mendocino county in the A zone area.

 

[L82TheParty]

I am new to the forum and hunting in general, guess I was a late bloomer didn't my hunting license until I was 50. Been an angler my whole life. I am finding it hard to find places to hunt as well as learning the ropes. Was considering WU as I am mainly interested in turkey and other bird hunting. Can any of you long time experts tell me what my options are and how to find them because public land looks like thunder dome and clubs like the these are really expensive. Are there other options out there? How do you find land leases to hunt and gain the experience you need. I have that same excitement to learn like I did when I started fishing but don't know where to start. I can catch a fish with dental floss and staple on the end but am clueless about most hunting. Any direction would be greatly appreciated. Living in the bay area just knowing where to go is tough. I don't come form an outdoor family I am self taught so always looking for guidance.

 

[Wild1]

You don't "need" land leases to gain experience. Here's some resources: local chapters of SCI, Boon an Crocket, Pope and Young, CDA, NRA or other hunting related clubs and organizations - get involved with them! Online forums (like this one), or online magazines. Go onto CA. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and READ!! Even Youtube can be helpful.

Decide what exactly you want to hunt and then just read and go for it.

 

[TheGDog]

I totally did what you are contemplating... but with getting a deer. Started at 46yo. The idea which had always fascinated me... now that my boy is a little older it came back around into my head again. And I figured I definitely ain't getting any younger so better get onto it now. Began the quest very near to the beginning of the 2014 season. Saw several does, but no bucks that season. I don't take well to losing. So I was doing Internet research and stumbled upon this site... asked a lot of very specific and thoughtful questions... scouted a whole dang bunch during that coming year. Like 2 to 3 weekends each and every month until the next year. Made it happen the next year in 2015! Then while trying for a bear that same year, had an oopsie and shattered my left wrist (the head of the Radius bone) and required surgery with a plate and 13 screws. There was a bit of luck involved on that 2015 deer so I needed to prove to myself and the world I could do it again so that it wasn't just an accident. Made it happen again 2nd day of season in 2016! Since then I've made a shot on a Coyote too. But unfortunately it wasn't the a great shot because it was more of a surprise encounter while travelling to the next site I was going to attempt calling from. And then... very recently... I finally got around to shooting my first Rabbit! So yeah... talk about doing things in reverse, right?

My point being... don't con yourself into thinking the only way this is going to happen is if you cough up tons of loot to some corporate outfit that has a stranglehold on private, managed, game-rich environments with continuously flowing water and food plots and high fences and bla bla bla.

By going out and doing the scouting (looking for them, signs of their existence and having passed thru an area) and making mental note about the physical features of that terrain and the wind that goes thru it... you will end-up learning a bunch of userful tidbits of information. And build upon that each and everytime you go out into the field.

And look... I managed to make it happen in one of the lowest success rate zones in our state. It's not rocket science. It's about paying attention, learning, remembering, reviewing experiences in your mind and figuring out what you could have done differently and persistence.

P.S. Wild1 is a bear-killing-MACHINE!!! You'd be wise to listen to his words