Who Has hunted at a game farm?

[3006]

Was wondering who all gets out to these places. I have been out to rooster ranch un Ubly for a European shoot. Had a good time, shot a few birds for the table, and got to see a lab do some pointing. All in all an intersting time. Not as easy as I thought it would be either! Have not done anything with big game yet. Thought about trying for boar one of these days. I figure it is better meat than what I would get at the supermarket.

Just wondering what others think.

[stevebrandle]

I like to pheasant hunt @ the preserves when I have a chance to. I've never tried any big game hunting, but it might be OK.

The bottom line for me is; if it's too easy, it ain't hunting. I'd rather shoot trap if the birds don't make tough targets. As far as big game; I don't care to kill something that wanders by thinking nobody wants to eat it.

[Tom222]

My son and I went to Clarkrange Tenn. in April of 2000. The ranch is made up of 1000 acres.
We went Boar hunting with dogs. We both came home with one and it tastes good. It better, it's the most expensive meat I've ever eaten.
I'm not a big fan of game ranches, but I didn't want my son to get discouraged with too many unfilled tags. So, after 3 days and a total cost of $1,400 including all road expenses, we came home with pork and wonderful memories.
I won't go again, but I wish that someone would have forwarned me. It's not easy hunting (lots of walking in rough terrain), but it's also not nearly as exiting as a non-ranch hunt. There is no "if", just "when". I wish that I had gone without the dogs, and shot with my bow instead of a handgun.
Also, if you want a huge trophy, don't bother butchering. I have a friend who fed his pork to his dogs because it had such a strong taste. The bigger they are, the nastier they taste.
We mounted my son's boar anfd it turned out nice, but it isn't huge. We both shot 250 - 280 pound pigs. They taste great, even the sceptical wife says so.
Before sending anyone a deposit, find out if the pigs are born wild, or ranch raised. If they are ranch raised, save some money and shoot one in your grocer's freezer.
Good luck.

[Worm Dunker]

I have been to a couple different shooting preseves and they are great for training young dogs or first time hunters.You can use real game birds dizzy them up and with a partner you get a lot of training done.With few wild birds and access becoming a real problem there is a place for shooting presevves.Another option for people with pointing breeds is shoot to-retrieve trails they put out six birds and you get 1/2 hour but you share the field with another hunter and dog.Its does give you a place to measure you and your dog.

[Baydog]

I went to the Outpost near the Rooster ranch for boar. Started out as a piece of cake we walked behind the pigs for a while. Finally buddy shot one with his bow, then that put that group of pigs in a panic attact. I could not get close to them for a couple of hours then. A couple more buddies the shot pigs with their muzzleloader and shotguns wishing they had brought their bows. I finallly connected with mine a pig about 150lbs. All pigs went about 150 lbs the guys at the ranch said they would go over 200 lbs. We got home and weighed them. Meat was not that great, Take venison over that any day. Tried it, done it, will not do it again. BAYDOG

[shooter921]

I have never personaly been to one, and I don't intend to unless it is VERY large. I know I am gonna get slammed for this one but I don't really consider it hunting. It is in a way, but its not. I have a friend that hunts them all the time. He said he perfers the larger ranchs because the deer/animals seem more wild that way.

80

[Tom222]

Well said Trout!

[kingfisher 11]

I have a friend who runs a ranch or whitetails in Marion. I have been allowed to hunt it a couple of times myself. It is now around 900 acres. I like to think the fence is there to keep other hunters out. It sure was nice not to have to worry about another hunter blundering in. I have watched those deer in a field in the evening and heard a car door slam, they were gone! Both of the bucks I took came out, right at last light and were very cagey.

Last year I took my 12 yr old son there for his first deer. We passed on quite a few bucks and he ended up coming home without a buck. So, if you think its like shooting fish in a barrel, its not. Just depending on the size of the enclosure. Now I think if someone had a 80 acre enclosure that is to small.

The buck I shot last year in wide open Montana was easier then the 2 bucks I took at the ranch.

My 2 ranch hunts have not cost me anything. I guess if it came down to it and I had to pay, I would not do it.

Like trout had said, who am I to judge someone else if its legal.

[BowHunt10]

Both Antelopes and Mule Deer i took in wyoming were by far the easiest hunting i have ever known, to include hunting on game preserves. All four animals were taken on wide open state land. Legal hunting is legal hunting reguardless.

[fishinlk]

I usually get one hunt a year in at a pheasant preserve. Took my wifes step brother last year and got him his 1st bird. He had a riot!

[Slugshot1]

I have hunted a pheasant game farm twice and hope to make it an annual tradition. It is an excellent place to take a young or marginal dog and see quick improvement. The birds they get into beats the heck out of hunting wild birds and getting a flush or two an hour. Hunting a preserve/farm is a great way to remind your dog what he is there for and to tune him up for the season.

[OTIS]

Their is a ranch Off 32 just outside of Rose City that I drive past on my way to alpena. I always wondered what it would be like to hunt it. But I would not hunt that one because all the Elk and deer are always standing next to the feeders. Plus the Elk all had tags in their ears.

[Moe]

When I was 12 years old, my dad put me in a raffle to hunt a game ranch for elk.... and i won! We went through getting all the fun stuff of sighting in the rifle and all that then it was time to go. I don't know how big this place was but it was pretty big. We hunted in the morning, but couldn't get a bull within range. Then later in the afternoon we saw a big 5X5 at 100 yards. We used to trees to our advantage and started to move when a couple cows got scared behind us. The bull looked around but didn't spook. We snuck closer, to about 70 yards. I shot and he ran off. After a short tracking job, we found him 75 yards from where he stood. I don't think that if I had to pay to hunt one of these ranches I would... but if someone will just let me go there I will. By the way... the meat tasted just like wild elk! :)