Bighorn Canyon Ranch

[JustAl]

For those of you have hunted on the Bighorn Canyon Ranch, can you tell me about how challenging you found the hunt. I've always found exotic sheep to be ... well, less than challenging. Are the sheep and goats on this ranch any different?

I was thinking of using just an open sighted .357 revolver to add a little challenge, thoughts?

[JTA6498]

Has anyone ever hunted here before? I just went on their website and it is $350 for an array of exotics. And it is just east of the 15. What am I missing here?

[DirtyDave]

I have never hunted there but am considering it because my freezer is empty haha.
Do a search on here about big horn canyon ranch. There are a few posts about it (mostly pig). From what i gather from others experiences the hunt is as challenging as YOU want it to be. There are haters that say it is a petting zoo and others that say the steep terrain kicked their butt.
If you want to put meat in the freezer and an exotic mount on your wall it is a good place to go.

did the search for you, read up
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/search.php?searchid=152711

[ltdann]

+1

What Dave said, I'm planning on going there sometime this year. As long as you realize it is what it is, you'll be ok.

[JTA6498]

Lt.Dan, have you been there before? Is it really that bad? I like to hunt, but i am not into walking 1/4 mile and taking my pick at 50 exotics/pigs. whats the real deal with this place?

[k_rad]

This is the place my buddy went and shot that boar in the head with a 44 magnum then it woke up and chased him around. After Tejon I would be down to go do a weekend hunt here with you guys. It is probably the same distance from SD as it is from where Dave and Jeff and I live. What do you say? It will tide us over till deer season and we could have a camp fire and sing Kumbiyah?

[k_rad]

did the search for you, read up
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/...earchid=152711 (http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/search.php?searchid=152711) <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
__________________

Dave that link is not the right one...

[DirtyDave]

Dave that link is not the right one...

Oh well, Just search "big horn canyon" on here and read the posts.

If we come up empty handed at Tejon, I am down for a BHCR hunt. Maybe we could get a better price for a group of us?? Worth a shot. Wouldn't mind baggin an Exotic goat of some sort either, make me some Birria.
The nice thing is it is only a little over an hour drive for me and its only $50 if you dont shoot something

[yucaipa mike]

I'm having a jake day there on June 19 2010 for the NWTF

[ltdann]

Lt.Dan, have you been there before? Is it really that bad? I like to hunt, but i am not into walking 1/4 mile and taking my pick at 50 exotics/pigs. whats the real deal with this place?

Haven't been there myself (planning too) but here's what I know. Its high fence about 200 acres, it has exotic sheep, goats and a variety of hogs. Occasionally, he has buffalo. I know its pretty steep in spots.

Is it the vision of hunting that we all have? You know, wilderness, man-against beast and may the best one win? No. The odds are stacked in your favor. Its trophy hunting or armed grocery shopping. You can make it as tough or as easy as you want.

However, its ideally suited for the first time hunter, the young, the old, the guy with the little pocket book or the guy that's dying to hunt but can't get away for more than a day or two.

Face it, if you want a Mouflan on the wall you can $350 here or book a hunt to europe or the near east.

If want a hog, you can pay Tejon, bust a lung and walk away empty handed or, you can go here, pay about half and bring home the bacon.

I'll never slam places like this, I'm glad they exist. The day will come, be it age, health or finances, that these places may be my only option.

Oh and yeah, I'm up for a group campfire, not sure about the kumbayiah thing.....bit too touchy-feely for me.:bag-on-head:

[EPT]

I love it.
Its just like the game ranches in Texas.
Definitely takes the edge off during the summer months.
As far as the sheep and goats, they will stand there and let you get close if your in a vehicle of some sort. If you get out and go on foot, good luck getting near them. They take off.
The farm pigs are sleeping next to the troughs, the feral pigs are roaming around in the brush, the wild pigs are holed up in the steepest parts of the ranch.
Toughest way to hunt here is with a bow.
I like to use iron sights on a sporterized 8mm Mauser.
If I know I have a hunt coming up where long shots are required, I will use a scoped rifle here as a way of practicing.
Its what you make it.
Most guys that talk trash about this place have never been there.
Its not high fence, its a low fence, about three feet high.
Tough terrain as it is very steep in most places.
I'm down to go again and again.
I love it.

[Troggy92]

So what animal at BHCR offers the biggest challenge and which one makes the best meal? I may do a handgun hunt there in the future but I tracked down some posts and it looks like it gets more bashing than props. Im still thinking bout wether or not to go there.

[ltdann]

So what animal at BHCR offers the biggest challenge and which one makes the best meal? I may do a handgun hunt there in the future but I tracked down some posts and it looks like it gets more bashing than props. Im still thinking bout wether or not to go there.

Go! By all means...find out for yourself. I still want to go myself. If you don't like it, don't go back...don't let anyone else sway you.

PS post your experience here, if you decide to go.

[k-thug]

Ive hunted there a handful of times and it really depends on the species you are after and your method of take.What I mean by that is that going after a texas Dall (that barley moves) with a rifle,is going to be a whole lot easier than going after a Spanish Billy (who is fast on its feet and climbs like a MF'r) with a bow or pistol.I recommend it to someone just starting out or someone local who is just looking to get out for the day and wack something.

[Troggy92]

How are the Mouflans or "Razorbacks" to hunt? How good is Mouflan to eat?

[EPT]

The razor backs will keep you moving.
The sheep are easier to get within range.
Any mexican recipe for sheep is great for the Mouflan.
If you shoot the bigger boars, aim true.
They will come after your ass if you piss them off and injure them.
When are you going?
I'll come along.

[Troggy92]

Probally in March..after Holidays

[EPT]

send me an e-mail and we can exchange info

[JustAl]

Are there actually mouflon on the ranch? I didn't think there was mouflon in CA.

[dirtpoor]

I'm not sure which is worse, people who have never been to Big Horn Ranch and talk trash about it or people who have never been there that promote it, either way you're blowing smoke, first hand accounts are the only reality, I've been there , executed a pig with my pistol ( although to this day I don't know why I bothered ) and can tell you first hand that there's NO HUNTING involved, no matter how you want to spin it or justify what satisfaction you get out of killing a farm animal that isn't aware he's a game animal, I actually don't have a problem with high fence hunting ( incidently, 3 ft or 10 ft high, if the animal isn't free to flee it's a high fence operation ) I do however get a bad taste in my mouth when people try to equate this with an actual hunting scenario or talk about the challenging terrain at BHCR, if you find that challenging you're probably better off on your sofa with a Cabella's video game. There's a move afoot to change juristiction from agriculture to Fish and Game control for California high fence operation's.

[EPT]

That is the beauty of this website.
We can all post our own perspectives.

[JTA6498]

I've been there , executed a pig with my pistol ( although to this day I don't know why I bothered ) and can tell you first hand that there's NO HUNTING involved, no matter how you want to spin it or justify what satisfaction you get out of killing a farm animal that isn't aware he's a game animal,

For whatever reason, this ranch always brings some heated conversations. Just curious, where you not aware that you were paying to hunt feral farm hogs? I have never hunted feral farm hogs, but I reckon it is just as it sounds and it wouldnt be very interesting. I personally wouldnt be interested in doing that, but I dont have a problem if other people do. That is their money and their choice. But i go back to my question, what were you really expecting when you paid money to hunt feral farm hogs? It sounds like you have some animosity towards this ranch, but were your expectations unrealistic? A while back there was a large thread about this ranch, and I think DirtyDave said it best, there are different hunters with different abilities, expectations and goals. You may not get satisfaction out of harvesting an animal from this ranch, but a young first time hunter or a disabled hunter very well could.

[dirtpoor]

JTA, actually when I went to the ranch I hadn't heard much about it, in fact being a hunter ed instructor I was dumb enough to ask if I needed hunter orange, I don't have any animosity towards high fence other than it's virtually unregulated and the participant's are sometimes duped into thinking its somehow similar to hunting. I see no value in teaching young people the pleasures of killing something that is virtually defenseless and expects to be fed not shot. When I read nonsense from the shooters with little or no experience talking about the dangers of BHR, about how they shot a standing buffalo 3 4 or 5 times and they ran up the hill fearing the buff would charge because they were told this fearsome beast had killed someone before arriving at the ranch, this crap belongs on Jerry Springer,, I'm an ex farmer so killing has always been part of my life, quickly/humanely and for purpose.

[k-thug]

I think that it is unfortunate that one persons question can turn a forum into a pissing contest. Is bighorn ranch the same as an African safari, "no",and if you think that your gravely mistaken.But 99% of the guys that I know who have hunted there had a good time. Not because they killed something but because they got out and made some memories with friends,and I think that that is what hunting and the outdoors is all about.And why is it OK to shoot pen-raised pheasants and chukar all day long and that somehow be ok? But, if its a hog its somehow unethical?

[TonyS]

dirtpoor,

If you are a hunting instructor, which I doubt, you would know the question about orange in California indicates you are not a hunter or instructor. Nice try, better luck next time.

[Shmave23]

Im thinkin of going here for part of my Bachelor Party with a few buddies. I really want a cool euro mount of one of the Ram's with horn's that curl. Plus meat would be good. I really like how you dont need hunting licenses there because only one of my friends actually have one and we would all be able to take an animal while enjoying the experience with each other.

-Dave

[ltdann]

Have fun and let us know how it went! Pictures, pics, and more pics!

[essmanfam2]

My brothers and I are planning on booking a hunt here is well in the near future. What caliber of rifles have you guys taken one of the sheep/goats with? On their web-site they say minimum of .223. I have a 204, but I can borrow anything from a .243 on up.

[baco]

One easy way to sum it up, it is no different than having a released pheasant hunt. Yes there not wild birds but you can still have a great time with friends and family

[dirtpoor]

dirtpoor,

If you are a hunting instructor, which I doubt, you would know the question about orange in California indicates you are not a hunter or instructor. Nice try, better luck next time.

Former Master Instructor NYS hunter Ed program, involved in training over 3000 student's and personally trained and certified about a dozen instructor's, I've probably ethically killed more game than you've seen, that being said, anytime you're going to be hunting with a firearm in close quarter's with other hunter's hunter orange is alway's reccomended, I've seen more turkey hunters this year with orange on than ever before, I imagine they take it off when making their setup.

[TonyS]

Welcome to california. Now get over NY

[ColeB]

New to this website, but I just returned from a trip at Big Horn Canyon. At a first glance it looks easy, and if you're using a rifle, it is. However, I used my Matthews solo cam for the first time and it was difficult and exhausting. After a few hours I harvested a Doll Sheep from about 35 yards. If you hunt pigs, there everywhere and won't be a problem with a bow or rifle, but the sheep are tough to hunt. They tend to stick together high up on the cliffs and you have to break up the pack before you're going to get one. We went out the night before and spent the night, had a nice little fire with some other hunters. Can't believe this place is an hour away from my house. Great trip and Charlie, the guy who runs the place is a great guy who does hunts all over the world. Great experience I'm already planning another trip but use a bow for a challenge.

[Where's Bruce?]

Average hunt at BHCR is 10-60 mins. Exceptions would be the old wise boars that hang deep in the mustard and do not move even if you are on top of em. Unless you kick one or make eye contact, they are statues. Everything else is suicidal. In fact, shooting sheep and goats with a bow was so easy I decided not to draw and left empty handed. Too much like hunting a pet. Was within 10' of em.

[humbletaxi86]

" Armed grocery shopping" thats funny!