Golden Ram?????? Access???????

**Shmave23** · 01-14-2010, 02:03 PM

Im thinkin of becoming a member of the Golden Ram Club. Are there any MEMBERS out there that could give me some insight???? Is there a waiting list during the season to get onto the propertys?????? Also do the pig quota's fill up fast????????

**CATManReid** · 01-14-2010, 05:59 PM

I'm not a member, but I looked into it several years ago. Didn't seem worth it. The cost of membership, for me, severely outweighs the benefit.

In my opinion, you're better off putting the time and effort into finding an area on public land and hunting there.

I saw this same thread on the Bear forum and if you want a bear, find a guy running hounds. You're sure to spend less going that route...

**FRISCOHNTR** · 01-14-2010, 09:56 PM

the club has nice properties with some pigs and very good properties with deer. As for all clubs there are many issues; scheduling (can you hunt during the week), if you can hunt during the week you are looking at the top 75% of the private land all to yourself. if you have to hunt weekends that obviously changes/ with the pressure. G/R will give access to property/ranches in prime country with limited access (that is never questioned) you ability to hunt during the low utilization times is yours..

good luck,
Jason

**bubba19** · 01-14-2010, 11:54 PM

I'm a GRAM member, I have been in for 5 years now. My Brother and dad are both members.We have hunted both A and B zone public land for many years. Some years we got a deer or two. We got sick of the hunting pressure and the type of hunter that are out there shooting everything insight. Since we have joined we have had some great hunts. This past season my family and I harvested 4 bucks a 4x4 and three 3 pointers all nice buck and seen some big ones. If you put the time in on the ranches you will see some trophy bucks. In 2005 I harvested a B&C blacktail a 5x5 26 1/2 " wide. I took him off of one of the ranches. Every year some good bucks get taken. Just like any where the first weekend and the last weekends you have your crowds. The ranches have there share of road hunters but if you get of the road you will increase you chances. The pig hunting is good. We have not hunted the pigs like we wish we could but you put the time in you will get your pig. The people are great and the camps are behind gates. The B zone ranches are loaded with Bears. It has been worth the money for me. If you need more let me know I'll Private message you my phone #. Good luck ( my picture above is my buck this year)

**boarhunter67** · 01-15-2010, 08:11 AM

I was a Wilderness Unlimited member for a few years and was invited on a GR property in Parkfield. I saw tons more game on the GR property than on most of the WU properties and I had put in a lot of time and research into the WU properties. That being said, I still think for the money, you could go on 2-3 paid hunts every year for the same price and end up with more animals.

**deerseeker** · 01-15-2010, 08:48 AM

Bubba 19 made the case for GR well. I too am a GR member, joined for similar reasons and enjoyed my decision. Although I never had a problem finding deer on public land, I got tired of the long drives only to find large groups of hunters in the same canyons (including wilderness areas) and hit or miss on camping spots.

Reservations are easy to come by (outside open and close of deer). Pigs are in ample supply as are the bears. I suggest going to the Sacramento ISE next week and talking to Nick and Candice about your concerns. For me, money was well spent.

**Shmave23** · 01-15-2010, 10:47 AM

Thanks for all the input. I am planing on going to the show in Sac next weekend to talk to them.

**bubba19** · 01-15-2010, 10:01 PM

Deerseeker, its nice running into the Gram hunters here.

**deerseeker** · 01-21-2010, 09:54 AM

Yes it is, always gets my attention when I see a post mentioning GR. A couple years back, I responded to GR questions by posting a trail cam pick of a decent buck, one member went on a tirade...

**MGGS** · 01-21-2010, 10:03 AM

Deerseeker what ranches do you hunt? B Zone ranches?

**Game-Stopper** · 01-21-2010, 05:02 PM

I agree with what Bubba said. I have been a member of both W.U. and G.R. for several years, and have had great success on both ranches. With G.R. you will run into a TON of guys opening and closing weekends, but the bucks are there (especially B-zone). The ranches are beautiful, B-zone is stacked with bears, and A-zone consistantly takes bucks and a good number of hogs. I have not yet hunted the D-zone properties, but i have heard good things.

For the money, if you have time to go and learn ranches, it is absolutely worth it... if you only get out 2 - 3 times a year, go on a guided hunt.

Hope this info helped. If you want more info, feel free to send me a PM.

**deerseeker** · 01-21-2010, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by MGGS

Deerseeker what ranches do you hunt? B Zone ranches?

Mostly Tyson O'farrell and Hedgepeth..

**DeltaHog** · 03-30-2010, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by bubba19

I'm a GRAM member, I have been in for 5 years now. My Brother and dad are both members.We have hunted both A and B zone public land for many years. Some years we got a deer or two. We got sick of the hunting pressure and the type of hunter that are out there shooting everything insight. Since we have joined we have had some great hunts. This past season my family and I harvested 4 bucks a 4x4 and three 3 pointers all nice buck and seen some big ones. If you put the time in on the ranches you will see some trophy bucks. In 2005 I harvested a B&C blacktail a 5x5 26 1/2 " wide. I took him off of one of the ranches. Every year some good bucks get taken. Just like any where the first weekend and the last weekends you have your crowds. The ranches have there share of road hunters but if you get of the road you will increase you chances. The pig hunting is good. We have not hunted the pigs like we wish we could but you put the time in you will get your pig. The people are great and the camps are behind gates. The B zone ranches are loaded with Bears. It has been worth the money for me. If you need more let me know I'll Private message you my phone #. Good luck ( my picture above is my buck this year)

I was there when these bucks rolled in to barZ and met Bubba and his brother & Dad that same day (sunday). Everything that he expland about the club is true.
I myself am also a member and have seen numerous pigs on there pig property's and the bigest blacktails in the state.
Last year I killed a giant 250lbs boar with my bow from a group of 15 plus pigs at 30 yards. I dont like saying this but I have also shot at 2 dear and only to miss, but those 2 dear both would have made B/C record books. I also killed a nice black bear my very first ever day hunting GR 2 years ago.
I watched and helped with a guided hunt this year and only to be a part of seeing my first first 5x6 double droptined blacktail buck. The buck made both SCI and B/C record books. The same day that book was killed I witnessed a 15 year old that morning kill one of the heavest horned blacktails I have ever seen, it also had one really nice droptine. That hunt was a teen hunt that GR had sponserd that very same day.
So if anybodys wondering what club to join, go see if you can find a story like that on a WU property. just my 2 cents.
p.s. the double droptined buck I am refering too is on the golden ram website. My Cousin Dave took the picture 5 minites after it was killed.

**Shmave23** · 03-30-2010, 01:24 PM

Yea Im already SOLD on the club. Im was planning on joining in Oct so that when Nov came it would be on for pigs. I was gonna do public for Deer with a friend. Because I dont have any hunting buddys that can join, because of the $ situtations. But you fella's got me thinking to join before Deer season. It sucks sometimes always hunting by yourself though!!!

-Dave GRAM member soon.

**Caninelaw** · 04-02-2010, 11:48 AM

Just out of curiosity how much does a GR membership cost?

(or is it if you have to ask you can't afford it?)

**FCHunter24** · 03-09-2012, 02:48 PM

GR fees are very reasonable about $1600 i think. I agree with everything that Bubba said. The animals are there to be harvested but you've got to be wiling to put in the effort.

**ophir284** · 03-20-2012, 04:26 PM

I've been a GR member for more than 25 years. Started when my sons were 10 and 12 with a family membership that we converted to a Corporate one when they reached 21. Lucky enough now to take out-of-state deer, elk and/or antelope trips each year, but we always make sure that they don't conflict with our B-zone hunts at our favorite ranch.

Best hunting club around for the price, and it's run fair and square by Nick and his staff. Can't imagine why someone would go to WU -- with the sales pressure and difficulty drawing ranches to hunt (all examples shared with me by those who have been there).

**jerryt** · 03-21-2012, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by ophir284

I've been a GR member for more than 25 years. Started when my sons were 10 and 12 with a family membership that we converted to a Corporate one when they reached 21. Lucky enough now to take out-of-state deer, elk and/or antelope trips each year, but we always make sure that they don't conflict with our B-zone hunts at our favorite ranch.

Best hunting club around for the price, and it's run fair and square by Nick and his staff. Can't imagine why someone would go to WU -- with the sales pressure and difficulty drawing ranches to hunt (all examples shared with me by those who have been there).

Why be a WU member because it is cheaper, they have more ranches, less competition to get on ranches when you want to go hunting. I see another comment up above talking about B&C bucks killed. WU has a lot of B&C bucks killed every year and they also took the #2 bear in the state last year off one of the ranches. I'm not sure but I think Golden Ram has 10 deer hunting properties, 3 pig hunting properties and 3 duck/pheasant hunting properties vs WU who has 41 deer hunting properties, 22 pig properties, and 27 waterfowl properties. I forgot to mention that there are also no quota on the number of pigs you kill per year with WU just that you can only take one per reservation and that they don't all come from the same ranch. I have heard good things about both clubs, but the biggest thing is you have to use them and be apart of them to get your own opinion. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a WU member and have a blast doing a lot of events with them every year where we do things for the kids, handicapped and women every year to get them involved in the sport of hunting.

**Bossbrott** · 03-21-2012, 05:15 PM

I'd imagine thats $1600/year?

**rackhunter** · 03-22-2012, 01:47 PM

Hey Shmave23,

is there a inflated upfront cost to join GR like there is for WU? I believe the WU fee was $2400 the first year and $1400 every year after that.

**bubba19** · 03-24-2012, 10:35 PM

rackhunter,

No. there is no inflated upfront costs. Give them a call and see what they can do for you. I've been a member since 2005 and will be a member in the future.Hope my kids are too...!

Bubba

**jackrabbit** · 03-25-2012, 12:12 AM

But what is the cost for a new member signing up today? Do they post the cost? If I want to join today, how much do I need to pay? And I'm not going to give them a call if I can't get the answer on the internet.

**jerryt** · 03-26-2012, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by jackrabbit

But what is the cost for a new member signing up today? Do they post the cost? If I want to join today, how much do I need to pay? And I'm not going to give them a call if I can't get the answer on the internet.

Seems a bit harsh that you won't call. GR and WU do not post prices because it's different for everyone since they base it on what your wants are. I know at WU there are members that are only interested in camping, some that are only interested in fishing, only want to duck hunt or only want to deer hunt. Every situation is different.

**bubba19** · 03-26-2012, 11:30 AM

I wish I had the current cost, I don't want to qoute you a wrong number. Its up to you if you want to call. Its been worth every penny for me! I've taken 6 deer, 1 pig since 2005. If i hunted pigs more the number would be much higher. The picture of me in my avatar, thats my 2005 buck off a Gram property... Good luck

Bubba

**jackrabbit** · 03-26-2012, 01:22 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Different rates depending on whether I just want to camp, fish, or hunt probably means I can't afford to spend the money out of the family budget. Would have been nice though if a few responders simply stated what plans they bought and what the complete costs are or were. But maybe that's not allowed. At any rate, looks like I'll have to stay with public land and maybe pay for a guided or access hunt in the future. Thanx.

Oops! Just realized I was in the Blacktail forum when I posted comments. I was thinking wild pig hunting (that was mentioned in the original post). Private land for deer hunting in blacktail country is a whole different decision.

**tntent** · 04-12-2012, 04:27 PM

I have been trying to track down pricing and what not as i am a type of person that will set a goal and then save for it. But if I dont know how much its gonna cost me to do i really dont want to do it. In my research i have found that the GR seems to be more southern oriented where the wu will tend to be more northern california. For me i am from the redding area, and the WU has more land near me than the GR does. If i can ever get some prices in advance i will prolly go WU but without that information up front i dont like negotiations where i dont know what i am getting into ahead of time.