Ruggs Ranch: Wingshooting and Big Game Hunting

The vast and diverse topography and terrain spans tens of thousands of acres with the opportunity to hunt completely wild birds on horseback or on foot. All of these hunting products executed at the very highest level, paired with nonpareil cuisine, luxury lodging and world class hospitality makes Ruggs Ranch the very finest hunting experience that one can hope to find.

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For owner John Flynn, the most rewarding part of his endeavor at Ruggs Ranch is to build the ultimate destination hunting resort. The challenge of building something from the ground up and watching it grow, being able to share that process with his children, working side by side with them, teaching them the nuances of business and the value of hard work; all while creating something that will someday be theirs to run and pass on to their children in turn.

Available Ruggs Ranch Experiences

Ruggs Ranch is over 100,000 acres in North Central Oregon where hunts are available on about 40,000 acres of that, with 24,000 being timber and 10,000+ in our upland preserve. Hunting packages are available for archery and rifle deer and elk, rifle cow elk, unlimited upland wingshooting for pheasant, chukar, quail and Hungarian Partridge. There are also opportunities to hunt the Merriam turkey in the spring season. During our Upland hunts, hunters will typically see 60-80 birds each day. For big game hunts, which are 5 days of hunting, clients can expect an opportunity rate of 75% for elk and 80% for deer.

Wingshooting packages at Ruggs Ranch start at $1795 for a 1 day hunt and range to $3995 for a 3 day hunt. The preserve permits for the bird hunts are purchased at the ranch. Spring Merriam turkey hunts are $2395.

Big game hunt opportunities range from $2395 for our cow elk hunts and range to $7500 for rifle trophy elk. Pricing does not include Tags, Licenses or Gratuities. All of the big game hunts are in draw units. The application for the draw deadline is May 15th, with the draw taking place in early June. Ruggs Ranch typically has a 100% success rate, and in the few rare occasions that a client didn’t draw, we have Land Owner Preference tags at our disposal.

A Look at Motivations within Ruggs Ranch

An outfitter is only as good as their staff. You can have all of the beautiful facilities and wide open space in the world, but if you don’t have quality staff to manage and operate it, you’re not going to get very far. You need dedicated and competent staff, who are friendly and hard-working, who understand and share the vision of the ownership, and who are completely committed to and invested in the process. The other hallmark of great operations is the determination to always improve, always exceed expectations, and to never let “good enough” be “good enough”. Those are the principals the staff strive for at Ruggs Ranch, and individuals aren’t hired if those goals and values are not shared. This level commitment of excellence by the staff shows itself in the end product that our guests experience when they visit us.

The Upland Experience

In the wingshooting season the day begins with a two-course breakfast that is served at 8:00. The guides will meet the guests at 9:00 and take them to the field, where they will hunt until noon. Lunch is served back at the lodge at 12:30. From here guests will enjoy a break and have some time to relax before going back out to hunt at 2:15. Guests typically return to the lodge following the afternoon hunt around 5-5:30. Guides will clean the shotguns as guests relax and unwind in our spacious trophy room with a cold draft beer. Hors d'Oeuvres are served by staff at 5:45, followed by a 3-course dinner at 6:30. Afterwards, guests can retire to the inviting outdoor fire pit and relax with a drink and a cigar, or go for a soak in a spacious hot tub, all while taking in panoramic views of the Rhea Creek Valley under a vast expanse of stars.

During Upland hunts, hunters will see the use of e-collars, blaze game vests, upland chaps, gaiters, shell belts, wicking base layers and weatherproof outer shells depending on the weather.

For managers Gene and Vicki Barnhart, they are able to have the opportunity to pursue their lifelong pursuit of breeding and training world class pointing and flushing dogs to improve the upland experience. With over 40 years in the field, their bloodlines and numerous champion dogs speak to their dedication to excellence, and Ruggs Ranch offers the perfect setting and facilities to ensure that their dogs are the very best in the business.

The Big Game Experience

For hunters coming to experience the big game hunts, the schedule will have more variables. Lighting is very different in August when we start with archery deer than it is in November when we conclude with rifle cow elk. Typically, clients rise about two hours before first light and meet for coffee, a light breakfast, and meet with the guides to plan the morning hunts. Clients and guides will then depart from the tent camp to be in position in stands or blinds at sun-up. Clients, depending on their inclination, may decide to pursue a spot and stalk approach. Depending on how the morning unfolds, clients will typically return to camp around midday for a meal service in the dining tent, usually followed by a few hours rest. Around mid-afternoon, clients return to the field until dusk or a successful harvest occurs. Dinner is served afterwards, and can be earlier or later depending on what has transpired during the afternoon/evening hunts. Afterwards, it is left to the client’s discretion whether or not they decide to turn in for the night or commiserate around the campfire.

Gear utilized in the big game hunts are binoculars, range finders, shooting sticks, backpacks, scent blockers, camo hats, jackets, pants and boots.

Tim Emmel and Pete Peterson

Behind the Scenes

Hunting Guides Adam Sande, Pete Peterson, Tim Emmel and Colby Hawk, along with John Flynn’s son Cord, are getting paid to do what they love. While it isn’t always easy or glamorous, it takes a certain type of person to be a Ruggs Ranch Guide. It takes a love of the outdoors, an appreciation for and willingness to do the hard work, along with a wide knowledge base that encompasses dog handling, big game expertise and acumen, horsemanship, and a friendliness and generosity of spirit to make the sharing of these outdoor experiences with our clients something they will never forget.

All of our staff works year round. With over 100,000 acres to manage and maintain, there is no shortage of work. We maintain the cover and habitat for the birds in our preserve, as well as putting out feed year round. Our staff keeps all of the lodge grounds, facilities and landscaping in meticulous shape. We closely survey and monitor our deer, elk and bird populations throughout the year. Ruggs Ranch owns and operates its own kennel of hunting dogs. We are an Orvis endorsed breeder of English Pointers, and the care and training of our string of world class pointing and flushing dogs is a 24/7/365 endeavor. We are also a working cattle ranch, with over 800 head, and we produce alfalfa hay as well. All of our staff live and work on the property, and during the “offseason” everyone works 60 hour weeks. The only months where we don’t have hunting clients are June and July.

Colby Hawk moving a herd of cattle

Tales from the Field - Hunting with Noah Webster at Ruggs Ranch

As a guide you remember every hunt whether you are successful or not. There is one hunt that has a lasting impression for me personally. The hunt involved young Noah, a fist time mule deer hunter. This would be his first big game hunt. Noah had been getting ready for his hunt all summer long. He practiced shooting his rifle and waited for phone calls with the updates of the deer activity.

October finally rolled around and it was deer season. Noah arrived with his father to the lodge the day before opening day. Noah sighted in his rifle and to my relief he could shoot better than any experienced hunter I have guided. Now the pressure was one me, he could shoot and I needed to find him a buck.

Opening morning was not what Noah was expecting. It was raining and the fog kept the visibility to a minimum. Not what you wanted for a first hunt. We covered quite a bit of ground and saw some deer. The morning hunt came to a conclusion and we headed back to camp to dry out. Once we arrived to camp and we could see there had been some success. A couple of the other hunters had taken deer. Noah was quiet and l stared at the bucks. I could tell that he really wanted a buck for himself. The pressure was on; I needed to find Noah a buck.

That evening things took a turn for the better. We went back to where we had hunted that morning. The fog had lifted and we were able to start spotting some decent bucks. Day light was fading fast and we had to make our move. You could tell Noah was getting excited, this could be his opportunity. We closed the distance and tried to find the deer. They were gone. We peaked over the rock bluff and saw a buck. Noah did not have a shot so his father was able to shoot. The buck did not go down. Just like that it was over for that night.

The next morning was uneventful. We saw deer but nothing that we were looking for. That evening was a different story. It didn’t take long to find a shooter buck for Noah. A beautiful buck lay bedded across the canyon from us. There was no way to close the distance. Noah would have to take the shot across the canyon. After seeing Noah shoot at the lodge I had complete confidence that he could make the shot.

We got Noah set up across from the bedded buck. It was time to take the shot. Noah fired his rifle and just missed the buck. You could actually see the dirt from the bullet dust the buck’s back. It was close but not close enough. The buck had no idea what was going on. We made the adjustments on the scope and Noah fired again. The bullet just missed the buck again. The shot was just under the buck’s stomach and got him out of his bed. He stood and walked ten yards and bedded again. Now we just had to get the next shot in between the last two. Noah took one more shot at the buck but to no avail. It was a bitter sweet moment for everyone there.

The following morning started off with high hopes after the prior evening’s close call. We pulled into the hunting ground and spotted deer before we exited the truck. The sun was just cresting the horizon as we made our move towards the deer. We made our way to the head of the canyon where we last spotted the deer. Slowly we made our way in their direction. To our surprise there was not a deer to be seen. It was like they vanished into thin air. In a matter of seconds a beautiful four point buck came running over the horizon. He had no idea that we were there. He made his way straight towards us. I grabbed Noah and we took off to setup. The buck angled towards us and Noah took the shot. The buck was hit and kept moving in our direction. Noah took another shot and the buck went down. Just like that it was over and Noah got his buck. Excitement filled the air. Noah was calm and collective, he did it and you could tell he was happy.

We made our way to the buck and noticed that the first shot was perfect. It was Noah’s first big game animal and he worked hard for it. To all of our surprise Noah’s buck was one of the largest in camp. We arranged everything for pictures and had a blast in doing so. Noah’s true excitement came out; he was smiling from ear to ear. I cherish the photo of Noah and his buck. Definitely one of the greatest moments in my hunting career.

You Might Have Noticed

On television, Ruggs Ranch has been featured on Wingshooting USA, Realtree Road Trips, RMEF Team Elk, and Licensed To Kill Outdoors. In print media, Ruggs Ranch has been featured in Covey Rise, Shooting Sportsman, Sports Afield, Sporting Classics and The Upland Almanac, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and Double Gun Journal.

The mixture of the amazing northern Oregon landscape and the bullet proof work ethic of all involved at Ruggs Ranch creates an incredibly hospitable experience for guests coming to hunt upland birds, turkeys, deer or elk. Come experience the joy of arriving as guests and leave as friends of the Ruggs Ranch crew. Passions will be shared for hunting, cuisine with an intimate group for days at a time, laughter, wine and hunting stories. The crew at Ruggs Ranch looks forward to participating in making memories that are likely to last a lifetime.

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