Follow-Up on Private Hunting Clubs - Comments/Opinions

The following is a comment to my article on private hunting clubs from October 2007. The questions raised by the blogger are certainly of interest to many other readers. Therefore, I decided to publish the comment as a separate article and to add my answers right after the comment.

Blogger Richard said:

"More of a question than a comment.

What are the comparative costs of the two hunting clubs mentioned here: Wilderness Unlimited and Golden Ram? If possible does anyone know what you get for what you pay for? That is the true cost/value relationship.

How can someone find out ahead of time just what the rules of the game are for bringing a friend or if that is even possible?

Thanks.

January 9, 2008 10:06 PM"

My comment to the comment:

Wilderness Unlimited

Bear in mind that I was a member of Wilderness Unlimited for several years. In fact, because of health problems I dropped my membership once, then renewed it - and had to pay the initiation fee all over again. They gave me a reduced rate to ease the pain. Yet in my opinion the wisdom of repeat 'initiations' is questionable. How many times can a person get initiated? The term implies a one time event.

After the second initiation I let my membership run out again. Health reasons one more time.

While I was a member my experience with the Club was generally good. The reservation system is reliable and works well. Properties are well documented and, at times, well patrolled.

How much successful hunting you can do (and at what cost to you) depends very much on the game hunted and on your proximity to the club's properties. Most of the club ranches are located in Northern California. A number of them are home to wild pigs. Yet, as any experienced pig hunter knows, wild pigs travel around a lot. A ranch with many pigs today may be devoid of them the next day. Heavy hunting pressure will drive them away.

This appears to be frequently the case during the WU pig hunting season. I have hunted properties that were touted for their pig population only to find no traces of pigs anywhere, not even old tracks.

I am not up-to-date with club fees. Back when I joined the initiation fee was $ 1,500. I believe now it is about $ 1650.00 or so. The monthly dues amounted to about the same amount per year. That makes it at least $ 3,000 per year just for club fees.

You can bring guests for fishing, camping and some water fowl hunting. You cannot bring a guest to a big game hunt unless you purchase a plus membership (for an additional $ 800.00). Big game, by the way, includes turkey and pheasant.

You can also make arrangements with the office ahead of time to bring a non-hunting guest if you can present a good reason, such as physical impairment or so. The easiest way to get a club's guest policy is to visit their web site and to call the office for information.

In my opinion you get the best and most use out of your membership when you use the club properties not only for big game hunting but for a much broader range of activities – fishing, camping, family outings, bird hunting, duck and goose, big game hunting, 'private' access to National Forests land and so on. If you intend to hunt wild boar only, you will most likely be disappointed.

It can get crowded on opening day for deer, pig and certain winged game. And finally, there appears to be an “in” crowd with special ties to founding members or other staff. Belong to it and you will prosper; stay an outsider and you have to do things by the book and eat the crumbs.

The easiest way to find out about what you can do and what you get for your money is to study the web site and any written material the Club sends you. Ot talk to members, better previous members. Otherwise you will have to cope with a commissioned salesperson.

Golden Ram Sportsman's Club

The Golden Ram Club has 14 ranches in Northern and Central California. Ten are general hunting properties and four are mainly waterfowl ranches.

More than a year ago, I requested membership information from the club management for publication in my boar hunting book and in the newsletter. I am still waiting for a reply to my repeated inquiries. That's not a good omen.

But let's be fair, Wilderness Unlimited suffers from a similar problem. And so does another promising out of State hunting club. All clubs would rather send you a salesman to explain the advantages of the club, the abundance of game and limited number of hunters and finally the fees. WU has some quite aggressive salesmen. I have no experience with the sales staff of Golden Ram. But I have talked to hunters who know both clubs first hand. If you cannot get membership fees any other way, you can always ask for a salesperson to explain the club to you – if you dare sit through a two or three hour cash oriented 'presentation'.

Both Clubs operate in similar ways. Both clubs have their fans and their critics. And what has been said about one, has been held against the other as well. I have heard very negative comments about Golden Ram, their ranches, game populations and number of hunters per property. I have also heard enthusiastic comments praising Golden Ram as the real thing. Mainly because it is a much smaller club and the the founder runs it from 'the kitchen table' so to speak.

Golden Ram has only 14 ranches while WU controls close to two hundred. Just as with WU, it appears that all member hunters are equal on paper but some are more equal. Again, just as with WU, if you are with the 'in' group or befriend a patrolman or member of the 'in' group or perform special services for the club, you have easy going and good hunts. If not, you get to hunt the tough spots or to hunt after preferred members have cleaned up the game on a ranch.

To get the most out of Golden Ram you should live in northern California or very close to it, because the more you use the club properties during a year the better the return on your investment will be. It makes no sense to me to spend around $ 3000.00 on membership fees and then another $ 3,000.00 on travel expenses just to shoot a pig or two – or nothing.

Guides are cheaper for the occasional hunter – and so is PLM land.

You can find general information on the two clubs here:

wildernessunlimited.com

goldenramhunting.com

There are also several references to Wilderness Unlimited and Golden Ram including blogger comments on the Clubs in various discussion forums. Google for Wilderness Unlimited and Golden Ram. You will easily find those boards.

You will however not be able to dig up membership fees for either one of the clubs on their own websites. As I said before: They want you to talk to their salespeople!

Let us hope that one of the readers will fill us in regarding the membership fees of Golden Ram. Maybe a miracle will happen and we will hear from the 'kitchen table'.

In the near future I will write about another Hunting Club. Was hoping to get info from them in 2007. First my e-mail was not answered. Then I got a note from the founder explaining that it is the 'season' and therefore he has no time to deal with questions regarding his club. He promised to get a reply to me as soon as he has time – in April of 2008.

Would you consider joining a club like this?

Please let us know.