Wilderness unlimited tell me what you think

I just found out that W.U. leased a ranch I was on today. What are they all about? Do the ranches get shot out?

if you're "in the inner circle", it's good. If you are an unknown paying member all you will hear is "all full".

JB

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
--Benjamin Franklin 1759

I was considering re-joining. I was a member about 4 years ago and have been on an "inactive" status since. (you can be inactive by paying them $50/year). When I had been a member, it seemed that the ranches I wanted to go to, lets say for the A Zone opener, were full and I was given my last choice of ranch. I ended driving from southern cal, to northern cal to see 8 other dipshits party all nite, and saw 3 does for 2 days, finally driving around knocking on other doors in the area the last day. We saw more deer driving around. However, I did hunt one ranch a couple times that I really liked, and I hunted it twice, seeing some pigs (never got a good shot), and some decent bucks (deer season was closed). That ranch was Palm ranch and I noticed in there latest "flyer" that the lease expired. It seems they have picked up 2 new properties Jacilitas Ranch, and Pyramid Ranch. Were one of these the ranch you were in reference to?

I would like to here others tell there stories about WU, has anybody hunted Oregon properties? Lets here opinions good and bad.

I may have been on the Jacilitas where is it?

Oh and what if one was able to hunt during the week, would that help.

The map for Jacilitas hasn't come out yet. But, the description in the latest "The Flyer" is "Jacilitas Ranch is a 12,000 acre ranch for big game and upland game hunting and is located south of Coalinga nere the town of Parkfield". That should help. Was the hunting any good?

Been a member for about five years, every other year I place my membership on hold for fifty dollars. I've only been on a few ranchs one I made one trip and is was not very good. The other ranch had some of the biggest blacktail I've seen. It is stick and string hunting only but it is a great ranch. I hunt it as often as I can get there. Never had any problems hunting the ranch when I wanted to. Plan on trying the Oregon ranches in 07. If you have any other question feel free to PM me.
Thanks Richard

I would want it almost strictly for pigs do you think its worth it?

I would try out Golden Ram first. I have hunted their property and I enjoyed it. Look in the last issue of california game and fish. There is two new records taken off two of their ranches last year

I was a member for one year, they have some pretty good ranches, but availabilty is the problem. You have to try and draw the good ranches, and I was unsuccessfull. Being an avid hunter and not going to miss an chance to hunt I instead went to public ground and harvested my bucks. Making my membership a waste of money. I also did not like checking in and out of ranches and making reservations sometimes you get a last minute chance to go hunting and if you didnt already have reservations usually you were out of luck. Personally I feel there is way to much good public land opprotunity for those who are willing to put in the extra effort, and after all it is far more rewarding(to me anyway) to harvest a huge buck on public ground where everyone had equal opprotunity. I will give them a little credit though as by limiting the amount of hunters on a ranch at a time they better manage the area.

I looked into it a few years ago. A rep. came out to my house and gave me the half an hour pitch about all the ranches and so on. I told him that I was very interested and that I'd like to see a couple of the ranches closest to me. You know, to see if it was going to be worth it for me. That was out of the question! He said I would not be able to get on any ranch until I signed up. I was awe struck. I told him its like buying a car without driving it first. Who the hell is gonna do that? I wasnt going to risk my $400-$500 on the chance that this was a rip off and they had crappy ranches. I couldnt believe that they expect you to join and GIVE THEM MONEY before you see the merchandise! Id rather put that money towards an outfitted hunt. Doesnt seem like theres too many satisfied customers so far.

You're right, that and I keep hearing the best ranches are tied up by the inside guys for most of the time anyways. I don't care this year anymore I shot a 300lb boar with greatt tusks a few weeks ago and noe all I want to do is deer hunt.

Don't need them for that.

Seems to me that they run the show and can TELL you where you can hunt and where you cant hunt. I dont like that feeling if I'm paying money for a service. Just like anything- you gotto be in extra good with someone for it to really benefit you. Kinda a bummer.

Dont do it save,save your money. Most of the places I went to were all hunted out, yes I was also a member not no more

I agree don't do it.I belonged to Golden Ram for a few years although i harvested several animals it became a pain.The best ranches where "Full" every time i called and if there was a opening in the middle of the season you couldn't hold 2 reservations so you missed 1/2 the season.Then after that hunt you would call to book for another hunt and they would be full for the end of the season.They did have decent pig and bear hunting.For the same money me and my brother go on a "out of state" hunt and have much more fun.
Oilcan

I used to be a sales rep, they way over sell the membership back then don't know if they still do or not, but today with all the hunting ground disappearing it may be a good bet, ?/

I'm new to this board, and reading this string was a trip. I've been a WU member for over a decade, and the club has good and bad points... but I would like to note some points...

First of all, the directors do not play favorites. There is no "in" crowd. They are very careful to be fair about who gets to go where-- to the point that one of the directors, a good friend, has missed out taking his kids out for openers, etc. Even the directors have to draw for impacted properties.

Bad points:
Bottom line with reservations is that if you can only hunt weekends, you are going to have a tough time. Since the properties WU manages are privately owned, members must follow rules. There is no exceptions. If you drive on a wet road when you shouldn't, you'll be kicked off the property. Safety rules are another sticky point. This is bad because it is rigid management, but it's for the good of everyone-- if they didn't they'd lose the properties they manage. Checking in and out can be a hassle. You can't camp anywhere on the property, you must camp in their designated site. Sometimes the caretakers can be a little overbearing. Final bad point, if you are not aggressive about exploring new properties, you will not fully enjoy the club. This is not a guided hunt, you have to do the work yourself.

Also, if you don't force yourself to use the membership regularly, you tend to forget about it. After six months of no use, you are likely to say, why am I paying for this?

Good points:
Your campsite and gear can be left in the campground with no fear of theft or vandalism. You are behind locked gates.

Their management programs not only limit hunters, but limit animal take. When a ranch reaches a quota, they take it out of the mix. I hunted a B zone property the first year they got it, and several years following, archery, and it only improved through their management with bigger and more bucks. The last year I hunted it, I saw 7 bucks in two days, shot a 3x4, and went home.

It's one of the only ways to get on private pig properties without paying a guide. my wife and I both got our first pigs on WU properties, on ranches about 2 hours from our home.

If you like to explore, you have dozens of properties to try.

If you like to fish and hunt birds, a combo membership is well worth it. Waterfowl properties are a strong point, and they have many blinded and decoy clubs. You'll feel like you are a member of a dozen duck clubs because you are not restricted by buying one seat in one blind in one club. BTW, the price of a decent duck club is about the same as an entire combo WU membership. I've had some of my best duck and goose hunting ever on WU properties.

If you take the time to learn the reservation system, you can usually get satisfaction from the process. Most people are making their reservations on Monday after the weekend, so the key is to call on Friday or Saturday for the following week. Another good bet is to set a date way ahead, then if you decide you want to go earlier, you can cancel that one after you get an earlier date-- that way you always have one in the bank. No shows are punished, but cancellations are no problem. You can reserve up to 5 days, and you can make those 2 days on one ranch and 3 on another (or any combination), if you want. Also, check back for cancellations-- you might luck into a spot that someone else cancels. Also, this may have changed, but you used to be able to call the main office line early for same-day reservations.

WU also does much to promote our sports, hosting seminars for the DFG that are open to the general public, host youth hunts, they put up the catch and release pond at the ISE shows for the kids outdoor fair, plus they have many special events open to members that can get you more involved in the club-- picnics, fly tying classes, etc.

I hunted public land for over 20 years, and have shot plenty of bucks there. I gave up on opening days because of the crowds. I have experienced many bad camping experiences because of unruly people who can show up at all hours of the night, or play music, run generators, etc. This doesn't happen at WU campsites. I've been the only person hunting a "good" property on the opening week of archery deer season. The caretaker was there on Monday, left, and I had the place to myself all week long. That doesn't happen on public land, ever.

He was part of the "IN CROWD" and didn't know it!?

Are you just being an ignorant smart ass, or can you qualify your comment?

"""First of all, the directors do not play favorites. There is no "in" crowd. They are very careful to be fair about who gets to go where-- to the point that one of the directors, a good friend, has missed out taking his kids out for openers, etc. Even the directors have to draw for impacted properties."""



Friends at the top really do help. Are you an outdoor writer and do they know it??

JB

I am an outdoor writer, but my "writing name" is not the same as my membership name, so when I call and talk to Jeremy, Jamal, or Maxine on the reservation line, they have no clue who I am. I don't make reservations any different from any other member. I've had my share of frustrations, but I can tell that the reservation people aren't responsible for making judgement calls on who should or who shouldn't be allowed to make a res.

If there is a spot, they put you in. Some can be more helpful than others, and it helps to be able to go down a list of different properties if your first choice is filled. So I usually have three or four choices before I call.

If there are people who take advantage of friends here, I guess it goes over my head. I've got a buddy who works in a grocery store and he saves me apple boxes for storage sometimes. They don't do that for just anyone. My mechanic has his own business and he's constantly doing me favors, saving me money on repairs and giving me good advice that most mechanics would hold back in favor of higher profit. I even have friends who work for tackle and hunting companies that offer me preferencial pricing on products... but aside from a handful of special invitations to WU sponsored writer events, I've never been treated "special" by the people in the reservation department.

So, go figure... either I've been missing the boat, or there really isn't any "in crowd" at WU.

Bud Neville

Was a member for one year and won't do it again. The rules didn't bother me since the properties they have are leased and not owned. With he rules they are thinking about "not destroying" the owners property and keeping safty an issue. I can't argue with that. But it was tough to get on a good ranch for an opener or anytime for that matter. Because of work and the packed ranches, I was never able to big game hunt with them.

I did however have one of the best goose hunts ever and some good duck hunts on there leases up by Willows.

waterfoul is their strong point...

You have to take advantage of their programs for advanced drawings for big game hunts ( and turkey, etc.). After that, the best way to get in is to make mid-week reservations. Keep in mind that people cancel and you can also get on a stand-by list.

I look at the total cost factor. I fish and hunt for every available species in California. There is a bass pond about 45 minutes from my home, and it's a blast going there and fishing the relatively unpressured resource. I fish the Fall River, which they have three good accesses. I hunt archery and rifle deer, so can usually get some good dates during archery season, while I don't try much during rifle season, since I hunt public land closer to home when the weather turns.

On the waterfowl, here is a case in point. The storm hit last Tuesday, but I had no reservations, and I wasn't going to be able to hunt on Wednesday because it was my son's birthday. If I hunted refuges only, I'd be out of luck. I called and made a same-day reservation for Posz on Tuesday, got there at 3 p.m. and proceeded to kill a limit of ducks in some wide open hunting. Called back on Wednesday, and made more reservations for Posz, but the hunting was slow, so I cancelled for the weekend.

Point is, I could probably pay a trespass fee or lease for all the different things WU offers for about the same cost as a duck club, but I'd be up in the five figures. So, it's not perfect, and not for everyone, but it's a hell of a deal if you like to hunt everything and fish too.

Also, the rules are rigid, and for people who think bending a rule is ok, WU is not for them.

Bud Neville

I have never been a member, but i can tell you there is an inside group that hunts the best ranches.Ive seen it myself.No way would i belong to some club like this.

If you've never been a member then you have no clue.

Yep your right again,im not a member,but ive been on some of thoses ranches.Its not what you know,its who you know, and im sorry to say it does happen.

You're not a member, but you've been on the ranches???

SO, YOU'RE A POACHER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Yuk, yuk... what I was thinking. Or that he's got a contact in the office and doesn't want to blow the whistle on his buddy.

Anyone from Oregon a member? I have a friend that is but is a rifle hunter. I would like to hear from an archery hunter. I spent last weekend at one of there properties in north central Oregon. Beautiful cabin & great fishing. I have a rep coming to talk to my wife and I in a couple weeks. Any help would be appreciated.

Ric