FAQs
-Frequently Asked Questions-
What species are offered?
Visit our Exotics Offered page
How much does it cost to hunt at your ranch?
We charge per animal (either $675 or $775 depending on what species you harvest), and in addition to that, $40 – $80 for a skin/gut/quarter (depending on the size of the animal). The only other cost you have is the gratuity you leave for the guide that will be helping you for the day. He will haul your animal out for you, give you a ride around the ranch, skin/gut/quarter your animal or do a complete butcher, and be available to help you on your hunt day. Please keep this in mind before you leave the ranch – our guides work hard to make sure you have a good time.
Visit our Exotics Offered page for pricing
What animals are going to be available on my hunt date?
Our ranch has many animals to choose from. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee any specific species of animal on any future hunt date – it is impossible to do since we do not know what people are going to shoot each and every day. When you have a reservation to hunt our ranch, we hold a hunting spot for you, not a specific animal. On your hunt date, you are free to shoot whatever animal(s) you’d like to. You can shoot more than one animal if you’d like. You just pay for whatever animal(s) you harvest at the end of the day – simple as that! It is not unusual for a single person to shoot multiple animals on a one-day hunt with us. For that reason we DO NOT guarantee we will have specific animals on your hunt date. Your $100 trespass fee is non-refundable if your desired animal is not in stock. In that case, you can reschedule your hunt date but will be charged an additional $100 payment.
How long is my hunt?
All our hunts begin in the morning. We ask that you arrive at 6:30am when the gate opens, and we’ll get you started just as soon as you’re ready. If you need a bit of time to sight your rifle in, you may do so before your hunt at our range, located on our property. We do not allow people to come out and strictly target practice – the only use of our range is for hunters to sight in their rifles. As soon as you’re ready to go, we sign you in and get you started on your adventure.
Are the hunts guided?
All hunts are semi-guided. The first couple hours of the day we let you go out and hike the property and allow you to do your own spot and stalk adventure. After we’ve let you do that for a couple hours, and if we see that you need a little help, we step in and begin to guide you a little at a time to be sure you have plenty of opportunities. If it seems that you are doing fine, we let you keep going so you get a little challenge. We do this to allow you to get a little experience out of your day, but we are there to help you as much as you need. Once you have an animal down, we will come with either one of our ranch trucks or ATVs and retrieve your animal. Most hunters are done with their hunt by about 2-3:00 in the afternoon.
As long as we are given a MINIMUM of two weeks notice, your trespass fee is completely refundable. If you do not give at least 2 weeks notice, you will lose your entire trespass fee and it will not be rolled over to a new hunt date. As soon as you have a hunting spot held for you on our ranch, we begin turning others away for that spot. If you cancel with short notice, it is unlikely that we can fill the spot on such short notice. Please consider this when choosing your hunt date – make sure it works for all hunters in your group. Group reservations must be given on one credit card for the entire group. Payoff on the date of the hunt can be done by each individual hunter, either on individual credit cards or by cash.
For reservations, we accept credit or debit cards over the phone. We take every brand of card. Payoff on the hunt date can be done in cash, credit, or debit card. All card payments are subject to a $25 (per animal) convenience fee.
Absolutely! Many people choose Big Horn Canyon Ranch as their first hunting experience. Whether you’ve harvested many animals before or perhaps this is your first time out, we are the perfect place to come out for the day and have a fun time and bring home some meat for the table. Our ranch is especially convenient because you don’t need to have completed a hunter safety course – we are also the only place in California where you can harvest animals without a tag or hunting license.
What equipment should I bring?
Binoculars, blaze orange apparel is optional, good boots, ice chest or Rubbermaid container (INCLUDING ICE) to put meat in after your hunt, lunch and drinks/refreshments/ice, there is water available for clean-up but not drinking water. Bring your own knives, bonesaw, etc. if you plan on skinning your own animal.
What days can I hunt?
The ranch is available for clients to hunt Wednesday through Sunday. You must have a reservation to hunt our property – you can get a reservation by calling the booking secretary at 951-202-1722. We do not book hunters on Mondays and Tuesdays to allow us time for ranch maintenance. It is not unusual for us to have our weekends booked out for several weeks in advance, though that is not always the case. You can always call to see if there is a last-minute spot available. If it’s a small group or single hunter, we can often fit you in the schedule within a couple days.
Do I need reservations to hunt the ranch?
Yes, absolutely. Usually we are booked out at least 2 weeks in advance, but occasionally we can take last-minute hunters. We do take a $100 per person trespass fee to hold spots. We are very busy, and if we hold a spot for you to come hunt, we need you to show up for your reservation as agreed. If you do not give a minimum of 2 weeks notice to change or cancel your reservation, you will lose your trespass fee money – no exceptions.
How do I make a reservation?
After reading this frequently asked questions page, you may make your reservations by calling the ranch secretary at 951-202-1722. This is the only way to make a booking for the ranch. If there is no answer, please leave a message. We are incredibly busy and get several hundred inquiries per week. Calls are returned within 48 hours, be sure to speak slowly and leave your name, number and reason for calling.
DO NOT call the emergency number for reservations – it will not work for booking a hunt date. Please allow 48 hrs for a return call as we often get 50 calls per day. There is no need to call the booking number repeatedly throughout the day to see if you get an answer, calls are returned as they are received.
What licenses/tags do I need to hunt the Ranch?
Nothing is needed to hunt our ranch. No pig tags, no hunting license, no hunter safety course. Absolutely nothing is required. Also we are not in the lead-free ammunition zone.
What weapon/ammunition can I use to harvest the animals on your ranch?
We allow both bowhunters and gun hunters to harvest animals at Big Horn Canyon Ranch. Bowhunters may hunt with a compound, crossbow, longbow or recurve. Gun hunters may harvest animals with a handgun, hunting rifle, shotgun (using slugs only), AR (no full metal jackets – only hunting/expanding ammunition allowed). We are not in a lead-free zone, so you may use lead ammunition on our property. 25 caliber and larger air rifles are allowed to harvest animals at our ranch.
Do you give a discount if I shoot more than one animal?
No, our prices are already incredibly low. Our competitors prices are much higher than ours and you have to have a pig tag and hunting license to hunt with them, which also increases the cost for you.
Where is the ranch located?
The ranch is located in Southern California in the Inland Empire. Directions will be given after a hunt has been booked.
Can I rent a gun/bow from the ranch?
No, we cannot rent weapons.
Can my animal be processed at the ranch?
We offer skinning, gutting and quartering starting at $40 for easy transportation of your animal to your choice of butcher or home. For $40 extra (total of $80 and up) your animal can also be cut up into small pieces right there on the spot, just as a butcher shop would do. You will be able to take your animal, all cut up in pieces and package it at home. The ranch does not package the meat. Be sure you bring multiple large ice chests with plenty of ice to safely transport your meat home. You can vacuum seal it and freeze it at home and save yourself a trip to the butcher shop if you prefer.
See our Affiliates / “Recommended Meat Cutters” page for our affiliate butchers.
What size is the hunting ranch?
The ranch is large – several hundred acres of very steep and rugged terrain.
Can I have the ranch to myself for a private hunt?
Yes, for a flat rate of $1,000, you can reserve our entire ranch for the day – maximum of 10 people.
Group hunt date deposits are taken for all 10 hunters on ONE credit card for the group. You are welcome to pay off your animals individually on the hunt date by cash or each person’s credit card. Please keep in mind DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE if you do not give a minimum of 2 week’s notice.
Can we overnight camp at the ranch?
Yes, we welcome overnighters. You can choose to tent camp, RV camp, or rent one of our bunkhouses. Tent camping charge is $50 per party and RV camping is $50 per RV. There are two bunkhouses available for $95 each – one sleeps up to 5 people and the other sleeps up to 6. The $95 is for the entire group of up to 5/6 people. You can rent one or both, depending on the size of your group. Groups of six or more are required to rent both bunkhouses. These charges help us offset the cost of cleanup and maintenance on the ranch and allow you to use our shooting range and facilities such as the porta potties, bbq, etc. for the day(s) that you are scheduled. We require you to arrive to the ranch between 2pm and 5pm, during daylight hours.
Keep in mind there is no power or running water at the ranch, so remember to bring a small generator and drinking water. You may also want to bring firewood, and lanterns/flashlights. There are several picnic tables for your use. If you’re staying in a bunkhouse, be sure to bring your own bedding and/or sleeping bags. The bunkhouses have beds with mattresses, but we do not supply bedding.
Can we have a campfire if we ovenight?
Certain times of the year, when we’ve had rainfall, you may. During the winter months, we typically allow campfires – during the summer or dry months, we do not. Be sure to ask the ranch secretary when you book to see if its allowed. Remember to bring firewood when you come for your overnight stay.
Is there a barbecue?
Yes, there is a propane bbq (we supply the propane) and also a charcoal bbq for our overnighters to use. We do not supply the charcoal.
Is there a target range?
Yes, there are two shooting ranges available for our customers to use on their hunt date or during their overnight stay only. There is a one hundred yard range that goes all the way up to 900 yards and two spring loaded trap throwers (one at each range) for your use. Bring your own clays. We do not allow the public to come and use the shooting range. It is strictly for our clients to use while they are on our property with reservations to hunt with us.
What type of payment do you accept?
Cash is preferred, however we also accept debit and credit cards – Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and all other card brands. Credit/debit card payments are subject to a $25 per animal convenience fee.
Can we bring off-road vehicles (ATVs, Quads, Rhinos)?
ATVs are no longer allowed, thanks for your understanding. We have a 4×4 ATV and two 4×4 trucks to help haul your animal(s) up to the top of the ranch to be skinned. If you need assistance getting around the ranch because of a mobility issue, we’d be glad to help get you around the property – there is no extra charge for this.
Are there any firearms that are NOT allowed?
We do not allow fully-automatic weapons or 22 long-rifles for hunting game animals in the ranch. If there are any questions regarding 22 long-rifles please call us. We will have a guide oversee you with your child if you would like to hunt with your child with a 22 long-rifle. Stinger bullets are required for this type of hunt. This is the only exception to this rule.
Can I bow hunt on the ranch?
Yes, we welcome many bowhunters every week. Crossbows, recurves, longbows, and compound bows are all acceptable to harvest any of the animals on our ranch.
If I shoot an animal and I don’t want the meat, may I leave it behind?
Yes, we do meat donations on a regular basis to local needy families and they appreciate any and all meat given. Animals must be paid for in full (including butchering cost of $80) and we will make sure it gets into the hands of someone who will use the meat.
How do I find your ranch?
Very specific directions to our ranch will be given via email after a reservation is made and a trespass fee is taken and charged to a credit card. Please be responsible. We email every person who makes reservations – please check your email, print it out if you have to and put it in your glovebox of the vehicle you will be driving on your hunt day. You cannot find our ranch without these directions! Our address is NOT on our website, and if you find an address for us somewhere on the internet it is INCORRECT (including the one listed on Yelp).
Can I bring my dog with me?
We do not allow clients to bring dogs with them to our ranch.
Can I come out and just use the shooting range and not hunt an animal?
No, we do not operate a shooting range that is open to the public. There is a range on our property for our hunting clients to use while they are there on the day of their hunt. The range goes from 100 yards all the way up to 900 yards.
What is the youngest age hunter that is allowed to hunt your ranch?
We take kids as young as 5 years old on hunts.
If I hit something unintentionally, am I responsible for it?
Yes, absolutely. If you shoot an animal and hit anything else (whether intentional or not) you are responsible for paying for the second or third animal that you hit. We are aware that sometimes accidents happen, but if you wound an animal, it does need to be harvested so it does not further suffer.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes we do – a gift certificate is the perfect way to surprise someone with a hunt. By giving a gift certificate, the person can call and make a reservation on a date that works with his/her schedule. It can be in any amount, though the most popular amount is $675 which would pay for most animals on the ranch. The recipient would only pay out of pocket for butchering and gratuity on their hunt date. We can take payment over the phone on a credit card or you can mail us a check and we’ll get it mailed out ASAP. There is a $25 convenience fee if paid by credit/debit over the phone.
Can I come hunt rabbit/quail/deer/etc. on your land?
No, we do not offer hunts of any other kind besides the species you see offered on our “exotics offered” page. There are no animals that you can come hunt for free at our ranch. We have assigned people who control our predators (coyotes, etc.) for us.
Can I do an afternoon or evening hunt on your ranch?
We do not offer hunts that start in the afternoon or evening. All our hunts start at 6:30am and finish up by mid-afternoon. Occasionally things go awry and you may be out there until late mid/late afternoon or evening, but that is usually not the case. Even for our overnight groups, you are not allowed to begin your hunt until your scheduled hunt date at 6:30am after you’ve been signed in. Clients are not allowed inside the hunting area until a staff member is present on the morning of your scheduled hunt.
Can I bring a non-hunting friend with me on my hunt who just wants to watch/help?
We allow hunters to bring one non-weapon-carrying walk along free of charge on their hunt date. No exceptions. Additional walk-alongs will be charged $50 per person, or $100 per person if they are carrying a weapon.
Do you offer taxidermy services?
Beginning January 2016, we offer European skull mounting. We guarantee all work done through Big Horn Skull Mounts, which we own and operate. If you choose to go to an outside taxidermist of your choice, we ARE NOT responsible for your animal(s) or quality of work. If you’d like a shoulder mount we can refer you to a local taxidermist. At your request, we can have it delivered to him at no additional cost – we do weekly deliveries to his shop, and it saves you the hassle.