Read Parts 1 and 2 of this series to catch up on Ron’s adventure.

 

As I pack up and get ready to leave Quinlan Ranch, there’s a range of emotions running through me: happiness for my success, eagerness to get home, and sadness to leave the friends I’ve made here. I came for my first elk, but I’m leaving with so much more.

The hunters that come here are afforded some of the most exciting hunting I can imagine. The sheer number of elk living on the ranch and the ones migrating through on their way to winter feeding grounds is astounding!  Each day we saw large herds of cows, small bulls, and good numbers of solid shooter bulls. If you’re looking for your first bull, or your 21st , you owe it to yourself to consider Quinlan Ranch. Ranch manager Matt Berry and his staff of very capable guides will go to great lengths to ensure your hunt is successful.

Given the weather forecast and the history of this ranch, I fully expected to have a great hunt. What I was unprepared for was the sweet hospitality and extraordinary care we received. Lodge manager and head chef Austin Meerfeld, pastry chef Melissa Skinner, hospitality hostess Cindy Laner, and the rest of the lodge staff couldn’t have been more pleasant and helpful in making us feel welcome and at home. I can’t imagine being better cared for—we came in as strangers but left as friends.

The accommodations were excellent, with the softest beds and hot showers. I could write on and on about the meals here. From the fresh-made breads and pastries to the extraordinary main courses, Austin and Melissa outdid themselves each day!  As cold, hungry hunters and guides came in from the ranch, we were greeted by wonderful aromas from the kitchen. Mealtime here is an event in itself, the perfect ending to a day in the field. No, you won’t want to miss a meal here!

So, come to Quinlan Ranch for the hunting adventure of a lifetime, and be sure to come with your appetite whet for some of the finest food and fellowship you’ll find anywhere. Let me know if you’re not as overwhelmed as I was. Happy hunting!