I have been enjoying the website for quite some time and planned on doing this in the summer when things are a little slower, and the days are a little longer. I have to apologize for not doing this sooner, but it always seems like I don’t have any time.
I want to go ahead and help dispel any and all rumors that are flying around in this forum about Timberghost Ranch. I moved here three years ago to take a job as biologist and manager for Timberghost Ranch. The owner hired me away from a place in Michigan I had been managing and guiding at for the previous 10 years called Sanctuary, which is another high fence preserve.
Here are the facts as far as Timberghost to date:
1.We offer hunting packages both in the preserve and on ground that we own and lease.
2.Our preserve, high fence area, is comprised of approximately 1500 acres.
3.We lease 6 farms in Southeast Iowa all within 20 minutes of our lodge. All totaled it comes to about 1800 acres this year.
4.All of our guides are seasoned professionals who take pride in their work, their knowledge of deer, and their ability to judge whitetails. We all spend about 130-150 days a year devoting time to scouting and hunting deer.
5.As far as the law, we will not risk our business and our reputation by breaking the law. In fact, we actively prosecute trespassers, poachers, or any other illegal activities we witness.
6.I personally worked with the DNR in Des Moines to help develop the CWD monitoring program for Iowa. I was part of this because I sit on the board of the Iowa Deer Association, and we want to do everything in our power to help keep Iowa a great state to hunt. We have tested over 70 samples just from our ranch and our leased grounds to help the DNR confirm that CWD isn’t in southeastern Iowa.
I suppose I should help Shoe first in saying that we are affiliated in no way with any other outfitters. I have never talked with anyone from AAA outfitters, and know nothing of their personal ethics as an outfitter.
Flatfoot, I will help clarify several rumors that you are starting and spreading.
1.My staff does not harass landowners. I am the one that deals with the people we lease land from, and I do not harass them. I try to make sure that any landowners I contact do not hunt, or do not have family that hunts their ground, and if I know that a group of locals are hunting it, I do not try to contact them. I am not trying to take away land that owners or their families utilize for hunting. I actually have no interest in trying to take away ground people are hunting for free. Most of the farms we have are by way of landowners contacting me to see if we were interested in leasing because they are either tired of people asking, the people who were hunting for free abused their privileges, or people simply trespass and hunt it anyway and they would rather have a responsible business post it and watch it. These people tell me they use the money to pay increased property taxes and as a little extra spending money.
2.I asked around and finally got the story on the guy that was chased away with a shovel. He was not affiliated with Timberghost in any way. In fact, the gentleman with the shovel was actually chasing someone that wasn’t even hunting his property from what I heard, but the important thing is that he wasn’t a part of Timberghost staff.
3.As far as your area, Timberghost has not, and will not lease any land in your area. It is too far away. I do not know where you got your info, but it is incorrect.
4.In regards to the post earlier about the hunter that was basically robbed, that was not our operation, and I believe that it was even mentioned in the post. I hold my staff, my hunters, and myself to the highest of standards. Our reputation in the hunting industry is one typically described as professional and first class, and we intend to keep it that way.
5.You probably heard Timberghost was leasing ground in your area, when in fact it was me personally. My family and a couple of my hunting buddies leased some ground about 45 minutes west of the ranch. We only get a couple of days a year to hunt by ourselves and we do not personally hunt on the property leased by the ranch, so we leased about 400 acres over in Henry County for personal use. Again, this was ground that the landowner said no one had permission to hunt on previous to me asking, but lots of people did so illegally.
3booners:
I can say that you are mistaken 100%. There are a lot of outfitters that have problems obviously, but I can assure you that we were not involved with that individual. We would not offer someone a preserve hunt who was unsuccessful during our open hunts. Our hunters are not treated this way. So basically, once again, the rumors people enjoy spreading are untrue. These are exactly the type of rumors I would be happy to respond to as false rumors tend to tarnish our reputation locally. Our local reputation doesn’t have any affect on our bookings, but we want to continue to play a positive role in our community.
Since I do have the time and I am sitting here I would like you to think on one thing. Everyone has different ideas on ethics and fair chase. Now I will be the first to say that the high fence industry needs some help with ethics, but when done right they offer a unique recreational experience for people who do not have the time to “do it themselvesâ€, or for people who want something better than open, unmanaged ground. I am not asking just about high fence. Some hunters use traditional archery, some use bows, some use traditional muzzleloaders, some us in-lines, some use shotguns, and some (in other states) use rifles. Some drive deer, some stand hunt, some still hunt, and some bait. We all make our own decisions for our own reasons. My question is why does it really matter what other people choose to do. My opinion, and call me a liberal of the hunting world, is that as long as it doesn’t effect my family’s livelihood, or that of my loved ones, and it doesn’t pose a physical risk to the public shouldn’t people be allowed to choose. While I think debate amongst peers is healthy, shouldn’t we as “hunters†support all legal methods of hunting, even if we disagree with the method. I feel like bow hunters should support gun hunters should support deer drivers, and people who hunt public land should support people fortunate enough to own land who should support people who can afford to pay for the privilege to hunt with outfitters. I believe the debates are great amongst ourselves, but when it comes time we should all support each other, because when one of us falls anti-hunters will simply start on the next weakest group. If you notice, they start on the most unpopular methods and work towards the most popular method. That is the plan. If you abandon one group do you think you can count on their support for the more popular method you choose
I know I will get the rotten tomatoes now, but I am curious to hear from people. I know several of you are die hard “my way is the right way†people, but I am not trying to change your mind. Just wondering why some of you feel like the world will end if we have outfitters and high fence hunting.
I will answer any questions or rumors that anyone has to ask with regard to Timberghost. We are not trying to cause problems for anyone, and in fact have great relations with all the farms we work with, and most of our neighbors. I know that here in Iowa, most people do not understand or want an operation like ours. I have no intention of trying to convince those of you who dislike outfitting and/or high fences that they are good things for you. All I wanted to do was let everyone know that we do not participate in anything illegal. There are good and bad outfitters, just like there are poachers and hunters. We are a company who tries to help our local community. We donate thousands of pounds of venison every year to needy people in our area, we help raise money for different local groups, we support our local conservation organizations, and we support our local economy by both buying locally, paying sales tax on all revenue, and creating jobs.
Sorry to ramble on, but I hope this helps, and for some I hope we can simply agree to disagree. I would enjoy to continue to use the site as I have truly enjoyed the stories and the thoughts of most people over the last couple years. Again if you have any questions about our operations, or want to see if the things you have heard are true please ask, or you can give me a call. The number is 319-937-5107, but I would call after season. I have a couple hunts left, and then it’s my turn in late muzzleloader. Good luck to everyone.
