In search of wild birds and the Western frontier at Oregon’s Ruggs Ranch.

…What is guaranteed is a grand adventure, and an experience as close as it gets to capturing the spirit of the Western frontier.

“One of these places is Ruggs Ranch in Heppner, Oregon. Bastioned within the Blue Mountains in the north-central part of the state, the property sprawls an impressive 84,000 acres, with nearly 10,000 acres of dedicated shooting preserves. Honestly, it’s more country than you could possibly hunt on a handful of visits, with terrain that in many cases is traversable only by horse. But faint hearts never won wild birds, nor faltered in the face of sporting hardship, so on an excursion to Ruggs, we endeavored to put ourselves to the test of finding that frontier.
–Tyler Sharp

Author and Photographer Tyler Sharp takes Covey Rise deep into Ruggs Ranch in Heppner, Oregon. Apart from the horseback chukar, pheasant, and quail hunts, Ruggs Ranch also offers on-foot hunting in the plentiful fields surrounding the main lodge. Sharp praises the unique shooting potential, combined with the rugged backcountry lodge, sporting clays, and local American heritage, and of course: a rugged outdoor adventure on a multiple day trek in the wilderness.

The full “Saddles and Side-by-Sides” feature is published in the February- March 2016 issue.

Photograph by: Tyler Sharp