Situated on the Chauncey Ranch about 5,000-feet of elevation in central Arizona, the YMCA High Desert Hunt Club offers a variety of sporting activities, but specializes in providing outstanding pheasant and chukar hunting.

Hot gunning in the high desert
By John N. Felsher

Situated on the Chauncey Ranch about 5,000-feet of elevation in central Arizona, the YMCA High Desert Hunt Club offers a variety of sporting activities, but specializes in providing outstanding pheasant and chukar hunting.

“We are THEplace to go bird hunting in Arizona,” proudly boasted Jay Collins, the ranch operations director. “We’re the premier pheasant destination in Arizona. We have about 5,000 acres just a couple miles south of the geographic center of Arizona. We have several different types of habitat on the property, but much of it is mesquite chaparral in rolling, rugged hills. We also have some fields planted in milo, something similar to that found in the Midwest, and some grass pastures. People are surprised by how many cottonwood trees we have. Sportsmen can do a different type of hunt every time they come.”

On the Aqua Fria River near Mayer about 60 miles north of Phoenix and approximately equidistant between Prescott and Flagstaff, the ranch attracts many sportsmen from Arizona and New Mexico, but entertains hunters from various parts of the world. Bird hunting season runs from early October through late March.
Sportsmen may buy an annual membership or select from a variety of hunting packages with different prices. Members can buy more birds at discounted rates. While most people hunt pen-raised pheasants or chukar, members with the proper licenses can hunt a variety of wild birds and other game in season. For license and season information, see the Arizona Game and Fish Department website at www.azgfd.gov.

“We have wild birds on the property,” Collins said. “We have a lot of Gambel’s quail and all kinds of doves. Guests can hunt wild birds and native game in season, but we don’t organize wild bird hunts. We also have a large mule deer population, a lot of javelina and coyotes. We also have antelope. Some members put in for the lottery in our section. If they are drawn, they can hunt big game on the ranch. Quite a few guys hunt coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions on the property.”

Visiting members and guests may stay at the Stone House, the original manor where Tom Chauncey lived. The Stone House comes with a fireplace, satTV, a full kitchen complete with modern appliances and other amenities including laundry facilities, a gas grill and meeting rooms. The Stone House can accommodate about 20 people in four bedrooms. In the past, John Wayne, Wayne Newton, Roy Rogers and others enjoyed the Old West atmosphere of the historic ranch house.

Others may choose to stay in the “Cowboy Barn,” an old bunkhouse reminiscent of the old cattle drive days or in individual cabins. The Cowboy Barn can accommodate up to 24 people in four separate bedrooms. Sportsmen can also bring their own dogs and house them in the kennel between hunts. The ranch also offers a full conference center with a dining hall and meeting rooms for corporate retreats.

When not hunting, people may ride horses, fish or canoe in a two-acre lake or engage in rock climbing, swimming, paintball, spelunking or hiking. To sharpen shooting skills before a hunt, enjoy a round of sporting clays. Just a short drive away, visitors might enjoy exploring an authentic Old West ghost town, hit the ski slopes near Flagstaff or the antique shops of Prescott. Others might prefer to drive through the red rock area of Sedona or visit scenic Oak Creek Canyon. The adventurous can drive about 3.5 hours north to see the Grand Canyon.

As a YMCA ranch, the High Desert Hunt Club holds many youth-oriented and family activities including the annual Ken Middleton Memorial Youth Pheasant Hunts. The ranch also holds a variety of camps for youth. These camps may include such activities as equestrian instruction, trail riding, tower climbing, archery and riflery programs, arts and crafts, nature activities, rope courses and other events.

“The YMCA Chauncey Ranch has operated for the benefit of youth and families since 1972 and offers summer camps, family camps and group retreats,” Collins said. “greater purpose of the ranch is to give youth and families an opportunity to experience the outdoors together. In my opinion, there’s no better way for families to spend time together than to be in the outdoors. Parents need to pass on that part of our heritage to their children.”

For more information, see www.highdeserthuntclub.org or call 928-632-7226.