High Adventure Ranch — Attraction in Salem

So this will be lengthy, but this is my honest review.

Upon arriving to the ranch on Friday morning, we got to the gate and called the number, the woman that answered gave us directions to come in… driving down into the ranch we see herds of animals all in an open field gathered together. we were directed to the cabin to get settled, and shortly after our guide Larry came to meet us. We made a plan to settle in, each lunch and then hunt. Immediately upon arriving, less than 25 minutes of being there we were told “we’re trying to get everything killed today so we can be out of here because of the storm coming”. While we appreciate that the guides and staff need to be safe, we also drove 10+ hours for this hunt and planned to be here the 3 days, 2 nights we paid for.

Fast forward to lunch, it was nice. The whole place is clean, tidy and the staff are friendly. The food was great and the cook was so very sweet.

Fridays afternoon hunt. Larry picks us up in a side by side, we drive around the ranch looking at animals. Every single animal looks healthy with the exception of a few limping rams/sheep. Everything on the property is well fed. The property was exceptionally clean for having that many animals in a fence. We’re hunting cow elk and we drive around for a few hours looking for a decent size cow elk, we’re not seeing much and it seemed like we were being rushed to pick an animal because they didn’t want to take us back out tomorrow to hunt, constant reminders that they leave at 5 and there’s a storm coming. We finally find a cow elk, but not the size of the one we found earlier we were looking for. Some parts of me feel like we were rushed and settled as we didn’t get as much meat or the size of cow we were after. Larry was kind and talkative and generally a great guy but lacked a great deal of knowledge about animals or the ranch when we had questions.

Throughout the whole day, we were asked over and over when we would be leaving, what meals we would be there for and reminded that a storm was coming and they all wanted to be home. we packed up Saturday morning as soon as breakfast was over and headed out.

Being this is our first hunt of this kind, I don’t have any comparison and the overall experience was good, if you are looking for a side by side ride around a fenced in area to “hunt” and there’s no storm coming, this is the place for you. (A lot of the animals congregate together in one area) the animals are not exactly shy and don’t avoid humans, gunshots, vehicles etc. many times throughout the visit we were a couple arms length from the animals.

Cabin was small, but was suitable for a short stay. Cabins were clean. The hot water runs out quickly. The twin beds in the loft of the cabin were incredible, but the double bed in cabin 1 was AWFUL. The mattress was hard as a rock which was disappointing for a couple that took a trip together as a get away, neither of us slept well and at one point ended up in separate beds.

Upon checking out Saturday morning, there was no discount on not utilizing the 2 nights stay or the meals we didn’t have that were included in the pricing of our trip, we didn’t ask or complain, but from a customer service standpoint that would have been the right thing to do. We spoke to other guests that have been there several times, and seem happy. If you have disabilities, young kids, elderly adults that can’t walk long distances or looking for something less challenging for a hunt, it would be the perfect spot.

Overall, the staff were great, the place was clean. I’m unsure that we will be back, but it was a good first experience if you’re looking for an easy...

Fantastic place and fantastic hunt. I am new at hunting and hadn't yet had a successful hunt - High Adventure Ranch was perfect for me. Oliver was an excellent guide, and made sure we did everything we could to ensure a successful kill. He was very friendly and helpful, and proactively gave me tips that helped make my whitetail doe hunt a success.I rented a gun, and they provided me with a 270 rifle - again, the perfect choice. Oliver was very good about showing me how to operate the gun. We took a practice shot on the range and he gave tips on how to use it the most effectively. The hunt only lasted an hour which was fine with me - my main goal was to make sure the hunt ended in success, so I could finally get my first kill. It actually felt a lot longer than an hour though, and was still quite challenging. Whitetail deer don't just stand around waiting for you. We followed them around and stalked them until I felt like I had a good neck shot, about 40 yards away. It just took one shot, and the deer dropped instantly, fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine. I now have venison sitting in my freezer, can't wait to try it.

As many other people have said, the meals were amazing. Doretta is a sweet lady, and her homemade cooking is a gift. We were served wild game, including buffalo and elk, as well as traditional Southern comfort foods - fried chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes/gravy, sweet tea, lemonade, peach pie & ice cream, etc. etc. It was all delicious.

The accommodations were great as well. I stayed in the main lodge, and actually had the whole place to myself on the first day. Full kitchen, spacious living area, and everything was well-kept and clean. Nice view of the lake, and it was awesome to wake up to the sound of bugling elk. It was also nice to just sit on the porch and watch the stars at night.

The ranch reminded me of Jurassic Park, and the animals will just roam the property as they please - elk, buffalo, deer, and sheep all within view of the main lodge and dining hall throughout the day. Watching the elk swim in the lake, and hearing them bugle, was such a surreal and very cool experience.

Already looking forward...

I loved my stay at the High Adventure Ranch. I went with a group or 7 for a bachelor party. Let me say this was the best bachelor party I ever attended. From the minute you step foot on the ranch, you are treated like royalty. The staff was very courteous and flexible. A staff member first brought us to our cabin to unpack and unwind. The cabin was very clean and had everything you needed (Wifi also). The cabin had an amazing view of the lake and part of the property. There was wild life everywhere roaming, eating and chilling in the lake (it was 90 degrees when we visited). After we settled in we went to the dining hall for lunch. Every meal was homemade and delicious. I wished there was more of a variety when it came to side dishes but the main course had no complaints. I love to hunt but I would go back for the cooking alone. The main chef was very nice and was there for anything you needed. After lunch we met our guide Joey. Joey is the man. He is very knowledgeable about every animal on the property. He answered all questions with ease and you could tell he loved his job. Joey was able to help us fill 4 Ram tags and 1 Boar tag our first day out. This was great because we got to enjoy the next day in full with relaxation on the shooting range, fishing and a little partying at the cabin.

This was one of the greatest experiences. I can not wait to go back. I am already saving so that I can go back to hunt in 2024 (hopefully 2 animals: Boar and Axis Buck).

For this hunt only 2 shooters were previous hunters. We had 3 green shirts, but Joey really made it a priority to help the guys who were nervous. I will be requesting Joey when I go back. I recommend you do as well.

Thank you High Adventure Ranch!!! Y'all do great work and have a beautiful 2000 acre property. We will see you again in the...