Watkins is developing a top-flight hunting operation, with long-term leases on 11 ranches covering almost 150,000 acres in Montana and Wyoming, as well as several more ranches in South Dakota. For the last several years, he has operated out of a ranch south of Alzada, Montana. This base camp serves as home for the Watkins family during the season, so you can expect to eat wholesome, home-cooked meals. While he has plans to build a lodge next year, he currently accommodates hunters at the main ranch house or, to save travel time, on several of the other ranches.
Clients can fly into either Billings, Montana, (three hours from camp) or Rapid City, South Dakota, (less than two hours away) before renting a car to drive to camp. Watkins also provides shuttle services to the Rapid City airport at a cost of $150 per trip.
Operating in three states gives Trophies Plus the flexibility of a variety of seasons, species, drawing odds, terrain and habitat. That's a huge advantage over many other outfitters. In fact, I'll venture to say that it's almost impossible to experience all the hunting Watkins offers on a single hunt. It's one reason why so many of his clients return.
Let's start by reviewing Watkins' hunts in South Dakota, where he hosts up to 15 hunters a year. One advantage here is that the application deadline is after the drawing in Wyoming and Montana. The units in the northwest corner of the state are difficult to draw and hunt because they........(continued)
