He has a good reputation for his trophy blacktail deer hunts in California. Schaafsma said that his blacktail deer were in excellent shape last year, and he was disappointed that clients were unable to tag some of the outstanding bucks spotted before and after the season. Blacktails are known to disappear during hunting season, which makes them a worthy quarry. Still, his clients were able to claim several bucks scoring in the 130s and thus qualifying for B & C. Only two hunters were unsuccessful, and both were bowhunters who wounded bucks.
Schaafsma offers two types of blacktail hunts on his main ranch. The first is a trophy hunt for which he charges $4,000, plus a $2,000 trophy fee for a 4 x 4 buck, or one scoring over 130 points SCI. Clients who don't take a buck may return later in the season to try again. This hunt is booked out until 2003, but he has cancellations from time to time, so you should still inquire. Schaafsma's other hunt is a management hunt on the main ranch for a forked-horn or 3 x 3 older buck with short tines. This hunt costs $2,000, and Schaafsma takes just over a dozen management hunters a year.
These hunts are conducted on a 1 x 1 basis and are scheduled for five days. The main ranch covers 12,000 acres of leased property that Schaafsma has hunted since 1989. He has intensely managed his ranches for years and produces outstanding trophies for his clients. Hunters stay on the ranch in a bunkhouse. Schaafsma provides shuttle service between Eureka and the ranch.
He also offers a hunt on his coastal ranch,........(continued)
