I learned all this late last month by placing a great number of calls to the Turner operation. Turns out the main person responsible for hunting is a wildlife biologist by the name of Neil Lawson, whose marching orders straight from Ted are always to put the wildlife first and manage the herds strictly for trophy quality. When it comes to hunting itself, the mandate is to provide an overall first-class experience.
Not surprisingly, all of this means most Turner hunts are expensive. Some are very expensive. Nonetheless, virtually all the antlered-game hunts described below are fully booked for this season. Some are wait-listed from two to four years. Obviously, the rundown that follows is a heads-up on hunts for which you will need to plan ahead. That said, here's a tip to get you in line ahead of those who simply call to be put on a wait list. Previous clients are given priority over new hunters. If it suits your needs, simply buy one of the hunts for which there are ready openings - bison or cougar - and thus get your foot in the door.
Looking at the state of Montana first, Turner has four ranches here, of which only two are commercially hunted at this time. They are the Flying D and the Bar None. The hunting rights on both ranches have been leased to outfitter Rob Arnaud of Arnaud Outfitting, Inc. Of these two ranches, the Flying D is by far the biggest and most important in........(continued)
