Highland Hills Ranch, OR

Lodging, Meals, and Accommodations

It is hard to tell what our guests enjoy the most - our unlimited upland bird hunting for pheasant, chukar, valley quail and Huns, or our world-class lodging.

Many have told us the wingshooting at Highland Hills Ranch is the best they've ever experienced and the lodge is the finest they have ever visited. "It's just like coming home" is the comment we most often hear.

This finely appointed lodge is 10,000 square feet of custom-built quality. The hand-peeled logs, old world charm, oversized rock fireplaces and use of natural materials throughout provide a relaxing atmosphere for all who enter. Features include six double occupancy bedrooms with private bath, a custom designed bar where after the last hunt of the day guests are invited to mix their favorite cocktail from our fully stocked bar with top shelf liquors, game room with billiard table, exercise equipment, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, complimentary long distance calling and fax.

Our guest cabins are elegant, spacious and offer the same comfort of our lodge, but with the added benefit of privacy. Each double-occupancy cabin has its own cozy fireplace, private bath and even a front porch to sit, relax and watch the sun set at the end of a perfect day.

The seasonal cuisine at HHR is prepared by the onsite professional chef. The chef uses only the finest ingredients when designing and preparing the dishes from scratch. All meals are 3 courses with dinners paired with complimentary NW wines. From blueberry crème brulee French toast at breakfast, pheasant enchiladas at lunch or filet mignon with a sherry reduction sauce, the food is delectable and worth the trip alone.

What Should Customers Bring?

• Shotgun(s) - We provide 12 and 20 gauge ammo
• Game vest - available for purchase in Pro Shop
• Shell bag
• Chaps or upland pants. Chaps available for purchase in Pro Shop
• Chaps or upland pants. Chaps available for purchase in Pro Shop
• Outwear – layers recommended
• Gloves - available for purchase in Pro Shop
• Hunting boots - waterproof recommended
• Hunting boots - waterproof recommended
• Protective eyewear, sunglasses & hearing protection. Protective eyewear - available in Pro Shop
• Traditional British attire when attending driven hunts
• Camera
• Casual clothing for after the hunt. Slightly less casual than business casual. Nice jeans or slacks with a button down shirt to the dinner table
• Slippers / lodge shoes – we ask you remove your hunting boots before entering the lodge
• Sunscreen
• Toiletries and medications
• Shotguns available for rent based on availability

Itinerary for our 2- and 3-day all-inclusive, traditional upland wingshooting walk-up:

Day of Arrival

• Check in is after 2:30 p.m.
• Gather to shoot the sporting clay course between 3:00 & 3:30 p.m.
• Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails
• 6:30 p.m. dinner

Hunting Days

• 7:30 a.m. breakfast
• Safety speech before the first hunt. Guests will be introduced to their guides and transported to the fields for their morning hunt. Guests will never hunt the same area twice.
• 12:30 p.m. lunch
• Relax, nap, shoot pool
• 2:15 p.m. afternoon hunt
• Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Relax on the covered porches and enjoy the million dollar views, read a good book
• 6:30 p.m. dinner
• After dinner shoot pool, play cards, exercise on the new equipment, watch TV or enjoy great conversation while enjoying cognac and cigars around our outdoor fire pit and hear the stories from those who got "The Grand Slam" or had the best shot

Day of Departure

• 7:30 p.m. breakfast
• Check out by 9:00 a.m.

For our Driven Pheasant Shoots:

Day of Arrival

• Check in is after 3:30 p.m.
• Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails
• 6:30 p.m. dinner
• Each day our guests will enjoy 3 course meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served prior to dinner

Day Two | Wingshooting School

Chris Batha or Dale Tate will cover both Churchill Instinctive and Stanbury Swing-Through Wing Shooting Techniques. Each guest will have an opportunity to test their new skills on clay targets. The clay targets will be thrown from traps over 100 feet high to simulate the unique flight characteristics of the driven pheasant.

Days Three & Four | The British Driven Pheasant Shoot

A drawing of pegs will assign the shooting stations. Chris or Dale will act as Shoot Captain and assist each hunter in the field with shooting. There will be three drives of 300+ pheasant per drive, for a total bag of 900+ pheasants per day. After the first drive, there will be the traditional break for a "Bull Shot" and scones during which the shot birds are collected. Following the second drive, there will be a break for lunch at the lodge followed by the third and final drive that afternoon. Scotch will be served in the field after shooting is completed for the day.

Day Five | Traditional Upland Bird Shoot over Pointing Dogs

Given the challenging shooting during the driven pheasant hunt, it is possible that a team of guns will average one in three pheasants shot. This means some 400 pheasant may be scattered throughout the cover, offering fantastic shooting over some of the best pointing dogs in the North America. Chukar, valley quail and Huns will be found in abundance as well.

Day of Departure

• 7:30 a.m. breakfast
• Check out by 9:00 a.m.

Species You Hunt by Season

On our ranch there are an abundance of wild birds and is located in the midst of unspoiled wingshooting country. Unlimited upland game bird shooting is possible due to the skillful way we manage our habitat. The four species of upland birds found at HHR are pheasant, chukar, valley quail and Hungarian partridge. If a guest shoots all four species during the same hunt, they have shot the "HHR Grand Slam".

Shooters may see a mixed bag of birds, pheasants, valley quail, chukar and Hungarian partridge along the creek bottoms and the flat cultivated fields planted in milo and corn. The ranch cuts lanes through the fields to confine birds in areas small enough for the dogs to work. Valley quail are often found in brushy swales and creek bottoms. Grassy highlands and rolling hills dominated by sagebrush, bunchgrasses and rim rocks enclose the ranch and provide the cover and food for the chukar, one of the most popular game birds in the western states. Huns are often found in the same general areas as chukar, but gravitate toward grassy hillsides and away from the rim rocks.

Season

Our wingshooting season runs September through March each season.

Our mule deer season is set annually by the state of Oregon Fish and Wildlife. The season opening date is usually the first weekend in October.

Typical Weather by Season

September, October and March offer the warmest temperatures, allowing hunters to use light clothing. November, December and January provide cooler weather with hunters using more layered apparel. Being in the high desert region, it's usually cold in the morning, but temperatures rise rapidly as the sun comes out. Although HHR gets little rain, it is always smart to pack lightweight raingear for the occasional precipitation.

What is Provided to Customer

Our all-inclusive package includes shells for 12 and 20 gauge shotguns, (if given ample notice we will provide ammunition for other gauge guns), sporting clays on day of arrival, guides with their professionally trained hunting dogs, transfers to and from hunting fields, hunting license & permits and packaging of upland harvest.

Q. Can you tailor the adventure to suit the physical abilities of the hunters?

A. Yes, we cater to our hunter’s physical abilities and level of difficulty they wish to experience. Guests will find along our creek beds, the cultivated meadows, and at the tops of our hills the grounds are relatively flat and easy walking.

Q. Do you provide transportation to the lodge?

A. We provide transportation to the ranch from the Condon Airport which is approximately 20 minutes from the ranch. Rental cars may be rented at the Portland International Airport, Pendleton Airport and The Dalles Airport. We can also assist with a driver service if our guest requests.

Q. What is the recommended gratuities?

A. We do have a recommended gratuity that is based on the excursion booked. Gratuity guidelines are discussed with potential guests and provided in our supplemental informational sheet we provide at the time of booking.

Q. May we come as a single hunter?

A. While we do have a 2 hunter minimum for our traditional walk up hunts if a guest would like to come as a single hunter they are most welcome to by meeting the fee for 2 hunters. This will assure them a private room as well as one on one guiding. Our Driven Pheasant Shoots and Trophy Mule Deer hunts do not have a 2 hunter minimum.

Q. May we bring our hunting dogs with us?

A. Our guests are most welcome to bring their hunting dogs with them. We ask them to bring a portable kennel and food and we will house them in our climate controlled attached ready room. We ask that they are not brought into the guest accommodations or shared areas in respect of all our guests' comforts.

Q. Do you provide transportation to the lodge?

A. We provide transportation to the ranch from the Condon Airport which is approximately 20 minutes from the ranch. Rental cars may be rented at the Portland International Airport, Pendleton Airport and The Dalles Airport. We can also assist with a driver service if our guest requests.

Q. What is the closest commercial airport?

A. The Portland International Airport (PDX) is approximately 3 hours from the ranch. Car rental agencies are available onsite at the airport. We can provide information on a driver service from PDX if requested.

Q. What is the closest air field if we are flying privately?

A. Condon Airport – Pauling Airfield: For those flying in via private plane we will pick up at the Condon Airport, approximately 20 minutes from the ranch.

3,500 x 60 feet
ID# 359
2911' Elevation
ATIS-122.9

The Dalles Municipal Airport: For those flying in via private plane this airport is approximately 80 minutes from the ranch. Enterprise Rent-a-Car is available in The Dalles.

5,097 x 100 feet
ID# DLS
247' Elevation

Pendleton Airport: For those flying in via private plane this airport is approximately 2 hours from the ranch. Hertz Car Rental is available.

6,301 x 150 feet
ID# PDT
1497' Elevation

Q. Do you have driving direction to your location?

A. *When we talk to our guests we ask them not to use map quest or other mapping software, as it takes guests on a longer route. Below you will find our directions we send to our guests via our supplemental form as well as direct them to our website for directions.

Directions, traveling from Portland: I-84 East for approximately 137 miles to the Arlington Exit (Exit# 137).

• Go south on Highway 19 for seventeen miles.
• Turn left on Upper Rock Creek Road for 10 miles.
• Turn left on Wolf Hollow Lane.
• Go approximately 100 yards and turn right (a hard right) at the gate to Highland Hills Ranch.

Directions, traveling from Pendleton: I-84 West approximately 71 miles to the Arlington Exit (exit# 137).

• Go south on Highway 19 for seventeen miles.
• Turn left on Upper Rock Creek Road and travel for 10 miles.
• Turn left on Wolf Hollow Lane.
• Go approximately 100 yards and turn right (a hard right) at the gate to Highland Hills Ranch.

Directions, traveling from Bend: US-97N approximately 59 miles.

• Take OR-293 towards Antelope for approximately 13.5 miles.
• Take OR-218 towards Fossil for approximately 34 miles.
• In Condon, turn north on OR-19/John Day Highway for approximately 8 miles.
• Turn right on Wolf Hollow Lane for approximately 5 miles.
• Cross over Upper Rock Creek bridge, go approximately 100 yards and turn right (a hard right) at the gate to Highland Hills Ranch.

On-site Activities

Our onsite activities are limited to wingshooting. Guests are most welcome to enjoy capturing their memories with their camera. The ranch offers some of the most scenic views and vistas.

Off-site Activities

We are very knowledgeable about the state of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. We are most happy to assist our guests with other activities that the great Northwest offers prior to arriving or after their excursion at the ranch. Popular activities include wine tasting, fishing, hiking, and site seeing and exploring our rich history and points of interest in our geographical location, such as visiting parts of the Lewis and Clark Trail or taking in the beauty and photo op of the second highest waterfall in the nation. At 542 feet, Multnomah Falls is one of the nation's most popular tourist attractions.