Why does Lazy Triple Creek Ranch offer hunting parties, and what sets it apart as a private Western wingshooting destination? Owner and Manager Hank McKinnell took time to field questions for the Shooting Sportsman Endorsed Lodge Program to explain why guests vie to visit this ultra-exclusive Idaho destination.
Where is your lodge located?
Lazy Triple Creek Ranch is in the Big Hole Mountains of eastern Idaho, one hour from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This is the land that Ernest Hemingway loved! The 2,200-acre ranch shares a 2.5-mile border with the Targhee National Forest and its 2.5 million acres of pristine wilderness.
What bird species do you offer, and what is the limit?
Our hunting focuses on high-volume pheasants and chukar (no bag limit). The ranch is also home to sharp-tailed grouse, ruffed grouse and migrating doves.
What is your hunter-to-guide ratio?
We like to assign a guide and dogs for each tandem of walk-up hunters. Our European-style shoots are staffed with a team of guides and support personnel. This way every hunting guest receives personal attention and plenty of support, so he or she can fully focus on and enjoy the experience.
What are the terrain and cover like?
Our hunting property includes six walk-up areas on high plateaus with canyons between fields. Walk-up hunts take place in the fields and plateaus. For European-style shoots, Guns are positioned in the canyons to shoot high birds overhead. Our hunting areas are all very scenic but not overly difficult to walk.
Do you hunt with pointing or flushing dogs? Can a hunter bring and hunt with his or her own dog?
Our guides hunt with well-trained flushing and retrieving dogs, mainly Labrador retrievers. The luxury lodge is dog friendly, plus we have a 15-dog kennel on site, so guests are certainly welcome to bring and hunt with their own dogs.
Do you welcome non-hunting spouses—and if so, what is there for them to do?
Non-hunting spouses are always welcome! They can observe hunts, enjoy our luxury lodge or visit Jackson Hole, which is only an hour away. Our hospitality staff is more than happy to provide personalized recommendations upon request. In fact, given everything there is to do, Lazy Triple Creek is an excellent location for family retreats.
How is your lodging managed?
Our luxurious main lodge features spectacular mountain views and has nine bedrooms on three different levels. The lodge offers an upscale-but-inviting Western feel: high ceilings, a stone fireplace, leather couches and hand-woven textiles on the inside, and expansive decks with big-sky and sunset views on the outside. There is a spacious, professional kitchen, and a private chef can easily be arranged upon request. Our Ranch House, which is located down the hill from the main lodge, includes another three bedrooms. Most of our rooms offer private baths. Again, privacy and comfort are huge aspects of the service that we provide.
Lazy Triple Creek Ranch is a full-service Shooting Sportsman Endorsed Lodge. For more information or to make a reservation, call Hank McKinnell at 917-821-7210 or email hank@lazytriplecreek.com.
Photographs courtesy of Lazy Triple Creek Ranch.
