36C Santa Margarita Ranch

[JAYgs8163]

On 11/3/2025 at 7:07 AM, 4huntrs said:

Has had walk in only as long as I’ve been going down there. Starting about 3 weeks ago the new owner doesn’t want anyone on Santa Margarita land. The road to Shaffer camp crosses two pieces of private land one for a hundred yards and one for 400 yds. I’m trying to find out if they closed the road at the 286. 

It’s not a new owner. It’s the same owner of the ranch for the last 30 years. 

[CatfishKev]

9 hours ago, JAYgs8163 said:

I spoke with the 36C Warden for the area yesterday and the lockdown for all of the Santa Margarita Ranch Properties is being strictly enforced. No Trespassing and No Hunting on all of their properties. Access into Thomas Canyon and Schafer Camp is only by foot now and you have to stay off the SMR to hike in. It’s about impossible to get back in there on a day hike, would require an aggressive hike way back Into either of those areas and making a spike camp. Unfortunately they have properties dotted all over the unit. Per the Game Warden “they have cell operated cameras” as well as security guards enforcing all of their No Hunting and No Trespassing. Per the Game Warden all of their signs and locking of the gates have all been done in accordance with the law and are 100% legally done. Security is calling the Sheriff and AZGFD on violators. This really sucks and I hope it gets resolved in the future but it seems like the owners of the ranch have really dug their feet in. 

This is gonna start becoming the new normal all across the state I bet.  We all see it, people and hunters leaving trash and gates open it's only gonna get worse unfortunately.  

[Big or Bust]

Pretty incredible. Absolutely a game changer for the unit. Sad too...

[Bailer41]

We need new roads that bypass the private to reach the base of the mountains.

[Big or Bust]

8 minutes ago, Bailer41 said:

We need new roads that bypass the private to reach the base of the mountains.

That's not gonna happen, at least on the refuge, unfortunately. 

[Sky Island junkie]

This is unfortunately how some coues head hunters treat the country they pull good bucks out of. These guys were on a pretty tall knob that I’ve never seen anyone on. I stayed out when I knew they were in there on the 3rd hunt 3 years ago. I climbed up there in January to find this and it wasn’t all of it. I picked up more that had blown down the side of the hill after taking the pic. Really guys??? Couldn’t have weighed a quarter pound to haul it out!!  I don’t see this crap getting any better! Absolutely hate having this conversation! 

[wildwoody]

On 11/2/2025 at 7:54 AM, grey curse said:

As of now the access to Shaffer is the same as it has been for the last few yrs to the designated parking area.    The designated walking path up the canyon on private is no longer allowed.    Santa Margarita ranch have posted signs on property lines that say no hunting,hiking, camping,or trespassing.  Not sure why some roads that cross private are not posted and some are.   

You know if they deny access to national forest then the aholes shouldn't be able let there fricking cattle graze on our lands. Probably eastern libarals fxxks

[wildwoody]

49 minutes ago, Sky Island junkie said:

This is unfortunately how some coues head hunters treat the country they pull good bucks out of. These guys were on a pretty tall knob that I’ve never seen anyone on. I stayed out when I knew they were in there on the 3rd hunt 3 years ago. I climbed up there in January to find this and it wasn’t all of it. I picked up more that had blown down the side of the hill after taking the pic. Really guys??? Couldn’t have weighed a quarter pound to haul it out!!  I don’t see this crap getting any better! Absolutely hate having this conversation! 

Thats how jerkoffs treat ours lands. Same people who thru crap out there windows and drag tire chaines.

[grey curse]

9 hours ago, wildwoody said:

You know if they deny access to national forest then the aholes shouldn't be able let there fricking cattle graze on our lands

No national forest in 36c.  All private, blm (very little) or state trust.  But I agree, a ton of forest and state land being land locked by these so called ranchers all over the state.  

[idgaf]

9 hours ago, wildwoody said:

You know if they deny access to national forest then the aholes shouldn't be able let there fricking cattle graze on our lands. Probably eastern libarals fxxks

*European fxxk.

My cousin is in charge cattle operations there.  The owner has been trying for a long time to eliminate people off of her land. 

If I were an a position of authority,  I would suspend all state trust leases until some access was permitted.  That goes for all  ranches  (big bo).  

[JAYgs8163]

Karma is a Beetch. 

[trphyhntr]

You guys obey trespassing signs? 

[JAYgs8163]

4 minutes ago, trphyhntr said:

You guys obey trespassing signs? 

I will down here after hearing the horror stories of getting a ticket. Have you hunted 36c and are familiar with what’s going on? I’ve hunted it for 40 years. It’s not just the signs, it’s locked off gates denying access back in to some awesome country. 

[trphyhntr]

13 minutes ago, JAYgs8163 said:

I will down here after hearing the horror stories of getting a ticket. Have you hunted 36c and are familiar with what’s going on? I’ve hunted it for 40 years. It’s not just the signs, it’s locked off gates denying access back in to some awesome country. 

What if I just backpacked on private for like 4 days 

[JAYgs8163]

1 hour ago, trphyhntr said:

What if I just backpacked on private for like 4 days 

I imagine if you don’t get caught you’ll be fine. It’s been posted pretty hard by the owners.