Meet Tim Wrightman

Lazy Bear Ranch owner and host Tim Wrightman's journey from the gridiron to various ventures is a testament to his remarkable versatility and tenacity. With 65 college scholarship offers out of high school, Tim ultimately chose UCLA, where he left an indelible mark as an athlete and scholar. He earned All-Coast and All PAC-10 honors for two years and the prestigious distinction of being a unanimous football All-American in his senior year. However, it's his achievement as an Academic All-American that he holds dearest, proudly standing as the last person in UCLA history to achieve both academic and football All-American status in the same year. Inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003, Tim's legacy as a Bruin is etched in the annals of college football history.  

In the realm of professional football, Tim's journey took him to the Chicago Bears, where he played a pivotal role as a tight end. He was a member of what many consider one of the best Super Bowl teams of all time, securing victory in Super Bowl XX. Transitioning from the gridiron, Tim found success in various endeavors, including acting, where he appeared in over 21 TV shows as a guest star and starred in 20 national commercials. However, his deepest passion lies in the Lazy Bear Ranch, a sprawling 200+ acre property he affectionately acquired over time. Serving as both a cherished pheasant preserve and a dynamic event venue now welcoming daily visitors for hunting, outdoor activities, and special events, the ranch stands as a testament to Tim's unwavering spirit of adventure and his dedication to preserving the natural habitat of the preserve while fostering a strong sense of community. Through his commitment to conservation and community engagement, Tim ensures that the Lazy Bear Ranch remains a haven for wildlife and a cherished gathering place for all who seek solace in nature's embrace.


Pheasant hunting is what brought my Dad to Idaho in the early 1960s.  As a boy, I remember endless stories about incredible wild pheasant hunting in Idaho and details of the natural occurring bountiful and thick habitat producing beautiful robust pheasant.  When I created Lazy Bear Ranch Shooting Preserve, my goal was to find acreage on which to relive his stories, from the specific habitat and working bird dogs all the way to making every client feel like it was opening day of pheasant hunting in 1965. I found all of this in Weiser, Idaho.I am proud to not only offer a magnificent day hunting but also an exceptional retreat where you can relax by the waterfall, catch up on sports in front of the TV, play air hockey and ping pong, or simply walk down to the pond to reflect as the sun sets.  Lazy Bear Ranch is now a premier event and wedding space. 

Tim Wrightman