The Merlo family history is deeply rooted in Northern California hunting and fishing, which dates back to the 1920's when Pino Merlo immigrated from Italy to America with his brother Enrico and sister Tina. Landing in a the small rural town of Durham, Ca, Pino and Enrico started families and a farming business.

Larry "Dad" Merlo was the nephew of Pino, who taught him as a young child how to hunt and fish in a manner by which respecting the land and honoring the animals that fed the family. Larry learned to fly fish the west branch of the Feather River in the Sierra Nevada's, and to duck hunt and call ducks in the Pacific Flyway's famed Butte Sink, where at one time hundred upon hundreds of thousands of migrating ducks would winter in the area. Larry started guiding private clients when he was still in his teens, many of our clients today were clients of Larry 30 years ago. In the early 80's Larry started Butte Creek Gun Club on Rancho Esquon which evolved into the culmination of developing 1500 acres of the most pristine private waterfowl habitat in the Pacific Northwest. For the next 15 years Larry personally, developed and manged the waterfowl habitat and was the owner's personal guide. Whether hunting the Butte Sink, the"Mallard Ponds" of Llano Seco or the surrounding flooded crop fields, there are few company's that pride themselves with the attributes and experience that have been passed down by Larry. We unfortunately lost our father, husband, friend, pioneer and true legend in 2013. His legacy will forever be ingrained within the culture of Merlo Waterfowl. 

Thrid generation and current owner and operator Rocque "Roc" Merlo is the oldest of three Merlo boy's and has spent his entire life learning to hunt and fish from Dad. Rocque's vision for the waterfowl company began at a very young age when he began guiding hunters while still in high school for his father. He formed his first waterfowl guide service in his early 20’s with one property and one blind on it. Now with 15 different properties, 55 blinds, and over 6000 thousands acres in the heart of the Pacific Flyway and 20,000 acres of deer habitat, Merlo Waterfowl Company is the premier outfitter in Northern California. Rocque a lifetime member of Ducks Unlimited and the California Waterfowl association, chairing numerous committees and is very active in the CWA youth programs, often performing calling demonstrations to the next generation hunter's. Guiding clients on memorable waterfowl and deer hunts is truly what Rocque lives for. Come join Larry and Roc on a hunt of a lifetime.

The Merlo heritage continues with fourth generations Rico and Joey Merlo. Already hunting with dad, the passion runs deep in the Merlo blood. Looking towards the future the Merlo legacy stands to carry on for another 50 years.