Want to hunt in the US?

[devon deer stalker]

Thanks. I went by myself, which I'm not sure if I'd do again. 10 days living out of backpack on top of a mountain by yourself is quite mentally challenging. Yeah I've looked at the llama thing, it could be an option for wyoming.

Wow that is quite the achievement, I couldn't spend that amount of time on my own up a mountain, backpack must have weighed a ton walking in, at least there are no grizzlies in Colorado.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

There is a campground at the dead end road on Highway 63 at the northern end of the Pecos river in New Mexico near Santa Fe , I stayed there during spring turkey season 2007 and saw loads of elk droppings/scat, the manager and I were the only ones there at the time. flat camping and has running water etc.

 

[Jonesie]

I split it up, so 2 x 5 days in reality, to keep the weight of food down and to enable change of area. Yeah it was hard, as I said no sure if i would go solo again, definitely not with grizzlies around, like in wyoming.

 

[243varmint]

Very nice elk.
A lot of work on your own.

 

[big ears]

Very nice elk.
A lot of work on your own.

Would have been if you shot it. Hell of a pack out

 

[shotguntom]

I was successful on Mule deer and Antelope last year in WY and have just passed my hunter ed to open up more opportunities. Thinking about giving Montana a go after reading your write ups.

 

[wildfowler.250]

I have done it several times now, hunted and fished in Montana, fly fished in Wyoming and Colorado.
Several members on here are clearly interested in going after watching Randy Newberg and Steve Rinella, all I can suggest is see if you can get together and form a SD group.
It cuts down the cost to share hire car/fuel etc
Since I went over Llamas have started to be used, they open up many more opportunities, use them and you could stay out in the back country wilderness for 7+ days and be well fed warm and cosy, and away from many other hunters.

Just be careful who you choose, it requires a 100% commitment and a real level of fitness to deal with the sometimes very harsh rugged country, but it's an experience you will never forget, and you would have done a DIY hunt not outfitted.

I have got something on each trip, and if I can be of any help just ask away, the only thing I can't help with are GPS co-ordinates, I would get lynched if I gave that information away!

Just an idea chaps

Cheers

Richard

I was literally looking at the states this afternoon. Would love to go for a muley,(Colorado seems a safe bet) but where do you even start. Even getting licences + tags sorted is complicated but then where do you even go to hunt in these massive public land areas/what unit do you try to apply for. It’s absolutely mind blowing.

Came to the conclusion that it’s much more straightforward to book with an outfitter but I don’t think the costs will ever allow me to do that. Pipe dream!

 

[Gsd99]

I cant even get round to picking a state yet, i need to decide if i want to hunt elk or black bear first

 

[devon deer stalker]

I was literally looking at the states this afternoon. Would love to go for a muley,(Colorado seems a safe bet) but where do you even start. Even getting licences + tags sorted is complicated but then where do you even go to hunt in these massive public land areas/what unit do you try to apply for. It’s absolutely mind blowing.

Came to the conclusion that it’s much more straightforward to book with an outfitter but I don’t think the costs will ever allow me to do that. Pipe dream!

Unless money is no object, fine, book an outfitter, but I am like you, I could never afford one.
When I first visited I didn't really have a clue, I did meet an American who helped with the basics, what I can say is you will get a deer, but don't count on Elk.
ONXMAPS is key, get you head around that and you are well on your way, coupled with google maps, joining Randys forum HUNTALK and it is doable, I'm always available for a chat to answer any questions and give pointers....but not GPS co-ordinates
Cheers
Richard

 

[devon deer stalker]

I cant even get round to picking a state yet, i need to decide if i want to hunt elk or black bear first

I'm pretty sure in Idaho the deer/bear tag are interchangeable, what I mean is you get issued a deer tag, and whilst hunting a deer you can choose to shoot a black bear if it presets itself, you would need to check I'm right though!
Cheers
Richard

 

[Gsd99]

I'm pretty sure in Idaho the deer/bear tag are interchangeable, what I mean is you get issued a deer tag, and whilst hunting a deer you can choose to shoot a black bear if it presets itself, you would need to check I'm right though!
Cheers
Richard

Yes Richard you are correct, at just over 300 usd for the tag (not withstanding the other fees) its very cheap hunting. With an extra 415 usd you can be out with an elk tag also (i havent checked that seasons overlap).

Idaho/Montana seem the easiest to understand for me.

Josh

 

[devon deer stalker]

I reckon people would pay me good money for the information on this chip!

 

[Gsd99]

Shockingly, with 0 training and in 5 minutes, i have passed the bear identification test to hunt in Montana

 

[wildfowler.250]

Unless money is no object, fine, book an outfitter, but I am like you, I could never afford one.
When I first visited I didn't really have a clue, I did meet an American who helped with the basics, what I can say is you will get a deer, but don't count on Elk.
ONXMAPS is key, get you head around that and you are well on your way, coupled with google maps, joining Randys forum HUNTALK and it is doable, I'm always available for a chat to answer any questions and give pointers....but not GPS co-ordinates
Cheers
Richard

Haha! That’s very kind! If I can get my head around the tag system and where to start from I could see it growing arms and legs

 

[shotguntom]

GoHunt is currently offering a 7 day free trial for those who need a hand filtering down options and state / unit info.

 

[big ears]

Haha! That’s very kind! If I can get my head around the tag system and where to start from I could see it growing arms and legs

As Richard says Randy Newburgh on YouTube does some videos about drawing tags in each state and what the terms mean.

 

[wildfowler.250]

As Richard says Randy Newburgh on YouTube does some videos about drawing tags in each state and what the terms mean.

Thanks! He’s a new one to me but I’ll look it up! I’m assuming the success rates are significantly higher going through an outfitter?

Is it common to go for a middle ground where you hire a guide but sort your tags yourself as a cheaper alternative? I know in places like Alaska you need to be with a resident of not a guide despite having a tag

 

[mattic]

Wolf tag even cheaper!

 

[big ears]

Thanks! He’s a new one to me but I’ll look it up! I’m assuming the success rates are significantly higher going through an outfitter?

Is it common to go for a middle ground where you hire a guide but sort your tags yourself as a cheaper alternative? I know in places like Alaska you need to be with a resident of not a guide despite having a tag

I’m not sure. I have to say that the fun when we went was looking for likely places. There is tonnes of info on the net about elk behaviour and this depends on the season. When we went it was rifle season and post rut. All the advice was to look for sanctuary on a north facing slope. When we went it was warm so they were high but we found them.
My advice is to do it yourself. Look for places 3-5 miles away from the road or tracks with north facing pockets of wood/timber at altitude.

Good luck

 

[fairacre]

These guys may be of use if you want to hire a camping equipped 4x4 in Montana

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