Favorite Western Hunt

[mdunc8]

If you wanted to surprise someone close to you with a hunt out West, what and where would you hunt? You don't have any points, you don't want a guide and you're more interested in seeing animals than chasing after a monster.

My father has always talked about hunting out West, but he's never had the opportunity. Now that I live out here and have a few years of hunting in Montana under my belt, I'm planning on putting him in for a tag as Christmas present. Right now I'm leaning towards a antelope hunt in Wyoming, but would like to hear any other ideas that people are willing to offer up. I'm not looking for particular sections or even areas of a state. Just state and animal.

 

[belly-deep]

You're in MT, why not an antelope hunt in MT???

 

[mdunc8]

Sorry, the person of interest lives in Virginia and therefore is not a resident anywhere out here. Belly, I'm not aware of a guaranteed buck tag for nonresidents.

 

[MHMT]

Cow elk for one of Montana's better districts. Mix in a little bird hunting maybe.

 

[CJ...$]

Az Javelina... easy draw... nice weather... plus you see lots of other critters... easy to fill the tag.

 

[Oak]

Guaranteed tag?

Pronghorn in WY
Elk in CO
Coues deer in AZ
Deer in ID? No experience with that one, but sounds fun.

 

[mixedbag]

I think he'd have the most fun on a Wy. antelope hunt.IMO though, its hard to beat a archery elk hunt.But, thats not going to provide the action you asked for.Pretty easy draw for 1/2 the regions in Wy. for mule deer too with no points
If your experienced in Mt. then put him in for the combo there.I think the draw odds will go up alot this season,and if you don't draw,buy a left over antelope tag in Wy.

 

[mdunc8]

I like the suggestions. He's talked about chasing pigs before, but I'd like to get him something my mom would let him throw on the wall. I'm pretty sure she would veto a javelina. He'd have a ball on an archery elk hunt, but he doesn't bow hunt anymore. I think the elevation in Colorado would kill him. If he dropped about 30 pounds and quit smoking I'd think about it.

 

[thecrittergitter]

Man, pretty tough to beat a MT hunt period. If by some remote chance he doesn't draw with the new odds next year, head to WY for lopes.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I'd put him in for Antelope in Wyo. If he's got to draw an NR tag anyway why not got to Wyo for goats. It seems to me the quality of goats on public land in Wyo is much better than MT.

 

[Goldtip]

I would agree with Critter on this one. Get him in the Montana draw for deer and get him on the east side after the Mulies, lots of game, reasonable terrain and lots of average bucks with way bigger horns than the whities he's used to seeing back in Virginia. If he doesn't draw, then you get him a Wyoming antelope tag.

 

[Big Slick]

I'd put him in for Antelope in Wyo. If he's got to draw an NR tag anyway why not got to Wyo for goats. It seems to me the quality of goats on public land in Wyo is much better than MT.

Ive never hunted antelope in WY but the shear numbers you see would make for a great adventure with awesome potential. That is my plan in 2 years.

 

[mdunc8]

Right now, I'm leaning towards eastern MT mule deer with WY antelope as backup. Thanks for the suggestions. Goldtip, Virginia isn't known for its deer, but there's plenty of big ones running around the hills back there. Check out these two (http://blogs.roanoke.com/wildlife/files/2010/10/perdue-bucks1.jpg). The one on the left was shot a few miles from my folks house. The other was shot up in the mountains about 15 minutes from old stomping grounds.

 

[mdunc8]

I should clarify. We didn't shoot either one of them.

 

[Khunter]

Put him in for a top quality smokepole hunt for bull elk in NM. No points system. If he gets lucky and draws you will have a great time. Back it up with a 'guaranteed' draw for some other critter/state.,

NM is bult for out of shape elk hunters IMO. Low elevations, and you can have a great hunt while making it as hard or easy on yourself as you choose.

 

[Goldtip]

Right now, I'm leaning towards eastern MT mule deer with WY antelope as backup. Thanks for the suggestions. Goldtip, Virginia isn't known for its deer, but there's plenty of big ones running around the hills back there. Check out these two (http://blogs.roanoke.com/wildlife/files/2010/10/perdue-bucks1.jpg). The one on the left was shot a few miles from my folks house. The other was shot up in the mountains about 15 minutes from old stomping grounds.

I don't care who shot them, those things are pigs. WOW. I was just thinking that an average Mulie has quite a bit more horn than an average whitey. And on the east side you can see a bunch of them if the time is right and you get the weather on your side.

 

[mdunc8]

No, you're definitely right. Those deer are outliers in Virginia. Definitely not the kind of deer we're used to. He'd see more bucks in a day of hunting eastern MT than he'll probably see all year back home.