the Top Five Hunts Every Truly Dedicated Hunter Should Experience

[2rocky]

We all have Dream hunts, but most of them are out of reach for the majority of hunters.
Bu there are a variety of opportunities that I think define the "well rounded" hunter.
What five hunts do you think are the core of the American Hunting Experience?

For me it is

1. Alaska - any species unique to Alaska. Bucket list
2. An Elk hunt in the Rockies during the Rut. Check
3. Turkey hunt. Check
4. Deer hunt in a "deer camp" setting. Check
5. Pronghorn. Check

You will notice this is not a list of my favorites, but what I think defines a well rounded American hunter. Your thoughts?

 

[Dinkshooter]

Turkey? Yikes!

 

[Baerman]

I would add moose, mt. goat and sheep to the list. Pending on your home state, mine being Idaho, these hunts can be fairly cost effective. I just completed one of my bucket list hunts, mountain goat, for probably under $1000 for the tag, gas and food.

I also have Ibex and Oryx high on the list and am becoming more and more interested in Aoudad. I'm not sure any of these will qualify to most as an "American Hunting Experience" at least traditionally but they do to me.

 

[wyoming556]

Well rounded could include at least one waterfowl or grouse, pheasant, quail, dove, rabbit, squirrel,etc...

 

[Ben Lamb]

Mine:

Sheep - Anywhere on the Continent

Backcountry Elk - Northern Rockies

Grizzly Bear - AK or Canada

Pronghorn - WY or NM or AZ

Prairie/Mountain Mule Deer - WY, MT, ND

 

[spook12]

1. A guided Antelope hunt so the guide could fetch my bottle for me,and the staff could change my diaper.I would require my guide to where a chauffeurs hat while driving and the ''Dream hunt'' would be complete if he would answer to Jeeves.

2. See above

3.See above

4.See above

5. See above

 

[wyoming556]

Funny stuff Spook.

I figured your dream hunt would include finding out that the Hogs won the SEC after Jeeves brought you back to the lodge.

 

[Brandenbowhunter]

For me, you can have turkeys, but done it. Alaska is at the top for sure, brown bear with a bow, them Sheep, Moose would do, not at top though. A Bou or two...
Being in MT, I have gotten to hunt the rest on your list!
Everyone should do one lion hunt with dogs, so you know how tough it really is.
I like antelope, want a stud one...I am talking at least mid-80's, so anywhere I can do that.

 

[MKotur325]

Ah, the old Bucket list!!

1. Alaska Drop Camp Moose/Cariboo

2. African Plains Game

3. Back Country Elk in Rut with Rifle

4. Sheep, anywhere on continent, any kind of sheep

5. (Don't Laugh) My bucket list wouldn't be complete w/o Gredos Ibex in Northern Spain.

6. Optional extra... Wild Boar, Chamois, and Deer in Northern Italy!

7. Pronghorn, Somewhere open space, Spot and Stock!

A couple extras, and international hunts... Really would like to do an European Safari!! Hunt Spain, Austria/Germany and Italy.

 

[CabinFever]

Ah, the old Bucket list!!

1. Alaska Drop Camp Moose/Cariboo

2. African Plains Game

3. Back Country Elk in Rut with Rifle

4. Sheep, anywhere on continent, any kind of sheep

5. (Don't Laugh) My bucket list wouldn't be complete w/o Gredos Ibex in Northern Spain.

6. Optional extra... Wild Boar, Chamois, and Deer in Northern Italy!

7. Pronghorn, Somewhere open space, Spot and Stock!

A couple extras, and international hunts... Really would like to do an European Safari!! Hunt Spain, Austria/Germany and Italy.

Those are quite the American hunts

 

[Elkmagnet]

1. Archery elk in the rut √
2. Mule deer in the rut √
3. Alaska moose
4. Backpack mountain goat hunt
5. Rocky mountain sheep

 

[fowladdict]

1. Archery pronghorn
2. Archery Elk
3. Rut Mule Deer
4. Moose - Alaskan or Shiras
5. Chukar hunt behind a good dog

If I could only hunt five ways for the rest of my life I think these would be my choices going forward.

 

[MKotur325]

Those are quite the American hunts

Well... There's 4 american hunts in there... And some optional extras.

 

[MtnWest]

I do my bucket list hunt every year and I don't take it for granted as I know it won't last forever.

1. Archery elk in Sept. with my son and dad.

2. Can't wait for my 4yr old to come along.

I like chasing other critters while waiting for elk season to start again.


Whatever is on your list, make it happen! Do not wait, life is too short! I've lost several friends before they celebrated their 40th.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

1. A guided Antelope hunt so the guide could fetch my bottle for me,and the staff could change my diaper.I would require my guide to where a chauffeurs hat while driving and the ''Dream hunt'' would be complete if he would answer to Jeeves.

2. See above

3.See above

4.See above

5. See above

I may be off base, but I get the impression that you don't like guided antelope hunters

 

[noharleyyet]

No order...

NM Oryx
West Tx Auodad
Kansas or Iowa whitetail
Fishing with Draftstud
Elk or Muley with AZ402

 

[dustinf]

Arizona couse deer
Illinois whitetail
Wyoming pronghorn
Montana big horn
Alaska black bear
Alaska blacktail

Oh wait, that's my list of completed hunts from the past two seasons.

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

Bison
Elk
Mule Deer
Pronghorn
Whitetail with my Guide Tiffeny in a one man stand.
Fishing with Ken (Catfish!!!!)

John

 

[Nameless Range]

Since you differentiated between American dream hunts and what would be the C.V. of the "well rounded" American hunter:

1. High Country Backpack Hunt Mule Deer

2. Bull Elk with Rifle

3. Mule Deer with Bow

4. Taking any first time hunter out - successful or not

5. Bear -in Montana. None of that baiting bullshit.

All of the above would be on public land of course, preferrably in Montana.

 

[naturebob]

I agree with the non baiting bull on bear . That aint huntin.....BOB!