What has been your guys' best hunt in terms of quality for the cheapest price? Some game I'm looking at are Whitetail, Black Bear, Elk, and Moose. Thanks!
The best archery hunt for the money is the hunt you share with a hunting partner that enjoys hunting as much as your self. It's the memories not the money's
Some of the best hunts I've had were on public land that cost nothing but time, effort, and persistence. I guess the cost of gear and gas to get there was the only financial expense.
I've never been on a guided hunt before so I can't help you there. There is a lot of good out of state public land hunting though. The good thing is a lot of states you can buy archery tags over the counter and you don't have to put in for a draw like rifle hunting. I've watched hundreds of DIY public land hunts on YouTube and Randy Newberg and Hush are 2 I watch a lot. They typically do a lot of public land hunts and kill some great animals. I don't know where you're located but states like Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, Montana and such have some good public land. You just gotta get there and put in some effort getting to know the land.
The best hunts that were the cheapest and most memorable for me was in my backyard with my dad, who enjoys hunting as much as I do.
Since you are looking for an outfitter, I would begin contacting them and ask for contact info on some of their clients. Talk to them and make your own decision from there.
I don't have any outfitters to recommend in the US as I have only gone DIY. If you want to go to New Zealand after Red Stag or Fallow deer, I was very happy with the one that I used down there.
A baseline before I comment. I am assuming all the amenities are equal. Whitetails hunts tend to be the worst value in my experience. Success rates are generally low, hunter numbers are generally high . The more exclusively managed ground sometimes equates to a higher quality hunt however the price goes up however value might not. A lot of money for logistically simple hunt. A Lope hunts your paying for lodging, food and ground. They are generally an ok value if you consider what you might shell out if you payed a trespass fee for similar ground. Very little logistics involved so the more you pay value goes down. Success rates for a well planned dyi vs guided hunt won't be that different so I wouldn't add value for that. Baited black bear hunt tend to be a decent value when you consider the amount of work it would take to accomplish a similar hunt yourself. Success rates tend to be pretty high. Elk hunts would be really tough to define an avg value because of how different each hunt is. Private lands, land owner tags, pack horses ect ect . There is more logistics involved in most cases. Success rates tend to be better then whitetail hunts considering outfitters run a lot less guys though. I generally rate elk hunts as a decent value over all. Mule deer on private land tend to be good value as well. Consider the tag availability in the equation. Public land mule deer in limited quota areas to represent a poor value as the tag and the unit is worth more then guide to me. Moose, sheep and Bou all tend to be logistically expensive so you value is coming from that and the service they provide. Some tags are only obtainable through outfitters so that has to be factored into the equation.
The reason for this post is not because I need to pay $2000 to kill a deer. I have many memorable hunts on my own property and with buddies. Many people like to go to Mexico or some other country for vacation and spend 5,000. I am looking for a vacation- that is the reason for this post. Thanks for the info so far!
Best hunt for the price, I'd say not a traditional midwest hunt. If I didn't live in the midwest and wanted to have a chance to kill a 140" deer, elk, muley, or pronghorn.......I'd go to Wyoming. For a guided hunt you can get a LOT of bang for your buck there.
