Does anyone know of any affordable big game hunts? Bear, elk, pronghorn, etc... I only have experience with whitetail so I'm not sure I would have the experience to hunt on my own. Any suggestions?
Pronghorn seems to be the cheapest hunt around, but I really encourage you too look at DIY hunts they are really fun,and more of a challenge.
Three of us did a 6 day DIY antelope hunt in S.D. last year. By splitting a hotel room and gas and buying most of our food before we got there we probably only spent $600-700 a piece.
A group of 4 of us is planning an elk hunt(DIY) and it's really alot of fun, even if we could afford a guide I'm not sure we would...It's cheaper, it's a challenge and it's the best way to learn. We do have a contact who lives out there though helping us out. I'm sure this will be our 1st of many to come.
I have a personal goal of adding in a hunt/yr for a critter I've never hunted before. I plan to add at LEAST two of these in, this year alone. If you consider "BIG whitetails" another species.....I'll add 3, this year (also hunting elk and mulies, in CO, in Sept). I'm purchasing an either-sex elk tag (over the counter), and my mulie tag is gonna run me around $350. I'll fly, free, on frequent flyer miles. So, I'll be really surprised if I spend more than $1,200 on this trip (probably closer to $1K). I'll fly free, again, into IL this fall. And, I doubt I'll spend more than $700 on that trip. I JUST inquired into a SC wild boar hunt, also. I may even get to turkey hunt while I'm there. That trip will cost me < $600 (I'll schedule work in that area, leading up to the hunt, and my travel will again be covered). Look around. The hunting community is a strong brotherhood. There are deals.....if you look AND ask. I have guys come in here to hunt every year. They spend +/- $160 on tags/licenses.....and little more (excluding travel). Good luck to you.
Elk, pronghorn, or bear would probably be my first choices right now. 600 would probably be the most I would want to spend. I live in Indiana so the west would be a whole new thing for me. Are there good resources out there to help with diy hunts? Like how to get tags, where you can go, what to do with the animal once/if you harvested?
DNR websites are an awesome start. You can find success rates, tag info, maps, public land access and more great details.
I know a group that books hunts and stuff for you. They are some really nice individuals. http://www.hosted-hunts.com/, they are a franchise of Outdoor Connection and they have a map listing all of their available hunts. I you go to the bottom of the screen you will see Bryan Wilmer, I know him personally and he is a stand-up guy that works really hard for you. I would say call him and he can find something for you, anything from do-it-yourself to fully guided hunts. They take care of a lot of the hassles for you usually too of hunting out of state or out of country. If you want anymore info on them, just let me know.
Reno, $600 could get you a Cow elk, bear, pronghorn, or mule deer hunt in Colorado. Send this guy a pm: http://forums.bowhunting.com/member.php?u=848 He's coming here in September. You can hitch a ride with him, maybe. $600 will also get you a deer or pronghorn in Wyoming. They have a ton of walk in areas there. Talk to JJ about a hunt like that. If he cannot help, PM me.
