LMAO! For the record I have no issue with any one that wants to go and hunt at a game farm or a ranch. I have not done it and I am not sure how easy it would be or how challenging. The only problem I have is when someone shoots a pen deer and tries to pass it off as fair chase. I see if you don't agree with something it isn't something that should be pushed to AT but if someone thinks your comparison is laughable it should...again LMFAO!
Being in the cattle business and from West Texas where there are still some original herds of wild bison existing on some of the large ranches along with the ones that have been relocated to State Parks and along with the fact that they are raised domestically in large quantities in my area, I have been around bison quite a bit and know their behavior and "wildness". They can be mean, that's for for sure. it Tkaes more fence to keep them in compared to cattle and they can be much more aggressive. But wild enough to create a challenging hunt under any circumstance? I haven't seen it. Not being judgemental if that is what you want to do, but just saying if you want a challenging and rewarding hunt, I don't really think Bison is going to fit the bill.....just my opinion.
There was a bison hunt on BHOD that was at a ranch a few years ago and it sure looked like he just walked up and shot it with a bow. It didn't look like hunting IMO.
Who gives a chit what others think, if it's something you have researched, can afford and want to do...go do it. If it sucks, keep it to yourself, if it's awesome...tell the naysayers they're stupid. Hunting ranch's get a lot of undeserved (and a lot of well deserved too) flack. Most of them are there because they love having the animals and want to provide a good and memorable experience for other hunters while they cover the cost of living and operating. A lot of the ginormous ranches are owned by wealthy people that didn't need to open a hunting ranch to live off of, if they did they picked the wrong occupation...instead they did it because it's a passion first and foremost and opened it up to hunting to make it pencil out. Imagine having the wherewithall to buy and start a game ranch for your own enjoyment and then deciding all it needs to do is break even to make you happy, I think that is where 95% of the hunting ranches sit. Meanwhile they employ a lot of like minded folks that are also avid outdoorsmen and women. Sure, some suck and are problematic but that can be said for about anything out there, doesn't mean they should all be avoided. Personally I'd prefer to see a hunter take a hunt there than to go out of the country on safari and spend their money outside the US to shoot a wall hanging animal. Bison are big cattle no matter where you go or how you hunt them...I'd recommend going and buying the meat, it's cheaper and will save a lot of time and money for a proper elk hunt, lol.
That is good to know. I was told otherwise by someone that doesn't have any real first hand experience. I was told they are a tough hunt. But if it is comparable to hunting slightly more agresive cattle. That wouldn't be worth it to me I think.
Awesome post. Yea we originally started looking at elk and moose hunts because ca only hands out two elk tags a year :-/ . I guess I just have to do a lot of research on each ranch. I really want to hunt something big and agresive, but my budget doesn't help with that. Haha. I'm kinda stuck to a weekend hunt so I don't miss any work. They also offer water buffalo but I heard there pretty tame animals
That's good info. I'll look that up. Like I said. I don't want to be hunting at a petting zoo. I was told bison were a good hunt, but that's by a old rifle hunter that has 40+ mounts from animals all over the world. mabe he just really likes big mounts.
I'll have to look into that as well. It's just tough to leave the state. It's nearly impossible to take time off from my job. I haven't had a vacation sense 2011
I was going to suggest an out of state elk hunt also but I see you have to weekend warrior it. Do what you can and enjoy your time in the field with the wife.As for the challenge aspect I have no clue how challenging a Bison would be I have walked right up on them in the wild and they just gave me the stink eye. Start applying for a bighorn sheep tag in CA that could be fun.
Lol, I've never been on a "vacation" except our senior trip in 1994, lol. Closest thing I get is a three day conference in Salina KS every year for no-till and soil health education but that's still technically work related haha.
