This came to me while reading the other thread about 2010 hunts, but instead of hijacking it, I'll start my own. I have talked to a friend about getting together and heading out somewhere in 2011 to hunt after some kind of big game other than whitetails. I have a long list of animals that I would like to chase, but more important to us right now is the price tag that comes along with each hunt. What are some of the options out there when it comes to chasing something (elk, blacktails, mulies, etc), and how much cash are we looking at dropping if we begin to plan this? I don't think either of us know anyone that has ever planned a DIY trip from scratch.
Lots of states differ on their license cost. I haven't been to Montana elk hunting since 2004 but the last time I went It ran me right around 1400.00 dollars I believe. This seems high to me, It was probably lower but can't remember for sure. This all Included elk/deer combination license, food, gas, etc. I did go on this elk hunt by myself though so If I would've had another person with I could've probably done It for about a thousand.
Your costs can be as big or as little as you want. Cutting out the guide helps a LOT. I just recently spent a hair under $700 for a week long hunt in Arizona bowhunting for Coues Deer a few weeks ago. This was tag, flight (used airline points), rental car, food, everything. I went to Alaska back in August for like 15 days bowhunting for Sitka Blacktails, not including gear purchases (which will last decades of use, not limited to this hunt) I spent right at $2200. 3/4 of which was all in flights, the rest tags and minimal costs in food, taxi ride, etc. You can carpool and drive out west and pull off any hunt you want. Ignoring the hard to draw hunts (assuming you want to go soon), you could easily pull off elk, mulies, antelope.....Antelope would likely be the cheapest and easiest hunt to pull off out west. You can get guaranteed tags in many areas of WY or all of SD, hunt public land or pay minimal tresspass fees, camp, eat economically, and really only have costs of gas and tags realistically. Remember you eat whether you are at home or out of state, so normal food costs are really a nonfactor. California offers guaranteed archery tags to chase early season columbian blacktail with millions of acres of public ground. Arizona has a late December/January guaranteed tag to bowhunt during the rut and its good for either Coues or Mule Deer. Most states are draw systems but checking the odds there are dozens of units with 100% success on drawing the tag, obviously they won't be as good of hunting as the units that take longer to draw...in most cases. For 2010 the main trip I've been looking into is a Caribou hunt in Alaska. It will be far less than $2000 all inclusive, if we do the Haul Road we will be out around $1400-1500, if we opt for a bush flight it will up the costs several hundred each. It really does just depend on What you want to hunt to start with, then which states offer the best chance to hunt this species, their tag costs, and go from there.
This will be my third trip out to Colorado and I do it every year for around $800, which includes my license, gas costs (split four ways) and food bill... We drive straight through in about 24 1/2 hours out there and back, and camp in tents ... not much else to buy or spend money on; it's about the cheapest big-game hunt I could imagine.
Greg, What have you killed in 2 years? Not picking on you just trying to make a point, and I know you won't take it personal. Most here know you are an experienced accomplished hunter as well. I don't really care for fully guided hunts. Just not my thing, but I do like to have access to a productive area via either a semi guided hunt or paying tresspass fees. I realize that killing something may Not be a Priority for everyone but if I just wanted to see the scenery, etc. I'd personally take a camping, fishing trip in much nicer weather than many hunting seasons will offer. I always look at the total cost including my time and wages lost. being self employed I've never had the luxury of a Paid vacation. So the little I would pay to hunt a better area is not much in terms of the overall cost to me. I've went on 5 Mule Deer hunts killed 5 bucks, 9 Bear hunts and killed 7 bears, lesson learned on 2 trips. 2 Elk trips, first one I killed a 4X4 and 2nd one I killed a 6X6 that scored over 300. One Antelope hunt and one Antelope tagged. Many states have permit fees that are out the roof, others are much more reasonable. Just for instance NE Mule Deer non-resident tags are barely over $200. Last time I checked Montana Deer tags were close to $800. Granted NE not the best place to kill a Monster Muley but I have managed to kill 4 Mulie bucks in 4 years that averaged over 130" with 2 being over 140" Lots of variables in your question. It really all boils down to what you want. I hunted Bears twice for about $600 each trip, but I soon realized if I wanted to kill a Bear I was going to have to look at a better Hunt. The Hunt I went on twice was Cheap, food was great, fishing was also great but the Bear were just Not there. After 2 trips I felt like I could hunt Bears in Southern IL and have almost as good a chance at killing one and it would be even cheaper :-) There are no Bears here ;-) Just decide what You want, what You can afford, do Your homework, and Go from there. Dan
Dan, In two years of being out in Colorado, I had a cow elk at 32 yards but neglected to stop her because I didn't understand how much ground an animal of that immense size covered with one or two steps... touched off the trigger as brown entered my shooting window and ended up hitting her square in the guts. That was year number one out there, which I documented here on BH.com. She was the first animal I had not recovered in almost a decade at that time... The second year, I nicked the chest of a 280-class bull directly under his heart at 54 yards shooting acrsoss a DEEP chasm that I had been working my way up. He had come down the draw directly behind me as I searched with binos up above me on my side after hearing a stick break up above.... Pure luck on his part that he came down and got behind me after the one time in over an hour that I had taken my eyes off the opposite side of the draw... Had to stop him with my mouth and draw in one motion or he'd been too far behind me, and I misjudged the yardage having to hurry so much. I was still-hunting the side of a canyon later that week and got to within 25 yards of a 300+ class bull, bu he was bedded behind the one line of sight I didn't have access to, and he blew out of there too quickly for me to get a shot. Exhilarating experience, to say the least. I later came to full draw on a huge cow at 28 yards, but could only see from her liver back as she was hidden behind a group of trees... I stepped to my right at full draw JUST as she took a step to her left.... keeping her vitals hid. She had no idea I was there, just another lucky break for her. I've had plenty of other encounters, but those were my closest... Combine those hunting moments with the breathtaking scenery that I get to experience while out there, and I'd say that I'm getting my money's worth for what I spend on those trips.
I travel to Colorado every year to elk hunt. You can get OTC cow elk tags for around 250 bucks. We bring all our supplies and camp there. We all split gas. Our trip comes to around 500 bucks when it is all said and done. In the grand scheme of things, that is a pretty cheap getaway. Might not be a warm sandy beach but I'm doing something I love and I think it's well worth it whether I harvest an elk or not.
I understand Greg! There are better and worse areas within any state I am sure. I know a group of 5 guys here that make the trip out west every year Elk hunting. I think in the last 4 years they have killed 5 Elk. I'm sure there are better areas to be had out there. It seems like they would try to find them, but again it's what ever the Individual is Looking for and What will Make them Happy. I did travel to Nova Scotia once and I was fairly certain when I planned the trip my chances of tagging a Bear of the caliber I try to target was pretty slim, but I wanted to see the area. I experienced the Ocean, the Eagles, the Seafood, and a town that was basically out of the early 1900's. I also passed a couple of Bears that were at least 250# and got to share in a fellow Hunters excitement of tagging his first Black Bear. So All in All it was a GREAT Trip for me, but to be honest my goals were different on this trip than they are on most of my trips. I'll be the first to Admit I like Killing, always have. That's Not to say I don't enjoy other aspects of the Hunt too, but if I did Not enjoy the Kill and strive to accomplish it. I'd just be a nature Lover or a Bird watcher. Sounds Like you have a Blast and at very little cost. Dan
As with everything, you get out what you put in. It's surprising how easy it can be to put together a DIY hunt once you actually do it.
Where does one begin to plan such a trip though? The task seems kind of intimidating to us right now. I can only assume the best place to start would be to call some different DNR's and do some research over the internet in an attempt to find some public land and go from there.
1.) Figure your budget (time and $$$). 2.) Decide where you want to go or which species you want to hunt based on 1. 3.) Based on 1. and 2. figure out your transportation. 4.) Based on 2. and 3. figure out your gear needs. etc., etc. until you've got it all nailed down. As with any large and daunting task, it becomes much more simple when broken into pieces.
Good Advice! If you decide what species you want to go after you can look at different areas and start narrowing it down from there. Dan
Dan, 4 x 5= 20/5 =25% success. That's pretty darn good if they were using bows. That's better than average. Most folks do not take the physical conditioning seriously. The lads I hunt with are near 85% on cows and 65% on bulls. They listen.... Scott, I agree with Kodiak. Do your home work. I agree with Trev, antelope are cheap. There are many states which sell OTC archery antelope tags-Colorado and Nebraska for example. Wyoming's speed goat tags are by draw, but in most cases you will receive it if you apply (try area 46). You can do a DIY mule deer hunt about anywhere in the west for a reasonable price . Colorado, for example, is 40% public land, has cheap tags ($250), and good access to plenty of deer. Another thought, pay attention here Trev, would be a caribou hunt in Quebec, Canda. You can hunt on Cree Indian lands without a guide. For about $1100 plus travel expenses. You'll have the oportunity to harvest two bous. Google Nouchimi Tourism. AND then there's Africa... I am going with my daughter in July. I put together a 10 day eight animal package for $3950. Airfare runs about $1400. That works out to be around $680/animal, and I would say your success rate would be 100% ( can't beat that!). I have done similar hunts in the East Cape of South Africa for even less -8 animals, 10 days for $3000. A cheap plane fight into New Zealand....$1100.....no tags to buy...no regulations to follow... the friendliest people on the planet...miles of acres of public national forest.....feral, non indigenious animals everywhere...breathtaking scenery.... $10/day rental car....the opportunities abound. Establish your budget, do your homework, start networking, and ask questions. You'll be on the road in no time!
You did the right thing asking the question to these guys, they know their stuff...as you can see, it's easier than most realize and some very reasonable priced options for DIY trips. Good Luck! The planning phase is half the fun...
They have definantly pointed me in the right direction. As much as I would like this hunt to happen this year, realistically I know it will have to be 2011 to make sure we don't take any shortcuts in planning and funding it.
You've got it right. Some DNR sites(especially Colorado) can provide success rates, numbers of hunters, general game populations, etc. for each unit. Contact them for new hunting regulation booklets, pamphlets, etc., most are free. My 2010 Colorado regs. and application packet should be here in the next few weeks.
I'm on my second trip to Colorado this year , Flights = £427 ( $688 ) , Either sex Elk tag $546ish , Food , camp , fuel and sleeping $100 and Bass pro spending money $400 ( not essential ) .
Plan on me asking some more questions in the upcoming months. I started getting things moving this morning, and my hunting partner is definantly down for some elk hunting in Colorado. I called another one of my buddies here, and he said if he doesn't go with his dad to New Mexico, then he will be joining us. We also have a friend that is in Iraq, and is scheduled to be home in August, so I sent him an email and if he is up for it, then September will find me in Colorado doing something I always dreamed of. It's not set in stone yet, and theres still a lot more researching we have to do, but at least the wheels are moving.
