After reading a couple of books for the umpteenth time I got to thinking about myself as a bowhunter.. Most of these books are either about the superslam oe just backcountry hunts in places like NW Territories , Brooks Mt Range, high up in the Rockies etc. It takes extreme physical strength, mental awareness, money and desire to hunt in sub 0 temps for sheep at 6k feet. or 95 degrees in the desert for Big Horn sheep. Eating freezed dried food 3 times a day on a 14 day back pack hunt in Alaska..i would like to say I would and could, but I don't think I could do it. I have gotten too comfortable and though I long for a different adventure, I may not be man enought to tackle something like that..I hear all the time, "if I had somebody pay my way I could get a superslam" or "I could kill a grandslam of sheep if I had the money"... maybe so, but there is a reason why there are very few who have, and I don't believe it's all about money. I do believe there a small group of guys on here that could certainly come close if given the funds but not many.
I'm sure there are some questions in there I missed, and there are several on here who hunt more than just whitetail... It is addictive, but... It doesn't have to be expensive, or, there are ways to reduce cost. I have DIY hunted the rockies the past few years...with friends to learn and partly solo this year. Unguided will be cheaper. (all in I do an Elk hunt for about 1000-1500 as a non resident). Lower 48 cheaper than AK or HI and international. Slams like sheep will cost some dough, but I've heard guys do exchanges (hunts or guiding /wrangling), waiting lists, relocate (I know at least 1 guy that moved to AK) or with family members in the state. A friend did the NA deer slam, and though I've never asked him what it cost, he relied on friends and I suspect, was able to do it for a 'reasonable' (this is relative) cost. Gear does have some acquisition costs... Don't eat freeze dried 3x/day. Maybe once a day, but some days at the car /in town/base 'a real meal' is divine... 2 meals a day may be something else (fruit, sammie, bars, jerky, etc). I spread my purchases out over the year, buy stuff on sale, dehydrate some, etc... Getting in shape certainly helps. For my 50th, I took up elk hunting, and made lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), dropped a bunch of weight and now try to stay in better shape year round... Each year, I'm reminded, you can't be over prepared and try just a bit harder each year. What else? Time and family... My kids are grown and were just about empty nesters...also helps with DI. Some other friends make scouting trips a family vacation...duration of hunts...
It seems to me that one needs to be really motivated to just even a DIY elk hunt. That I do what to try at some point.
Yeah - not interested. I'd rather go on a DIY whitetail hunt somewhere than risk my life to kill a sheep on some mountain.
Yeh, and risk your life is exactly what you would be doing.. that place ain't no joke. I love to read the stories of Paul Schafer , Tom Miranda, and Chuck Adams but but I have not the balls noe the desire to go for it.
It comes down to TIME. Time away from work, family, daily responsibilities, etc. Even if money wasn't an issue, you still have to leave your daily life for large blocks of time. A hunt in the backcountry might take you a couple weeks before you are successful, especially with a bow.
I will definitely hunt elk one day. maybe caribou. other than that, nothing really interests me enough to spend money or give time..oh, and buffalo. I may consider that as well.
in a heartbeat. ...For maybe another 5 years, then not so sure the back and knees could do it after that point. The DIY elk hunt I went on in Idaho was oddly both more and less tough than I thought it would be. Tougher because while I was in good enough shape for 6000-8000' hunting, I was not physically prepared for 10,000-11,000+. If you think there wouldn't be a difference you would be very wrong. If you think about it, in the NFL teams and announcers would always freak out about playing at "Mile High" in Denver (roughly 5200'.) This is TWICE that high. Easier because (thank god) there were fire and logging trails most everywhere which allowed us to cover most of the ground via a quad. We got a lot of glassing done and covered a lot of ground in 9 days. Plus the haul out is easier than dragging out a big whitetail when they tip over within 25 yards of the parked quad. Dall/Stone sheep and goats would be the real butt kickers. Desert sheep and alpine elk seem easy compared to those hunts.
I would think just from the reading I have done, the polar bear and muskox are the hardest due to the elements, not so much the animal, as far as the actual hunt, dall sheep and mt goats seem to be the toughest
It all comes down to money for me. I love sheep hunting, it gets into your blood. If I was loaded and able to spend $180,000 per hunt, I would have the super slam already. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Many outdoor activities as hunting, fishing had to be passed on as I never had the time or money at the same time. My jobs never had the extensive vacation days that some guys had. When one of my uncles retired after 30+ years, he had five weeks vacation and could take as much as three weeks at a time. Got to see a lot of the US and Canada!
ok, so lets go from this angle...say you had all the time in the world and all the hunts were paid for? could/would you be able to do it? I don't think i could go to the artic nor could risk my life on a sheep hunt or grizzly, brown bear hunt...I ain't got the balls..
Not for me. I only have a desire to hunt whitetails. Nothing else interests me in the slightest. not sheep, elk, bear, moose, caribou, or wolf. You couldn't pay me enough to go on a hunt in Africa. To each their own I guess.
It helps. Start with the question 'what is stopping me from...?' Plan. Set small goals to tackle each, get incremental wins... It builds momentum. My first year, I had an offer to share camp with others and learn. I figured: * my 240 fat ass needed to get in shape-diet I cut carbs (except vegetables), started eating more paleo/ketoike... Exercise, I started by just walking every day...x steps, then x+, then with some weight... *save x dollars - I squirreled away some bonus $ (others cut expenses, save a bit each week/month, sell stuff or get side jobs ) *logistics - spread out the planning (license prereqs, points, travel, refrigeration of lucky)
Impressive for sure! I'd rather do a rut hunt anywhere in the midwest though over an Elk hunt. I admire your drive and passion for it though brother!!!
