What are your dream hunts?
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: Jasper
01-Jan-24
I’ve gone on a few pretty cool and adventurous hunts. Being retired I have some still on the bucket list but am a little unsure what to book next. I know this is personal and subjective but would like to hear what hunts others have booked or are researching for as I might get some new ideas. Thanks and God bless!
From: Medicinemann
01-Jan-24
It's not on my list, as I have already gone....but a fair chase red stag hunt in New Zealand sure was a fun hunt.
From: Bowaddict
01-Jan-24
Besides Canadian species, I have never been motivated to hunt species outside the U.S. I would make an exception for New Zealand red stag though. That looks fun, and would be one on my bucket list!
From: Scoot
01-Jan-24
Really just different elk hunts. To me, that's a good as it gets! Tons of species/places I haven't hunted and I mostly don't care-- it's elk I dream about!
From: LBshooter
01-Jan-24
Moose, and Cape buffalo would be two hunts if eBay under my belt.
From: Rackmastr
02-Jan-24
I'd like to do Canmore bowzone one more time. I have a lot of 'dream hunts' at my fingertips in BC and Alberta with friends. That being said, probably a trip to Spain for vacation and hunting would be the 'dream' rip for me.
From: Coondog
02-Jan-24
Every hunt I aspire to do is with the bow, no matter what. Number one on the list is spot and stalk coastal brown bear. I think that would be awesome. I hope to be lucky enough to draw a sheep or mountain goat tag at some point in the future as well.
From: TEmbry
02-Jan-24
My more immediate goals include an interior grizzly, a bigger bull moose, a musk ox, and finishing the deer slam with coues/columbian blacktails. Beyond those that I for sure will accomplish at some point, bucket list is bison.
Beyond that I haven’t really even considered to be honest. Likely more repeats of already accomplished species/goals, and maybe a few international hunts (Australian water buffalo, Spain for ibex, and New Zealand for tagr/chamois). It’s cool to dream but I try to focus on short term goals for now with ever evolving 3 year plans and don’t look way down the road much yet.
From: fuzzy
02-Jan-24
Wild Boar in Hungary as of a couple days ago. ;)
From: Scott/IL
02-Jan-24
Moose and Caribou are probably my realistic dreams as of now. I’ve unsuccessfully hunted each once. I guess I can throw a return to Kodiak for Sitka’s onto this list too as my shooting ability has failed me in my 2 trips there recently. For the short term this year is likely mule deer and then maybe lopes out west, while also chasing some whitetails at home. I’d love to sprinkle in a Columbian Blacktail hunt in late November, but might have to push it another year or 2.
For a bucket list type hunt, it would have to be any type of sheep tag and a mountain goat. I’ll continue throwing my name in the hat when I can, but it’s more of a wish than a goal anymore.
From: midwest
02-Jan-24
A big velvet muley.
From: pav
02-Jan-24
A bighorn ram has always been tops on my NA29 wish list. If I had to pick species outside the NA29, red stag and cape buffalo would be tops on the list.
From: KsRancher
02-Jan-24
Fly in type alaska moose hunt
From: Pete In Fairbanks
02-Jan-24
Reading these wish lists makes me feel really lucky to have already done most of them! I'm happy and blessed to have been able to have done what I have done!
Pete
From: molsonarcher
02-Jan-24
I have too many to list. Ox/caribou, Kodiak goat/sitka would be the top on the list right now. I hope to achieve 10 species eventually, and currently sit at 4. I have a hard time not repeating the bear, antelope, and coues trips since they are so much fun and when your buddies are in camp it just makes for a great time.
From: Vaquero 45
02-Jan-24
Really some great responses already on this thread . However imo poster #2 Medicinemann on this thread hit on a key word . Being " fair chase" . I'am not perfect then again but who is . However I see lots of big game harvested , in threads all across the net even "worldwide " , and rarely does the question come up . " Was it fair chase or were they in an enclosed area " . Also is that animal a native spiecies of that region ? Just me I don't hunt fenced areas I don't care how large the area fenced in is and most definenatly don't hunt non native species from another region brought in . I don't care if the hunt was free ! ................ Don't shoot fish in a barrel either . Anyhow been enjoying the responses on this fresh thread . Most of the responses have been fantastic ..................................
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
02-Jan-24
been on a number of really fun adventures over the years but nothing beats hunting whitetails on my own place with family and friends...thats what i look most forward to.
From: RonP
02-Jan-24
caribou was at or near the top of my list for a long time and i regret not hunting them when i could have.
i have near max PP's for deer and antelope in wyoming and a lot of PP's for the same in Oregon. i would not refer to it as a dream hunt but i do hope to use the PP's in the next 3-5 years and have successful hunts.
From: buckeye
02-Jan-24
Whitetails is all I've ever hunted, I'd like to get my hands on an elk and a black bear one day.
From: Zebrakiller
02-Jan-24
I have been lucky to fill many of mine , Spain would be awesome. Look into Mauritius with Lionel passion guide it is 1 awesome adventure
From: Zebrakiller
02-Jan-24
I have no idea who that pic is or where it came from on my above post, try again
From: fuzzy
02-Jan-24
Vaquero, if this your question, red deer are not native to New Zealand.
From: fuzzy
02-Jan-24
Also since we are discussing personal hunting standards, I'll hunt anything edible, by any means legal, at any time and place that doesn't involve swimming, running or climbing (I'm too old to do the last two, never was good at the first one)
From: goyt
02-Jan-24
I am with Ricky The Cable Guy on this one. I have shot a couple of sheep, a couple of moose, mule deer, elk, antelope, caribou and mtn goat with my bow. I sort of got that stuff out of my system although I probably will do a few more as I burn points. What I look forward to most is hunting whitetails on my own land where I have developed a great appreciation for what it takes to kill a mature buck.
From: drycreek
02-Jan-24
When I was younger I wanted to hunt moose, caribou, and bear with a bow. Life got in the way but I was able to take a mulie in MT, several pronghorn in WY, a cow elk in NM and unsuccessfully hunted in IA, KS, and CO. I have hunted whitetail every year of my life for the last 60 years. I should have gone to Africa as soon as I was able to afford it and was still young enough to go. That’s really my only regret.
From: PECO2
02-Jan-24
Caribou combined with fishing. A boat hunt up a river for bear, in Alaska, like the one Fred Bear did, would be fun also.
From: Bake
02-Jan-24
Short term, I need a new whitetail spot or two. Hopefully draw at least one elk tag in 2024. Be cool to draw something else in 2024, but who knows.
From: njbuck
02-Jan-24
Too many to list and I seem to change which one I want to do next. Right now, a stone sheep would probably be at the top of the list but unfortunately with the cost I it's only dream.
From: bghunter
02-Jan-24
If not counting places we have already been and only new locations/ species. Bison then Elk.
From: 12yards
02-Jan-24
Shiras Moose, but I don't think it will ever happen. Mule deer, Pronghorn and a bunch of Whitetail hunting are realistically what I will do in my remaining hunting years.
From: Ace
02-Jan-24
Good Thread! I've been lucky enough to have gone on a few really cool hunts besides what I can hunt do here at home. I guess my dream hunt is probably Caribou, and if that opportunity comes up again, I'd jump on it. Most of my focus lately is on the quality of the experience, and the people I'm doing it with. I did a bowhunt in South Africa last summer, (a buddy bought a package at a RMEF auction). I figured one and done, NOPE we are going back this year. The fences there bothered me not at all (the places are huge), without them, there wouldn't be much of anything to see. Different game management model for sure, but when you understand the big picture, it makes sense, at least to me.
Vaq, I find your "no non-native game" standards interesting. So no pigs (or Iguanas) there in FL? And what about Fishing, I sure do enjoy fishing for our non native trout and bass up here in New England. Our Coyotes are non-native too, they came here on their own, but they sure are fun to hunt.
For some reason, Non Native game that has become established holds a certain fascination for me, Sika Deer in MD, Oryx in NM, Pigs just about everywhere, it's something exotic in a place where you wouldn't expect them. Heck even Deer, Turkeys and Elk were eliminated and restocked in many places.
I have found that if I keep an open mind, many things that at first blush don't seem interesting, are in fact much more that they appear. Hound Hunts, or Baited Hunts for example, not everyone's cup of tea, but usually far from what the detractors think they are. YMMV
From: Vaquero 45
02-Jan-24
Ace your correct , fair enough.
From: Vaquero 45
02-Jan-24
From: ahunter55
02-Jan-24
I've been blessed to bowhunt biggame since 1956. Never gun hunted biggame but did shoot a Water Buffalo on my last day, last afternoon with my guides rifle as we never got within bow range. I've pretty much did all I've wanted with a bow.. Good luck to those that still have a bucket list.
From: midwest
02-Jan-24
I just want whatever hunt Bake draws or wins.
From: Groundhunter
02-Jan-24
I would like to hunt fallow deer. Tried twice, never got close to a good one, 76 yards, I passed...
From: nchunter
02-Jan-24
My dream hunts always involve my families dove hunts at the first of September. Next year my grandkids will be with us which will make it even better then before.
From: KY EyeBow
02-Jan-24
Should be able to draw an AZ elk tag here soon, then a Northern BC or AK moose hunt. Lots of others that I would like to do but these are the 2 that I "have to" do!
From: Shug
02-Jan-24
I’ve been trying to do my dream hunt for the last 2 years but it was cancelled both times… Hopefully this September it comes to fruition..
From: Shug
02-Jan-24
I’ve been trying to do my dream hunt for the last 2 years but it was cancelled both times… Hopefully this September it comes to fruition..
From: Potro
02-Jan-24
Nilgai bow hunt
From: HDE
02-Jan-24
At least one more elk tag in NM. Cow elk would be fine.
Not with archery tackle.
From: Catscratch
02-Jan-24
Russian brown bear combo with the 3 subspecies of bighorn sheep.
Or simply more hunts on my own property and home.
From: Willieboat
02-Jan-24
A whitetail deer
From: t-roy
02-Jan-24
I’ve got one scheduled for this fall (Mtn goat) and Australian water buffalo in ‘25. I’d love to do another Ak/Yukon moose hunt in the near future. That wild boar hunt in Hungary is pretty intriguing, too.
EDIT:…a big mulie during the rut is very high on the list, too.
From: M.Pauls
02-Jan-24
For me probably a dream would be anything AK/YT. It’s tempting to just list all the sheep species because I know I’ll likely never afford them and it does seem like a real fun and challenging hunt, but I think I’d have just as much fun chasing multiple other things in the mountains, especially things with big horns ;) A moose bigger than what’s available in MB would be epic, so Alaska/Yukon moose it would have to be. Honestly, spot and stalk for giant mulies right now seems like the funnest thing on the planet. Might have to plan that for the near future
From: WhattheFOC
02-Jan-24
We have it pretty good here at home. OTC for whitetails, mule deer, elk and moose. I can hunt all of them right from the house …
How about T-Rex during the rut?
From: Brian M.
02-Jan-24
Any of the hunts on Zach's thread would do, plus elk.
From: Husker
02-Jan-24
Columbia blacktail, Sitka, Mule, Axis deer. Moose, Caribou, Nilgia, & Auodad.
From: oldguy
02-Jan-24
Just being able to hunt will be the dream hunt in the not so distant future here in Canada. As our rights to own guns and as the hunting opportunities slowly diminish, I am pessimistic about the direction we are headed here in Canada. But I still love to dream ,so my dream hunt would be Alaska/Yukon moose. I also agree with Matt Pauls, anything up there would beyond amazing.
From: maxracx
02-Jan-24
Alaskan/Yukon moose hunt is far and away the highest on my bucket list. Wife has given me the green light, now I just need to find a way to make it happen while I am young enough to do it.
From: PushCoArcher
02-Jan-24
If we're talking dreams then a desert bighorn would probably be number one. Followed by a free range bison. Realistically I'd love to shoot one really good elk and muley, go on a moose hunt preferably Alaska, and draw a NM deer tag again so I can have a rematch with those coues deer.
From: Bou'bound
02-Jan-24
Hunting anything with my son is a dream. Hunting anything without him would fall short.
From: fuzzy
02-Jan-24
Bou I'm with you. Hunting with Nick again would be amazing.
From: carcus
02-Jan-24
Plan to do caribou this year for the first time, its a dream hunt for me
From: ILbowhntr
02-Jan-24
Alaskan moose, Canadian moose, brown bear.
From: Stoneman
02-Jan-24
I would really like to hunt caribou. Just need the stars to align. Until then - elk, md, and ph will suffice unless I get lucky in a draw.
From: fuzzy
02-Jan-24
What's '"ph"???
From: HDE
02-Jan-24
fuzzy - "ph" is pronghorn.
From: fuzzy
02-Jan-24
Thanks HDE
From: Deercy
02-Jan-24
My dream hunt is elk. Anywhere anytime. The dream involves having plenty of time. That applies to deer and antelope, too.
From: JTreeman
02-Jan-24
I have been fortunate to do many of the hunts on the list so far. On my current short list (of non-repeat species) is a big bear (brown or griz) and a Bison. Neither currently booked, but hopefully in the next 2-4 years for both. I’d like a big AK/YK moose for sure too. And I have a growing list of international stuff, but those probably aren’t as big a “dream” as the big NA stuff.
I’m pretty different than some guys on this list, I honestly could care less about hunting Whitetails anymore. Different strokes…
—jim
From: MathewsMan
02-Jan-24
An archery Columbia Blacktail deer is atop my hopes. I am going to try to get a grizzly bear and Dall sheep while my son’s stationed in Fairbanks, a moose, Caribou and opportunity for a wolf would be nice.
I am still very interested in a Maryland Sitka bowhunt which is pretty affordable and would be an easy trip.
From: Thornton
02-Jan-24
It was Kodiak and I went on it a few months ago. Nothing like the hunting shows. Trash on the beaches, commercialism like I've never experienced, locals are all alcoholics, and hardly any deer. Out of a week and a half, only had 2 beautiful sunny days. Swells were so big between the islands, our 24 foot boat could have easily sank IMO. Talked to several other guys that paid who knows how much for bear and deer hunts, probably $30k or more, and didn't see a bear or deer big enough to shoot. Every single local we talked to on the mainland had failed to find a moose to shoot. Can't wait to plan my next lower 48 hunt...
From: bghunter
02-Jan-24
Glad Jim said that about whitetails. I have only shot 4 in my life, two bucks and two does. Due to my job the last 15 years before I retired didn't hunt whitetails and honestly haven't missed it.
Don't get me wrong, if my eyes get better and I can start hunting Locally again, maybe I will hunt whitetails again.
From: HUNT MAN
02-Jan-24
Brown bear is my number one. Spot and stalk would be my choice .
A big Mule deer and Whitetail is what I am after right now.
Good Elk hunting with good friends would be fine for me !!!
With Ridge growing up Most of my hunts will involve him and we will get back to the basics. Excited about that the most. Hunt
From: Jasper
03-Jan-24
Great stuff guys and sparked an idea for me! Thanks!
From: APauls
05-Jan-24
A great caribou hunt and a big Yukon moose and big mulies are my dreams for sure.
From: Smtn10PT
05-Jan-24
Brown bear
From: BoggsBowhunts
05-Jan-24
Alabama Turkey guided by TBM of course! I’d have a hard time not saying Montana Sheep. That being said, if I win the lottery my first call would be to a Stone Sheep outfitter
From: fuzzy
05-Jan-24
Thornton that's so odd. My Kodiak experience was the exact opposite.
From: t-roy
05-Jan-24
You probably didn’t do enough research, fuzzy….
From: WhattheFOC
05-Jan-24
Fuzzy, when you were on Kodiak, did you run in to Bearman?
From: Medicinemann
05-Jan-24
I agree with Midwest......just mimic whatever Bake does. What a 2022-2023 lucky streak!!
From: rock50
05-Jan-24
I think this pic of Christian is my all time favorite hunting pic
I think this pic of Christian is my all time favorite hunting pic
In 1864 my great grandfather emigrated from Switzerland. Over the course of my career I spent a lot of time at the company's facilities in Europe. I was able to contact distant family members that live in the Kander Valley south of Bern where he was born. I made numerous trips there and got well acquainted with them. Several of those families are dairy farmers who live in the Alps all summer, milking cows and making cheese (yes, the cows wear the big bells when they walk between the valley and the upper station)
Some of them are avid hunters, pursuing chamois, ibex, red stag, fox, and marmot.
My dream hunt would be to hunt chamois with Christian and his sister Marlen.
From: MathewsMan
05-Jan-24
Thornton, you definitely hit a year with bad deer numbers, I’ve only gone 2 times on drop off hunts and location varied. The first hunt I only wanted an archery deer but the mountain goats were gigantic and I had 2 tags and looking back I wish I had not been so focused in on my goal. We did not have a raft and the sea ducks were incredible but no way to recover them. I arrowed one big buck and couldn’t find it and the bears ate it and charged us!
Second trip was a fresh water lake with almost no ducks although we brought decoys and a raft, and we each killed 2 nice deer. We flew out early.
Overall I would say that the adventure and the hunting was cumulatively at the top of my hunting experiences.
From: caribou77
05-Jan-24
Nunavut Caribou. Greenland muskox. Any place that allows me a barren ground caribou. Custer non trophy bison….
And a big fat mountain lion in the snow, with hounds in the mountains (and hopefully a heart that keeps up with all of that!)
Oh a suppose a dall sheep would be pretty sweet to but damn that list is pretty crazy already.
From: Beav
05-Jan-24
Brown Bear and moose would be my two tops.
From: Shiloh
06-Jan-24
Moose, mule deer, mountain goat.
From: Zim
12-Jan-24
I feel fortunate to have drawn & completed most of my dream hunts before I got heart failure & two torn Achilles. At age 64 not sure there’s any remaining. I guess any sheep tag, but with my limitations there’s not many units I can physically handle. Maybe some desert bighorn grampa units lol. Was lucky to have began applying pre-internet/paper applications when draw odds were actually realistic. They have gone to hell for today’s youth.
From: Scoot
12-Jan-24
Thinking more about this one... my real "dream hunt" would be to get one more chance to spend a day chasing whitetails with my dad, brother, and son.
From: Nick Muche
12-Jan-24
“That being said, if I win the lottery my first call would be to a Stone Sheep outfitter”
You mean you’d support a market hunter?
From: Hancock West
12-Jan-24
Alaskan Moose & Grizzly.. Water buffalo & Sheep after that.
From: bowhunt
13-Jan-24
I’ve hunted all over for lots of different animals.
Elk hunting in the mountains is by far the most rewarding/challenging to me.
There’s just something about elk hunting in September that I really love.
Trying to find a bull, and then figuring out what will draw him in for a shot is the pinnacle of bow hunting for me.
