If you had to......
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I am officially getting old (turned 30 this year) and got me to thinking its time to start knocking some hunts off the list.... I really have no preference on any species to start on. I have a black bear spot already secured with a buddy, and have shot plenty of whitetails and a alligator.... just trying to figure out what to go after next! I try to "swap" hunts (and it has turned out great so far) to make things affordable or do DIY's... Just a regular guy on a blue collar budget! So if it were up to YOU....what would you do, what would you go after, where would you go after it at?! I'm not opposed to having to wait a few years to get PP to decent spots. Just not sure where i want to go from here! I'm in Kansas btw!
You are young, so hit the mountains.
Go west young man! The rocky mountains is the marrow of the world!
Elk first then AK. Both will occupy the rest of your life
Cow elk hunts are cheap easy to get tags. and very challenging. Many cows are much older and wiser. You can learn a trophy unit while hunting it for cows every year.
I guess i should add, it would be fun to have someone to experience this with, dont get me wrong, being alone is peaceful, but i get enough of that time in deer season.... All my buddys wont leave our damn zip code and want to always stay close to the house and just deer or turkey hunt.... i want to explore!
You are young. Move to Alaska. Now!
Alaska is the last true great adventure!!!
Colorado elk hands down.
I started going in my late 20s and I'm 54 now. I've hunted 7 western states for various species but Colorado elk is a great place to start the journey.
Hunt Alaska annually while building points for desired species in the west.
I agree you are young start doing good Mountain hunts. Elk, Mule Deer. Those are a few I did when I started exploring. Did some great Mountain hunts in my 30s.
30? I’d pay $25,000 to be 30 again and I’m only 33
1) elk 2) mule deer 3) Alaska
Depends on your finances. If you have plenty money, Alaska moose, sheep, goat, and brown/grizzly bear.
Definetly get after some elk! I'm still bummed that my elk bow season is over. Elk depression it's real!
Sounds like money isn't in the "extra category" and let's face it who has that, so I would try and stay away from super expensive hunts, because you will get addicted to whatever you start doing and that I can guarantee. Start off with something that when you price it, it is something you can repeat on your own without others help. DIY elk, mule deer etc. That's just my opinion, because I can tell you, as a guy with a certain amount of unquenchable wanderlust you WILL be wanting to do things every year. A hunt doesn't have to be expensive to be awesome. For starters just getting into the mountains will be a super awesome experience.
Best advice I got here similar to your situation is to start buying preference points. Accumulate them so you can do a trophy hunt someday when the timing and affordability is there.
For ease, do an antelope first on the cheap.
First, you ain't even sniffing "old" yet. If I had it to do over, I would knock off a couple Wyoming pronghorn hunts while accumulating points for elk. Then I would knock off some OTC elk hunts while accumulating more points for elk in CO or WY, or both. Do it while you're young or you'll be like me, reading about other hunters hunts. I didn't have the money either, or so I thought, but actually mine was more about time than money. Find the time, save the money, and go do it !
Move west. You're closer, get resident status and can also go back and hunt WT.
Best thing I ever did - I can hunt Co/WY/Neb/KS with hours of home.
Start gaining points but living in KS you should be hunting CO otc every year. Save up the cost the tag and gas money and you are good to go. You don't need fancy gear. Just basic hunting clothes and a simple tent, pad, sleeping bag, stove, and cooler.
As for Alaska it's expensive but VISA and I have gone a few times with no regrets. Kodiak blacktails is on the lower end of cost and is a blast.
I sent you a private message but lots of good advice above, just be warned, once you start you will become addicted!
drycreek is spot on! I would also add, hunt Iowa as often as you can if you love whitetail hunting.
all you need is money and time.
Stay single and you can go where you want, when you want, with whom you want, for as long as you want! Get married and kiss it all goodbye;) Nothing left to do but dig a hole, crawl in, and pull the dirt in over ya..
I wish I started elk hunting when I was 30.
I wish I had read, what South Farm wrote....35 years ago. My choice would be elk, mule deer and moose.
I'm 56 and live in Colorado, got here when I was 42. The only thing I really want to do is get a few caribou. I want to do more hunting whitetails in farm country of the midwest because they are so tasty.
If I were 30 that's what I would be doing. Don't wait till your 50 you will regret it.
I like Nick's response best. AK is magical when you are young, dumb and full of... I'm 41 but still am (in my own mind anyway)!
I see that you are on a budget, but with diligent savings you can likely still make it happen you are truly serious about this. Start with mountain goat. There are few wild animals more physically challenging to pursue. You will want to do this while you are a young stud. Sheep are next and are similarly physically challenging, but carry a bigger price tag too.
Yes, elk can be tough too, but I know plenty of very successful older gentlemen who are fine elk hunters. They know how to call and when not to, where to be and when, often hunt water and make good decisions. Elk can be hunted smart, not always hard, generally speaking. You can't say that about sheep and goats. Yes, absolutely hunt elk as there is nothing more fun, but don't feel like you MUST do that while young or your window will close.
Odds are, with rare exception, sheep and goats will be out of the question entirely once into your 60's and 70's. Do it now if you can!
Good advice would be to start taking flying lessons, apply to UPS, move to Alaska. Its a good model to follow. Oh yeah, and stay single as mentioned above.
Getting into the points game in many states is expensive in itself. I would save and go on western hunts if possible. Start with mountain game while still young
Since being single has been brought up I am 31 years old with a wife and 4 year old daughter.
Like you I have a wanderlust and have been able to make a ton of DIY hunts work. Extremely lucky to make whitetail, mule deer, elk, moose, caribou, black bear and many other hunts work at less than $700 out of my pocket. But that’s a completely different topic. I consider myself to be an absolute hunting fool and feel like there’s no way anyone could love it as much as I do. It’s on my mind every single day.
I would trade all my hunts and all my future hunts and never hunt again for my wife and daughter in a heartbeat and never even think twice.
^^^ agree.... im not married ( might as well be) and have a 5 year old.... i want to be able to take him one day, and actually know where to go and what i am doing! Rather than have to figure it out when he's old enough to go!
I'd buy some preference points in WY, you have until Oct 31st. Antelope would be the easiest, and with one point you can probably find a unit to hunt next year and bring your 5 year old. Antelope hunts are a great way to introduce kids to hunting for a variety of reasons, decent weather, plentiful game, can stay in hotel/cabin if desired.
Try to do those hunts that are very physical and will be hard to do when you get older. Build up preference points for those tags that are hard to get.
Only you can decide what kind of hunts you want to do. But if you plan properly, you'll be able to do any hunt you want to, in the future. For now, Elk, Bear, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Coues Deer, and Blacktail Deer can all be hunted on the cheap. When I was 30 I started elk hunting each year in Colorado. That was a low-cost hunt that I could afford to do at the time. Now 20-something years later I can do a couple or three good travel hunts a year. A result of working smart over the years and taking a few risks. There is no reason you cannot do the same. Moving to Alaska or BC are great options too, but certainly are not an option for everyone. Family has to be the priority. By the way, if you maintain your fitness, you should be able to climb the same mountains in your 60's and 70's that you could at 25. Just ask Paul@TheFort & NvaGvUp.
Since you already have a connection for a bear hunt, I'd do an antelope hunt. Those seem to be the two hunts that normally get whitetail hunters exposed to hunting other species (like me) and are affordable. From there, you can work your way up. As the others have said, start building PP for the game and areas you're interested in now while doing these other hunts to get your feet wet. If a mountain hunt is on your list, definitely try to do it sooner than later!
How much money per year are you willing to spend on hunting for the next 2-3 years? Post that and we can give you good advice.
To get started, you live in Kansas. So, you are close to a great place to elk hunt. I just drove 3800 miles and hunted for 10 days. It cost me a few Bucks short of $1600. That was including two nights in a hotel on the way home, a supper at Chili's outside Denver, and a supper in Columbia Missouri the second night in the hotel. That also included license, gas, and such. I canned most of my suppers and brought all my water with me. I took all the food I needed. I live in WV and hunted in western CO. From eastern Kansas, I could have done the trip for less then $1000. Western Kansas, less then $800. So, cost shouldn't be a huge issue if you go it alone. Much less with a friend or two.
Colorado is all I know. I have bought points in Montana and Wyoming the last two years to hunt with some buddies there in a couple years. But, Colorado is cheap and, while I didn't kill one this trip, I had a ball and was into elk most days. It is a good hunt. So, I'd advise you to do that and buy points in other states. Elk are addicting. So, you are going to keep doing it.
While I was busy elk and mule deer hunting the Rockies, I'd be planning future hunts in Alaska if your disposable income doesn't allow you to take on Alaska first. Good luck. At 30 the world belongs to you. Keep yourself out of as much debt as you can and, enjoy your income living those dreams.
Good advice Justin and Adam!
Bang for buck here: Pronghorn. Inexpensive, yes, but they teach you a ton about hunting in the west. And fun. The downside to hunting pronghorn is that you'll never find anything more fun, and so you'll never need all those moose points you buy.
You lost me at 30...
I’m 54 and I’m still a freakin’ kid.
Cwater, I’m 25 in Olathe. From my home address, otc mule deer in KS can be found in a 4.5hr drive, otc mule deer in Nebraska is and KS pronghorn (haven’t hunted yet), is about 6.5hrs. I’ve been to NE twice this year and western Kansas solely once. There’s great hunting to be had if you’re willing to sacrifice some sleep and have even a weekend. Feel free to reach me. Always willing to meet new people and hunt...that’s why i’m On bowsite more than Facebook.
Other thing So many people overlook is go get your guides license. So many doors open to get paid to adventure. You can travel the world guiding and doing amazing things. Don’t count it out knowing you have a family. I’ve used vacation time to do some amazing things. Sometimes deals can be struck to hunt after a guiding stint etc.
cwater,
Do the most physically demanding hunts as soon as you can afford them. Father time is not on your side- don't let him fool you.
On animals that will demand a lot of PP's. Start working on accumulating points so when the time is right you will be able to capitalize both physically and financially.
Develop you a financial plan to achieve your hunting goals and be disciplined to the plan.
In the interim, enjoy the hunts you can afford and at the same time stick to your larger goals.
These are words from a 70+ yr. old bowhunter.
Joe, i sent you a PM.... and some really good advice here, hopefully other people in my shoe get to read this thread! I have a connection to pronghorn in Wyoming, so i need to get to buying those PP for that. And just make a decision on what i want to go after and stick to it! Not sure if i stated above but im a financial freak, and hope to have my house paid off in the next 5 years, and free up a lot of funds to go on some great hunting trips!
One thing I have had a lot fun with the last few years is training my own dog (lab) and bird hunting. I would think in KS you would have opportunity for some good pheasant and quail hunting. It something to hunt in December and January after big game slows down and very rewarding to hunt with your own dog.
I was born & raised in Alaska, hunted there 20+ years, family still there, and return to hunt on a regular basis.
Although AK has a romantic ring to it, I would NOT recommend making it your first adventure. WAY, WAY, WAY too many logistics and things to take into account for a first. Things that end up being merely uncomfortable and a hassle on nearly any other western hunt may end up getting you killed in AK. If you have the wrong gear for the weather in CO you grudgingly slog back to the truck and head for town. If that happens in AK you pray your bush pilot makes it back before you freeze to death.
Plus purchasing the quality gear you'll need in AK will be $$$$$ and a daunting undertaking.
Take a smaller step and try CO elk or WY antelope, or mule deer in various states. Don't overlook cow elk hunts. It's a lot easier to learn (and likely fail - if one defines failure by an unfilled tag) with a cow elk tag than a once-in-a-lifetime bull tag.
I second JohnMC, I personally love hunting late season pheasants almost as much as bowhunting (which I also do a lot of); especially if it's your own dog. A cattail slough in late December behind my golden when his tail starts getting birdie is heaven to me.