What to bow hunt late December?
General Topic
Contributors to this thread:
November 2020 is my 15 year wedding anniversary. My wife and I love to bow hunt as I got her into hunting when we started dating. Looking to surprise her with an anniversary hunt. We would have to wait until Christmas break as she is a school teacher and has limited time off. Currently she saves her vacation days for two years just so she can join me in the Elk woods for a week.
We just returned from a Colorado hunt for Elk and Bear. Although we logged a ton of miles and got very close, (10 yards from a 400 lb plus black bear) we came home with tags in our pocket.
So my question is. What should we, or could we bow hunt late December next year? Looking for suggestions on state, species, etc. What would you hunt? Was possibly thinking a Texas deer or hog hunt. Maybe other states down south where we might hit the rut. Looking for a fun hunt/nice vacation. Thanks for any thoughts or opinions.
Nick
Go to AZ and hunt javelina.
Az deer or javelina or both. if you get into january you have to buy a new license. javelina would be on a draw tag most likely depending on unit choice.
Peak rut for white tails in some of the Southern states is late December. I’d be looking at a whitetail hunt in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas...
Hawaii spotted deer (wife will love that hunt)
Coues Deer in Sonora Mexico or Arizona. Beautiful weather & plentiful game suitable for a fun anniversary hunt. And there's a great bowsite sponsor available to host you.
Looks like you're from Wisconsin, I imagine you get enough cold that time in warmth is always nice. I know for myself I'd be looking at a warm local Depending on budget and how much you want to hunt out of your trip I'd look at Arizona/New Mexico or Hawaii. Hawaii is more expensive but has a million awesome things to do along with hunting, southern main land would be cheaper and more hunt focused. Or at least that's how I'd plan it. Hawaii could add surfing, fishing, spear fishing, snorkelling, etc etc.
What they said!^^
Go somewhere warm! Hawaii would be the ultimate but its spendy. You can do AZ mule deer/Coues DIY on a budget pretty easy.
Cold weather, late season deer hunt somewhere. Since you'd probably be hunting only evenings over food sources you'd get to stay in bed late in the mornings... Sounds like a win-win to me.
TEXAS - Deer, Hogs, Axis, Javelina, San Antonio River walk at Christmas is awesome.
Walleyes on Lake of the Woods!
South Texas deer and hogs, possibly add javelina at no cost. Free range exotics down there as well in some places. Pretty much what TXCazador said. Some really nice ranches in south Texas to hunt with low fence. I would book now though.
Texas ranch hunt for exotics, etc. There's some dang nice places down there that would definitely be spots to enjoy a trip like that. Nice lodges, all the food and drink you can stand, and some good hunting. Probably not going to be a free range hunt but as long as you have fun and make some memories who cares!
Alabama, whitetails and hogs.
K
I think I might be the only person huntn lope in December? Cheap and target rich. I've come to really look forward to chasing huge herds in the winter
Will....you just blew my mind. PM sent.
Otc mule deer in Arizona. They rut late december thru early January.
Mexico Coues/javelina/mule deer if you have the money. Hawaii- anything, just being there in Dec is nice.
Thanks for all the ideas. There are a bunch of great adventures here and it has had been doing a bunch of web searching. Hawaii sounds great, but may be out because of $$$. It may be a little out of my pay grade. My wife would appreciate somewhere warm though. I have never booked an oufitted hunt and definitely really like the preparation and research of a DIY hunt. Although, for this hunt I may be leaning towards Arizona coues deer or a south Texas hunt.
I appreciate everyone's thoughts and PM's. I will definitely keep everyone posted on what I do and we'll be sure to do a hunt re cap. Thanks again and best of luck this fall.
Nick
I've been on a few Tx exotic, hog hunts & they are a blast. You might find some Whitetail open then also depending on area. Javies are fun too but I'd look into combo hunt. Not everything is High Fence. Go to Texasbowhunter.com Rate the day lease & ask for ranch suggestions. You will get lots of information
In AZ, javelina doesn't open until Jan 1, and the draw application closes Tuesday. There are some urban hunts that are OTC but, I don't know much about them.
Javie/hog/exotic NR lic in Tx is 5 days $45.