How many species
Wild Sheep
With all the talk about prices on hunts constantly going up and bowsiters getting old....
The guys that are actively pursuing the North American 29, how many species are you currently at? And do you have a plan in place to be able to hunt all 29 or are you adding each hunt for each new species as they come along?
If you don't have 29 as a goal, is there a certain number species that you have on your bucket list?
Ten here! I stopped pursuing this goal because I really like hunting a few animals like black bear and deer so much that I just don't care about it any more. Go hunt. Gary
I want to hunt as many species and landscapes as possible. But my goal was an unofficial "super ten", unguided. Unofficial because I won't pay to the name "owner" to register it.
And I say "was" because after twenty-some years of not being drawn for bison, I bought a muskox.
Growing up I was enamored with Chuck Adams and an archery Super Slam, and it was always in the back of my mind. About seven years ago, I realized I could start going on these trips that I dreamed about (to that point my big game hunting was limited to a few days of whitetail hunting a year). It started mostly with just expanding to hunting out west with species like elk and mule deer and since then it has expanded to more "exotic" hunts like moose, mountain goat, and caribou.
While the archery NA29 is still "there" in my mind, it has become less of a "priority" so to speak. Financially it is something I could do, but it's harder to break away for too many trips a year. When you're going on one or two trips for new species a year and your hunting is kind of limited to that, it's very difficult to make much progress towards crossing animals off the list. Archery hunting makes it more challenging - you need a lot to go right to be successful and just a little to go wrong to not be! I joked at Sheep Show that I'd be well on my way if there was a Participation Slam that tracked how many animals you've pursued but not brought home! haha
All that said, I've adjusted my goals somewhat. I'd like to do a Super 10 with my bow and a Super 10 with my rifle (for those that are unaware, that's any elk, any deer, any moose, any caribou, any bear, any sheep, mountain lion, pronghorn, mountain goat, and either a bison or a musk-ox). For the 10 species with multiple subspecies, I would try to target separate subspecies with a gun and bow (for example, a whitetail with a bow and a mule deer with a gun). Given the limited vacation time I have to hunt, I think this will up the success rate and I can focus bowhunting on species that lend themselves more to it and are easier since I'm typically only bowhunting for a week or two at most a year (for example, mountain lion, musk-ox, pronghorn, etc are all animals that I would put in the easier to kill with a bow camp). It will also take some of the pressure off of the more expensive/harder to kill animals from an archery perspective (sheep, moose, etc).
I'm 38 and if I devote myself to hunting like this over the next 20 years or so until I retire, I think that I could be in a pretty good position to finish up a NA29 one day if I choose to do so, and maybe even cycle back through and try and finish off an archery NA29. Even doing a Super 10 with a bow will have you hunting a set of animals that most people only dream of.
And for the record, I'm sitting at 3/10 (elk, deer, caribou) with a rifle and 3/10 with a bow (deer, caribou, bear). I know there are people that are MUCH further along than me, so take my opinion for what it's worth. But as someone who used to dream about it a little more than I do now, I figured I'd provide a little perspective.
25 NA species with the bow for me. 19 without guides (but many with friends that have helped a whole bunch!).
The plan is always evolving. May or may not get all 29 but sure enjoyed the journey over the past 46 seasons.
Good luck to all, whatever you set for goals......already exceeded mine due to living in some great spots for hunting a variety of big game.....CO and BC.
27 for me. 11 with bow, 14 with rifle and 2 w/muzzleloader. Stone Sheep and Sitka Blacktail remain and yes, I'm hunting them both this year. To the guys that accomplish this feat/goal with 100% archery equipment, my hat is off to you. The NA29 with a bow is an amazing achievement.
I want a sheep and a moose. Another caribou too, maybe woodland this time. At least a try for them. Of course elk again, goat maybe, speed goat, maybe.
9 species for me and, would love to draw a Desert sheep and moose tag here in Colorado and maybe a Black Tail deer in Oregon. all 29, not in my "wallet".
Luckily for me I am in a position where I will be able to hunt the majority of the NA29, should I choose to. At this point in time I would like to chase as many of them as possible, I am 36 years old and am self employed so I could afford most of the hunts that are needed. Priorities can change and with a 3 year old son and running my own business, who knows what will happen down the road. Hunting and fishing to me is who I am so I will always want to be out there going after something and I love to go and see new things so going after different species interests me. I am also very goal orientated and love to plan so we will see where I end up.
For as long as I can remember the only hunting goal I've had was to kill all four North American sheep. In the 90's I was loving elk hunting but gave it up so I could afford my sheep hunts. I just have a desert sheep left .... and 16points for them in Nevada, California, and Utah. I guesss it won't hurt my feelings if I have to substitute a billy goat for that last sheep. I always loved high places and the animals that put me there.
26 with Canada moose, shiras moose, and brown bear left. Have 2 of em booked. One paid for the other I will struggle to pay off. ughhh
Tom Hoffman was the first to get all NA species with bow and have them ALL officially entered into the P&Y Club. That is an incredible feat.
The NA 29 would be great, but I will not spend the kind of money needed to pursue it. I enjoy hunting too much to limit myself to potentially only 1 hunt per year to save up enough for some of the pricier hunts. I started buying points 3 years ago, so many of the draw tags will never be achievable for me. I’m 38. I have 4 animals of the 29, and hope to add another next year. Currently I have the goal of taking all 5 deer species with a bow, and have 2, so finishing that is number 1 for me. The rest will be whatever tags I can draw, or whatever cool hunt I can afford. To those who have done th NA 29 with archery, my respect is great. To those who all animals qualified for P&Y, an amazing feat.
I have 21 with a Recurve and have hunted 24 of them (should have 23 of them). Will not get them all but would love to, just not willing to spend the money that some of them require. Will most likely end up getting 4 or 5 more before I am done, have the super 10 twice but as Ambush stated I will not pay to register it.
I'm at 13 for archery. I could see going on a Fannin Sheep hunt if I were to draw a Desert Sheep tag to finish the sheep. I don't ever see doing all the elk, or caribou, or the 4 bears even if I could financially afford the hunts. My dad is short a Moose to also complete the Super Ten- he's been on 5 Moose hunts and not harvested a moose yet- I'd love to go on a moose hunt in New Foundland or eastern Canada with him together to see him complete that, as well to take one of those moose- I'll never take all the Caribou, Elk, or Bears. But if I ever take a Muskox, 2 more species of Deer I will have all the categories except these.
24 and counting, have a plan for the final 5. Two years out if it all goes well, but man I thought I should have started earlier, fire kicking at the Sheep Show makes me glad there is light at the end of the tunnel!
I have a species goal, some attainable, some not. But I do not aspire to the NA 29.
My goals are a combination of places to hunt and "impressiveness" of species. I will hunt animals that are not on my "list", because I want pretty much everything :). But I do have a loose list in mind that runs the gamut between North America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. And isn't necessarily a bow-only list either.
I have shot a lot of critters with a lot of different weapons. I have some antlers I have never been within 10 feet of a tape measure. Prefer a screwy set of horns that is average width or length than a typical set above average. I never liked the idea of having to focus on only the round pegs someone else selected or just the ones they selected. I like to turkey hunt so why is that not on a comprehensive list? Gobblers are fun to hunt in the spring. Waterfowl? Small game? Hooves seems an odd limiting parameter to arrange your hunting goals for the next 10 - 50 years. Just my opinion. Bad boy, rebel, oh well. I do note when is the first hunt and then first harvest of a species and keep a planning recap of each hunt as well as a day by day recap during the hunt and "lessons learned" which are interesting to go read years later. The things I want to tell my 20 year old me.
I have 10, all with bow. 2 elk, 3 deer, 2 moose, pronghorn, bison, Desert sheep. The sheep, bison, and shiras moose were ewe/cow. The odds of drawing a ram/bull tag is very low, and especially for the sheep, not paying $50,000+ to go to Mexico.
Hope to have a Tule management bull this year, and the other 2 deer (Coues and Columbian) this year or next. I'm 33 and have tried to do a specie or two a season since 2009. Having 4 year old twins makes that challenging to keep up with too.
Hope to do all 29, but may need some luck in some of the conservation raffles to have a chance at all of them.
Currently going to try to get all animals in lower 48 after I get the elk and deer..... more than likely Rocky Bighorn sheep will be a ewe as well, but plan to hunt during the rut to see some good rams. Also Mt goat might be nanny, just depends on how the draws go.....
I've never had much interest in getting all of the NA species nor in getting all of some other group of species, some of which are concocted simply so a particular organization can give out awards for them.
I have fourteen different species, I think, but the only specific category I've ever cared at all about was sheep. I completed my 'FNAWS' in 2015 when I took a California BHS in BC, (which is genetically a Rocky), then added a WY Rocky in 2016.
I had grand plans but after coming home empty handed from a recurve bighorn sheep hunt 10 years ago I realized I have NO chance of realizing the NA29 without hitting the lottery. I’ve seen 24 of the 29 in the wild, I’ve hunted 17, I have taken 9.
I’ll be pretty happy getting one from each “group”. One moose (Yukon) is plenty for me. Same with the caribou (Alaska BG). Hunted mountain lions a LOT with no success. Really want a lion, goat, and a bison and I will be happy. Been a lot of places and seen a lot of things and for that I am truly grateful.
Rather than just taking a species, I've set a goal of having a mount of a decent one, which creates the issue of going again for something rather than going for something new. Does not help to have 1 kid done and paid for college, and one starting next fall, the other the fall after that. Puts the brakes on spending in a hurry.
Likely due to my age and the progression most of us go through as we age, the thing I value most in hunts now are the experiences I have and the people I meet on my hunts.
Yes, I want to fill my tag, but it's no big deal if I don't as long as I have a great and memorable experience on the hunt.
Nav, the problem I have with that is my memory is failing so I need the animal to remind me of the memory!
17 for me with a mix of bow and rifle, including the species to qualify for the "Super 10" but don't have it registered. I don't have a desire to get all 29 but there are a few that I still would like to hunt and should be able to. Sheep are my absolute dream animals to hunt but due to the pricing I'm starting to think that I may never get a chance to hunt them again and it really bums me out!
I have a client that has 15. All archery and all Pope and Young. He’s going for Brown Bear this Spring. Polar bear in 19.
13 for me but will never achieve the 29. I could never financially justify it. I'd rather hunt elk in different states/habitat, spend time with family and friends and work on any critters legal without a guide requirement.
I currently have 12 species all with a bow. Only missing a buffalo and caribou for the Super Ten.
I wonder how many that are pursuing the NA 29 do not have a QL caribou? If they never open the hunting back up for QL bou, what will the Superslam do for these guys?
Like Shrewski, unless I win the lottery, or draw the tag, there are several species that I won’t be going after. There are quite a few that I will be pursuing in the next several years. I’d like to finish my “moose slam”. Just need the Shiras. If I don’t do a Mt. goat hunt in the next few years, I’m afraid I might not, physically be able to do one.
I've got 18 with a bow and one with a compound. A mule deer, should be easy to rekill with a bow. Never really had the 29 in mind.
Bowmania
29/29. I haven't entered them into P&Y, but I have had them measured and 27 of my 29 make the "book". If I ever got the last two, I'd probably put them in because I am somewhat of a prankster.....and I think it would be hilarious to walk into P&Y to register my animals, and when they ask which species I would like to register, it would be funny to say "All of them".
I have 14 with my recurve all unguided. I'd like to try to get as many as I can unguided but there's only maybe 5 left I can do that. I can't even begin thinking about spending the money on a polar bear with balmy sub zero temps and not being able to have the hide.
Mathewsman; I too have the idea of wanting a mount of each species harvested being a decent representative of the animal. Currently 2 of my 4 species are great representations, and the other 2 will require going back. It sure does crimp the funds for the next adventure, but are hunts that I had so much fun on I can’t wait to do again.
I will be able to do it, but only because Bigpizzaman agreed to adopt me at Sheep Show. I can’t wait to do the super slam with “Dad”!!
Zackman, First, you need to get in sheep shape......NOT Sheep Show Shape!! (Funniest quote of the entire sheep show, IMHO)!!
Welcome to the family, Zack! Haha
I'm one short of the "Super 11"...;)
I'm 40 and would like to hunt sheep one day but it's not a priority. I plan on using my points on elk in 5 states over next decade, take my boys to Canada fishing and see where life goes. My perspective changed since having my kids so we will see. I will say I've seen the parts of NA I've always dreamed of so I think that's why sheep aren't tugging at my heart strings. Love seeing guys chasing their dreams:)
I've taken 17, with a combination of rifle and bow. I've never seriously considered trying to get all 29. Who cares about all 5 caribou? And I can't justify the expense for all the sheep. I have a half slam, may get lucky and shoot another couple, but it will take luck. As many have said, I'd much rather put my time and energy into the hunts I love, rather than focus on the list. I foresee probably taking 20-24 of the species if I can live long enough, but I just don't care enough about a few on the list to spend my time hunting them. Bill
I am just going to keep on having fun, hunting as much as I can, spending time with other like minded outdoorsman.
High teens but a change in marital status put a slight damper on the last 4 years. Full steam ahead starting 2019.
Damn how my “Family” has grown!!!
I'm steady gaining siblings! I'll be lagging a little behind my brothers on the slam quest though.. :)
Everything I can do DIY. Currently I have hunted 18 and taken most of them.
Someone mentioned Quebec Labrador Caribou being closed down and what that is going to do to those chasing the slam. As I stated in my earlier post, I hope to chase as many of the species as I can, but over the last 6 months or so as I am thinking about what species I want to chase over the next couple years. With the Quebec caribou closed, the BC grizzly bears closed, the Woodland Caribou limited causing prices to sky rocket, I have been thinking I need to go after some of the species that have potential to be closed down sooner rather than later. I can only hope that the Quebec caribou gets opened up in the near future and if it does, I will be one of the first people booking a hunt there.
After the fiasco in Quebec a few years back, I'd never patronize the providence.
I am at 14 with the bow. Not keeping a list or anything just going for what I want when I want. In fact my wants been pretty fluid.
I’m hearing of a deal in the making to reopen Quebec Lab Bou, not many details out yet but?
I never gave it much thought outside of what I could afford to hunt. If the opportunity arises and I can afford it, I will hunt it if the desire is there. Some things I just don't have a desire to hunt. White Tails are my passion but I've shot too many other critters to name here as well.
I have taken 10 species with bow with 7 species listed with P&Y, I am pretty selective and only try for mature animals that are a good representation of the species, I have passed on many more species trying to find that mature male that I want. I obviously am not interested in number of species, I also realize I am not in a financial situation to hunt them all and now at 71 with some health issues my mountain hunting days are pretty much over, The only bucket list item would be to get a good Sitka Blacktail and finish my deer slam, I have the other 4 with 3 of them in the book and would love to hunt a Sitka but dont believe I could hunt Kodiak, My Coues had some broken tines I did not see and did not qualify so I would repeat that hunt but they can be hunted with tree stands and ground blinds so no problem there, If I could just figure out how to hunt a Sitka Blacktail, Whether you are trying to complete a list of species or a list of really nice examples of a category, or doing everything DIY or only hunting for food and only taking young animals to eat, its all good if it excites you and makes you happy, Best of luck to you all Ron
Ron go late, you can kill a Sitka on the beach with your bow in December.
Thanks MathewsMan, It looks like that could work, and eat some great seafood as well. Doing my due diligence and hopefully find something for 2018, if not 2019 for sure, Ron
Ron, those boat hunts are awesome. Go late, shoot a few special duck too and eat like a KING!
I’m stopping at 10 different species. I’m not after the Super 10 due to the price of sheep hunts. I’m at 6 species, only 4 to go. I gave up chasing trophy white tails to achieve my goal of 10 different species.
10 ............. I have hunted 11 of them
realistically I could easily get to a few more on the list (I only have one kind of deer, one kind of moose so adding 4-5 more species would be no problem but also not really that interesting), but most of the balance I will never chase. the cost of some of them is not worth it to me as I would rather take multiple trips for repeats with my son than so super expensive solo hunts for new species.
QUESTION:
It would be good if they would come up with the Fantastic Four or the Sensational Six to make it more realistic for more people don't you agree?
We went from requiring 29 to be recognized and registered to 10 species, which was a great move, but some of those 10 will preclude more participation and acknowledgment.
Ron: Good luck on getting the 5 deer slam. Currently there are only around 20 guys that have got all 5 species and had them qualify and entered into the P&Y Record book. C
Sixteen and not in a big hurry , just take it as it comes.
Bou,
Just a comment on your last point about going from 29 to 10 species. Remember, this is strictly as an award from GSC/O. If someone is focused on getting recognized, SCI has a much more comprehensive and diverse awards program that allows for milestone awards on a much more frequent basis (see attached link) - for example, you can receive a Copper Award after killing 5 species with your bow here in NA (pronghorn, whitetail, caribou, mule/blacktail deer, and bear).
The various milestones (Super 10, Super 25, Super Slam, Grand Slam in GSC/O and all the SCI awards) are great in that they help establish some goals and get people thinking about broadening and expanding their hunting in a way they might not have visualized as easily on their own.
That said, at the end of the day, I don't know that there are a lot of people that do these types of things purely for the recognition. I think most of us would agree, the true reward from these hunts is not the award that an organization hands out but the experiences we gain along the way.
No lists or numbers for me when it comes to hunting...
Im almost identical with bigeasygator. Ive hunted 10 species and have 6 total and 4 with a bow. I would like to have the 10 categories rifle and bow. We'll see what happens. For me its about having a variety of experiences and pushing the envelope. Its a lot easier to do more when the goal is set high. I also have hunted a lot internationally in order to get more "bang/arrows" for my buck. To each their own. The 29 or S10 are fun goals and give you great experience whether you register them or not.
My wallet is into subspecies
Hunted 14, killed 13 with my bow all but one is P&Y (Mt Lion), all DIY, hunting my 15th in two months (Muskox), 3 deer slams one of which is all P&Y (darn Whitetails). Ak/Yk moose is my nemesis, 0-3 with my 4th one planned. My style is about the adventure and friendships. 29 is out of reach unless something ($$) changes. I'll hunt sheep and goat one day. My kids are my priority now that they are at a hunting age. Their first hunt starts tomorrow for javalina. I dream about bow hunting everyday... Ed F
I am in the double-digits now with several more on the horizon. I can’t say that 29 is really a goal because I don’t have any interest in polar bear. Not to take away from guys that want/have it, I just don’t feel motivated for it. I love seeing new places and new critters. I may get close, I may not. I don’t believe some things are worth the current cost, so I won’t partake at this point.
My biggest problem is—like Ed— I love hunting deer too much so I won’t sacrifice deer hunts to exclusively chase animals that are foreign to me. I would much rather pursue archery deer slams than super slams at this point.
Unless BPM or Kotaman do adopt me...
10 for me , all with a bow, hunted brown bear several times but lady has not sung yet. took the last two years off except for local hunting to get retirement set , now i will begin hunting the animals i don"t have again starting this year. i am 50 years young and excited about the adventures to come. Tom
I still need another one to get my own improvised super 7 ;) Apparently they don't count coyotes or jackrabbits.
I was talking with my wife last night about how hunt costs are going up because of that $18,000 caribou thread and when I told her they used to be $4,000 unfortunately that was the number I led with, and at $4,000 and she totally flipped out like people spend $4,000 on a HUNT???? It was at this point I knew I am doomed for the NA29 lol. I'm just like babe, babe, just let me do a desert sheep while I'm still young...
As for the small "s" super ten, I count deer as only one species. Doesn't help that I have four different deer. Same with bears, doesn't matter that I have blacks and grizzlies. With a bow, I still need elk, cougar and caribou. Caribou are my jinx species, I guess. Hope to start on elk this fall and cougar whenever the importunity arises. Should try for a coues to so I can say I have a deer slam.
I have 13 not much chance of taking any more I have never been on a guided hunt except Africa that was a one time deal
Ambush, Coues deer get in your blood! Better start next year and be an addict.
Also wanted to thank Deerhaven for a whole lot of good information. Mike, much appreciated.
Kurt
I can't say that I have the NA29 as a top goal, but I can say that I do have a desire to hunt in as many different areas and for as many species as I can. This time every year, I think about what critter intrigues me the most and then I find a way to hunt that animal. I'm at 8 now with several more on the current agenda, so we will see what the next 10 years bring.
I grew up a die hard whitetail guy, but hunting the other critters has taken over my passion. I don't really have the desire to hunt whitetails anymore, but I still chase them at home because I enjoy hunting.
You are very welcome Kurt! That's what we bowhunters are supposed to do right? Besides you shared some pretty valuable information with me in CO 20 some years ago remember. I am always more than happy to help out any brother bowhunter when I can and that goes for anyone on this site.
Mike
I am very envious of you BC guys, the ban on grizzlies, notwithstanding! You guys have tremendous opportunities in your province.
Kurt, that Coues hunting doesn't seem all that difficult.
I mean, all you got to do is find a good area then hunt and scout it for several years. Then re-walk it every season, hang stands miles from roads, get up way before daylight to get in and sit for days and days and days. Then if one ever does show up, all you got to do is get an arrow into something like a little lightning bolt that is triggered about half a second before your release is.
How hard can that be??
I've continued to focus on the coveted "avian slam." I'm at 6 of the 1,112 species so have my work cut out for me.
Mark
Mark, are you counting the lesser, three toed, crested, warbling, yellow-eyed, slate sided, SPLIT tailed Wonkle bird and the common, three toed, crested, warbling, yellow-eyed, slate sided, NOTCH tailed Wonkle bird as one species?? If so, I think you are cheating!
Mark- what a lofted, worthy goal. I'm pulling for you man.
Ambush,
No, no, not at all!
Thanks Buff!
Turkey, crow, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, spruce grouse and pheasant.
I'm just forming the ASC (Avian Slam Club) if anyone is interested in pursuing this hellacious challenge...PM for details!
Mark
Ever look at the odds for getting a prothonotary warbler permit?
Are the Sorethroated Swallower and the Doublebreasted Thruster included on that list?
If so, I’m in!
were those bowkills Mark?
My ultimate goal is the super 10 with my bow. I'm 7 of 10 now with musk ox booked for august, most likely moose in 19 and hopefully Dall in 2021 to complete it if im successful on those hunts. After that I would like to go after the deer slam which I need 2 left for that. I'm 36 now so who knows where life takes me after that. Hopefully I can just slowly chip away at different species in the future while hunting with good buddies. Goals are good , everyone should have them !
With my old now deceased Vizsla Kiki: Pheasant, Hungarian Partridge, Bobwhite quail, Mearns quail, Gambel’s quail, Mt quail, Valley quail, sharp-tailed grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, Dusky Grouse (blues), Spruce Grouse, Sage Grouse, Greater Prairie chicken, Willow Ptarmigan, Chukar partridge, Morning dove and Woodcock. 17 species in 13 years..... we never hunted waterfowl. All shotgunned and most tasted wonderful!
Definitely a lot of variety here.
For NA species on the list above - 13 with at least one from each category to make the "10" with my longbow. Additional non-native big game species with my longbow in NA - 6. Native SA species 4, non-native - 1 (red stag) with the longbow.
I love hunting. Whatever I can, whenever I can. Not worried about having any award by GSCO or anyone else. Have scored a few animals for P&Y, but have a bunch that would probably make it if I ever scored them.
Hopefully, I will have the opportunity for many more species and experiences in many more locations before I can't do it any more!
Cajunarcher.....we are the same age and from the same state. We should get together. I can’t find anybody my age interested in anything other than deer and the occasional group elk hunt out west!! I have moose on my mind. Don’t care where or how big, just wanna shoot one and be able to get the meat back home.
shiloh, There’s a group of Cajuns doing more then deer, I’m the “Old Fart” but get with Lee or myself, we do get together occasionally and cut up!!!
Yeah Shiloh Tim is right!! We tend to have a couple Cajun parties in pizzamans trophy room u need to come! Bigeasygator, iceman , BHMF86 are all pretty much in your backyard and hang out quite often.
I thought you Cajun Boys only hunted gator's like the Swamp people show:)
Bighorn sheep pizza and blue moon beer. Can’t go wrong with that combination in Louisiana
Not true bowboy! If you combine the species that me and Bigpizzaman have killed, we are only five animals away from the Super Slam! :-)
I don’t know if I could hang with you Cajun’s, but I gotta try it at least once!!
17 and counting. 29 may happen if I can stay focused. It is not a huge priority. I keep getting distracted by other opportunities.
Africa is in my blood.
I'd be happy if I could kill every species here in Montana with my bow. So far, just elk, whitetail, and black bear. Should be able to get an antelope and mule deer at some point. Then the mountain goat, Bighorn sheep, and Moose will require me finally drawing those species. Maybe even a mountain lion, and a wolf at some point too.
Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail, Buffalo (not free range), Quebec Caribou, Antelope, Black Bear. All DIY, public land archery except Caribou, required guide by law. Never a desire to take Mt. Lion & could have or any Sheep. Financially no way could I justify. So only 6 free range species & they make up nearly 150 archery kills so I've been blessed in my 60+ years of bowhunting.
With another year gone, has anybody made progress towards a goal , or set new goals either higher or lower?
Congrats again to Kota on achieving his goal during the past year.
New goal I've set....live to age 90+ so as to have a slim chance at drawing a DBHS license ;-)
Good chance I'll waffle on the alternatives long enough, to at least reach the chronological portion of the goal.
Meantime, a big thanks and congrats to some of you bad-asses who are getting this 29 thing done with a bow and arrow, as you continue to be a great inspiration and motivator.
Yup, finally beat the Mountain caribou jinx!!
Congrats, Rod! You’re gonna hafta supersize one of your homemade skull hookers to be able to hang that one on the wall.
I was well on my way, and then I was attacked by a Double Breasted Wallet Sucker and my plan fell thru.
I didn't add any species this past year, but I hope to complete my Arizona Big 10 (all 10 big game animals of the state) this spring. The Game and Fish Department finally agreed to keep my 30 bonus points, and I drew a free range bison tag for the Kaibab. It's a difficult hunt, so I'm trying not to count my chickens yet, but I should have a good deal of time available for the hunt, so I'm hoping to take a nice one DIY. Good luck to everyone else in crossing something off your list this coming year.
Marvin
Congrats Marvin, great tag.
This is me... wishing I would have shot one of the smaller QL caribou bulls I passed up on the few hunts that I did in Quebec through the years back in the 90’s
I’m only at seven, and might get 2-3 more. I do have Quebec caribou, which I believe is not possible these days. I’m too old for some of the sheep/goat hunts. I could swing it financially, but it really makes no sense to me to drop $30-50,000 or more for some of the sheep. Nothing wrong with it, but for me, it doesn’t make sense. To those that are pursuing the 29, good luck.
Congrats on the tag Marvin! Given your history, pretty sure you’re re going to be a big bulls worst nightmare.
Well, thanks to Utah and two weeks notice from the great state of Alaska I was able to add Mountain Goat and Musk Ox to my repertoire this past September. Not with my bow though. That’s ok with me.
Wow, some of you guys are getting it done! I've shot whitetail deer.... no hogs, no bears, no elk, no nothing other than deer (and a few yotes and bobcats). Congrats to you guys! That's really cool.
I personally don’t have any desire to hunt most of the animals on the list but I own the bow that this guy used to take a few of them! It still shoots flawlessly.
I learned a while back that for me it is a problem if I predetermine goals for my hobbies. I have a lot more fun. I’m better off taking each year as it comes than when I’m hunting one day thinking why am I doing this and it’s because of something I decided years ago.
That being said I am I no way able to do the NA29 and could totally see being driven to do it if it was a possibility. Thanks to it not being a possibility it doesn’t hit the radar lol.
I am so impressed by guys like Jake that have done it. Also super cool to be able to converse with guys like that through bowsite. What a world we live in isn’t it?!
I'm just a northern Canadian bushman that has spent a lifetime doing all sorts of outdoor activities including hunting/fishing/trapping, but mostly local. One of the things I happen to do is hunt big game with a bow, but again, pretty well only what's available to me. I've only been on one guided hunt for a variety of reasons (one being money).
Sorry for straying off topic somewhat but several of you have mentioned Quebec Labrador Caribou - I worked at a camp between Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay for many years and helped a lot of guys kill some really nice bulls. When we closed for the season we had a very short time to hunt for ourselves and by then most of the caribou had already gone through so it was mostly a meat hunt. I did manage to get quite a few bulls, nothing really huge, and we would usually split the racks for transportation in the bush planes... so I too have regrets in regards to caribou, LOL!
To get back on subject... even though my wife and I got a couple of bears and our meat supply in the form of a moose this past year, 2018 was not kind to me health wise. I'm truly looking forward to 2019 and my goal for this upcoming year is to spend quality time in the bush with family and friends doing the things I enjoy.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy, healthy, and successful year pursuing and achieving whatever goals you have set for yourselves.
I’ve just pretty much hunted as the spirit moves and have 7 of the “Big 10” and 3 of the 4 sheep. The grand slam is a goal because I never dreamed it would be possible for me, but the “Big 10” is not because I have no personal interest in bison/musk ox or mountain lion.
Never even considered the NA29 because it would seem like hunting a list to me. That’s just me.
18 and counting tule and Rosie on the list this year all archery
Stickflicker, Congrats on the bison tag!!! Hope you shoot a monster! Seems that AZ produces them! Good luck!
I added one more species in 2018, a white bear, so I'm at 26 with the bow.
Had an arrow deflect on a willow twig but still hit a Mt Caribou in Sept, so I ended up shooting it with a rifle the next day as that was my animal...technically I have 27 species but really want to get them all with the bow so will call it 26. Hope to have bow hunted all the species by the end of 2019.
Good luck to everyone in your quests in '19, whatever they are!
Dad (Bigpizzaman),
Still waiting for my first check to start chasing the NA29!!!! Maybe you’ll give it to me in person at Sheep Show...
After this summer’s dall sheep hunt I’m at 8 of the super 10, still needing a cat and a goat. Of the 29 I think I’m at 12. Started off about 15 years ago just wanting to get a sheep or goat with a bow then watching Tom Miranda got me thinking about the Super Slam but have decided on focusing on the 10 first then re-evaluating once I get there.
13 species for me with only 3 not P&Y. Colorado Big 9 with only Desert sheep to complete all Colorado species. I have a "Super 10" but won't register it. I don't agree with lumping bison and muskox into one category. Kinda like putting rocky mountain goat and pronghorn into the same category just because they both have pointy, black horns. Lately I've been concentrating more on helping my wife complete her Colorado Big 8 & 9. She only needs black bear and cougar.
14 to date only a cat to complete super 10. Never really set any goals, just what interest me at the time.
Canadian whisky for a Canadian caribou.
Canadian whisky for a Canadian caribou.
Was nice to finally crack this bottle of Caribou Crossing!
I think I have thirteen NA species and plan to add four, maybe five more. So no NA 29 for me.
I want to hunt everything I can unguided. Currently for big game I have hunted 18 I think. I count ibex, wild boar, gator and orynx.
Prices are insane.
Not many for me, I enjoy chasing deer and elk when I can get drawn. I want a nice black bear, a mountain lion and a moose. Don't know if I will pay the money to go get them.
I can, just don't know if I really want them that bad. I guess it's all about priorities...
If i was rich, I would huunt alot of them, and would be going to Africa. Bad knees would keep me out of the sheep and goat game!
The accomplishments you have made is VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!!! Congratulations!
28 for me I have the Grizzly left. God willing I will complete it in 2019.
Gary Martin, now there is a class act,,,,, I never met a more likeable guy, and loved the way he would talk about his hunts........ I have only taken 5,,,,,, in reality I may get to 7, but I admire all of the above posters,,,,,,,,
I also have the privilege to call Bowmania my friend,,,, he also is an amazing bowhunter,,,,,, he just shot a elk a few years back, in Colorado, with a long bow, in an area, he waited alot of years for, to get the tag, with his points. It was huge, and he took it all out by himself, on his back..... at his age, it was a feat.......
He would never talk about himself, as most here do not, but that guy, represents the best of bowhunting today, and he is a good writer
18 here. Should have been 20 but that is the way it goes. I keep telling myself I got the pricey ones(sheep) out of the way but then I look at some of the prices on what remains and shake my head. I was having fun chasing sheep and probably overdid it (9 North American). If not for that I would have been much closer. At this point I don't think I will ever finish all of them but who knows.
I do have an acquaintance that hunted each species( with the exception of Whitetail) until he got it and then moved on.I guess it worked for him,
I'm still young at 30, have an elk, a pronghorn and whitetails with my bow.
If I won the lottery I'd go after the NA29 for sure, however seeing as I don't play the lottery I'd like to take one of the sheep someday, although that may be a pipe dream unless I draw.
I will go after caribou and an Alaska moose as far as "exotic" stuff goes.
I still really enjoy hunting whitetails, and if I lived in Montana still I'd be after elk every year of course. The pronghorn was a lot of fun as well, I'll do that every other year or so once my wife is done with school and I can justify the expense.
I do really enjoy reading about all the different species and daydream about doing a solo moose hunt for a month, or chasing Dall sheep someday.
Saw one canada moose on my hunt last year. It was a dandy bull and came in to 50 yards but had some brush in the way. He winded me eventually and turned and ran out of my life. So three left still. I set a goal to attain it when I was about 19 years old. I am 49 now. It is a long hard accomplishment and I admire the commitment it takes to get it done. I have sacrificed a lot in my mind to chase the 29. For somebody to tackle it from the beginning now a days, wow, must be unfathomable. So costly anymore. I nearly stroke out when reading the BSC booklet of available hunts and their prices. It does require money, health, and time. Hopefully I will have a bit more of those three things in order to accomplish it. Have learned a lot on the ride, seen some pretty country, and made some good friends. So if I do not get it done, I am content. But will keep plugging for more experiences. I to am adoptable Bigpizzaman. lol
Rod, that Caribou Crossing bottle is about the most fitting bottle I’ve ever seen in a hunting camp! Congratulations again on the ‘bou!
Hey kurt good luck on the 29, im at 11 all but two with the longbow, and all but three DIY, Canada moose, Caribou, and mountain lion (guides) ill never come close to the 29 but gonna sure try to add a few more.
I got my Montana Ram ! Unguided. That was a big dream. I'm happy with that. I will spend the rest of my days hunting deer, elk and whatever local species that I stumble upon. Went Caribou hunting some years back. It was fun , but learned right there that outfitters are just out for the money and I don't have enough of that to shell out big bucks to hunt big bucks. I started out "Broke" , and I still have most of it after all these years.
Congrats to those who have completed it and good luck to those and safe travels to those going for the slam....
Personally... the dreamer in me likes to think I could try but realistically I know it’s financially and physically impossible for me.
That being said I’ll just keep Saving $$$ and hunting what I can do.
At the moment I have taken 10 species and can reasonably see myself take 6-10 more.
Funny thing is I always remember the two species I hunted and never took... god willing I’ll just keep hunting another 40 years (52 years old now)
Another year has passed, same question...
Who has made gains towards there personal goals in 2019, who raised or lowered the bar on their species goals?
Happy New Year
I finally killed a Cape Buffalo with a bow. Stalking With Ken Moody Safaris
Crazy how things can change in only a year.
My goals have completely changed after leaving Colorado and moving to Alaska. There are 9 species here I have not taken so that opens up a lot of opportunity.
I did not get to hunt this past year but I’ve got a few things on my radar now.
I'll likely never kill the NA 29, but I will continue to explore new areas and pursue new species as I'm able. This year I picked up a Columbia blacktail putting me one away (Sitka) from an archery deer slam.
Better get crackin' up there Scott!
Did finish an archery slam of sheep this year. I definitely want to bow-hunt more sheep, that's really all I know for sure.
Will continue to try and bow-hunt a couple more new NA species each year.
I'm working on a Rabbit Slam... no guides needed and the taxidermy bill is much more palatable.
This thread is a great reminder that you'll find no better or more accomplished group of bowhunters anywhere on the internet than right here on the good old Bowsite. You guys are incredibly impressive with your ability to harvest these animals, but the thing that impresses me the most is the humility. A more humble, down to earth, and nicer group of guys you will not find. Proud to have shared a cold beer with many of you and have always been treated as an equal, even with my measly 6 species :-) I hope to check a few more off in the next 24 months God willing. Good luck and safe travels to all on your quests for 2020!
Turning rabbits and Steelhead now myself.
Added a Tule elk cow in ‘19. Hunted the two remaining caribou but never drew the bow. Still having a great time and have plan in place for round 9 with Mt Caribou plus round 3 with CCBGC in ‘20.
Good luck to everyone in ‘20 no matter what your quest is!!!!!
I’m excited about spring baiting for Brown Bears this May, if I don’t draw much a Dall sheep hunt and potentially a 2-goat, 3-Sitka Blacktails trip to Kodiak is a start.
Scott, best of luck in Alaska! Great move if you want to hunt a bunch of different animals! And you will find it a whole lot ‘bigger’ than CO. Kurt
I grew up poor like really poor in I remember reading as a young boy about Fred bear and Chuck Adam's Ted Nugent all these guys shooting crazy animals with their bows and knew that I would never have the chance in my entire life to hunt some of these animals, You know what I was actually just fine with that.
Now as I reach my 46 the year of life with a young family and our house dam near paid off I'm starting to wonder.
Ive been very fortunate to kill a lot of animals in my life and I've been on some great hunts with some even better people but I really really want to kill a bighorn sheep in one of Montana's unlimited units. Personally my only goal in hunting from here on out is to see that happen. I'll go on other hunts and I want to be successful and I want to punch my tag but I don't necessarily have goals per say.
We have a 9 year old son and a soon to be six-year-old daughter and I pray that they get a serious drive for the outdoors like I have and if one of them does or both of them I will do whatever I can do to see that they get to experience more than I ever did and I can't wait to bring them on some really cool hunts.
Following Jake on some of his adventures was a really cool experience and I can totally remember listening to his nightly call ins on his polar bear hunt.
Michael
I was just reading today that Grand Slam/Super Slam AND Safari Club consider Moose from British Columbia to be Shiras Moose. Pope and Young and Boone and Crockett only consider moose taken in the lower 48 to be Shiras (as if the international border could define speciation). I am sure that the moose outfitters in the lower 48 want to keep this designation the way that it is.....so that they can continue to charge some pretty aggressive prices for a Shiras hunt, unless you are lucky enough to draw a tag on your own....while the outfitters in southern Canada would really gain benefit from the moose of their area being classified as Shiras....both from a pricing perspective AND from a probably increase in potential booked hunts. It's kinda like the difference between a grizzly bear and a brown bear in Alaska.....more or less an arbitrary line.....
One more. Canada moose. Fingers crossed
After completing my first NA29/Super Slam in fall of ‘18, I came to the realization that I’m 16 animals in to my second NA29/SS. I don’t know that I will make a big push to complete a second SS, but there are several of the remaining species I have booked or at least plan on hunting again. The second polar bear and additional QL Caribou are problem spots for me in completing a second one, but I could see myself getting to 25 or so again. As far as Zack and the adoption process goes, we are starting with baby steps. We had a hugely successful Fannin hunt this fall and will be hunting together again next fall....all due to this crazy site. Thank you Bowsite. Good luck to you guys that are SO CLOSE... Happy New Year everyone.
I burned my Colorado max weighted points on a cow moose. Now have 8 species in Colorado alone.
I don’t ever plan to try to get the 29 species. I don’t have the money to do it. With that said I have Killed 10 different species. 9 in Colorado. (Rocky sheep, Mtn goat, Antelope, Mule deer, whitetail deer, Shiras Moose, Black bear, Cougar). The 10th was a coues deer I killed in Arizona. All public land do it yourself.
Cheers to the guys who complete the 29. That really is a neat accomplishment
I added 3 more animals to my column this year. Muskox, CBG Caribou, and a Sitka Blacktail. I’m up to 13 NA species. Like others, unless I win the lottery, the Superslam is totally unattainable for me, however, there are still lots of different species left on my radar. I’m hoping to draw a Wyoming moose tag this year. Coues and blacktails are also pretty high on my short term list.
Congrats to all the SSlammers on here. That is an incredible accomplishment! Congrats as well, to others who achieved success this past year, and continued successes on your endeavors in 2020!
I think it is awesome to read about all of the success on this site. If you live in a western state you have the opportunity to add to the species list without breaking the bank. I think for eastern guys, getting more than 5 species is pretty impressive as when you get past whitetail, mulies, elk, black bear and pronghorn it is typically going to be a significant cost.
I have 12 , all with my bow. I am 2 short of the super 10. I need a goat and sheep to complete that , all with my recurve. I have also shot all 5 deer spices with my recurve, too. Hopefully I'll be able to get a goat and sheep someday.
I added two more species this year, Canadian moose and Columbian blacktail deer. I also upgraded on 2 species as well, antelope and black bear. It was a good year and its still not over.
I am at 13 all archery, havent really focused on any lists other than what interests me and what I have the opportunity for at given time. so I guess I am checking hunts off my list, and some hunts have multiple check marks as I keep repeating them over and over..
Back up for another year. What gains did you make towards your personal species goal this year. How many trips did covid screw up for you?
With as crazy as this year was , I actually made gains towards my goals. Even though a couple trips were canceled, due to Canada being closed for business. I was still able to successfully hunt a species that I had never hunted before and hunt and bow kill a species that I had previously rifle killed. Along with some other great hunts with friends and family. Overall 2020 was a pretty good hunting year for me , even as screwed up as it was.
Happy New Year
Well, 2020 was a decent year. Had a lot of amazing experiences on my own and with great friends! Learned a lot and was able to keep the freezer full!
Added another exotic to the list in February with an oryx in NM, but not a 100% bow kill.
In August I was able to connect on a solid antelope in Colorado. Not a new species and not my biggest with my bow but a lot of fun.
In November, I finished my NA deer species with an unbelievable blacktail in Oregon with my longbow. My best quality animal of any species by far. Pretty sure that buck shook me up worse than any animal in my lifetime and still amazed that I was able to hold it together and get an arrow in him... After all these years, it is so awesome to go through all of those emotions!
Although not bowhunting, I had another first that is kind of related because I pretty much take a fly rod with me whenever I go hunting. Caught my first steelhead on my blacktail hunt. Fun fish and could probably get addicted to them if they were any closer to home...
Starting to think about what I can add to the list and have applications in up in Alaska for a number of different critters. Hoping to get lucky on the draw up there and if not, will be looking at a time to set up a caribou hunt since I have not hunted them in Alaska yet.
Need to do another trip for Sitka Blacktail to get a decent one for the wall but difficult to make the time for that one. Want to do it this time without the boat and go when the bucks are in velvet hanging out in the open to hunt them like mule deer above treeline. Maybe in a couple of years...
Tried hard for bears in Colorado in 2020 for the first time and had plenty of opportunities, learned a lot but did not close the deal. Pretty sure I have them dialed in for '21 and should be able to mark that pesky Colorado black bear off the list!
Hope everyone had a great 2020 and has an even better 2021! Happy New Year!
Yeah I have a 12 and realized there are certain animals I could careless about walking up to and shooting them just to say I did it. I enjoy hunting certain animals and that’s what I’m doing. To each there own.
Here’s a public congrats on that blacktail Tavis. Had a enjoyable year in 2020. No Ontario bear hunt. Killed a bull elk that should make PnY and a good antelope. No new species. Had a great time hunting with friends and family.
four for me going for# 5 this fall
I've pretty consistently been adding one a year. This year I finally put the time in to get a nice black bear in my home state of New Mexico. I've killed 7 of the 29, and a few others that aren't native or just aren't in the 29 for one reason or another (e.g. javelina). I'm hoping to add Shiras moose to the list next year with a cow hunt in Colorado.
It wasn't a new species, but covid messed up a whitetail hunt in Texas. Assuming the land doesn't change hands, I should be able to get that one back on the schedule in 2021. All things considered, I am quite fortunate.
No new species hunted this year, for me. We had Covid fubar our Ontario black bear hunt this spring. I did get to to put my tags on 2 B&C class whitetails this fall, at home.
Had a great DIY Mt Caribou hunt in BC and finally arrowed one on the eighth in-province trip for them and 69th hunting day. Buddy rifled one as well. We were 17 km from our fly-in lake drop-off point. The pack-out took three trips (50 km loaded), 5 days and tired my old butt out. 20th species without a guide, 28th archery species.
I hope the Canadian border opens up by spring for everyone from the US with Canadian hunt plans. Also that the territory borders open into Nunavut and the NWT as non-essential Canadians (and everyone else) remain locked out. It would be nice to go on my deferred Nunavut CCBG caribou hunt in August and deferred NWT Mt Caribou hunt in September this year.
Good luck to everyone in 2021! As some said above in previous posts, its the journey, not the check mark on the list
Closing in Kurt! Which one left? Ccbg? Congrats to everyone closing in on their goals. No doubt 2020 slowed things down a bit. I lost 4 hunts in ‘20 and will now try to work them in in ‘21 and ‘22.
2 booners in one year T-Roy?? Congrats man!! That’s awesome.
Alaska has been all that I could have imagined. I was only able to add 1 of the 9 species up here with a decent Brown Bear but I learned real quick that Alaska is incredible as a resident. It would certainly help to have a snow machine, 4-wheelers, a raft and boat, and either a friend or buddy to fly out with up here.
I took my neighbor to Kodiak and he killed a mountain goat with a rifle. Goat is a species that I had taken so I was hoping for arrowing a huge Billy. I missed one that was exceptional and probably should have popped him with a rifle. We hunted 12 days and I shot a decent Sitka Blacktail which is still #1 on my wish list, it was bedded and I shaved his throat patch and again passed on shooting the few bucks I got on with a rifle trying to get the 4th archery deer species. I managed to arrow a great blue-black phase fox and shot some ducks. No big game taken but tons of Bear incidents and issues and a trip that was everything I could have hoped for minus a deer for the wall.
I drove the Dalton Highway to Prudoe Bay and again I passed on several small caribou, saw some muskox (no tag) and I got on 5 rams that were just under the legal size or age. In the end, I could have added 5 more species if I used a rifle, and maybe I should have done that. However the year hunting Alaska was non-stop action and opportunity. Literally I had 7 or 8 different species tags and if my dream was not to bowhunt these animals, I would certainly have a problem because I could have harvested all of these species worthy of mounting. But the 27 mounts I already have are crated and stored in Colorado, the stuff I read by Fred Bear and others more veteran at this than myself, it really is about the journey, friendships and experiences more than just the taking of the animals... I managed to only need 7 stitches and end the weirdest year in history with 2 animals at the tannery and a whole new appreciation for the family and blessings we have been provided this year.
My wife, kids and I all had Covid so that is one issue that we are probably not going to endure in 2021. It sucked.
2020 turned out alright. I learned how to hunt reading Chuck Adams as a kid with no other real mentor. So the thought has always been there. It is a possibility for me if I plug away at it. I’m sure I could do it with a mix of rifle kills, but would probably continue til I at least tried all species with a bow.
Was lucky to add 5 new species, 3 with a bow. So they puts me at 12 archery, (3 more species with rifle) As mentioned Alaska residency sure helps. Have plans to go and get a couple more each year.
My goal is half of the NA30, any of the 15 species--the NA30 (TM) is the NA29 plus wolf. My added twist is stickbow and under 15 yards. I'm at 14 all with a longbow with the exception of one was with a recurve. One to go. What happens then? Nothing different. Just keep on sneaking!
Love hearing how others have chased the dream!
T-Roy, daaayuum! Way to go!
Another year gone already, prices still going up....
Congratulations to Ned and Kurt on #29 this year.
What gains did you make towards your personal goals this year? Anyone reevaluating or adjusting goals due to prices or age?
After an incredible year, I was able to get to #25 in 2021.
Happy New Year
Congratulations Gene. I was able to get back to Kodiak and was able to get a respectable Sitka Blacktail Deer worthy of mounting. This was archery #14 for me.
Now that I am not an Alaskan resident I cannot see a handful of species; Dall Sheep, Fannin (Stone sheep), Grizzly, and Muskox happening. So that kind of took the unlikely goal of the full Super slam off the table for me.
The Polar Bear, Tule Elk and Desert Bighorn have become incredibly costly. Getting to 25 was realistic as an Alaskan but now I’m pretty much looking at completing the 5 deer as I don’t have a Columbia Blacktail, the last remaining for me. I have been extremely fortunate to have the other 4 mounted with archery animals far exceeding my personal trophy standards.
I’ve not taken an Eastern Turkey or whitetail deer so those are both next on my wish list.
Congratulations to Gene and Scott. No new species in 2021. Just the same old boring antelope, elk, and mule deer…. Hopefully get lucky in the drawings, or if not, the PNW for a Roosie or Alaska…
Congrats to Kurt & Ned, on completion of their slams! What 4 species do you lack for your slam, Gene?
I had a great year hunting wise. Added two new species to my list. An archery interior grizzly in Alaska, and a Wyoming Shiras moose with my bow, which completed my moose Slam. The only other slam that I will ever come close to would be if I stopped for breakfast at Denny’s.
Also had a great whitetail season at home in Iowa again this fall, taking a couple more B&C class bucks.
Congrats to you guys that have completed your goals and to those closing in on your goals.
In ‘21 I was fortunate enough to take some great representative species. Tule, Desert sheep, Black Bear, Mule deer and had a close encounter with a true Iowa B&C buck TWICE that just never presented for a shot. I completed my first Super Slam in ‘18 and am down to single digit species for round two. Don’t know if I’ll ever complete round two as there are a couple species I don’t know that I’ll hunt again. (Polar Bear and Shiras). Also find myself doing more rifle hunts these days due to bad knees and my inability to crawl.
Here’s to ‘22 and everyone’s adventures. I have a bunch of Covid pushed hunts that I hope to get in this year. In fact I’ll be spending 4 weeks on Kodiak in ‘22. Good luck everyone and Happy New Year.
29 x 2 is an incredible feat, no matter what weapon...
I'm missing polar bear, Canada moose, grizzly and RMBH.
Well nothing new for me species wise. I did take a very respectable P&Y antelope in August, and didnt get a Coues again in MX. I filled 2 doe tags here at home, but couldnt connect on a worthy buck. Covid and the airlines just screwed my cougar hunt. Pops and i are headed to Manitoba in May for black bear, hopefully draw another antelope tag, and trip #5 looking for a good coues. Whitetails at home this season as always. The 29 is well out of my reach, and i will be happy if i get to the 5 deer species with a few others thrown in.
Gene, you are closing in! Congratulations on 25!
T-roy, heck of a good year! You must have the most B&C sized archery bucks of all! Keep after adding a new species or two per year and you will eventually have most or all…says the 50 bow seasons guy (me).
‘21 was a fun year. Black bear spring season in a remote high country area finally finished with a nice boar on the 12th day of hunting. He had B&C scat (beer can size) and gave me the slip 3 times before I got him. Not a giant skull but an old bear.
Nunavut finally opened their doors to non-resident Canadians and “aliens” so the Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou hunt was on, with short notice. I got lucky on a nice bull the first day! My previous two hunts for them were slow, few caribou and no opportunity to arrow one! Felt good to get archery #29.
I had an excellent Mt Caribou hunt in the NWT. Set my sights on a big one or eat the tag. Passed up a few nice bulls and spent 6 hrs one day working one I wanted. The stalk finally blew up at 60 yds when a small bull spotted me. Awesome hunt anyway.
Finished out ‘21 hunting AZ Coues bucks, but they too won the round.
Good luck in ‘22 in the pursuit! Enjoy the ride!
I always forget about it, but I love seeing this thread every year. Congrats to the new Super Slamers, and everyone else achieving their goals. With a 1 and 4 year old, 2021 was a slow hunting year for me. For the first time in 6 years, I didn't add a new species for bow or gun.
I'm bringing the 4 year old on an archery javelina hunt in two weeks, and I'm hoping the pieces will finally fall in place for a mountain lion hunt in the next few months. Good times ahead!
Im way behind you all Bull Elk, Mule Deer Buck, Buck Antelope all with a recurve Dont make enough money to hunt all 29.
I unfortunately didn't make the most of my opportunity at a rosie elk this past year, hopefully 22 i will be able to add a couple more species to the list.
Im lucky enough to have taken 12 different species…5 deer 2- bear-moose-ox- cat- pronghorn-elk.
Hunting a different moose and bear this year so we’ll see how that goes. As for the 29 I’ve come to the realization that physical it is out of reach. I’m too broken down to chase several of the animals so I’ll just keep enjoying myself as best as I can.
I also heard Quebec is opening caribou hunting but only to vaccinated hunters who can prove they need the Quebec/Labrador bou as the final species to complete their slam
Hey Shug, if that's true I think it's time for me to brush up on my photoshop skills!??
This is a real cool thread! I can’t believe I hadn’t read it before today, so fun to read all your adventures, some of you guys are heroes to guys like me!
I love adventure bow hunting but I don’t think I’d ever chase all 29, I am at 6 with a bow, all here in CO. I’ve got some bucket list hunts on the horizon, mountain goat and Sitka black tail are probably top on my list, and any sheep tag I can get my hands on after arrowing a ram last month!
If I keep reading your adventures here, I’m sure I’ll add more to my to do list! Keep up the inspiration!
Mid year to the top. Congratulations to Pizzaman
Thanks Gene! Congrats to those who’ve completed the slam and those who are getting closer!
Well, I want the NA 29. Didn’t really give it any thought until this year. I am at a big fat zero and starting late at 51 years old. Have been focusing on the African slam and hope to be 2/3 done with that by next week. I just got my roan today and took a problem Cape buffalo at the request of the landowner. That will be a great story for another time and place though.
I am hoping I can get North America done in 20 years. I already informed my outfitters here that I won’t ever come to Africa for August hunts any more. That are for NA now. Hope to start with pronghorn or Coues deer in January.
Why does the Mt. Lion count, but Wolf does not? Anyway, a lot of the big game animals don't intrigue me enough the same way a Lynx, Bobcat, or Wolf do.
Well, I want the NA 29. Didn’t really give it any thought until this year. I am at a big fat zero and starting late at 51 years old. Have been focusing on the African slam and hope to be 2/3 done with that by next week. I just got my roan today and took a problem Cape buffalo at the request of the landowner. That will be a great story for another time and place though.
I am hoping I can get North America done in 20 years. I already informed my outfitters here that I won’t ever come to Africa for August hunts any more. That are for NA now. Hope to start with pronghorn or Coues deer in January.
Good Luck sir, if I can help with your endeavor please let me know. Little advice get the mountain hunts done while you’re still in your 50’s.
You looking to do it with a bow, Mr Poindexter?
Back to the top for the 5th year anniversary.
Same questions as above, how have your goals progressed or even declined. Did you add species this year? Decide on species that you won't hunt as of this year? Or anything else related....
Congratulations again to Tim on completing the 29.
Congratulations to Jim Treeman on his all PnY qualifying Super 10. Also a a shout out to Jim, I had a pretty special tag this year and he volunteered to fly and meet me to help out on my hunt, he wouldn't be doing any hunting of his own, just helping me. Although at times he might act like your crazy Uncle Ed, he is definitely the real deal, not just a pretty smiling face with great hair...
I managed to make it to #28 this year, hopefully there will be a grizzly hitting the ground sometime over the next couple years.
Let's here your additions to this thread.
Happy New Year 2023
Will be a heckuva feat Gene, you're almost there!
Wondering when this thread would hit again, not sure last time I put anything here….
Sitting at 14 currently, all archery. This year got a Columbian Blacktail to complete the 5 deer.
5 deer 3 elk 2 moose 2 sheep Bison Pronghorn
Had dreams of 29 but lost a lot of internal motivation when my dad passed away in 2020. Still haven’t found that “drive” again…
Have a grizzly hunt in May and then see what the draws do or don’t do for me.
Still hoping to get all animals available in the lower 48, but need to draw a mountain goat tag somewhere to be able to pull it off.
Happy New Year everyone, and congrats to Tim, Jim, and Gene! I love seeing this thread pop up every year.
I don't imagine I'll ever complete the NA29, but I do enjoy chasing new animals and experiences in new places. I've been stalled at 7 for a couple of years now, but I'm hoping to add one or two this year. With a little luck I'll have a mountain lion this month.
Congrats to all you guys that are pursuing the NA 29 ! I’m only 27 species away myself……..
Fun to look back on this thread and see how things have changed, Gene. Things have largely gone as I planned and figured they would have, though I think my goals/priorities have shifted some at this stage.
At the time of the original post, I was sitting at 3/10 species of the goal of a Super 10 with my bow. I'm now up to 5/10, having added an archery elk and a moose. I also had unsuccessful - at least from putting my hands on an animal - hunts for mountain goat and pronghorn. I plan to continue to chip away at it, planning a pronghorn hunt for this year and a musk ox hunt for next year. Might be able to squeeze another species or two towards the 10 over that timeframe.
Additionally, I've taken a few more deer species and sit one species away from a deer slam with my bow, which I hope to accomplish on a Coues hunt in the next few weeks. That would put me at 9 species overall.
Again, with a hunt or two for species over the next 10-15 years, I could see being in the neighborhood of 20. However, finishing all 29 has dropped off some as a priority for me. As has the goal of a rifle Super 10...I'm pretty much strictly bowhunting only these days. I'm sure in another five years, things will have changed one way or another as well. Will be fun to revisit.
Congrats to all of those that have hit these tremendous milestones the last few years. Honored to call a number of them friends!
Someone mentioned setting s goal. I did, in 2014 I shot my last Whitetail Doe & said that was the last (I've been blessed with many). I also set a goal for my next Whitetail Buck (rack size) a couple years prior to that. I have not reached that but have "seen" a few that would qualify. Whitetail s the "only" critter that has restrictions for me... I've been blessed with a great journey in bowhunting & for me, many adventures. At 81 I'm just glad to still be in the game. I now enjoy sharing bowhunts with my adult son & some G-kids..
I've hunted 21 species and taken 19. I'm just too tight to be a super slammer. I could probably afford the hunts but I just can't spend 60K on a hunt and hope I get a shot.
I would rather do 8-10 cheap DIY hunts every year than one or two really expensive ones. I wouldn't mind getting the deer slam. I've taken 4 of the 5 in one year but I've never hunted Columbian Blacktails. I plan to hunt 4 of the 5 deer in 2023 so I should probably at least try for a Columbian. A deer slam in one year would be cool.
I'm perfectly content hunting deer, elk, antelope and black bear every year on my own. Some of these hunts are so much fun, I can't get myself to book a hunt and have to give something up.
Since 2018 still have not killed a Colorado moose or Desert sheep and most of the other 29, and "still not in my wallet". Now for me while I have killed nine of those species, I can hunt, elk, pronghorn, deer every year here in Colorado and a few other states, that do fit my wallet.
Great for those that can. My best, Paul
Well Jim it's a good thing your hunt for you then and not some arbitrary definition of success :) Put in your shoes I'd prob make the same exact choices.
My goal is everything I can do DIY. I have taken 13 species DIY. My schedule is determined most by what I draw. I plan to "fill in" hunts when draws are not good to me. I am currently trying to get out of several draws/states so I am getting tags often. I have gotten out of sever states/draws recently and will not return.
One...the first one that I find.
Weird that I’ve missed this one in all this time. In 18 when this started, I never really had a goal at all. I had 4 species at that time as I had spent most of that time hunting Quebec for caribou. Think I’ve taken 11. So you guys needing some , I can loan you one of mine lol. In that time I’ve added 6 species (more rifle than bow). The only goal I have is all 5 caribou species now. I have 3 and will now start working on the next 2. Barren ground and central barren ground. I can see myself getting to 15 species. And I’d like to go back and get some of the easily repeatable hunts with my bow.
5 years since I responded before. My goals haven't changed much. Still want the same species I did then, as well as to hunt the same places as I did then. Maybe in that 5 years I've realized even more that many of my species goals won't be attained unless I hit the lotto :)
I expect some folks have gotten tired of hearing it, but I knocked off a big dream this year with an elephant. Instead of being satisfied with one, it's given me the desire to hunt another.
Congratulations again to Gene F. and Tom E. for completing the Archery NA 29 this fall!
Interesting to read through this again!
Good luck to all on whatever your quest is!
Loosely and realistically pursuing a Super 10, just hard to dedicate time to it while I’m in school and a 24 year old’s savings/income only go so far. At 5/10 right now, but since my Mountain Goat was with a rifle I will be chasing them again to get an archery goat if I ever draw a tag. Have a caribou hunt loosely scheduled for next year with an Alaskan buddy, and will likely draw a cow moose and ewe sheep tag within a few years whenever I have the time to dedicate to the tags. Mountain lion is dependent on me finding a houndsman that doesn’t break the bank, and then will likely save a few years for a musk-ox once I knock the others out. Have notched tags on whitetail, elk, bear, pronghorn, and mountain goat at the moment.
Would love to hunt the four sheep, but I don’t see that happening unless my life financially changes wildly within the next few years, same with a super slam. Tagged along on a Kodiak Brown Bear hunt this spring, so that would likely be the 29th of my 29 if I ever hit the lottery since I don’t really have any desire to repeat that particular species.
deer elk beer caribou mountain lion antelope Going moose hunting in 2024!
I get so bogged down in my goals and hunting goals. Stressed out about deer etc. Then someone close gets a bad cancer and suddenly none of it matters and I don't care if I shoot a basket rack deer.
My Father-in-law recently passed away and I have been trying to get his 1968 Herters takedown recurve, and the 30th Colorado Bowhunters Association Anniversary Pronghorn longbow commemorative bow that my dad won shooting well enough to attempt some future hunts with each.
My daughter is in prime Columbia Blacktail deer country now that she’s finished college and my son just got stationed in Fairbanks for the next 3 years so that’s almost better than when we lived in Seward, so I’m going to attempt to get that Grizzly Bear and Dall Ram hunting with him. Honestly anything that happens is realistically a good thing, doing it with those bows will make it special.
When will Quebec/Labrador Caribou open again?
Interesting thread to read through knowing so many guys personally now.
I had to scroll through the phone photos to check, but I’m currently at 12 species (dall sheep was a rifle so 11 archery), Coues Deer, Bighorn Sheep, and Grizzlies are the 3 other species I’ve hunted… all 3 are arrows I REALLY wish I had back to do over lol.
The NA29 isn’t a personal goal for me, and never really has been. I’d imagine I’ll end up around 20 when it’s all said and done. Growing up a big mule deer and big brown bear with the bow were my two wildest dreams. The deer slam in velvet all making P&Y, a musk ox, a bison, a bigger bull moose, and a grizzly are my 5 goals I hope to achieve over the next 5 years. After that I have no clue what will tickle my fancy bow hunting wise. Like others eluded to, I’ve developed some of my “favorite” hunts over the last decade so repeats are becoming more and more the norm.
It's about that time. I enjoy reading about others achieving their bowhunting goals, so I'm kicking this one back to the top for the new year.
2023 was a great year for me. I killed a mountain lion in January and a cow Shiras moose in September. They were VERY different hunts, but both high on adventure. The lion hunt was guided behind well trained dogs, and the moose hunt was a solo, high-country hunt. I highly recommend both to anyone that has the opportunity. Maybe someday I'll manage to draw a bull moose tag.
I'm at 9 of the 29 with the two new species. No idea what's in store for 24 yet, but I'll need some real luck in the draw to get to 10 this year.
Another year gone already. Hard to believe 2018 was the good old days before prices got expensive....
Huge congratulations to Tom (madtrapper) on completing the 29 this year.
I know there are a couple more guys that will most likely finish very soon. Post up any of your accomplishments, goals, changes in goals either up or down. Has the price increases of the last 2 years affected plans more than 5 years ago?
A bit on my story in the next post.
When Chuck Adams completed the first archery Super Slam I was a teenager that was into everything hunting, especially drawn to bowhunting. I can still remember the day we found a dusty kids bow in my grandparents storage shed and I started shooting it when I was 8 years old. When Chuck finished the first SS I had killed one doe with a bow, but thought how cool it would be to hunt and kill them all , only 27 at that time, might as well been 270 as unattainable as it seemed.
Fast forward to 2018 when this thread started. I had managed to get to the high teens of species killed. Of course most of the cheaper hunts were completed or already booked, it was time to decide if I was going to commit to a solid attempt to finish all 29. By mid 2018 I had several hunts booked for the next few coming years. 2 of those hunts were tule elk and polar bear, for me those 2 were the all-in signal that i was definitely attempting to finish all 29.
In August of 2023 I arrowed a grizzly that was my final Superslam 29 animal. I attached the link from that story and pics of the other 28 animals.
I found this site somewhere around 2007 and it has been a huge asset towards completing this goal. The stories from Jake, Tom E, Tom F, Cory, Tim, Ned and several others over the years along with hunt and gear references over the years all fueled the fire. Thanks to all those that have provided help along the way.
Gene
This is Bowsite at its finest.
Congrats Gene. That's fantastic!
My goals are still prettty much the same. 2023 was my best year yet. After 6 trips, I finally was able to send an arrow through a P&Y coues deer in Mexico. That makes deer species #2, and with any luck at all, I will add a mule deer in September of ‘24. I added another black bear and whitetail to the successfum colum in ‘23 as well. Currently looking pretty hard at a musk ox/caribou combo hunt for ‘25 or ‘26, and theres always the mt. lion that I keep threatening to do. The columbian and sitka blacktails are going to hapoen, just havent nailed down a where and when for them.
I haven't added any new species, still at 13. But my wife completed her Colorado Big 8 (third woman) and Big 9 (second woman) in '21. She is up to 10 species.
Congratulations to everyone.
Prior to 2023, I had only hired a big game guide once in my life...for archery bighorn sheep in Colorado. Hunted with the guide for a week and then spent two additional weeks hunting solo, but never even saw a legal ram.
Turned 62 years old in 2023 and decided some draw tags are likely never going to happen in my lifetime. Got extremely lucky and landed three outfitted cancellation hunts...mountain goat (B.C.), bison (MT) and mountain lion (CO). All three hunts were successful...first time arrowing three new species in the same year. Mountain goat was my first ever B&C animal...netting 49-4/8ths (good for awards, not all time).
To date, I've only bowhunted twelve and harvested ten of the NA29 species. Hope to add a few more species before I'm too old. Super Slam is definitely beyond my reach, but the archery Super 10 and deer slams still have potential at my age. Time will tell!
Congrats on a terrific year, pav!
Im only at 3. Hoping to add a 4th in 2024, then likely a 5th in 2025. Who knows from there. Might try and do as many affordable ones as i can.
Ziek, that's awesome. I love the concept of the Colorado Big 8, 9, 10. I wish New Mexico had an organization half as put together as CBA.
Pav, sounds like you had an epic year. Congrats.
To Gene and Kevin's comments, it's amazing how much the price has shifted in the last few years. With prices and preference points being what they are, there seems to be very little room for waiting. Just have to chase what you can when you can.
Never considered trying to get the 29 species, and had not heard of the Super 10 till this thread. Guess I’m just out of touch. I’m old enough now that sheep and goats are not feasible from a physical/stamina standpoint. And while I could swing the cost of those desert and big horn hunts, spending that kind of money on a hunt doesn’t make any sense to me. For you guys going for the “29”, or other challenges, very best of luck. I’ll continue with whitetail, turkey, elk, maybe antelope and possibly moose. Or maybe another trip to Africa.
Just having fun, and making memories. No chance I’ll ever get to 29, not even a goal, but certainly enjoy variety. To date I’ve taken 9 species, and hunted 12 species.
Hopefully many more years ahead to pursue this great passion called Bowhunting.
Congrats again Gene on finishing your super slam!
I was blessed to take two more species this year, a dall sheep and a woodland bou. To date I have taken 11 species and hunted 14. With a little luck 24 may bring a couple more adventures my way and possibly a couple more species, time will tell.
Stuck on 14 archery. Excited about hunting Alaska again once my son’s residency starts. The only animals I have taken in Alaska are a Brown Bear and Sitka Blacktail deer.
I’m now at 15. Didn’t get a shot at a grizzly in Alaska this spring, but “accidentally” killed a black bear in Wyoming hunting whitetails this fall. I have to thank my wife for talking me into buying the bear tag after I had seen the bear twice in the same spot while deer hunting. Finally got a shot the 5th time I saw it.
Gene, congrats again on 29. And thanks for the discussions about hunting since you answered my questions about your bison hunt back in 2014 I think.
Congrats Gene!
24 for me now. Wish I had hunted QL caribou when I had the chance. So dumb! I have the rest scheduled except for polar bear. Maybe when I get a few more behind me I’ll book it.
Good luck to others trying to accomplish this.
How are Quebec lab caribou being handled. Does 28 now fulfill it if that is the missing species
Grant…Currently a wolf can be substituted for the QL Caribou with GSCO. (Doesn’t make a ton of sense but this is what they’ve done for now). They have not reduced it to 28. They are currently kicking around some other options though as archery wolf is not really feasible.
Heard something about doing eastern and western Canada moose to make up for the Q/L caribou
Huge congratulations , Gene! I’m up to 16 species out of 18 hunted. I may add another one or two but mostly I’m focused on being healthy enough to hunt another year, and hunting with friends and family as much as possible.
Not something I was interested in pursuing but quite an accomplishment for those who get it done Congrats that's some amazing memories
Interesting to look back and see my response from 6 years ago.
I feel like I've hunted a bunch the past few years and still have a ways to go for the 29. It's much more of a attainable destination now than I really thought it would be.
Currently, up to 18 archery species and have four others booked in next two years.
If I can get the big bears to cooperate with me, it should be a smooth process on the tail end if I remain healthy.
Been on three brown bear hunts and haven't killed one yet. Have put four arrows in rams on four sheep hunts, however, wasn't able to recover my stone, so round 2 is on the horizon with them. Been on two Canadian moose hunts and hoping my third one this fall is the charm.
Wouldn't change a thing in the process so far really, it's been a blast seeing new terrain, meeting new people and making lifetime friends in the process.
Up to 14 so far. All bowkills. Hope to add a Mtn goat this fall. Realistically, I have a pretty decent chance to add another 4-5 more. Unless I draw a tag in Utah or Colorado, any sheep are pretty much a pipe dream, as are a brown or polar bear.
I am currently at 9, all with a bow. I was fortunate enough to add a sitka blacktail this past year. Getting all the animals in the super ten would/has led to some amazing adventures. I am lacking a cougar, goat and sheep. At this point I am not sure I can justify the sheep prices so unless I draw a random lower 48 tag or win a raffle, sheep is likely out. But the goat and cougar are definitely on the short list.
Id like a super 10 with a bow. I dont know if I'll ever get a sheep at this point. Ive been on 2 mountain goat hunts and had to finish off one with a rifle before it got into a place too sketchy to recover it. So now I dont know if I'll get an archery goat either.
I have 11 species total and I figure I'll end up in the high teens. I have 6 archery species.
