Dream Hunts

[adirondackman]

#7385

On a gorgeous August day I pack 10 plus miles into the Brooks Range in Alaska in search of a Dall Ram. I camp in a beautiful valley and have to hunt hard and long to spot a legal ram to stalk. I plan my stalk according to the wind direction and the available cover afforded to me. I work hard to get with-in 25 yards of the animal that I have dreamed about for years. The outcome is unknown, but this is my Dream.

What type of hunts do you guys dream of?: Africa, Alaska, New Zealand, Hawaii, The Rockies? Just curious to know.

[Etter1]

#61846

Spot and Stalk Black Bear in Alaska by boat. The spot and stalk part would be fantastic let alone the fishing for salmon, steelhead, rockfish, and halibut. Plus you put out the shrimp and crab pots every single day and dig clams on the beaches. The eating alone might make that trip a success!

[tailfeather]

#62217

Etter1 wrote: Spot and Stalk Black Bear in Alaska by boat. The spot and stalk part would be fantastic let alone the fishing for salmon, steelhead, rockfish, and halibut. Plus you put out the shrimp and crab pots every single day and dig clams on the beaches. The eating alone might make that trip a success!

Id love to do that too….

[tailfeather]

#62220

My dream hunt has always been backcountry elk. Im going to do it very soon. Backpack and longbow. Id be tickled with a cow, spike, or even just a helluva hunt. Just to be there doing it.

[paleoman]

#62280

A gray, cold, and still day, a mile or few back on a hardwood ridge in northern New England. Freshly kicked up scrapes along the ridge line and shreds of green-orange bark curled at the base of new rubs. That’s all I’ve ever needed.

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#62290

I’m always dreaming of hunting the places I know best: My home, the NY Hudson Valley, and The Colorado San Juan National Forest! But, High country mule deer anywhere and Oregon Elk hunting is often on my mind!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#62300

Honestly, mule deer and elk out the back door, javelinas in AZ, the bear hunt in coast AK that Sean described, caribou in the Yukon, or chasing just jackrabbits in the sage lands west of where I live, they’re all dream hunts.

[Etter1]

#62458

It’s funny the point that Bruce just made. A lot of our dream hunts are others’ every day hunts. A lot of guys would probably dream of chasing bears the way we do down here. Sneak hunting ridges and stalking them when theyre up in trees. I dream about it every season but it has become semi “normal” to be able to do it.

But I dream of hunting elk and mule deer, and lions, and upland game. All of the things that are “normal” to Bruce.

There is a good thought to be remembered in that.

[Mhuddle]

#62461

I just got back from my dream hunt. 2 week back pack elk hunt in the Montana Rockies with my recurve. This was only my 2nd elk hunt but my first of hopefully many hunts with my recurve. My hunting partner (compound) shot his first elk. Got the experience of cutting up an elk and carrying it out on my back. I saw lots of elk, heard lots of elk but just couldn’t make it happen. Had close encounters with two cows just a few yards out of my comfort zone, had a spike at 10 yards (can’t shoot spikes), had two close encounters with bugling bulls, one being 10 yards but he was moving when he passed me and when I tried to stop him he took off running. This was my first experience of trying to draw my recurve on an animal. Any thoughts, experiences or tips on that topic would be interesting to hear.

We summited a mountain and explored miles of ridges and valleys….so many memories and great experiences. Injury had prevented me from using my recurve the last couple of years and it finally happened. Theres something special about it. I have a hard time finding the words to explain it. As I don’t know any other traditional archers I get a lot of flack that I’m not using my compound and most folks seem perplexed when I say I don’t plan to use it again.

Anyway…I’ve fallen in love with traditional archery, the mountains and elk hunting. I will dream about them until next year!

[tailfeather]

#62463

I took dream hunt to mean something I’ve longed to do, but havent yet. Hunting turkeys is “normal” to me, as in they rank up there with oxygen….but i wouldnt trade them, even as much as i get to do it, for anything.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#62477

Mhuddle wrote:

…We summited a mountain and explored miles of ridges and valleys….so many memories and great experiences. Injury had prevented me from using my recurve the last couple of years and it finally happened. Theres something special about it. I have a hard time finding the words to explain it. As I don’t know any other traditional archers I get a lot of flack that I’m not using my compound and most folks seem perplexed when I say I don’t plan to use it again.

Anyway…I’ve fallen in love with traditional archery, the mountains and elk hunting. I will dream about them until next year!

No need to explain those impulses here, compadre (and yes, I was in a similar conversation just the other night with someone who couldn’t understand why I “wasted” so much time in the woods instead of pulling out my rifle and filling the freezer). You’ve come to the right place.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#62479

Etter1 wrote: A lot of our dream hunts are others’ every day hunts.

I think about that a lot with all of the good things I have such easy access to – that many save up for years to come out and do the same thing, and I should never let myself take it for granted.

But the lure of the exotic is an irresistable siren sometimes – and if I can spot and stalk a javelina this Jan. with my longbow, I’ll consider a ‘dream hunt’ ticked off the list!

And Tailfeather – git yer butt out to AZ and join us!

[Etter1]

#62497

Smithhammer wrote: [quote=Etter1] A lot of our dream hunts are others’ every day hunts.

I think about that a lot with all of the good things I have such easy access to – that many save up for years to come out and do the same thing, and I should never let myself take it for granted.

But the lure of the exotic is an irresistable siren sometimes – and if I can spot and stalk a javelina this Jan. with my longbow, I’ll consider a ‘dream hunt’ ticked off the list!

And Tailfeather – git yer butt out to AZ and join us!

As I told ya the other night, Ive never longed to hunt a javelina, nor have I spent much time learning about them but the idea of spending a week in an environment so foreign to me is just thrilling!

Im gonna start reading up on them now.

[William Warren]

#62504

Elk and caribou have always been a dream but hogs and javelina are probably more likely to happen. To some, just getting to hunt anything is a dream. So when I get to go I’m very thankful that I can.

[Stephen Graf]

#62848

Etter1 wrote: Spot and Stalk Black Bear in Alaska by boat. The spot and stalk part would be fantastic let alone the fishing for salmon, steelhead, rockfish, and halibut. Plus you put out the shrimp and crab pots every single day and dig clams on the beaches. The eating alone might make that trip a success!

As it happens, I’ve been looking into such a thing. 10K to 30K are the price tags I’ve been seeing… Whew! And that doesn’t include a bunch of extra’s they list but don’t price. A dream turned nightmare…

[Stephen Graf]

#62852

Smithhammer wrote: …chasing just jackrabbits in the sage lands west of where I live, they’re all dream hunts.

Amen to that! There are about 2 days a year here where the squirrel hunting is perfect… Squirrels everywhere hanging out on the ground… Being out on those days means lots of shots and maybe a few squirrels. Clean crisp fall air, falling leaves… Oh yea.

The dream is that I can be there and enjoy it without the nagging thoughts in the back of the head that I need to be doing something else, getting work done…

[Robin Conrads]

#63050

Steve Graf wrote: As it happens, I’ve been looking into such a thing. 10K to 30K are the price tags I’ve been seeing… Whew! And that doesn’t include a bunch of extra’s they list but don’t price. A dream turned nightmare…

Did you check out Homer Ocean Charters? They’ve been a long-time advertiser and offer some great options for bear hunting and fishing. (Deer as well, but the link above is for bear hunting.) At least give them a call and see what their prices are. I know many traditional hunters who have enjoyed hunting with this outfitter, and I don’t think the price is as high as you quoted. 😯 I could be wrong. 😆

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#63151

That’s good to hear, Robin. Someday I’d really like to do this.

[David Petersen]

#63351

A fair chase feral hog hunt (no bait, no hounds, etc.) someplace other than Texas.

[Etter1]

#63492

David Petersen wrote: A fair chase feral hog hunt (no bait, no hounds, etc.) someplace other than Texas.

You can be on feral hogs every day of the week in south ga on public land. Theyre fun to hunt. Fort stewart in SE ga is loaded with em. Gas money and a license is all it costs. Season is open year round.

[Stephen Graf]

#63863

[quote=Webmother]…Did you check out Homer Ocean Charters? …/quote]

Their website was the first I visited. But their website says to call for prices. So I checked out some other websites, from which I got the numbers… I expect if they don’t want to post the prices, there’s a reason. You know the old saying, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. 😳

[Stephen Graf]

#63868

Etter1 wrote: [quote=David Petersen]A fair chase feral hog hunt (no bait, no hounds, etc.) someplace other than Texas.

You can be on feral hogs every day of the week in south ga on public land. Theyre fun to hunt. Fort stewart in SE ga is loaded with em. Gas money and a license is all it costs. Season is open year round.

Then that’s a done deal! I’m going after deer season. Will I see them in January and February?

[Ralph]

#63996

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.huntwildpig.com/state-specifics/colorado/&sa=U&ei=GCc5VO20BsfC8QGCooHIBg&ved=0CAYQFjAA&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHTbo7cnjc0Ijemyc03kByyWRdWUA

David, you could try this part of the world.

[Etter1]

#7761

Steve Graf wrote: [quote=Etter1][quote=David Petersen]A fair chase feral hog hunt (no bait, no hounds, etc.) someplace other than Texas.

You can be on feral hogs every day of the week in south ga on public land. Theyre fun to hunt. Fort stewart in SE ga is loaded with em. Gas money and a license is all it costs. Season is open year round.

Then that’s a done deal! I’m going after deer season. Will I see them in January and February?

Yeah, I know guys down here that get on em pretty much every hunt. It’s swamp hunting. Hip boots and a compass are a must. Tailfeather and I were talking about doing a January or February hunt down there and maybe throw in some red and trout fishing. We sure wouldn’t mind some company if we get some dates settled.

I will be going to Arizona for 10-12 days in January depending on how much driving I can get done each day so I don’t have as much flexibility as I normally would but I bet Joe and I can work out a few days to make at least a long weekend. Even if we don’t, he could probably point you into some nice areas.

It’s in SE GA, near Savannah.

[Etter1]

#7762

There are a lot of WMAs in S GA with a lot of pigs. Chickasawhatchee and Horse Creek come immediately to mind.

If you had 4-7 days to hunt any place like that, you could get dialed into some big groups of pigs in a few days I’m sure.

[Etter1]

#7765

I see you’re in North Carolina but don’t know where. Coastal South Carolina , South GA, and North Florida are loaded with em and very little pressure gets put on them that time of year. I bet if you did some research, you could find some a little closer to home.

I was getting on them regularly in the dead of winter in the mountains of NE GA. They’re not reliable up there though and move daily.

Find any public land in any of those areas with a lot of water (swamps and sloughs) and there will be pigs nearby.

[David Petersen]

#7795

Ralph — That’s the first I’ve heard of feral hogs in CO! I’ll check it out, thank you. Living here, distance is a major obstacle to hog hunting, making it “exotic” to me.

Etter — For several months in 1969-70 I was stationed at Hunter-Stewart while undergoing Army helicopter flight training. This included a weeklong jungle survival class in the swamp, where we were larded with spook stories about giant hogs, gators and quicksand. All I ran into was plenty of rattlers, which taste like chicken when you’re hungry. I recall flying treetop along those forest-shrouded winding rivers, and very tough walking and navigating. Perfect Bigfoot country! I lived at Savanna Beach and there was nothing there but nice old frame houses. I’ll bet it’s unrecognizable now.

[Ptaylor]

#7922

All these sound like dream hunts! And as said before hunting near home is a dream to others.

But, If I could do a hunt anywhere any animal: Bull Moose, in Alaska, and in Maine.

I’m checking off some dream hunts this year too:

1) 2nd year elk hunting. One day I’m gonna get an elk.

2) Going whitetail hunting during the rut with longbow this November. Back east in New England. Super psyched to watch some rutting whitetails!

[Col Mike]

#7987

Any hunt anywhere any time. And if I could share the campfire with some of you it would be a dream or nightmare:lol::lol:

[Ralph]

#8016

Would be a cool hunt with some of you guys, huntin, stumpin and tellin tales.

I’ll be designated driver. 😀

But I’m an awful cook and I never get the dishes clean:wink::wink:

[Stephen Graf]

#8606

So Ralph, you don’t drink, can’t cook and don’t do dishes. What the hell good are you?

I’m not dragging your deer out of the woods for that 😀

[Ralph]

#8621

Moral support:lol:

Actually I can do dishes quite well. My attitude in boot camp saw to that a couple of times. Some lesson are never forgotten. Attitude and the definition of clean

Open a can of Dinty Moore beef stew, dump in a can of pork and beans, heat til it bubbles……………..Beats the hell out of C-Rations (when I was in the Corps, it was C-rations and M-14’s 😉 ) Dang it’s been a long time since I got out, 1972, whoa!

The no drinking part? Well I ain’t changing that. Somebody’s gotta be the referee!!!!!

Draggin’ deer! If I get that big muley down, I’ll holler and I’ll cook backstraps when we’re done:D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#8629

Both of you jokers should come join us in AZ this January!

[Etter1]

#8726

David Petersen wrote: Ralph — That’s the first I’ve heard of feral hogs in CO! I’ll check it out, thank you. Living here, distance is a major obstacle to hog hunting, making it “exotic” to me.

Etter — For several months in 1969-70 I was stationed at Hunter-Stewart while undergoing Army helicopter flight training. This included a weeklong jungle survival class in the swamp, where we were larded with spook stories about giant hogs, gators and quicksand. All I ran into was plenty of rattlers, which taste like chicken when you’re hungry. I recall flying treetop along those forest-shrouded winding rivers, and very tough walking and navigating. Perfect Bigfoot country! I lived at Savanna Beach and there was nothing there but nice old frame houses. I’ll bet it’s unrecognizable now.

I would bet it is a bit different. It is some snakey turf for sure.

[Stephen Graf]

#9773

Smithhammer wrote: Both of you jokers should come join us in AZ this January!

I’ve already committed my January to duck hunting. But I surely would like to meet you fellows and give those peccary’s a go, although I expect the ducks will taste better 😀

Maybe if there is a 2nd annual peccary hunt and whiskey drinking festival, I’ll plan better…

[tailfeather]

#9876

David Petersen wrote:

Etter — For several months in 1969-70 I was stationed at Hunter-Stewart while undergoing Army helicopter flight training. This included a weeklong jungle survival class in the swamp, where we were larded with spook stories about giant hogs, gators and quicksand. All I ran into was plenty of rattlers, which taste like chicken when you’re hungry. I recall flying treetop along those forest-shrouded winding rivers, and very tough walking and navigating. Perfect Bigfoot country! I lived at Savanna Beach and there was nothing there but nice old frame houses. I’ll bet it’s unrecognizable now.

I lived just south of Savannah from 2008 to 2011. Working at a split position between Fort Stewart and Georgia DNR. I looooved hunting Ft. Stewart….280,000 acres of swamps and uplands. Some of my favorite spots were swamp islands accessible only via canoe. The summers somewhat sucked, but at least there was plenty of water and bikinis. Between the excellent deer, turkey, and hog hunting, duck hunting in the marshes, redfish and trout in the grass flats, there was always something to do.

[tailfeather]

#9879

Smithhammer wrote: [quote=Etter1]

And Tailfeather – git yer butt out to AZ and join us!

I’d dearly love to. This dumb thing called work is getting in my way. I’ll send you an Etter survival guide to help you on your trip.:D

[Etter1]

#10450

tailfeather wrote: [quote=Smithhammer][quote=Etter1]

And Tailfeather – git yer butt out to AZ and join us!

I’d dearly love to. This dumb thing called work is getting in my way. I’ll send you an Etter survival guide to help you on your trip.:D

Thanks Joe. Make sure he brings three times more beer than he “thought” he needed.

[benjamin Boyce]

#126671

I was thinking of going on a bear hunt with Alaska Ocean Pros I went on a halibut charter with them awhile back. does anyone know if they are any good.? 

Or would you recommend somone like HomerOcean?

 

[grumpy]

#126678

Right no I’m dreaming of stumping with my new bow.  Varnish is drying.

[David Balowski]

#127425

Wow dream hunts that is a long list. Some of them are hunts for a animal more so for the adventure and to see a part of the world, Like some day we would love to go to Africa. Caribou is high on my list but will probably never happen now that Quebec has ended sport hunting. Need to head west again to try for an Elk we have done that once.

In 9 days Tracey and I will be heading to Ontario for one of our dream hunts this one is for Moose. We have been saving for this for two years. We will hope to have some great pictures to post in early October.

[David Coulter]

#127446

That sounds like a great time. Someday I’d love to do something like that. I do feel very fortunate to be able to walk out the back door and hunt whitetail and squirrels. I built a heavy squirrel arrow with a hex head, about 650 gr. Mostly for fun as I’m usually consumed during squirrel season trying for something with more pounds of meat per shot. Have a great trip! Dwc

[Stephen Graf]

#127512

David,

Those nutty munchers, as my boy used to call them when he was a wee-one,  are super fast.  They make their living by dodging hawks and the like.  I have found that even the best aimed arrow will miss if it doesn’t get there in a hurry.

I’ve also found that, squirrels being as tough as they are, impact hits from blunts produce marginal results.  When I used carbon arrows I ended up just using a field point with a washer behind it.  Since switching to wood, I’ve just started shooting at them with my broadhead arrows.  a broadhead will put a whoopin’ on ’em 🙂  The only down side I’ve found to using  broadheads is that squirrels can bloody an arrow same as deer.  Got to clean ’em up when you get back home…

But a squirrel that you’ve hit with a broadhead ain’t going nowhere.

That’s my 2 cents.

[David Coulter]

#127513

Hi Steve, all true. I think this was more of a project with spare parts laying on the bench. The heavy arrow part really is to match the rest of my arrows, although this ones a few gr heavier. I do have some old broadheads I’m willing to bounce off the rocks where the squirrels were. Mainly its a matter of time. One arrow for a few ounces of meat vs one arrow for many pounds. The curse of concurrent seasons!

[chefterry]

#127563

i had many a chance of my dream hunt years ago in nz wher i live , never got a deer but hes on my bucketlist. Im going to experience traditional bowhunting for the 1st time, i have used guns for about 10 years and never satisfied with the hunt as i took wild cattle and goats. I now have copd in its mild form and intend to get my first deer even if it kills me. I have bought my recurve and arrows from the states and intend using them in the summer. NZ is a great place to hunt deer numbers are good and i have my meat safe of wild cattle. havnt been for years there but i suspect they are still there for the hunt.

many thanks to the footed shaft in my purchase and hopefully many suggestions for my dream hunt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Michael Dukes]

#128354

My dream hunt is to take a grizzly on Kodiak Island, AK with my Bear Kodiak Hunter.

[Jerry Gowins]

#129915

Africa for Plains Game, and Newfoundland for moose & caribou.

[Author]

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