Expensive Hunts

[RaySendero]

I just finished my dream hunt!!!

Me and some friends have been hunting a dominate white tail buck on along the east side of a creek for last 12 years.
Now we all know its not been the same buck making all those signs along that creek for that long time.

But they were all a ghosts! No one had ever seen them or got a pic of them on the many trail cams.
Yet, ever year there were these rubs, scraps and big tracks for a 1+ mile path along this creek.
We've been moving 3 trail cams around out along that path for last 6 yrs.
Lots of deer - Plenty of does and immature bucks, but never the dominate one.


Well...This year I got him!
Biggest buck of my life with the oldest(1939) favorite rifle I own.

Cost $95 gas round trip, $65 for a few days groceries and $130 for 7 day non-residence license.
Great hunts of a life time don't have to be expensive.

 

[Guy Miner]

Good point Ray, and congratulations!

Guy

 

[salmonchaser]

Absolutely a great hunt, perfect.


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[Europe]

How many here are old enough, besides Dr Mike and I, to remember the novel. Acres of Diamonds.

I made sure each of our children read this novel when growing up.

Ray, excellent story and hunt, and the "best" was right in your back yard. Classic "Acres of diamonds" story and hunt.

congratulations

 

[DrMike]

April,

It has been some years since I last read Conwell's book. Excellent resource to remind us of unrealized potential. For those that are unaware, Conwell was a Baptist pastor in Philadelphia. He is best remembered as the founder of Temple University, funded in great measure through his speech, "Acres of Diamonds." Many reading this speech can only see a message that anyone can become rich, which is tragic. Conwell was actually urging people to see the richness of opportunities each person possesses. Excellent reminder, April.

 

[RaySendero]

Ray, excellent story and hunt, and the "best" was right in your back yard. Classic "Acres of diamonds" story and hunt.

congratulations

Dang-it! why would you put that nagging thought in my head?

Haven't thought of anything else since I read your post today:




Of how I would love to have a 400 mile backyard!

 

[c. schutte]

April,

As much as I would love to hunt Africa, a grizzly & moose in Alaska is more pressing. To answer your question cape buffalo and will do it some day.

 

[Europe]

Charles,

I think we know someone that would probably buy you an Alaska hunt, if you ask them, do you have that Brenneke all tuned in ?

Thank you Dr Mike, loved that book and its message

Sorry about that Ray--- I currently have a 400 mile back yard but it is all under water LOL

 

[SJB358]

April,

As much as I would love to hunt Africa, a grizzly & moose in Alaska is more pressing. To answer your question cape buffalo and will do it some day.

That's a great one Chuck. I would like to go toe to hoof with a buffalo...

But the grizzly hunt is really where I'm aiming for.

 

[Vince]

Cape Buffalo has been my dream hunt since I was a kid.
I know a buff hunter that's killed more of them with a .338 Win Mag than most folks have seen.

I'd be happy hunting plains game though, or any opportunity to go to the dark continent, so long as I can hunt something.

Vince


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[mcseal2]

Mine would be moose, caribou, and black and brown bear in Alaska. Just being able to spend enough time up there to take all of them would be awesome. Sheep definitely interest me, but until I've done the other ones it's not a priority. I have an Alaskan moose hunt lined up in 2018 with Papa Bear, a buddy and I are getting dumped off for 10 days to try to find a moose. I will likely make a caribou hunt happen someday. I might be able to get a black bear on one of the other hunts or will likely hunt them someday somewhere closer. The brown bear I don't know if I'll pull off or not. I'll use my Rifles Inc 300 win mag lightweight 70 with 180gr accubonds on any of them but the big bear. If it starts looking like that hunt might become a reality someday I'll buy a 375 Ruger far enough ahead of the hunt to get it set up like I want and practice with it a lot.

 

[sask boy]

Man there are some great hunts being talked about on this post :wink:. The one animal I would like to try for is a big double shovel Caribou .
Likely won't happen but I will never say never!!
Great post, thank you April!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Fourtyonesix]

I guide for grizzly and Kodiak brown bear here at home. But dang. If it was my personal choice I'd still skip over Africa for a big bear of my own! No animal
Is as amazing as the grizzly/brown bear for me!

 

[elkhunternm]

Big bull elephant.

 

[ElmerThud]

I've been very fortunate & have hunted over 35 years all six UK species of deer, (reds, sika, fallow, roe, muntjac & chinese water deer) also feral goat & fox .. mostly in Scotland...on some of the finest hunting land in the world.

I always wanted to hunt plains game in Africa (where I've visited many times ..but not hunting)
Namibia was the place I fancied most, although Tanzania & Zambia were high on my wish list.

Now I'm 68 and my health/fitness poor, so it looks like Africa will never happen for hunting.
Don't waste any time, get your cash together and go hunting.
And very best of luck go with you.

 

[35 Whelen]

Only thing that would get me really reved up now would be go for "Ovis ammon polii" up on the " roof of the world. One of the worlds "Greatest hunts" and fine ending to a long stalk.......

 

[Africa Huntress]

Earle,

Mum hunted Marco Polo in Tajikistan with a 280 AI and a 140 AB. Dad went with her but did not hunt. They said it is a VERY tough hunt. I would also like to hunt them but I have a desire to hunt Polar Bear even more, so that dream needs to be fulfilled first. If I am real nice to Gil and Cheyenne maybe they will guide me. It is my understanding that you can only hunt them using a dog sled for transportation and that would also be fun.

Best Regards

Jamila

 

[Blkram]

Jamila,

I'm afraid that I live quite a bit south of the territory of the great white bear, but it would be a great hunt to accompany you and Cheyenne on!

I have always thought about having a polar bear rug on the floor of a log cabin, in front of a fireplace. Combining a polar bear hunt with a musk ox hunt would be a great adventure! I would love to do the hunt with the bow; you can back me up with your double, and Cheyenne with her 348! Unfortunately you may not find the same sense of security with me backing you up with my bow! LOL

But no worries, I do pack a backup rifle when bowhunting!

 

[35 Whelen]

Jamila,
Your mum certainly got around and sampled alot of the finer things in life! You are obviously very proud of her, and for good reason!
I already had the chance to hunt lower Altai/ Wapti in Mongolia years ago and blew it............. At that time Klineburgers had cooked up a deal that included the helicopter trip right into base camp ! Then you rode on one
Of those little Mongolian Ponys right to where you dismounted and harvested your sheep. There were so many Sheep to pick from ,a few guys that did that hunt at that time mid 80s , spoke of large numbers of rams to pick From. I am sure a well placed Nosler ABLR from the 270 Win, would do the trick..........The antlers on the Mongolian Wapti looked impressive to me. It would certainly be quite an experience.

 

[Africa Huntress]

Gil, from what I have been told by Cheyenne, I would have no problem with you backing me up with a bow. Best of luck with your upcoming matches in Canada and France.

Earle, yes mum has certainly had both an expansive and exciting hunting life. Mum was introduced to the sport early and went with her father and grandfather. She also tells me, the same thing you have mentioned above, that the animals were in abundance, the hunts were inexpensive, and there were fewer regulations. The one thing she has not done and wants to do is a Tiger hunt. They have ask India ( and I think Thailand ) to contact them if they have a rogue Tiger that needs to be put down, but to date, no luck.

I am sorry you missed the Marco Polo hunt. Do you think you can still find a way to hunt them now ? Have you hunted the Polar Bear and if so, did you like it or and if not would you like to hunt them ?