Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: pamike on February 09, 2014, 09:19:00 PM

Title: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 09, 2014, 09:19:00 PM
Sounds crazy i know but due to work this year i will not get to hunt during the fall months. Soooo i need some options.  I am going to try to draw a montana elk tag to hunt in September and have an outfitter all locked down. BUT sounds like i may not get drawn with only one bonus point.

Give me some other options?

If you have a good reference on outfitter that wouldn't hurt either.

Thanks
Mike
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: threeunder on February 09, 2014, 09:25:00 PM
Mike,

That sucks.

KY archery season opens mid September.  SC low country deer hunting starts Aug 15.  September DIY Elk in Colorado.  I'm sure there are other choices.

Spring turkey season is another option.

Also, don't forget Georgia hogs starting in August and closing out (public land) on Feb. 28 every year.

Lots of options.  If you want to head to Georgia next Jan. or Feb. shoot me a PM and we'll plan a trip.

I can't help with an outfitter, but all of those things I mentioned (with possible exception of SC) have lots of public land available.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: bretto on February 09, 2014, 09:26:00 PM
Kansas and Missouri Whitetail both open the middle of Sept. if you don't mind bugs.

bretto
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: ron w on February 09, 2014, 09:30:00 PM
Do a DIY Elk hunt in Colorado.......over the counter tag and you can go early.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 09, 2014, 09:33:00 PM
Any good velvet whitetail?

Axis deer?

Color phase bears?

Sitka deer?
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: dhermon85 on February 09, 2014, 09:37:00 PM
Hunt for a new job!    :laughing:
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: karrow on February 09, 2014, 09:41:00 PM
colorado elk or bear anywhere in spring or early fall
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 09, 2014, 09:44:00 PM
colorado elk might be best bet due to available tags.  any good outfiitter recs?

how early in the fall are the bear hunts?  guess bugs would be CRAZY!!!!
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: goingoldskool on February 09, 2014, 10:08:00 PM
Fall bear in Canada... Aug and Sept.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: beaunaro on February 09, 2014, 10:11:00 PM
True South Adventures will take you hog and Osceola hunting in South Florida.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: RIng on February 09, 2014, 10:16:00 PM
Go to Maryland .September - January 31 Whiteteal and Sika with many tages lots of publicly land , or afordabeal guided hunting .
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: JDunlap on February 09, 2014, 11:00:00 PM
Buy an over the counter elk tag in Montana...; go to Wyoming and hunt mule deer in Sept..; or go to Texas and hunt hogs.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Matty on February 09, 2014, 11:08:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by pamike:
colorado elk might be best bet due to available tags.  any good outfiitter recs?

how early in the fall are the bear hunts?  guess bugs would be CRAZY!!!!
our  ELK,BEAR,DEER AND ANTELOPE ARE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
Pretty much the entire month of September
You can get every tag VIA APPLICATION WITH NO POINTS
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Bear Heart on February 09, 2014, 11:18:00 PM
Pigs. The answer is always pigs.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: jwind338 on February 10, 2014, 01:01:00 AM
Africa!!
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 10, 2014, 06:56:00 AM
Any recommendations for Colorado elk outfitters?

Velvet whitetail or Muley sounds good too....

Only looked at spring bear and thought that would be too late after finding out about tag in April. Fall bear could work.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: cacciatore on February 10, 2014, 07:09:00 AM
What's better than hunting elk from a spike camp or backpack wilderness?
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Mike Mecredy on February 10, 2014, 09:03:00 AM
I have a hard time in the fall too.  I don't expect everyone to be able to do it but I just had to not hunt.  Wasn't easy but it was either hunt or work.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: J. Holden on February 10, 2014, 10:00:00 AM
You have spring turkey and bear, some deer season open early to mid September.  And Illinois, I'm sure not alone, runs through mid January.  What job has you working 7 days a week for three months?  That sounds like a tough schedule to me.

-Jeremy  :coffee:
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: tarponnut on February 10, 2014, 12:10:00 PM
Year-round hogs in Florida(on private property like ours).
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: ron w on February 10, 2014, 12:36:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by cacciatore:
What's better than hunting elk from a spike camp or backpack wilderness?
Bingo......
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: neargeezer on February 10, 2014, 12:36:00 PM
South Dakota antelope mid August. Tags over the counter.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 10, 2014, 12:48:00 PM
spike camp elk really interests me - any help on an outfitter?

I work at a nuclear power plant and we shut down every fall to refuel the reactor. Normally that is about 20 days and no big deal.  This year we are doing major project work and it will go for 90 days with all prelim work and startup testing.  lucky me!!
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: cacciatore on February 10, 2014, 12:55:00 PM
Mike,I went alone or with buddies in the last 20 years,much more rewarding than hire an outfitter,also if there are some very good ones.
Maybe I can give you more infos in the next few days.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: BowMIke on February 10, 2014, 01:40:00 PM
Hard to beat a Spring or Fall bear hunt!(better hair in the Spring)
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: homer on February 10, 2014, 05:18:00 PM
Turkeys in groundhogs
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: awbowman on February 10, 2014, 05:22:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by dhermon85:
Hunt for a new job!      :laughing:  
THAT'S THE BEST ADVICE I'VE HEARD SO FAR!
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: huntnmuleys on February 10, 2014, 05:41:00 PM
elk.  go get some elk elk experience before your big Montana hunt!!
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 10, 2014, 06:19:00 PM
I hear ya new job but only have to make two more false then back to 20 days again.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Bjorn on February 10, 2014, 06:52:00 PM
Utah elk and deer. California bear, deer and pigs. Turkeys most places. Outfitters can help with tags too.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: long shot on February 10, 2014, 06:56:00 PM
A new job ?
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Lineman72 on February 10, 2014, 07:13:00 PM
Great ideas! Something i never thought i would have an interest in, spike camp. Ty
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Thumper Dunker on February 10, 2014, 08:55:00 PM
Coyotes. If you like hard hunting Our coastal deer season starts in July. Our sierra seasons in august
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: LoneWolf73 on February 10, 2014, 09:09:00 PM
DIY Elk in Colorado Sep.... Alabama Whitetail till Jan 31.....
Think Antelope in Wyoming is early too.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 10, 2014, 09:30:00 PM
Don't know anything about elk. Would much prefer a guide for the first couple times. Spike camp with some help and I am in. Going start looking for some info.

I did antelope in '12. Could do that again but going keep looking for other options.

Maybe I could find a cancelation hunt in spring bear season....
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on February 10, 2014, 09:43:00 PM
What kind of budget do you have to work with?

Whats your main agenda for the hunt?  Obtain meat or just have a great experience? (or both)

What is the deer season like by you?

If you have enough for an outfitted elk hunt, You may consider several trips.

I would suggest, an antelope hunt or hog hunt in august-september, then in January, go south and hunt Hogs and deer in Texas?  Just a thought anyhow?
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 10, 2014, 10:00:00 PM
Definitely all about experience for me. Been trying to do different hunts. I have done moose, caribou, many deer, mt lion, antelope, black bear.  All have been wonderful experiences and was hoping to do back country elk.

I always eat the meat if possible and try to find reasonable hunts. Can't do high end stuff but have been able to find great outfitters or contacts to make it work.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on February 11, 2014, 07:37:00 AM
It sounds like its time to start planning your elk hunt.   :readit:
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: DarkTimber on February 11, 2014, 08:29:00 AM
How about mule deer in August / September?  Lots of good units out west can be drawn with no points and you haven't missed any application deadlines yet.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 11, 2014, 09:48:00 PM
Think I am going to need over the counter cause if I don't get draw for montana it will be too late for any draws.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: ishoot4thrills on February 12, 2014, 06:06:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by cacciatore:
What's better than hunting elk from a spike camp or backpack wilderness?
That sounds great for sure.

There's also varmints like coyotes and ground hogs.

My off-season favorite is bowfishing. It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on February 12, 2014, 07:09:00 AM
I don't know why you wouldn't get an elk tag for Montana...we have a ton of left over non resident elk licenses every year. Unless you are trying to draw a specific unit. If you don't draw you could pick up a left over tag anyways.
That said, Idaho and Colorado are probably cheaper for over the counter tags as a non resident.
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 12, 2014, 08:26:00 PM
Outfitter says I need a specific unit to hunt with him. What I am thinking is finding another outfitter to allow be to hunt with general tag. Anybody got any leads???
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: ron w on February 12, 2014, 09:35:00 PM
Cyclic Rivers and I did a DIY Elk hunt 2 years ago. Camped on our own, drove out and spent 7 days in the Mountains of Colorado. Charlie saw a couple of Elk and a bear, I saw a few deer.....and it was a great time. It's not that hard to do and really cheap. With everything I think we spent just over $900 each. Elk are a bit different but really just big deer in rougher country. Do your home work, get in shape and you'll have a ball!
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on February 12, 2014, 09:53:00 PM
What Ron Didn't mention, there were a bunch of conservation officers in the field.  They were very useful on reporting what others were seeing and at what elevations.  They were a great resource.  

What did our trip in as far as animal sightings was the super late spring.  we were picking strawberries in September, and water was scarce!
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: Trumpkin the Dwarf on February 13, 2014, 08:02:00 AM
pamike. PM sent
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: bamboo on February 13, 2014, 12:39:00 PM
mike
we did a drop camp with the guys--
reasonable--and they did everything they said they would --including putting us on the elk
http://www.w3outfitters.com/
give them a call
Title: Re: If I cant hunt OCT, NOV, DEC what should i hunt?
Post by: pamike on February 14, 2014, 04:13:00 PM
i will look into that.  

Keep them coming