DIY hunting in the USA, suggestions where to go?

[odonata]

The south central area that I generally hunt in might offer some opportunities worth exploring. I do a lot of hunting in Arkansas where there's hills & public land to the west with deer & bear and flat Mississippi delta agriculture to the east with waterfowl. There are a few special permits to hunt in certain Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) but I don't think they're as difficult to acquire as some permits are in other areas of the country.

During the spring, hunting for snow geese in the central flyway might be an easy & affordable thing to do. All you need is a valid license "from any state" & they'll give you a free conservation hunt permit. I assume that might work for a hunting license from another country but I haven't researched it. There's nothing more fun than sitting on a plastic bucket in an ice cold puddle of water in a soybean field.

The shooting can vary depending on whether the geese are in the air & flying north (2023) or if they're content to roost on the ground and wait for better weather (2024). But a couple of years ago we got 126 in two days & had a good time. There's no daily limit so when the shooting is good, there can be a lot of it.

One thing I like about Texas is that they offer 5-day licenses for $48 so its easy to drive over there & hunt hogs with thermals for not a lot of money for example. As mentioned earlier, you could also hunt javelina, aoudad or varmints like coyote, ground squirrels or prairie dogs. There's upland bird hunting opportunities as well. Many of these options also apply to Oklahoma.

Before deer season starts, I have a good friend who really likes small game hunting with pneumatics which can be quite the challenge so we like to wander through the Ozark Mountains hunting squirrels & rabbits. That's always a nice time of year to go for a hike through the woods. We'll be out in a national forest all day & never see another person. If you have a 4x4 camper, there's plenty of free back-country campsites along gravel forest service roads.

A forest service ranger who stopped to chat with us gets a laugh out of John's Daystate setup. John managed a 50-meter head shot on a squirrel shortly after this photo was taken.

Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is my other favorite option whenever I'm not hunting. If you're camping in a 4x4, this photo was taken at St. George Island State Park on Apalachicola Bay. I usually do most of my Gulf fishing off the coast of Louisiana or the barrier islands near Mississippi. All of them are good locations.

Enjoy your visit to the USA!

 

[PrechtlM98]

Thanks a lot, you are great! That will help to concretize the plan.
Thats a cool brainstorming here.
Like I said it's a plan for the further future, can be in some years, but is on the list (have to take
care of my mom at the moment and can not be away for month now).

I figured out, there is the possibility to do an onlinecours to achieve your hunting licence. That
will be the first thing to do. As well I have got time to apply for tags and achieve credits. Sure
big game is not easy to get, but as I am a fisher and hunter my whole live I think I'll be mulish
enought to get some. In fishing for example I had the plan to catch bluefin tuna on my own.
Done it up to 450lbs without any guide...

By species I'd take whatever I can get on tags. But Elk and Bear would be No. 1.
In fishing I've been in BC for sturgeon and salmon, maybe something to repeat in Oregon?
Most of your Bass we do not have in Europe so thats also a target. And one more dream is
shorebased sharkfishing in Florida, what should be not a problem.
My big advantage is, that my wife hates citys and shopping ond loves to be outdoor as much as
I do. With gunsave I mean gun cabinet or however you name propper locker für weapons. Think
that helps for traveling.

What about crossing borders in the USA with a rifle? Do you have to declare it in any way or may
It be a real problem in some states? Could imagine to enter DC with a .375H&H without any hunting
possibility can become a problem.

Best regards

PM

 

[odonata]

What about crossing borders in the USA with a rifle? Do you have to declare it in any way or may
It be a real problem in some states? Could imagine to enter DC with a .375H&H without any hunting
possibility can become a problem.

Generally speaking, a firearm can be legally transported in a vehicle anywhere if it is unloaded, in a locked case, is separate from the ammunition (i.e. the ammo is in its own locked box) & it's not in an area that is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. This will often be sufficient in even the most restrictive areas but it's always good to check the laws before you travel to certain jurisdictions. In some areas of the country, citizens can carry a loaded pistol on their hip without a permit so it does vary and there's a wide range on what is allowed depending on where you are.

So with your 375 H&H example above, you should be good because you are "...transporting the firearm for a lawful purpose from a place where the person may lawfully possess and carry the firearm to another place where the person may lawfully possess and carry the firearm;".

But I'm not a lawyer.

§ 22–4504.02. Transportation of firearms. | D.C. Law Library

code.dccouncil.gov

 

[John Camp]

This is intriguing. My take is that you have many oportunities at many species. As some have said, drawing tags is difficult, in fact simply navigating the regulations, seasons, and hunt areas can be overwhelming when you first look into it.

My advise:
Hunt eastern (preferably southern) whitetails in November and December during the rut. There are many public land oportunities, you buy a license and get your tags with the liscence in most cases.

Consider hunting the North Georgia mountains. You can hunt whitetail, black bears, and hogs at the same time. If you decide to hunt the North GA Mountains let me know and I will put you in some premium spots. The caveat is that when you go where others won't go to have an oportunity at a real trophy animal, you have to butcher your animal on the spot and pack him out.

Next, look to the places where OTC oportunities are the best. For spring black bear probably Idaho and Montana. I think the best OTC elk tags can be had in Colorodo. These will not be trophy caliber bulls. Elk is tough to hunt OTC. For mule deer probably Idaho. Blacktail deer Oregon.

You might want to consider some of our exotics. In September (I think - I am hoping to hunt them next year) you can hunt Sika deer in Maryland with OTC tags. You can hunt Barbary Sheep in New Mexico year round.

If you hunt with a bow it will open up a lot more oportunities.

But, right here you can hunt black bears in May or June in Idaho. You can hunt black bears in Georgia in September at their early WMA hunts. Hunt Sika in Maryland in September. Hunt the eastern whitetail rutt in early to mid November. You can hunt for Oregon Blacktails the end of November. Hunt the Georgia mountains for bear, deer, and hogs in mid December (they have a late and spread out rutt).

You can hunt Barbary Sheep in New Mexico in the winter. Mix in plenty of fishing and I think that is a hell of a year.

 

[Sabre]

I would say that you are biting off a big chunk that is going to be hard to chew.

Not saying not to do some version of your plan. But the plan to hunt as much as possible all over the US in an RV as a person from another country DIY might be a lot to digest.

Every state has so many hunting laws that vary from state to state, from animal to animal, and from season to season. Many states have a massive number of hunting units the state is broken into. The tags and laws can vary within those many units per state. And fishing laws can vary from lake to lake or river within a state also.

Keep in mind that some roads are closed to any trailers/campers for winter months, so it might be wise to focus on less mountainous roads in the worst winter months.

It might be a good idea to pick a few species that are easy to get access to tags and public land and focus on them. Like, Whitetail, Turkey (there are multiple species), black bear, coyote, fox. Possibly pick one or two species that require a draw or more planning time to hunt like elk and mule deer, and only plan one hunt each for those in an area and time where you won't find yourself going over a snowy cliff. And then fish the summer months. There are spring and fall bear hunts, there are also spring and fall turkey hunts.

 

[Red Leg]

I think you could be wasting a lot of valuable time with your current plan. I would strongly suggest picking two or three guided free range hunts in reasonable driving proximity. In my experience Europeans have no real idea how large this country is. You could book a hunt for whitetail in the Southeast which would open a lot of areas to visit as a tourist from New Orleans, to Savanah, to Charleston and a host of other places. A second booking for a mule deer or Aoudad in West Texas would open up visits to iconic sites like the Alamo, Fort Worth, and the Texas Hill Country. Depending on the exact timing, conclude it with a duck/goose/red fish/trout adventure out of Lake Charles on the Gulf Coast. All of these could be arranged through a competent consultant.

 

[Delloro]

OP you can shoot elk and some other nice game, but it can be very expensive to bypass the application process. You can obtain private tags.

If OTC tags are available, it's because the odds are low or access is difficult.

 

[wildwilderness]

timing would have to be well thought out since going from one side of the US to the other takes time if Driving slow. That's not counting driving to Alaska though, and should go hit the Salmon runs in July/August and halibut!

for comparison

 

[John Camp]

I think yall are harshing this man's mellow. If he has a year to do this hunting and is willing to put in the time for research and planning, he can fill the year with hunting adventures all over our country. There will be limitations. I dont think anyone needs to hunt anywhere and Alaska the same year. But, with some help from willing locals he could certainly hunt 6-8 mamals in as many states.

 

[skydiver386]

I think you could be wasting a lot of valuable time with your current plan. I would strongly suggest picking two or three guided free range hunts in reasonable driving proximity. In my experience Europeans have no real idea how large this country is. You could book a hunt for whitetail in the Southeast which would open a lot of areas to visit as a tourist from New Orleans, to Savanah, to Charleston and a host of other places. A second booking for a mule deer or Aoudad in West Texas would open up visits to iconic sites like the Alamo, Fort Worth, and the Texas Hill Country. Depending on the exact timing, conclude it with a duck/goose/red fish/trout adventure out of Lake Charles on the Gulf Coast. All of these could be arranged through a competent consultant.

I think this is the better idea for a visiting hunter.

Each region of the U.S. has it's own distinct flavor of hunting and fishing.

Northern Florida, Georgia would offer Deer, Hogs, Quail, Gators, Turkeys and great fishing in the Gulf and Atlantic.

Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas would offer Whitetail, Mule Deer and possibly Pronghorn, Pheasant, Quail, etc.

Many Americans retire and spend a year or more driving around the Country and still don't feel they spent enough time in each region.

 

[Flbt]

I

Hello,

I'm just at the beginning of my next plan, but
within the next five years, I'd like to ship my 4x4 camper for one year to the states.

As far as I figured out, it is not that complicated to get tags for hunting on
public land as a foreigner.

In general it should be one year off for overlanding, with the possibility to hunt
from time to time, with some breaks for fishing ;-).
As far as I have learned you have pretty short hunting seasons
for most mammals, so maybe the trip should be planed by hunting season (I think Maine has
other seasons than Florida or Colorado?).

What would you suggest where to go and what to hunt and when? Arriving at the eastcost, time for one year!
Could it be a problem to travel with a weapon in some states (Gunsave is installed), maybe better to skip some
states?

Best regards

PM

don’t know about short season.
In fl depending on zone a weapon choice deer start September and goes through February of the next year
Hogs on public land about the same.
Private land year round.
Ga the southern zone October yo January of the next year.
Both have grate fishing
More limited season bear and alligator.
Alabama had a long deer season to.
Now out west and bigger game I don’t know much about.

 

[Flbt]

The south central area that I generally hunt in might offer some opportunities worth exploring. I do a lot of hunting in Arkansas where there's hills & public land to the west with deer & bear and flat Mississippi delta agriculture to the east with waterfowl. There are a few special permits to hunt in certain Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) but I don't think they're as difficult to acquire as some permits are in other areas of the country.

During the spring, hunting for snow geese in the central flyway might be an easy & affordable thing to do. All you need is a valid license "from any state" & they'll give you a free conservation hunt permit. I assume that might work for a hunting license from another country but I haven't researched it. There's nothing more fun than sitting on a plastic bucket in an ice cold puddle of water in a soybean field.

View attachment 650011

The shooting can vary depending on whether the geese are in the air & flying north (2023) or if they're content to roost on the ground and wait for better weather (2024). But a couple of years ago we got 126 in two days & had a good time. There's no daily limit so when the shooting is good, there can be a lot of it.

View attachment 650012

One thing I like about Texas is that they offer 5-day licenses for $48 so its easy to drive over there & hunt hogs with thermals for not a lot of money for example. As mentioned earlier, you could also hunt javelina, aoudad or varmints like coyote, ground squirrels or prairie dogs. There's upland bird hunting opportunities as well. Many of these options also apply to Oklahoma.

View attachment 650014

Before deer season starts, I have a good friend who really likes small game hunting with pneumatics which can be quite the challenge so we like to wander through the Ozark Mountains hunting squirrels & rabbits. That's always a nice time of year to go for a hike through the woods. We'll be out in a national forest all day & never see another person. If you have a 4x4 camper, there's plenty of free back-country campsites along gravel forest service roads.

View attachment 650017

A forest service ranger who stopped to chat with us gets a laugh out of John's Daystate setup. John managed a 50-meter head shot on a squirrel shortly after this photo was taken.

View attachment 650021

Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is my other favorite option whenever I'm not hunting. If you're camping in a 4x4, this photo was taken at St. George Island State Park on Apalachicola Bay. I usually do most of my Gulf fishing off the coast of Louisiana or the barrier islands near Mississippi. All of them are good locations.

View attachment 650019
Enjoy your visit to the USA!

How is st. George ? I have not been down since the mikle in what 18.
One time down there years ago before they inforced the 4x4 trail I spent most of the day pulling people out. Got some nice crabs and sail cat after it though.
That was the last time I carried the big truck down there. 80 f150 on 38 superswampers.

 

[odonata]

How is st. George ?

I arrived at St. George Island via a restored 1972 Hallberg-Rassy Rasmus on our way to a boatyard in Carrabelle. So I never actually went into the park where most people go. We just used the dinghy to cruise around remote areas photographing eagles & catching speckled trout like the picture I posted above. We had fish tacos for supper that night.

 

[Wyit76]

Hey there, I know this is an older post so I am not sure if you are still planning your trip or not but I would like to add some suggestions.

As other have stated the majority of hunting in the US takes place from the end of August to January with rifle seasons generally being October onward. There are some considerations with spring bear and turkey seasons worth considering. The majority of states are going to a draw or lottery system for big game species especially for non residents, or foreigners in your case. This will add an increased amount of planning on your part but does not make it impossible. States in the US are basically different countries inside the same country, all of them will have different laws and regulations for hunting and firearms.

If you can truly swing being in the US for a year there will be a ton of potential opportunities. I would recommend bringing a shotgun, 12 or 20 gauge, and preferably 2 rifles if regulations allow it, a rimfire (17hmr or 22lr) or small caliber centerfire (.223, 22-250, 22cm or the likes) and a larger centerfire for big game. Make your firearms selections based on ammunition easily found in the US, as far as I know you will not have issue purchasing ammunition while you are here.

The shotgun will open up many hunting opportunities. Upland birds, turkey, small game, and waterfowl can be hunted in most states with fairly cheap and readily available licensing. Spring turkey hunting is often compared to elk hunting due to how they behave but logisticly they are way easier to deal with! Upland game is another excellent way to experience hunting the US. These seasons generally run alongside big game seasons and the birds are hunted in the same areas you would chase deer and elk. Waterfowl hunting can open up a significant portion of the late season or early winter. I would recommend your shotgun of choice be either 12 or 20 gauge for ease of finding ammunition in the states.

For the summer months many states allow for predator and varmit hunting, again these are cheap over the counter licenses or free in many states. Montana and Wyoming have vast amounts of prairie country where prairie dogs, a rodent, can be chased for days on end with no license. It is not hard at all to set up and shoot for hours at a time in the same patch of the little varmits. Coyotes can be a byproduct of these hunts but the best time to pursue these will be in the winter when their coats are the best. A small caliber centerfire rifle will work best for these situations, something you don't mind shooting a whole lot is ideal, .223 is a favorite among many in the US for its availability and lower cost.

Lastly will be your big game. Spring bear is an excellent lead off, not every state will have this season but many do. The mountains in the spring time are a different beast than the mountains in the fall, it is absolutely worth experiencing! A perk of the spring bear license is that in many states it will work for a fall bear if you are unsuccessful in the spring! Antelope, mule deer, whitetail deer, and elk can all be chased in the fall as well but all will likely be a drawn tag as you do not hold residency in any state they are hunted. Plan where you apply and what you apply for accordingly. Elk are by far the most popular to hunt due to their size, difficulty, and vocal nature. They are also a pain in the hind end for those same reasons! I absolutely try to discourage folks from pursuing elk their first trip, they can be a logistical nightmare especially solo. If you wish to hunt where elk live mule deer are much more attainable. If you are set on experiencing elk hunting I would recommend making friends with someone in this group or in another that would be willing to let you tag along to experience it. Antelope are a second favorite that I recommend. You will usually see a great many animals and the hunting is less likely to kill you. As an overlander Antelope hunting is one I believe you would thoroughly enjoy! Again I would recommend bringing a rifle you can find ammunition for in the states. 308, 30-06, 7mm rem mag or prc, and 300 win mag would be my recommendations. You will likely experience a lot of elevation and condition changes on your trip, having either enough ammo or a rifle you can purchase ammo for will allow you to check and adjust zero as conditions change.

As a filler during your trip the fishing in most every US state is phenomenal and can be done for cheap. If you have never experienced it ice fishing is a blast during the cold winter months and wildly different than fishing rivers and lakes in the summer. Many folks would be happy to have you tag along especially if you offer to buy the beer!

Best of luck on your adventure!

 

[Flbt]

I arrived at St. George Island via a restored 1972 Hallberg-Rassy Rasmus on our way to a boatyard in Carrabelle. So I never actually went into the park where most people go. We just used the dinghy to cruise around remote areas photographing eagles & catching speckled trout like the picture I posted above. We had fish tacos for supper that night.

View attachment 737243

That is a nice place down there.
We hunted and fished a lot around there.
I even remember when the carrabelle police station was stolen. It usto be a pay phone both.

 

[odonata]

I even remember when the carrabelle police station was stolen. It usto be a pay phone both.

It still is...

 

[Milo]

What visa are you planning to travel on that will allow you to stay in the US for a year?