Hunting in the USA

[JimP]

There are a lot of hunters who do not want to be pampered as we are when we head over to Africa. They want that rustic feel of sleeping in a tent on a cot and only bathing perhaps once a week or when they come off of the hill. The couple of outfitted hunts that I have gone on here in the west the food has been some of the best home cooking that you are going to find. It may not be a 5 course meal that you eat after enjoying cocktails but it is very good, after which you usually go to bed because that 4am wake up call seams to come only too early.

 

[WAB]

You are not wrong. That is the requirements for non-resident. And unless you know a pilot really well and they're feeling gracious you're paying a lot more than that now for an air taxi as a resident. My ram cost me $1K/person for transportation eleven years ago and they required two of us to go for safety, so $2K.

We always flew ourselves. I have also successfully hunted sheep from the road system, but that is a young man’s game!

 

[Safari Dave]

Maybe I need to look towards Alaska!

Anyone in Alaska want to trade a Southern Appalachian native brook trout fishing trip for a sheep, bear or goat hunt???

I'll feed you, give you lodging, unlimited drinks, dancing girls...

 

[WAB]

Black bear doesn't require a guide or close next of kin. You can show up on your own and buy the tag over the counter for most of the state. Just grizzly/brown bear, goats and sheep.

And muskox.

 

[WAB]

That's BS on the part of Wyoming. The Wyoming Outfitters Association has that state's better elk hunting areas locked up for non residents on PUBLIC LAND.

That’s not my experience. I’ve hunted WY as a resident and as a non-resident. The areas I hunt are trophy areas with a mix of
Public and private land. I don’t think the outfitters get any preference on tag draws. Land access is another matter. You’ve got to know where you are. I’ve had outfitters try to kick me off public land. I even had one call the regional supervisor for WY G&F on me. He was a little embarrassed when Steve showed up and he found out we were close friends and I was totally in the right.

 

[gillettehunter]

I have a good friend who has a cabin within 5 miles of a "wilderness area" in Wyoming. I am familiar with the area and I know I can hunt it effectively, but, in order to hunt it, I must hire an outfitter.

My friend could easily watch over me as I hunt. (Heck, I could be in constant with him via cell phone while he watches TV in his cabin!)

But to hunt an elk, I would have to pay an outfitter $7,000 plus the almost $2,000 that would be required to get a tag.

Actually your friend could get a permit as a "resident guide". Last I knew it doesn't cost a dime. He then would need to accompany you on your hunt.
I'm sure that the Wy guide association has had something to do with this regulation. Been in place for quite a while. Just to be clear it only applies in designated wilderness areas. I suspect they had to rescue a few non residents that were not ready for significant weather events. Do that a few times a year and the rational becomes clearer and how it got implemented. Lots of National forest outside of the wilderness. Far more deer and elk killed outside of the wilderness areas than within them.
Bruce

 

[Vintageguy]

I’ve done guided hunts in the US and have been to Africa and for me it’s peanuts to caviar. On a U.S. hunt there’s nearly as much planning involved and, in my case, only one animal is usually on the list. I’ve had long discouraging hunts with no chances at success, cold wet days and nights, and on one occasion, a guide and crew who felt obligated to get drunk and rowdy every night. I’ve also tagged out on the first day and the trip was over but don’t pass up a good one on the first day, you might not have another chance. My wife likes hunting but only did one guided US hunt and that was it for her. She would go on unguided trips with me but no more guides. Some people prefer the wife stay at home but it sure makes budgeting for and going on a hunt much easier to do if she’s all in.
Africa is completely different. More predictable in camps and atmosphere, I’ve found. The wife mentions going back literally every other day. Also, most everyone goes with a list of animals that may change as different things are encountered but if you plan 7 or 10 days of hunting you can hunt the whole time planned. No 1shot and headed back home early after months of planning. Lastly, weather is much less likely to keep you from hunting.
For me, Africa is a lot more bang for the buck and is why I have a hard time seeing me shelling out big bucks to go west again either if Africa is an option.

 

[Ryan]

And muskox.

Yep, I was going to mention that one since it often goes unnoticed. Though the Nunivak island hunt can be costly lining up everything from flights to housing and atv/snow machind rental. I've had a few friends do it, but it's not cheap.

 

[CoElkHunter]

That’s not my experience. I’ve hunted WY as a resident and as a non-resident. The areas I hunt are trophy areas with a mix of
Public and private land. I don’t think the outfitters get any preference on tag draws. Land access is another matter. You’ve got to know where you are. I’ve had outfitters try to kick me off public land. I even had one call the regional supervisor for WY G&F on me. He was a little embarrassed when Steve showed up and he found out we were close friends and I was totally in the right.

I too have hunted pronghorn and mule deer a number of times in Wyoming. The pronghorn hunting was on a private ranch that participated in the public hunter/private land program. We hunted AND camped on the property for a $10 permit. A non resident doe license was $55? I've hunted deer in the Medicine Bow National Forest there. My only point is during the hunting seasons in the wilderness areas in National Forests in Wyoming, a guide is required for non residents. A guide isn't required to pack, backpack, fish, etc., in the wilderness areas for non residents during spring and summer? BTW, a big game applicant DOES have to pay more for an "outfitter enhanced" preference point so that the outfitters know their clients will draw a tag. Because I don't have to, I'm not playing their silly ass game for elk hunting!
I have to say however, Colorado is becoming just as bad with their application nonsense and now having to buy a small game license and habitat stamp before even participating in the big game draw. They're going to nickel and dime the ever declining pool of hunters of average means until the system implodes and the taxpayers have to fund the Parks/Division of Wildlife budget.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have a good friend who has a cabin within 5 miles of a "wilderness area" in Wyoming. I am familiar with the area and I know I can hunt it effectively, but, in order to hunt it, I must hire an outfitter.

My friend could easily watch over me as I hunt. (Heck, I could be in constant with him via cell phone while he watches TV in his cabin!)

But to hunt an elk, I would have to pay an outfitter $7,000 plus the almost $2,000 that would be required to get a tag.

@Safari Dave, you haven't done your homework.

Straight out of the Wyoming hunting regulations: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/What-do-I-need-to-Hunt


Nonresident big and trophy game hunters are required to obtain a professional outfitter or resident guide while hunting in any federally designated wilderness area. All outfitters must be licensed by the Wyoming Board of Outfitters and Professional Guides.

• A resident guide license may be obtained from the WGFD by any resident possessing a valid big or trophy game license. A resident guide may only take up to two (2) nonresidents in a wilderness area per year, provided they do not accept any gratuity or compensation.

 

[Rubberhead]

 

[Ryan]

Maybe I need to look towards Alaska!

Anyone in Alaska want to trade a Southern Appalachian native brook trout fishing trip for a sheep, bear or goat hunt???

I'll feed you, give you lodging, unlimited drinks, dancing girls...

For those species you need to be related to a resident. So do you have an available sister?

 

[Robmill70]

My family is from the hill country of Texas (Brownwood), spent much time there.....most of that property has been in their family for a long time. Yes, if someone just bought a business/property recently, then they paid a lot for it and obviously want to recoup their money. Again, free market, if someone is willing to pay $24k trophy fee for a Kudu, good on them. I'm just a dumb military guy who came from poor upbringing and didn't have the knowledge or capital to make it happen in the business world.

A 300 Ac ranch in primo exotic hunting land TX (hill country) costs $1M-$3M. Not factoring in any other improvements or bills (and they are myriad!!!), go ahead and compute the mortgage payment on that (and tell us what jerks the owners are for charging such high fees.) LOL Check out the price for game stock on these ranches too! (they didn't fall out of the live oak trees.) The best way to not have to worry about any of this too much, is to learn skills and put them to work in your very own business. Strive to not be the Employee, but the Employer! Go to TX, Africa and anywhere else your heart desires! Life is short. Both TX and Africa are Wonderful.

 

[Safari Dave]

I admit that I have not researched this extensively or exhausted all of my options, but I won't be a burden to my friend with the cabin.

He has always gone above and beyond for me, just by providing a place to stay and great comradery.

He is a fantastic trout fishing drift-boat guide.

I'd never compromise him by putting him in the position of being a hunting guide and taking on all the liability that that might entail.

 

[Safari Dave]

No sister.

Sorry.


I do have a banjo-picking brother...

 

[Robmill70]

When I was stationed in Alaska, I would have friends and family up and take them hunting and fishing....had a real good time. People are always amazed at how many mosquitos there are up there!

 

[crs]

I just read this thread front to back and as usual there a lot of mixed feelings and statements of what may not the the average price for game. I have seen Kudu on a Texas ranch at prices MUCH less than those listed in this thread. Likewise for bull elk in Colorado or Montana.
It all depends!
My primary Texas hunting buddy only hunts exotics where the prices are bargains - period! And he finds lots of bargains. But then, he was once a partner in an exotic hunting ranch. He has recently been invited to help cull excess exotics from a large ranch and I hope to get my son and I in on that.

Exotics do require some attention and feeding so at times the ranch operator has to cut his losses and cull. Last comment - the big bucks with trophy horns always cost more than does and culls. I quit hunting horns years ago and now only pursue game for good meat. For instance this 300 pound red deer cow/hind was surprisingly affordable and that included guide by ranch foreman, field dressing, and skinning and quartering for the cooler!

There are also ranches within an hours drive from my house that provide meat animals at very low prices. Be there at daybreak and by noon be back home after shot game and dropped it off at the processor .

I really enjoyed hunting Africa, but filling the freezer locally can also be fun without breaking the bank.

 

[Robmill70]

@crs I agree, the $24k Kudu is the extreme, I saw some for much less than that.

 

[Newboomer]

I guess it depends on what your interest is. For meat hunting it's USA. Trophies can be had if desired and the wallet doesn't scream too loud. I've been on several big game hunts which required outfitters/guides. Didn't score on them. Accomodations ran from poor to pretty good.

The couple exotic hunts on ranches proved much better. Accomodations were tops, guides were experienced and did their utmost to make the hunts successful (they were). Expensive, yes, compared to Africa but in the middle of the pandemic I couldn't get to Africa.

I believe US hunts are so expensive is the cost of doing business. When you factor in all the bureaucratic bs, taxes, feed, licenses, accomodations, maintenance, cost of buying animals, salaries, insurance, and all the other necessities it adds up in a hurry. All this expense for one shot takes some serious planning.

You do save on dip and pack, shipping, etc. but you have to weigh that against the cost of getting your finished mount from the taxidermist to your home.

The big advantage of hunting Africa is after you bag your trophy you can cull or management hunt for very little cost and if the spirit moves you can pick up more trophies.

To me, the downside is the hassle to get there and back. I detest dragging baggage through airports, hanging around between flights, and the bureaucratic hoops with firearms.

 

[Ryan]

No sister.

Sorry.


I do have a banjo-picking brother...

Have him move up and in a year he's a resident and you can hunt with him. Ta da!