LivingTheDream
AH legend
Oh this is such a loaded question. I have been very fortunate to go as much as I have. But honestly hunting trips is my only motivation to go above and beyond at work. This site has actually benefited my employer more than he knows.
I try to do 2 trips a year of some sort, I have gone to Africa 5 times in the last 10 years. I have drawn some pretty good tags out west, including a buffalo, goulds turkey and elk. I have hunted Canada for sheep and Europe twice. The African bug has bit me pretty hard, and I find myself looking at more and more exotic locations. I hope to someday hunt Cameroon and Uganda (not sure for what).
I think @gillettehunter was referencing me when he said a friend looking at Ibex hunts. I love the mountains and plan to hunt Ibex and Sheep pretty hard over the next 5 years. I am hunting sheep this year in the Yukon and just might pull off an Ibex hunt as well. I do have a leopard hunt booked for 2025. 2024 is a bit unknown. I might have to be "a responsible adult" in 2024 but also might have an epic adventure with a good friend. We will see.
With all that being said, I make hunting a priority and it is a line item on my monthly budget. I do have a car payment but figure no one remembers paying off their car, so I rather go hunting. Not good fiscal advice, but it works for me. Someday I will slow down, I hope to one day spend a month or two in Africa maybe just walking up Grouse or Francolin.
My biggest fear is I will have a health issue, or my family will have a health issue and all of the good times abruptly stop and I look back with regrets. I have lost a lot of friends and attended too many funerals for those that went too young. Those events have greatly influenced me to make sure I hunt someplace new every year.
I will have to add I have become a bit disillusioned with Western hunting, which is a bit unfortunate. There are some great people out there and some amazing outfitters. Hunts I dreamed about, but priorities change, would rather chase Roe deer across Europe. At some point I will stop buying points and will just go out there to fish or shoot grouse.
I try to do 2 trips a year of some sort, I have gone to Africa 5 times in the last 10 years. I have drawn some pretty good tags out west, including a buffalo, goulds turkey and elk. I have hunted Canada for sheep and Europe twice. The African bug has bit me pretty hard, and I find myself looking at more and more exotic locations. I hope to someday hunt Cameroon and Uganda (not sure for what).
I think @gillettehunter was referencing me when he said a friend looking at Ibex hunts. I love the mountains and plan to hunt Ibex and Sheep pretty hard over the next 5 years. I am hunting sheep this year in the Yukon and just might pull off an Ibex hunt as well. I do have a leopard hunt booked for 2025. 2024 is a bit unknown. I might have to be "a responsible adult" in 2024 but also might have an epic adventure with a good friend. We will see.
With all that being said, I make hunting a priority and it is a line item on my monthly budget. I do have a car payment but figure no one remembers paying off their car, so I rather go hunting. Not good fiscal advice, but it works for me. Someday I will slow down, I hope to one day spend a month or two in Africa maybe just walking up Grouse or Francolin.
My biggest fear is I will have a health issue, or my family will have a health issue and all of the good times abruptly stop and I look back with regrets. I have lost a lot of friends and attended too many funerals for those that went too young. Those events have greatly influenced me to make sure I hunt someplace new every year.
I will have to add I have become a bit disillusioned with Western hunting, which is a bit unfortunate. There are some great people out there and some amazing outfitters. Hunts I dreamed about, but priorities change, would rather chase Roe deer across Europe. At some point I will stop buying points and will just go out there to fish or shoot grouse.