50th birthday - hunting trip recommendations please

[fwafwow]

I turn 50 in 2020 and am frequently asked, "what are you doing for your 50th?" I've been to CO for a DIY OTC elk trip last year, and am already going to do that again this year, and/or perhaps get lucky enough to hunt elk and whitetail on a private ranch out west. I also have some friends with land where I hunt whitetail deer frequently, and an annual pheasant shoot, so I'm already pretty lucky.

So, what would you recommend?

• Game - love big game, but I've only hunted whitetail deer and elk so far. Would consider bear, Mule, Blacktail, Moose and wolves, etc. I also love bird hunting (I've done doves in Argentina and would prefer to keep this to the US ideally, but perhaps Canada).
• Budget - I hate to throw out a number, but maybe $5k-ish? (Been saving some pennies.) I figure bird hunting would be at the lower end of the budget range.
• Style - I loved the CO DIY elk trip, but we came home empty-handed, so I'd like an outfitter. Not afraid of some hiking, and need a good reason to try to get in shape again. Although I'm not averse to sleeping in a tent, I would also have no problem (!) having a roof over my head. I could probably also convince a buddy to join me if the trip isn't too harsh.
• Weather - love some chilly weather, but the summer Argentina dove trips were awesome too. Not looking for a sea duck trip to AK, as being wet and a high in the teens already makes me feel much older than I act.

Or should I just buy another gun?

 

[gobblinglawyer]

I’d recommend Spring black bear in British Columbia. Did that trip with my 13 yr old son this past spring and it was an awesome experience! We hunted with Circle M Outfitters. They’re absolutely first class.

 

[MallardSX2]

You will wish you had went elk hunting in 15 years. Go back elk hunting while you can.

 

[Jimss]

From how many times you mention "elk" in your post....I think you know your answer! If you shop around you may be able to find a decent elk trip within your budget. If it were me and I wasn't doing self-guided I would hunt elk on private land! If you are lucky you can find a quality private ranch that offers elk hunting on a trespass fee basis (super tough to find!).

 

[coloyooper]

$5k is on the low end for a guided elk hunt - just a heads up. You could probably get a decent mule deer hunt for that though. Good luck!

 

[agardner00]

$5k is on the low end for a guided elk hunt - just a heads up. You could probably get a decent mule deer hunt for that though. Good luck!

I agree on elk—both personally and based on contextual clues from your post. I have zero experience with outfitters, however, I believe you can find outfitted hunts that are not fully guided for around $5k. I’m sure there are a range of services but basically instead of walking you up to shooting distance they drop you in a camp where (ostensibly) elk are close by. The rest is up to you. Again, no first hand knowledge, so take that FWIW.


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[Buckshotaz]

Add about $2K to your $5K and you can go to Africa and get a bunch of animals

 

[fwafwow]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. For those recommending elk, I am probably going to do another DIY trip in CO this year, and I've been promised an opportunity to hunt elk on a private ranch this year. I'm not saying that I'm ruling out another elk trip, but that would be 2 or 3 in the same year. And we did some investigation and found $8k-ish was a common rate quoted for CO guided elk on private land.

Note, just like I buy guns I "need", the "ish" in the $5k-ish range could be pretty wide for the right opportunity!

Will be looking into the spring bear and welcome any suggestions for guided mule, as well as others.

 

[Corvus Corax]

Go on a trip instead of a buying new “thing”. Kodiak island Sitka blacktail. You could do an unguided drop camp. It would be in your 5k budget. Deer hunting starts in August.

 

[CBECK61]

I would do a drop camp elk hunting in Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, or Montana. You could do this well below your budget, be in good habit away from people, not have to pack an elk out and still have some nice creature comforts. Most drop camps I've seen are $2000-4000 per hunter. Having the stove and a cot is pretty nice and you get much better food on the hunt. I agree that if I was 50 I would be cramming as many elk hunts in as I could. Some of the other hunts you and others have listed will still be very doable in 10-20 years if you stay in shape but elk hunting isn't so forgiving. I really don't think you need to be on a private ranch to get a great elk hunt. I would also start banking points in Wyoming as once you get to three points for elk you can get into some pretty good elk hunting.

 

[hogcarpy]

I would also recommend a drop camp. The price, comfort, relative physical ease and good harvest opportunity seem like a good fit.

This is all predicated on having a good outfitter in good country. I’ve hunted around folks on guided hunts in wilderness areas. I couldn’t believe what they were paying to hunt in heavily pressured areas.


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[bowhuntrben]

There are some Canadian moose hunts in your price range that I’d be seriously looking at.

If you’re not worried about big bears, a drop hunt in Alaska for moose or caribou would be an unbelievable experience...though you’re probably not able to book that anymore for 2020...

 

[Fridaythe13th]

I'm in the same boat as you. 2022 i well be 50. 10 years ago I was think caribou but now leaning towards Canada moose hunting. I can hunt morning and evening but I think fishing walleye durning the day would be a blast.

 

[wildwilderness]

Go hunt Sea Ducks on Adak in January! quite an adventure. Can throw in a caribou as well
http://aleutianoutfitters.com/guided-duck-hunting/

 

[BRTreedogs]

What about an Elk voucher for a good unit in New Mexico?
DIY but you should be in a better unit with opportunity at a larger bull.
If it's on a ranch you probably won't get guided, but I bet you would get alot of good info on where they usually are.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Go on a trip instead of a buying new “thing”. Kodiak island Sitka blacktail. You could do an unguided drop camp. It would be in your 5k budget. Deer hunting starts in August.

This was going to be my recommendation as well.


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[tgus59]

Depending on how much vacation time you have, $5k could go a long ways in South Dakota. Pair a couple days upland hunting, duck hunting, could do whitetails in the east, mulies in the west, lots of great walleye fishing too!

 

[Scottyboy]

Maryland sitka deer. Something different, and kinda hits both your deer and elk qualities (is horn configuration and size)

I will skipping elk one of these years and heading east to try my luck

 

[fwafwow]

Depending on how much vacation time you have, $5k could go a long ways in South Dakota. Pair a couple days upland hunting, duck hunting, could do whitetails in the east, mulies in the west, lots of great walleye fishing too!

Wow - that's like a cornucopia of hunting!

 

[Ecampbell25]

Go on a trip instead of a buying new “thing”. Kodiak island Sitka blacktail. You could do an unguided drop camp. It would be in your 5k budget. Deer hunting starts in August.

Hunted a diy trip this year shot a Sitka black tail 2 hrs into the first morning at 50 ish yards.

It was beautiful… travel from anchorage to POW was not bad I used Alaska air points. Just cost me the car rental 500$ for 4 days 5 nights. Brought my own tent. Got groceries right in Ketchikan.

Think I did the entire trip for 2000$