Best value for the dollar game animals and regions to hunt?

[Northern Safari]

Curious where you think the best value hunts are to be had, whether it's a specific game animal here at home or another country abroad, where are the best deals?

My initial thoughts are any African Safari where you can hunt a half dozen plains game (or more) in South Africa for less than the cost of a guided elk hunt at home.

New Zealand also comes to mind in regards to mountain hunting, their Tahr and Chamois mountain hunts has to be some of the cheapest there is.

Hunting many of the Asian countries also presents great value if you are after an Ibex or Marco Polo, especially compared to North American prices.

What other high value hunts have I overlooked?

 

[Dos Perros]

How does one define value? Hearts stopped per dollar?

 

[2531usmc]

If you look at average cost per big game animal, it would be South Africa. Hands down

 

[wytx]

We hunt for the meat so no value in a hunt out of country that we can't bring the meat back.
Cow elk hunts would be my most value for the money hunt, reduced price tags.

 

[Northern Safari]

How does one define value? Hearts stopped per dollar?

Not necessarily, I'm thinking big adventure on a small budget.

But number of game harvested/dollar spent is also a consideration.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Whitetail deer in a southern state is 100% best value for dollar if we are talking meat and not experience. 100-200$ license, lots of places are 1 doe/day for the whole 4+ month season

 

[huntnful]

I just did a DIY aoudad ewe hunt on a 25,000 acre ranch. Had the whole ranch to myself and it was a blast. Ram's cost $6000 and the ewe was only $800. It cost more in fuel to make the 46 hour round trip drive hahaha.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Not necessarily, I'm thinking big adventure on a small budget.

So far for me coues deer hunting has been the most fun I've had. And it wasn't expensive.

 

[180ls1]

Whitetail deer in a southern state is 100% best value for dollar if we are talking meat and not experience. 100-200$ license, lots of places are 1 doe/day for the whole 4+ month season

This and pigs.

 

[Weldor]

Whitetail down south and Texas, Snow geese Arkansas, Hogs anywhere.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

In the east you can get OTC tags, take virginia for example. You buy your "big game" tags and that includes whitetail deer, and turkey, bear is like 20 bucks extra. you can kill 3 or 4 deer depending on where your hunting a bear and i think 3 turkeys. Pretty decent for one "out of state" license. and that doesn't even include all the small game you can hunt with your regular hunting license as well. for like 300 bucks or so (don't quote me on that as i haven't bought or looked at nonresident prices in a while) you can literally hunt all year.

I think its the same for most southern and southeastern states, go to georgia and hunt whitetail and hogs, if u have time ducks, qual etc. on same license. probably all year (or while respective seasons are in)

 

[AZ_Hunter]

As someone out west I have been thinking hard about going out east. Being drawn for deer every 2-3 years is really pissing me off.

I don’t know anyone out there with land, or anything about it… but it’s on the agenda to learn about for next year.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

i haven't found a place to hunt pigs with decent odds for low cost, but there are several states where as a nonresident you can kill double digit deer for <$150 a season. i think there might even be some counties in maryland where it is actually unlimited does per year, but getting access in those places is really hard.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

In the east you can get OTC tags, take virginia for example. You buy your "big game" tags and that includes whitetail deer, and turkey, bear is like 20 bucks extra. you can kill 3 or 4 deer depending on where your hunting a bear and i think 3 turkeys. Pretty decent for one "out of state" license. and that doesn't even include all the small game you can hunt with your regular hunting license as well. for like 300 bucks or so (don't quote me on that as i haven't bought or looked at nonresident prices in a while) you can literally hunt all year.

I think its the same for most southern and southeastern states, go to georgia and hunt whitetail and hogs, if u have time ducks, qual etc. on same license. probably all year (or while respective seasons are in)

virginia is 2 deer per day, 6 per year, no more than 3 bucks

Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons

Regulations, restrictions and seasons regarding the seasonal hunting of deer within Virginia for 2024 through 2025

dwr.virginia.gov

 

[Samson7x]

Fun per dollar for me is turkey. That's getting more difficult with KS going to draw and 1 bird limit. Turkey numbers here in AR seem to be on the decline. Hope to make it out to TX next year.

 

[wesfromky]

i haven't found a place to hunt pigs with decent odds for low cost, but there are several states where as a nonresident you can kill double digit deer for <$150 a season. i think there might even be some counties in maryland where it is actually unlimited does per year, but getting access in those places is really hard.

Zone one in KY is unlimited does per year.

 

[COSA]

Africa is by far the best value in hunting right now, especially if you don't bring back taxidermy.
When I was younger I had no desire to go. But once you go, you'll be figuring ways to get back. Just do your research to make sure the properties are good sized for South Africa. As long as the properties are large, I did not feel the fences came into play.

 

[COSA]

Dangerous game in more wild places are more expensive, but still a way better value when compared to the big hunts in Canada or Alaska

 

[deltadukman]

Y'all stay y'alls asses on that side of the MS River. We're full over here in the southeast. Don't need any non-resident overcrowding.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

As someone out west I have been thinking hard about going out east. Being drawn for deer every 2-3 years is really pissing me off.

I don’t know anyone out there with land, or anything about it… but it’s on the agenda to learn about for next year.

If your interested in virginia or west virginia, reach out to me when you start your research I will help you all that I can