Once in a lifetime "adventure hunt"

[cnelk]

I coundnt imagine just going on a hunting trip just once

 

[Truaxdw]

If I’m hearing you right, and the adventure is equal to or important than the animals. I would look at some type of expedition hunt that could span multiple weeks with multiple species in Alaska or Canada. I don’t know if that would turn into a grind for you or keep it interesting moving from one species /hunting area to another

 

[Jpsmith1]

I coundnt imagine just going on a hunting trip just once

I'll go as many times as you can afford.

We're a single income family and, even on a good union wage, money is tight sometimes.

Believe me, I'd love to go every couple years but coughing up $10k plus every couple years plus a week or so off work just isn't in the budget, unfortunately.

I did draw a PA cow elk tag in 2006. I went and was not successful. I also got in on a handguns only group hunt in SC in 2024 and took my first big game animal with a handgun. These are fun trips but not the big grand, sweeping adventure type hunt that I'm talking about here.

 

[Jpsmith1]

If I’m hearing you right, and the adventure is equal to or important than the animals. I would look at some type of expedition hunt that could span multiple weeks with multiple species in Alaska or Canada. I don’t know if that would turn into a grind for you or keep it interesting moving from one species /hunting area to another

Yes. Yes. Yes.

The adventure is the key. I'd hunt for weeks on end to haul home a calf elk or a fawn muley. The adventure is more important than the animals.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Africa is a lot easier to do than Alaska as you get older.

Is "easy" the point, though?

Understand I'm not trying to be contrary and I absolutely understand what you're driving at. Some mornings are rough getting out of bed, for sure, and places hurt that I never thought could hurt.

But the work is part of the appeal. Doing the difficult thing because it's there and it can be done is possibly a part of the adventure. A part of the story.

Climbed a mountain and was socked in by snow and fog for 3 days is a suckfest but an adventure in it's own right.

 

[cnelk]

I'll go as many times as you can afford.

Ha, Thats funny

Ive always considered every hunt an adventure and quite possible Once in a Lifetime.

Fortunately Ive been on a few - even on a single income with a family

 

[Jpsmith1]

I listed the 2 big hunts I've done. Everything else has been just me and friends or family hunting whitetail. For me, usually very unsuccessfully.

Both were fun, no doubt, and the PA elk hunt likely was once in a lifetime as odds to draw those tags are astronomical. I wasn't properly prepared for that hunt and the way the draw breaks here, I had a couple weeks to prepare and I was hitting the woods.

 

[gonhunting247]

After reading your post, I'd say start planning and get to Africa as soon as you can. It seems like that would bring the time dreaming about your Grandpas stories, kind of full circle. Meanwhile, pick a state like WY and buy some points for antelope or/and elk or CO for Deer/elk and go on a hunt in the next few years. If you don't need a trophy class bull/buck or if you'd be happy with a cow/doe, their are lots of opportunities for adventure still. No need to pay a bunch of money or hire a guide to have a great adventure. Just going out and trying to figure it out on your own will be an adventure in itself.

 

[hereinaz]

Yes. Yes. Yes.

The adventure is the key. I'd hunt for weeks on end to haul home a calf elk or a fawn muley. The adventure is more important than the animals.

Amen.

At the beginning. I ate tag soup, it is/was a little bitter but the adventure was always there. Bitterness made me work harder on other hunts. I still love every chance to get out.

My last trip to Alaska, we went up river and there was no caribou migration. I shot the only bull I saw, a spike… because it’s about the adventure and any meat is a win. It was a great trip.

I went to Tennessee and deer hunted, got skunked. It was still an awesome trip. Was fun to experience and learn about eastern woods. Bittersweet to take nothing home, but it makes me want to work harder again.

There is the physical and mental challenge of it all.

It is definitely more fun to have success, but I love the adventure and chalkenge.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

Exploring the west during the spring on a bear hunt is an affordable trip you can do several times
I love spring bear hunting
Great way to see new country and nobody is around
Plus most states are over the counter tags

 

[6mm Remington]

I was so fortunate to go on a guided grizzly bear hunt in Alaska on the North Side of the Brooks Range clear above the Arctic Circle. It was the hunt of a lifetime for me and did not disappoint. Ovis Outfitters was also outstanding. I would go again with them for something else if the opportunity should ever come up.

Ovis Outfitters | Arctic Griz

We are a big game guiding service providing quality hunts for grizzly bears, caribou, moose, dall sheep and more throughout Alaska.

www.ovisoutfitters.com

 

[hereinaz]

OP and anyone who wants to get out west can find OTC and also draw hunts. It’s never been easier.

For anyone wanting to get west, but on a limited budget or doesn’t want to do it solo, please hit me up.

I have crews I float around between, but as an adult onset hunter, I know the feeling of being solo and trying to learn all sorts of stuff.

OP or anyone else, you can come hunt with me here in AZ. I will pick you up at the airport and drop you off. I have enough gear. If all you have are the clothes on your back, bring them and let’s go hunting.

Don’t wait, if you can get the time off of work, pay for a plane ticket and food, I will make a once in a lifetime western hunt happen on the cheap.

Call it a LS Wild Scholarship or whatever, I have the most fun on adventures with people experiencing things for the first time.

Don’t wait and don’t make excuses. I wish I would have followed the call of the wild sooner in my life.

 

[hereinaz]

Exploring the west during the spring on a bear hunt is an affordable trip you can do several times
I love spring bear hunting
Great way to see new country and nobody is around
Plus most states are over the counter tags

This is getting to the top of my list of next adventures… I hope to make it happen this year, but if not, it’s going on the calendar for 2026.

I have put this one off too long. I need to go bear hunting.

 

[TheGrayRider]

“Adventure Hunt”? The equatorial African jungles of Cameroon, CAR, and the Congo are probably the most difficult hunting environments in the world.



If you want real adventure and can handle misery, then give it a try. Not for the timid, pampered, or comfort seekers!



Good luck and Happy hunting, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

 

[keller]

Montana late season cow elk is reasonable and can be a heck of an adventure with weather

 

[timekiller13]

To each their own.

But if I can’t bring back something memorable from the hunt (besides memories) then I’m not going.

Africa is reasonable until you factor in taxidermy. And you can’t bring meat back.

For me, I would do a horseback moose/caribou combo in BC.

 

[Jpsmith1]

OP and anyone who wants to get out west can find OTC and also draw hunts. It’s never been easier.

For anyone wanting to get west, but on a limited budget or doesn’t want to do it solo, please hit me up.

I have crews I float around between, but as an adult onset hunter, I know the feeling of being solo and trying to learn all sorts of stuff.

OP or anyone else, you can come hunt with me here in AZ. I will pick you up at the airport and drop you off. I have enough gear. If all you have are the clothes on your back, bring them and let’s go hunting.

Don’t wait, if you can get the time off of work, pay for a plane ticket and food, I will make a once in a lifetime western hunt happen on the cheap.

Call it a LS Wild Scholarship or whatever, I have the most fun on adventures with people experiencing things for the first time.

Don’t wait and don’t make excuses. I wish I would have followed the call of the wild sooner in my life.

Yo, if this isn't a joke, we need to talk.

I got the gear. Like, I can be ready to rock in maybe half an hour, just gotta pick my load out based on weather and maybe reconfigure my pack to tote it all.

Arizona was definitely a state on the list of places to explore because y'all have some interesting opportunities based on how your tags work. At least that's what I understand from some pods I've listened to. Thanks Randy Newberg.

2025 might be screwed for me because we have a kid getting hitched.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Africa, without a doubt.
Alaska is to expensive and limited as to what you can hunt.

 

[Jpsmith1]

. No need to pay a bunch of money or hire a guide to have a great adventure. Just going out and trying to figure it out on your own will be an adventure in itself.

I get what you're saying, but let me relate a short story from last spring to maybe help put into perspective why "on my own" might not be the best option.

I had been wanting to hit up a big chunk of public about an hour away, so I went and did a shed hunt. Hiked a few miles, found a couple sheds. But here's where the problem lies.

I pulled into the parking lot. No cell signal. Not a problem. So I fired a text off figuring the phone would send it when it found a signal. Never did. Couple hours later, I'm back at the truck. Realize the message didn't send. So I scooted to a spot where I did get signal, and my phone didn't stop for like 5 minutes. Message after message on all the different platforms. My wife was losing her shit because she hadn't heard from me.

I called and talked her down off the ledge and she still broke down when I got home and she saw me. So a solo trip a days drive or more from home is going to be a potential problem. We are working on some strategies for her to cope and for me to communicate and I'm trying to wean her off of the need for 'instant hubby' but its a long process.

In talking further about it, she has a point. She knows that, once my boots are on the ground, there's not much that can stop me from getting back to the truck. It's the drive there that worries her, and the longer the drive, the more worry..

 

[prm]

To each their own.

But if I can’t bring back something memorable from the hunt (besides memories) then I’m not going.

Africa is reasonable until you factor in taxidermy. And you can’t bring meat back.

For me, I would do a horseback moose/caribou combo in BC.

Taxidermy from Africa (or anywhere) is expensive. In fact, on the recommendation of a PH, I will just plan on getting good pictures and have a few enlarged and framed for my next trip. I like my taxidermy, but the pictures I have of me with the PHs or with friends and each of the animals are more important to me.
There were three of us, and one day we dedicated to Impala hunting. Flipped a coin to see who was up first. Spent the day together and we each got a nice Impala and got pictures of all of us with each Impala. Then the usual night around the fire with good drinks and cuban cigars.
I’d like to hunt Alaska someday. What little I have read it seems to be really pricey.