What would you pick??

[dvm_hunter]

My wife gave me a graduation present of taking any hunt I wanted for under $15k. She announced this to me Friday night and I've been racking my brain all weekend long. What would I love to hunt, what can I physically be able to chase being out of shape from being so busy with school, what do I want to hunt that actually falls under the given dollar amount.

Well, I'd love to hunt:
Dall's Sheep-too much dinero, too out of shape to get it done.
Mountain Goat-too out of shape to get it done
Mountain Caribou
Brown/Grizzly Bear- TOO much money
Any other sheep-TOO much money

So, I've chosen Mountain Caribou in the NWT. I've found hunts under my price range, and just got a solid lead on a reputable outfitter (have to find out if it stays in my dollar range).

What would you guys choose??

 

[Ranger619]

You put a deposit down on a hunt for the animal you really want to hunt for next year, then spend the next year getting into shape. Fun problem to have. Good luck and congrats on the graduation.

 

[weedwacker42]

I agree with Ranger619. If you will still have the time to be able to hunt for 10 days in an extra year and with your new job, take that money and keep saving as well. Maybe by then you can swing a sheep hunt and, above all, feel more confident in your physical fitness. But, by the same token, if a hunt of my choice was being dangled like that, I'd be champing at the bit to get going too! Sheep are for sure on my bucket list as well!

Congratulations on graduating! Best of luck to you!

 

[camelcluch]

Hands down, moose. The biggest I could find and with a bow. Moose is number 1 on my list and have a few others I would really like a shot at. Good luck and congrats.

 

[dvm_hunter]

Problem is I promised I'd stick to the $15k. She's saved this privately over the last 4 years, and quite frankly I've got $87K in school debt from Vet school, I can't bring myself to spend anymore until I've gotten that paid down. Honestly, the responsible adult in me says thank her by spending $5k on a trip to the Bahamas for 5 days for all the hard work and support she's given me chasing a life long dream and put the other $10K on my loan. BUT, the other side says SCREW IT, go on an epic adventure in the far north.

 

[BackcountryBowhunter]

Now is never a bad time to get in shape! But, choose what you want and what gets you most excited!

 

[dvm_hunter]

Now is never a bad time to get in shape! But, choose what you want and what gets you most excited!

I've lost 53lbs in the last 4 months. I just don't think my cardio or my core is "goat" ready yet. I'm just curious what everyone else would choose, maybe I'm not thinking outside the box enough kind of thing. I'd love to hunt just about anything. I'm really wanting a backcountry wilderness type hunt.

 

[Curtis C]

Congrats on your Graduation. I cant offer any advice on the hunt but I would say you have yourself a keeper in a wife. Make sure you keep her happy..

 

[JoshTX]

Problem is I promised I'd stick to the $15k. She's saved this privately over the last 4 years, and quite frankly I've got $87K in school debt from Vet school, I can't bring myself to spend anymore until I've gotten that paid down. Honestly, the responsible adult in me says thank her by spending $5k on a trip to the Bahamas for 5 days for all the hard work and support she's given me chasing a life long dream and put the other $10K on my loan. BUT, the other side says SCREW IT, go on an epic adventure in the far north.

I gotta say, that I think your original thinking was wise. As much as you want to go on a hunt, I think under your circumstances, becoming debt free as quickly as possible will allow you to do far more trips...and with a clear conscience because you know you can afford it. In addition, if you need to get into shape, that time will allow you to do so. Not trying to piss on your campfire at all, but $87K is not chicken scratch and $10k would put a pretty good dent in it.

You could also, pay some towards the school loans, do the Bahamas trip, and do a Elk/Mule- lower 48 hunt on the cheap and call it a day..

All of this said, when I was younger, I would have said F@#K it and gone hunting and worry about the finances later.

 

[WRO]

Fuk it, you aren't getting any younger, I'm heading to northern bc for 15 days, its a little over your budget, but a lot of critters are going die.

 

[robie]

You could look to Asia. You can go Tur or Ibex hunting for the $7k price range and save the rest for an elk hunt in NM or just hang onto the rest. Another option is put your name on the cancellation hunt call list for a BC, NWT or AK hunt if you really want a bear or guided moose and want to stick to your budget. If you have the flexibility and are open to what will come available it could be a good option.

My wife gave me the same green light when I graduate next year. I'm leaning towards Tur hunting in Azerbaijan or possibly Ibex hunting in Kazakhstan. From everyone I've talked to it is an amazing experience and a target rich environment. From what I've been told horses will get you most of the way there and if you are out of shape they can still get you into range. I would like to Dall sheep hunt but can't justify spending that on one animal when I can go on multiple adventures for the same price.

Congrats on surviving the Vet program. I miss my days in Aggieland.

 

[Shrek]

For five grand you can do a diy elk and mule deer hunt and put the rest in the bank for cushion. It can be the start of an annual trip and a lifetime reason to keep in shape. You'll find all the challenge you can handle in a western backcountry hunt. The first year is a steep learning curve but you become more efficient with each trip. Blowing fifteen grand straight out of school on a one animal outfitted hunt doesn't sound all that great to me. Learning to hunt the mountains of the west diy is a path to a lifetime of great hunts and you will be much better prepared when you can afford those outfitted sheep hunts and the like.
You might spend a little more than five grand the first year but you shouldn't need another pack and sleep system for years if you cry once and get the best. Kifaru pack , European boots , and a quality floorless sleep system. Future trips will cost less as most equipment is already paid for.

 

[robie]

For five grand you can do a diy elk and mule deer hunt

Five grand DIY? Is 4 of the 5 grand for gear and the rest for gas and license?

 

[Shrek]

$800-$1000 for gas , $1000 for tags , $2500 for gear , $500 for food , and I said he would go a little higher if you load up on extras. Decent binoculars for $800 and $1200 for some really nice clothes. I could run it up to $15,000 if I wanted to but five to seven grand is a well equiped hunt. I'm assuming he has a rifle or bow and probably some clothing that will work. I said diy so no guide.

 

[handwerk]

If you can't do the sheep hunt I'd do a long, outfitted hunt in the brooks range for moose and caribou. That country will stay with you long after you return. For 15 G's you could afford to bring a good friend and make great memories.

 

[bowieknife50]

As a recent vet school graduate myself I have to be Debbie downer here and say you could save A LOT of interest on your loans if you put off the hunt for now. Happy wife happy life.

 

[MuleyFever]

I was thinking the same thing on the interest. The interest on $15K over the loan term is significant.

Anyway, I am not saying dont do a hunt. With student loans myself I just wish I had $15K to pay on them.

To suggest something that has not been mentioned yet have you considered Africa? Could take the wife maybe.

 

[Felix40]

You can do a diy elk hunt for $1k then take your wife to Mexico to hang out on the beach for $2-3k. Then put the rest of it toward your student loans. No way in hell I would go on a $15k trip with that much debt. There is absolutely no reason a diy elk hunt should cost more than $1k excluding gear. Make the trip last a few weeks and it will be just as much if not more fun than any of the expensive hunts because you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

My hunt cost breakdown looks more like this:
Tag:$650
Gas:$350 (split it with a buddy or two and its less than that)
Food: You have to eat food whether you go on the trip or not

 

[tyeager2964]

I owed 160,000 from pharmacy school. Pay on the debt or pay more on a down payment (or mortgage for a house). You will save at least 5,000 interest (if you end up making only minimum payments probably more) and it can be a gesture to your wife that you would rather work for something together. Once you get some debt paid down as a vet you should be able to start saving while accumulating gear and getting in shape for the hunt you want 5 or 10 years from now. You can also diy hunts between.

Also put in college find for future children as it's not getting any less expensive.

If you really want to do a hunt then go lower 48 mule deer elk antelope for 5000 or a little more and enjoy it while also paying on some other things.

I think its a great gesture from your wife and she will probably really appreciate the thought on your part

 

[mtnwrunner]

Tell you what---I will take you on a elk and a mule deer hunt in Idaho for, oh say, $14,000. That way you can have that extra 1000 for a tip.
\
Randy


But, in all seriousness, congrats and do something way cool. I vote for a combo hunt in the brooks range, Yukon or northwest territories.

Or Idaho.........