What’s the hardest hunt?

[TX_Diver]

I'm new here, but, If you expand your query to include free range exotic goats, the archery hunt for persian ibex in the Florida mountains of southern NM is widely considered to be a world class hassle. Way up there in terms of most fun i've had being unsuccessful and almost dying every other day.

World class hassle is a good description. The florida's suck but ultimately you're between 5k and 7k in elevation and 10 miles from a major city with cell service the whole time. I struck out in October but will be trying to draw again.

Now if someone has a fear of snakes then the October archery ibex hunt would DEFINITELY be the hardest in the world for that person...

 

[Decker9]

The hardest hunts I’ve had, are by far mountain goats. Sheep hunting is for retired goat hunters .

 

[bowhuntrben]

Haven’t personally done it yet, but I hear the MT unlimited sheep hunts are hard. Sweet thing about these is you are guaranteed to get a tag!

 

[AK_Skeeter]

The hardest hunt will be my last hunt due to old age.

My hunting mentor hunted sheep until age 70 and I was
honored to be with him when he shot his last ram.

He tried once more around age 73, but as he put it "could not get up the mountain anymore".

It gets really hard because as us old farts age we loose muscle strength,
and feet flatten and aging causes natural fat cushioning and elasticity in
feet to go away.

It gets really hard for someone like my mentor who moved to Alaska in the 70s,
just to hunt sheep. It gets really hard for someone who as a youngster would pack in and out 30 miles from the road, and eventually over time can no longer due what he loves.

 

[snowcamoman]

The hardest hunt is the one that breaks you down mentally and physically, whatever that might be. It's different for most people, but likely the brush busting hunts to get above tree-line would classify as some of the toughest. When you need crampons on and every step requires diligent attention to move up a mountain side through nasty conditions, that's high on my list of difficult scenarios. Coming down from that type of hunt with a heavy pack only makes it harder, both physically and mentally.

 

[KHntr]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Stone sheep....

 

[Decker9]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Stone sheep....

My most mentally tough hunts have been stone sheep. Trying to pick out a stone in a mountain of stones. It gets discouraging after a week of not seeing a sheep,yet, knowing their there somewhere lol.

 

[ozyclint]

Tahr on public land in Westland NZ. No choppers of course. Pack in and out, 12-14 days.

 

[Bambistew]

Tonsina walk in area in the Chugach would be my pick. The Tonsina has similar success rates as the MT Unlimiteds, but the weather sucks more often than not with alders for days.

 

[JP100]

I often asked myself and my hunters this question for years, but the reality is every hunt is different.
I guide Tahr,Chamois and have guided Mt goats and hunted Ibex aswell. Some hunts are easy, some are not.

Sometimes you find what you want on day 1 just out of camp, other times it might rain for 10 days solid.
and its all relative, the hardest hunt for you might be an easy hunt for me, and vis versa, depending on peoples strengths and weaknesses.

Mt Goats for me are the easiest north american game animal I have hunted(out of moose, elk, stones). but results may vary haha

 

[Shrek]

I haven’t tried it but a Montana unlimited hunt is hard physically and brutal mentally knowing how terribly small your chance of success is. Personally it’s hard to find physical motivation when you’re mentally broke down. Any hunt where the chances are slim but the going is hard will eventually find your limits.

 

[TWHrunner]

Having a partner on a hunt changes everything. I’ve done a lot of hunts solo that I thought were the hardest thing to complete. Years later I went back with a partner who couldn’t understand why I had described it as so hard. I also agreed with him. Must have been due to lack of company in a big way.

 

[mtnclimber]

Tonsina walk in area in the Chugach would be my pick. The Tonsina has similar success rates as the MT Unlimiteds, but the weather sucks more often than not with alders for days.

True that! TCUA is a good one

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Tonsina walk in area in the Chugach would be my pick. The Tonsina has similar success rates as the MT Unlimiteds, but the weather sucks more often than not with alders for days.

that place is ******. I walked in there ice and got my ass kicked. Didn’t get a sheep.

 

[Kimbersig]

My alaska range dall sheep was like a pronghorn antelope hunt in Wyoming compared to my frank church bighorn hunt. Jack o Connor said the frank church wilderness is the toughest place on earth. It’s all relative tho. I know a guy that killed a ram in the frank 500 yards from his truck. And know guys that have had to use ropes in Alaska. Way too many variables.

 

[NUGGET]

Mountain goat hunting is the blue balls of the hunting world. All that effort and you get two little pointed horns smaller than your pecker. If I had to sum up mountain goat hunting with one word it would be “meh”.

Hard is sitting in one spot for 10 days hunting moose. Blow your brains out hard because of boredom. Rest the hunts in AK get easier after that...

 

[Aoudadshooter1975]

Tur hunt...

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Mountain goat hunting is the blue balls of the hunting world. All that effort and you get two little pointed horns smaller than your pecker. If I had to sum up mountain goat hunting with one word it would be “meh”.

Hard is sitting in one spot for 10 days hunting moose. Blow your brains out hard because of boredom. Rest the hunts in AK get easier after that...

If you shooting goats with horns smaller than your pecker, you might be doing it wrong. #10inchclub

 

[NUGGET]

If you shooting goats with horns smaller than your pecker, you might be doing it wrong. #10inchclub

I knew that was going to be the first response haha

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Mountain goat hunting is the blue balls of the hunting world. All that effort and you get two little pointed horns smaller than your pecker. If I had to sum up mountain goat hunting with one word it would be “meh”.

Hard is sitting in one spot for 10 days hunting moose. Blow your brains out hard because of boredom. Rest the hunts in AK get easier after that...

I wish I had a 9” pecker.