Where to start

[s8mdevo]

I really want to come and hunt the states and get some DIY hunting experience. I am not massively interested in big racks and bulls but more after some proper mountain hunting experiences after any wild game. Coming from the UK we do not have any opportunities like this and I am hoping to one day get to the states and fulfill my dream.
What advice can you guys give a non resident looking for some cheap wilderness hunts? And what sort of time would I need to be successful on a DIY hunt?
Cheers


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[go_deep]

If you have never done a DIY, public land hunt. I strongly suggest doing a Antelope, or prairie Mule Deer hunt. Figure out the logistics of it, field care of the meat, then once you fill your tag go take a day or two and check out an area that you'd like to go into. See it, see how big it is, get a feel for what your in for when you do go.

 

[ScottR]

If you have never done a DIY, public land hunt. I strongly suggest doing a Antelope, or prairie Mule Deer hunt. Figure out the logistics of it, field care of the meat, then once you fill your tag go take a day or two and check out an area that you'd like to go into. See it, see how big it is, get a feel for what your in for when you do go.

Solid advice here. Don't bite off more than you can chew!

 

[JimP]

I admire your passion to come over the pond to fulfill it.

First off is it a actual wilderness experience that you want or would a area that you can drive a vehicle to and then hunt out of the vehicle or a camp spot work? There are a lot of area where you can drive to a location and then start hunting when you step out of the vehicles door. Where a true wilderness hunt here in the US would require you to pack a camp a ways into a area where vehicles and gas engines are not allowed.

For the cheap side I would suggest a area where you can drive to and camp either inside of the vehicle or just off of the road that you drove in on. There are a lot of areas like this where you can camp and hunt in any of states in the Rocky Mountain area. Now for finding a area that a novice can manage to get a elk and deer at the same time gets a little bit harder.

So for starters I would narrow down a state or two to focus on. Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana would be where I would start and I think that I would start with Idaho. Deer and elk tags can be purchased over the counter there where others you would need to put in for a draw, at least for deer.

Others will chime in here and I am sure that you are going to get a lot of advise.

 

[s8mdevo]

I admire your passion to come over the pond to fulfill it.

First off is it a actual wilderness experience that you want or would a area that you can drive a vehicle to and then hunt out of the vehicle or a camp spot work? There are a lot of area where you can drive to a location and then start hunting when you step out of the vehicles door. Where a true wilderness hunt here in the US would require you to pack a camp a ways into a area where vehicles and gas engines are not allowed.

For the cheap side I would suggest a area where you can drive to and camp either inside of the vehicle or just off of the road that you drove in on. There are a lot of areas like this where you can camp and hunt in any of states in the Rocky Mountain area. Now for finding a area that a novice can manage to get a elk and deer at the same time gets a little bit harder.

So for starters I would narrow down a state or two to focus on. Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana would be where I would start and I think that I would start with Idaho. Deer and elk tags can be purchased over the counter there where others you would need to put in for a draw, at least for deer.

Others will chime in here and I am sure that you are going to get a lot of advise.

I'd be happy to drive and make journeys from vehicle camping. I did not know that this was possible. I have been putting in for non resident tags in Wyoming and Colorado for elk, antelope, and deer for the last two years but would prefer to do some over the counter hunts for experience before using up any points I have. (Is that the right thing to do). I have experience mountain hunting in New Zealand and hunted ibex in Kyrgyzstan this year so have an idea what to expect but am really after some experiences achieving the goal on my own without an outfitter.

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[s8mdevo]

If you have never done a DIY, public land hunt. I strongly suggest doing a Antelope, or prairie Mule Deer hunt. Figure out the logistics of it, field care of the meat, then once you fill your tag go take a day or two and check out an area that you'd like to go into. See it, see how big it is, get a feel for what your in for when you do go.

Makes sense, are the antelope and mule deer tags easy enough to acquire for a non resident?

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[go_deep]

Makes sense, are the antelope and mule deer tags easy enough to acquire for a non resident?

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I see on the other comment you have some Wyoming PP, but how many do you have for each species?

 

[s8mdevo]

I see on the other comment you have some Wyoming PP, but how many do you have for each species?

I think 2 for each but would have to check.


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[go_deep]

I think 2 for each but would have to check.


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You have enough to draw a Antelope tag that would get you into an area that as long as you can hit one at a few hundred yards, you'd fill your tag with a respectable buck.
You have enough Elk points to draw a NR general tag, which is good for around half the state of Wyoming.
And the deer tag is no different, plenty of different areas you could get a tag in, if your just looking to shoot a new world record, you would do just fine.

For antelope you only need a few days, deer around 5-6 days, and Elk I'd plan on 7 days minimum. Then you'll need to add in whatever travel time you need also.

You have enough points to hunt this next year if you want.

 

[Maxhunter]

You can also come out and hunt cow elk. It's very reasonable and success is high. Also like stated antelope is another easy hunt. Wyoming has a lot of public land to hunt on. As a nonresident you can't hunt wilderness in WY without a guide or a resident with a guide slip.

 

[luckynv]

I certainly do not want to crush your dreams. As someone that not only wants to hunt out of state but even way out of state/country. A couple of logistical things come to mind. Try to narrow down to a few states and animals that you want to hunt. Contact Fish and Game departments for those locations. I live in Nevada and hunt in Utah and Colorado. the Regulations are different in each state and "can" change on a yearly basis. This is a challenge to all of us DIY Hunters to keep up with everything. It might be in your best interest to have a guide to assist with the rules and regulations. If successful on say an Elk how will you deal with a 500 to 800 pound deadweight animal that you will be required to not waste any meat per each states specific guidelines. Donate the meat? Transport back to UK? I Love DIY hunting but when you throw in all of the logistical things that are needed to be successful the distance from home becomes a great challenge. I would strongly recommend using a guide your first time hunting in the US, could save a lot of grief. More expensive, YES! But could also save lots of headaches in the long run. Good luck and God bless

 

[s8mdevo]

I certainly do not want to crush your dreams. As someone that not only wants to hunt out of state but even way out of state/country. A couple of logistical things come to mind. Try to narrow down to a few states and animals that you want to hunt. Contact Fish and Game departments for those locations. I live in Nevada and hunt in Utah and Colorado. the Regulations are different in each state and "can" change on a yearly basis. This is a challenge to all of us DIY Hunters to keep up with everything. It might be in your best interest to have a guide to assist with the rules and regulations. If successful on say an Elk how will you deal with a 500 to 800 pound deadweight animal that you will be required to not waste any meat per each states specific guidelines. Donate the meat? Transport back to UK? I Love DIY hunting but when you throw in all of the logistical things that are needed to be successful the distance from home becomes a great challenge. I would strongly recommend using a guide your first time hunting in the US, could save a lot of grief. More expensive, YES! But could also save lots of headaches in the long run. Good luck and God bless

No dreams crushed here, happy for the advice. It is a big deal and I want to do it right so the more info the better. If I were to use a guide what is the process? Do I continue to gain preference points in the states I want to hunt and then contact a guide once I have enough points to draw a tag? I have been told that Utah is a good state to start gaining points as well so may start there as well. It is very difficult to know what states to target when you are from another country. Definitely would consider using a guide to get a better understanding of how things work out there for sure.

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[s8mdevo]

You can also come out and hunt cow elk. It's very reasonable and success is high. Also like stated antelope is another easy hunt. Wyoming has a lot of public land to hunt on. As a nonresident you can't hunt wilderness in WY without a guide or a resident with a guide slip.

I would be more than happy to hunt cow elk or antelope, I just want to get out there doing it. As for the best areas to hunt do you just study topo maps and work it out from there.

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[mallardsx2]

Before giving any advice I would have to ask what have you hunted successfully in the UK and what is your physical condition??

 

[s8mdevo]

Before giving any advice I would have to ask what have you hunted successfully in the UK and what is your physical condition??

I try my best to stay in good shape. I've hunted all 6 species of deer in the UK and travel to Scotland and hunt reds in the Highlands. I know these hills are low elevation and not much compared to the country you have out there but this is all we have over here and I have to make do. I had to get myself in good condition this year when I went to Kyrgyzstan and hunted ibex. It was by far the hardest hunt I have been on and it sort of spurred me on to get things moving with attempting some hunting in the states. We were at 12,000ft and I struggled a fair bit with the lack of oxygen so have increased how much I run now. It is very difficult in the UK to train for a mountain hunt. There are no hills, it is very flat here. I had to load my pack with sand and hike long distances in my breaks whilst at work to build some strength and I think that helped a lot. I'm only 36 so not over the hill yet and am as keen now as ever.

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[go_deep]

It sounds like from a conditioning stand point your doing what you need to do. I'd plan a antelope hunt in Wyoming, 3-4 days to hunt, them tack on as many days as you can within reason. Drive through a few areas that you'd like to elk hunt, if you have enough time drive to another state for a day or two. So you don't have to back track fly into day Denver, them fly back out of Salt Lake.
Keep buying points, you won't regret having them.
Like I said in my earlier post, you got enough points to hunt this next year, just got to decide if you can Make it happen.

 

[RICMIC]

You have a great deal of info to sort through...read Eastman's magazine, and start studying the various states fish & game websites. A lot of what you read in the MRS focuses on the "blue chip" areas, but you would not have the points to draw them for many years. You will get a huge jump-start by establishing a relationship with a U.S. hunter with western experience and do a combo hunt with them. Very specific information should also be done via PMs on the forum, or other personal correspondence. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[s8mdevo]

It sounds like from a conditioning stand point your doing what you need to do. I'd plan a antelope hunt in Wyoming, 3-4 days to hunt, them tack on as many days as you can within reason. Drive through a few areas that you'd like to elk hunt, if you have enough time drive to another state for a day or two. So you don't have to back track fly into day Denver, them fly back out of Salt Lake.
Keep buying points, you won't regret having them.
Like I said in my earlier post, you got enough points to hunt this next year, just got to decide if you can Make it happen.

Sounds like somewhere to start and also an animal I would love to hunt which would work. Are there any tips for where to start when planning a hunt?

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[mallardsx2]

A subscription to Eastmans magazine online would be a GREAT place to start. There is a wealth of information there for the public land guy.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Lots of great information here for you. Good luck on your journey