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Campfire Ranger
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So sitting around the campfire at deer camp, me and my buddies were talking about trying a mule deer or elk hunt. We are all from MS so have no idea how to even start.
Whats the best way to go about this. We dont want a canned hunt for sure. Public land? If chances are much lower with a public land hunt, thats fine. It will be more about hunting with friends than about the actual kill. Seeing new country.
Questions I have.
1. Where? 2. License / fees - when and where 3. Lodging - motel 8? 4. Time of the year 5. Costs
To make it worth the trip, likely a week of hunting. Is a $2k trip realistic?
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I've hunted twice in NV and found the quality of the hunts to be much better than elsewhere I've tried. They've got open country and good numbers and quality of game. You need to apply and it takes time...
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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My advice to you is just go do it. If not you'll be sitting around the campfire in ten years still talking about.
I would pick a OTC elk unit in colorado. Put in for a deer tag in that unit also and just go.
Public land hunt should cost slightly less than $2000 when it's all said and done.
Dink
Last edited by DINK; 12/08/16.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Also anyone that says they want to go and then backs out when it's time to put in for tags or when it gets close to time leave without a really good reason never gets invited to go again.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Last edited by PaulBarnard; 12/08/16.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,638
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,638 |
My advice to you is just go do it. If not you'll be sitting around the campfire in ten years still talking about. ^ That right there. Are you talking combo hunt or one of the two? If you're talking both Montana is a good destination because they sell combo tags. If you're talking one or the other I'd decide on a primary and secondary target... is the focus gonna be elk or mule deer? That'll help narrow down areas. I'd look at draw entry deadlines for Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming so you can plan to have choices narrowed in time. They're right around the corner for the first and last I don't know about Colorado. Colorado is a place you can get OTC elk tags. Montana & Wyoming are draw, but the former is easier to get a general tag and you can hunt designated wilderness areas without a guide unlike Wyoming. Good luck!
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
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Not necessarily a combo hunt. But if the area has both, don't want to be elk hunting and have to watch a trophy Mule trophy walk off because I don't have the tag. Paying for both tags and only using one is fine with me.
Primary would be elk for me.
Thanks for the replies.
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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The good thing about colorado is you can apply for your deer tag and then decide if you want a elk tag too.
A lot of the guys that go will only buy one tag.
I try to hunt west every year and it's hard trying to get good guys to go. Most would rather pizz thier money away right now than save it for a hunt.
Dink
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Campfire Tracker
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1. Where? - Rocky Mountain states; Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, would be on the top of my list. Utah, Arizona are also good but there's not as much good habitat. It's hard to get tags in New Mexico and Nevada.
2. License / fees - Colorado OTC bull elk tag, mule deer tag and habitat stamp will cost about $900, for a nonresident. Go to their web sites to find deadlines for draw applications. It was April 5th, 2016 in Colorado.
3. Lodging - motel 8? - don't try to hunt from a motel. Learn to camp.
4. Time of the year - Fall. Dates vary from state to state. Multiple opportunities.
5. Costs - $2,000 for tags and R/T gas from MS, plus some extras, is a reasonable estimate for a week of public land hunting if you camp.
To make it worth the trip, likely a week of hunting. Is a $2k trip realistic? - yes
Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I try to hunt west every year and it's hard trying to get good guys to go. Most would rather pizz thier money away right now than save it for a hunt.
Dink
That right there BIG TIME. Many guys will say, "aw man you're so lucky to get to do that I just can't because ________ whine snivel whine..." while pissing money (and vacation time) away on BS. Luck has nothing to do with it.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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In Idaho, you can buy OTC elk and deer tags for the same time and place. A lot the elk hunts in southern ID are by lottery but there are lots of OTC hunts available, too. In general, most of the deer in so. ID are mulies and in no. ID are whitetails. There is LOTS of overlap. In general, deer and elk seasons will overlap for 2 weeks, with many exceptions.
Non-res fees are: license 155 elk tag 417 deer tag 302 (non-res hunters can use a deer tag on a bear, cougar or wolf) bear 186 wolf 32
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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In Idaho, you can buy OTC elk and deer tags for the same time and place. A lot the elk hunts in southern ID are by lottery but there are lots of OTC hunts available, too. In general, most of the deer in so. ID are mulies and in no. ID are whitetails. There is LOTS of overlap. In general, deer and elk seasons will overlap for 2 weeks, with many exceptions.
Non-res fees are: license 155 elk tag 417 deer tag 302 (non-res hunters can use a deer tag on a bear, cougar or wolf) bear 186 wolf 32
He's just joking, stick with CO
100% Public land DIY!
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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If you want to hunt elk,forget about the deer tag.Elk hunting has to be 100% committed. You can kill deer anywhere.
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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