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What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? #8733507 03/31/14 Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10,653 Badger State roundoak OP Campfire Outfitter OP roundoak Campfire Outfitter Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10,653 Badger State What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? On a recent get together of some pards at my cabin for trout fishing, one individual posed this question. In the small sample of five, four stated location which consisted of three basic components. Habitat, scenery and olfactory. One individual stated meat. You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8733687 03/31/14 Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 19,087 Colorado Springs, CO, USA S saddlesore Campfire Ranger saddlesore Campfire Ranger S Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 19,087 Colorado Springs, CO, USA Elk. I moved to Co so I could hunt them every year and have done so since 1974. In NM it was every other year, and some times three. No other big game animal gets me even close to excited as elk does. If one has ever watched the movie Open Range with Kevin Costner, when talking about his dog he said he has the mind for it, but not the legs. That's me pretty much anymore, butI still try If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? saddlesore #8733744 03/31/14 Joined: May 2011 Posts: 2,437 North Dakota C Cocadori Campfire Regular Cocadori Campfire Regular C Joined: May 2011 Posts: 2,437 North Dakota Operative word here is "hunt"

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8733747 03/31/14 Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 6,971 Colorado Springs, Colorado USA KC Campfire Tracker KC Campfire Tracker Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 6,971 Colorado Springs, Colorado USA Originally Posted by roundoak What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? Female humans. Oh! I'm too old for that? Are you sure? OK then elk. Actually I've discovered that what I really like is camping with friends and family. I like the comraderie more than anything else and hunting provides a good framework within which I can enjoy that. I also like being in the mountains and woods, the aromas, the vistas, the serenity. KC Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? KC #8733771 03/31/14 Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 2,838 Montana Backroads Campfire Regular Backroads Campfire Regular Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 2,838 Montana Pronghorn is my favorite hunt by far.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? KC #8733775 03/31/14 Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 24,579 Likes: 2 Bozeman, MT shrapnel Campfire Ranger shrapnel Campfire Ranger Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 24,579 Likes: 2 Bozeman, MT It comes down to 2 times a year for both elk and turkey's. There is nothing like bugling elk or gobbling turkeys. Nobody can hunt sheep all the time, or Dall and Bighorns would be there on that list...

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? shrapnel #8734032 03/31/14 Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,852 Smoky Mountains, TN bwinters Campfire Outfitter bwinters Campfire Outfitter Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,852 Smoky Mountains, TN Elk by a wide margin. I'd likely give up hunting everything else just to hunt elk. Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8734163 03/31/14 Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 1,668 Ka., USA O Oheremicus Campfire Regular Oheremicus Campfire Regular O Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 1,668 Ka., USA I've hunted several sub species of mule or blacktail deer, pronghorn, black bear, pigs and elk. I've spent enough time around desert bighorn and desert bighorn hunters to know what that would be like as well. But, for me, it would be hunting the desert mulies of the Ironwood Deserts, O.H. eremicus..... Why ? because where I do it, unless you track them, they are too few and too scattered for a hunter to have a chance of finding one. Why bother ? Because it's the only area I've ever hunted with a high percentage of older bucks, and where I can usually get a tag every year. That and I'm a desert rat at heart. In 2nd place, of course, would be either the Desert Bighorn or the similar California Bighorn found in the desert mountain ranges of Nevada. E

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Oheremicus #8734176 03/31/14 Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,763 Western Colorado B BeanMan Campfire Tracker BeanMan Campfire Tracker B Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,763 Western Colorado Elk, by far.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? BeanMan #8734207 03/31/14 Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 18,033 North Central U.S. gophergunner Campfire Ranger gophergunner Campfire Ranger Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 18,033 North Central U.S. I've never had the chance to hunt elk, so I've got to go with whitetail, although there is nothing quite like a good day in the duck swamp with the mallards riding in on a norther just begging to pitch into the decoys. molɔ̀ːn labé skýla

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8734253 03/31/14 Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,418 Fairbanks, Ak. Bear_in_Fairbanks Campfire Regular Bear_in_Fairbanks Campfire Regular Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,418 Fairbanks, Ak. Dall Sheep, by far and away my favorite. But for EXCITEMENT? Try elk on Afognak Island in October. a certain "pucker factor" there. Bear in Fairbanks Last edited by Bear_in_Fairbanks; 03/31/14. "Unless you're the lead dog, the scenery never changes." Amazingly, I've lived long enough to see a President who is worse than Carter. And finally, Gun control means using two hands.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Bear_in_Fairbanks #8735120 03/31/14 Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 46,102 Likes: 6 Colorado S smokepole Campfire 'Bwana smokepole Campfire 'Bwana S Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 46,102 Likes: 6 Colorado Elk, on public land, in the backcountry. A wise man is frequently humbled.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? saddlesore #8735176 03/31/14 Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 12,651 6491 Feet Above Sea Level Coyote_Hunter Campfire Outfitter Coyote_Hunter Campfire Outfitter Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 12,651 6491 Feet Above Sea Level Originally Posted by saddlesore Elk. I moved to Co so I could hunt them every year and have done so since 1974. ... Late November of 1980 for me. First hunt was 1982. Have only missed one or two years since. Deer are an afterthought, a target of opportunity but one not to be taken if it interferes with getting elk. Second would be antelope. We go to Wyoming for a weekend hunt but everyone loves the meat. Better than elk. Last edited by Coyote_Hunter; 04/01/14. Reason: 1982, not 1981 for first hunt Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE! No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's. A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Cocadori #8735304 03/31/14 Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 52,680 North of Liberalism in Wyoming eh76 Campfire Kahuna eh76 Campfire Kahuna Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 52,680 North of Liberalism in Wyoming Originally Posted by Cocadori Operative word here is "hunt" too bad tags are pretty much once in a lifetime Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? eh76 #8735373 03/31/14 Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 18,927 NM S SLM Campfire Ranger SLM Campfire Ranger S Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 18,927 NM Elk...Would probably be mule deer if I could draw good tags. Deer tags have kicked my ass.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? eh76 #8735380 03/31/14 Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 60,153 Likes: 13 Banana Belt, Montana M Mule Deer Campfire Kahuna Mule Deer Campfire Kahuna M Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 60,153 Likes: 13 Banana Belt, Montana So far I haven't found a North American big game animal I don't like to hunt, and ignoring record-book categories have taken a dozen species. The meat has always been a factor, and trophies used to be much more of a factor, but have always loved open-country hunting in wild country more than anything else. If sheep hunting was more affordable or available would no doubt place them pretty high, and have liked my limited sheep hunting. Have gone through periods of hunting elk really hard, but grew up in elk country and they have never excited me as much as some others, oddly enough, and these days would rate whitetails higher. Have taken one good grizzly and that is enough. Got pretty excited over caribou for about 15 years, partly because of the real wilderness they live in, partly because of their extravagant antlers, and partly because they mostly live where fishing is really good. And they're good to eat too! But number one has always been mule deer, with pronghorn a close second. They both live in great country, taste good, and can be hunted as hard-core trophies or meat animals, either in empty country or more casually with family and friends. “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8735413 03/31/14 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 46,253 Likes: 1 Oklahoma G gunner500 Campfire 'Bwana gunner500 Campfire 'Bwana G Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 46,253 Likes: 1 Oklahoma Elk, and hope to make a Bison hunt this fall with my Sharps. Gunner Trump Won!

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8735429 03/31/14 Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 31,619 Likes: 4 Fall Creek Blanco Co. Texas K kaywoodie Campfire 'Bwana kaywoodie Campfire 'Bwana K Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 31,619 Likes: 4 Fall Creek Blanco Co. Texas Elk. Would love to get the opportunity to hunt pronghorn sometime. But I love elk. The country, the weather, being with my boys. The experience! Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester "Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored." WS

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8735434 03/31/14 Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 8,898 Montana P prairie_goat Campfire Outfitter prairie_goat Campfire Outfitter P Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 8,898 Montana Current favorite = bear. Especially because they can be hunted in the spring, when there is much less competition for the hills. Least favorite = elk.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? prairie_goat #8735453 03/31/14 Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 933 Idaho L lochsa Campfire Regular lochsa Campfire Regular L Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 933 Idaho archery elk and trophy mule deer

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8735470 03/31/14 Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 29,650 Likes: 5 Mi. E efw Campfire Ranger efw Campfire Ranger E Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 29,650 Likes: 5 Mi. Still working on making an informed decision.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? efw #8735493 03/31/14 Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,961 Park Rapids, MN M mmgravy Campfire Regular mmgravy Campfire Regular M Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,961 Park Rapids, MN Love walking across the prairie hunting antelope the best. Usually decent weather that time of year and then there are those prairie dogs.....

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? mmgravy #8735542 03/31/14 Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,910 Wyoming B BuzzH Campfire Tracker BuzzH Campfire Tracker B Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,910 Wyoming Probably a tie for me between coues deer and pronghorn. Followed closely by mountain whitetails in Western Montana and mule deer anywhere. Distant 5th place to elk. Cant hardly count sheep and goats as most just never get that many opportunities to hunt them. Last edited by BuzzH; 03/31/14.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? BuzzH #8735626 03/31/14 Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,768 Western Colorado JimR Campfire Regular JimR Campfire Regular Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,768 Western Colorado Mule deer followed by elk.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? BuzzH #8735656 03/31/14 Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,335 utah R rosco1 Campfire Tracker rosco1 Campfire Tracker R Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,335 utah Overall I think I get the most excited about pronghorn, mostly because you can find trophy size critters on fairly easy to get tags.Plus they are my favorite game meat. then it'd be big mule deer, which usually kick my ass. Elk are usually an afterthought, and I'll shoot one every few years cuz they usually eat good. i've always been kinda ho-hum about them for some reason..All tho great elk tags and huge bulls will take my enthusiasm for them to another level.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? rosco1 #8735666 03/31/14 Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 28,605 NE Montana rattler Campfire Ranger rattler Campfire Ranger Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 28,605 NE Montana speed goats by far.....normally lots of animal, great country and the pack out is easy....plus they taste great.....packing out elk gets down right masochistic at times A serious student of the "Armchair Safari" always looking for Africa/Asia hunting books

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? rattler #8735696 03/31/14 Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 22,736 Minnesocialism B bigwhoop Campfire Ranger bigwhoop Campfire Ranger B Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 22,736 Minnesocialism Elk have become my favorite over the past 12 years. The country they live in is demanding and they taste better than all other big game - according to the wife. One elk per year is all we need. Someday I hope to be able to buy a resident tag! My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? bigwhoop #8735747 03/31/14 Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 674 Ne & Me S saj Campfire Regular saj Campfire Regular S Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 674 Ne & Me whitetails

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? bigwhoop #8735757 03/31/14 Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 5,467 Likes: 1 jennings lodge, oregon Oregonmuley Campfire Tracker Oregonmuley Campfire Tracker Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 5,467 Likes: 1 jennings lodge, oregon I'm another big antelope hunting fan, its what I look forward to most each year. As much as I like to chase mule deer there isn't much finer than being out in the sage in Wyoming looking for a nice antelope buck! "Rather hunt Mule deer than anything else" "Team 7MM-08"

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Oregonmuley #8735769 03/31/14 Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,723 Baker, MT L laker Campfire Tracker laker Campfire Tracker L Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,723 Baker, MT Big mule deer followed by elk. If it had been any animal it would be coyotes way out front.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8735779 03/31/14 Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,200 Calgary Alberta, Canada AB2506 Campfire Outfitter AB2506 Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,200 Calgary Alberta, Canada In order of preference: 1) pronghorn antelope. 2) mule deer. 3) whitetail deer. 4) moose. 5) elk. I reserve the right to change my mind after my trip to Africa in May. Funny, but I have often said that if meat was not an issue and I could only hunt one thing for the rest of my life, I would probably choose coyotes. Coyotes are common, no limits, often no seasons, challenging.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? rosco1 #8735832 03/31/14 Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 3,648 Anchorage, Alaska olblue Campfire Tracker olblue Campfire Tracker Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 3,648 Anchorage, Alaska Kodiak Sitka deer because they're some of the best eating game there is. Moose and Caribou are great but Sitka deer are better and also easier to carry. --- Mel The only thing I'm an expert at is my own opinion, and I have plenty of those!

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? olblue #8735866 03/31/14 Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,317 Anchorage, AK C cwh2 Campfire Tracker cwh2 Campfire Tracker C Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,317 Anchorage, AK Sheep is the hunt that I look forward to most every year, but I tend to enjoy whatever I'm hunting. If I were to live someplace I couldn't hunt sheep, I'd choose that place by the quality of the elk hunting...

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? cwh2 #8735938 03/31/14 Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 13,401 Hoosierland, Indiana Kimber7man Campfire Outfitter Kimber7man Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 13,401 Hoosierland, Indiana Mule deer. Location? Wherever scenarshooter would take me... “There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” ALDO LEOPOLD

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? cwh2 #8735953 03/31/14 Joined: May 2005 Posts: 14,104 Boot Heel of New Mexico mudhen Campfire Outfitter mudhen Campfire Outfitter Joined: May 2005 Posts: 14,104 Boot Heel of New Mexico I got hooked on elk hunting for good about 29 years ago and have hunted them somewhere every year since then. However, if I could only hunt one animal to the exclusion of all others, it would be Coues whitetails. I love the animals, I love the country and I love the challenge. Now that I have a new knee that works, I am back in the game! Ben Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? mudhen #8736013 03/31/14 Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,062 Idaho Razz Campfire Regular Razz Campfire Regular Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,062 Idaho Elk, followed by elk and elk. Especially during the rut. Gave up 2 months of whitetails for a week of chasing elk and never looked back. There's 2 dates they carve on your tombstone. Everyone knows what they mean. What's more important is time that is known as the little dash inbetween. Razz

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? mudhen #8736031 03/31/14 Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 10,915 Lubbock, Texas H Huntr Campfire Outfitter Huntr Campfire Outfitter H Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 10,915 Lubbock, Texas Dall Sheep- for the trophy and the country they inhabit... Elk- a freezer full of elk meat is never a bad thing. Mule Deer- have never had luck getting tags, but I really want to dedicate some years to chasing them!

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Huntr #8736373 03/31/14 Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,635 Anchorage, AK USA Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna Sitka deer Campfire Kahuna Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 50,635 Anchorage, AK USA Sheep are great in their own way, but I suspect success with really outstanding examples has a lot to do with which ones rises to the top of the favorites. Having shot a pretty good whack of very fine examples I have to go with Sitka deer, still. The season is only 5 months long, 3 tags per year free for residents and some years they raise the number as high as 7. They eat better than just about any other game meat and you might get to meet their neighbors while wandering around out there. Limiting it to species I have covered all but 3 in North America... Least favorite would have to be someone else's moose! Last edited by Sitka deer; 03/31/14. Reason: miscount on sheep species... Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8736442 04/01/14 Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 33,731 Likes: 2 Either Texas or Idaho E EdM Campfire 'Bwana EdM Campfire 'Bwana E Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 33,731 Likes: 2 Either Texas or Idaho Elk, though my grizzly hunt was great but something I will only do once. Conduct is the best proof of character.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8736453 04/01/14 Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,457 Likes: 2 State of Jefferson T T_O_M Campfire Outfitter T_O_M Campfire Outfitter T Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,457 Likes: 2 State of Jefferson Originally Posted by roundoak What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? Blacktailed deer. Why? Fall is my favorite time of year and prime blacktailed deer habitat is the best place to experience fall. Leaves start to change color, still generally dry out but the edge is gone off the heat, a little chill at night. And with any luck, a little venison for the smoker. Tom Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip. Here be dragons ...

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? T_O_M #8736891 04/01/14 Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,259 Likes: 6 W. Texas J JGRaider Campfire Ranger JGRaider Campfire Ranger J Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,259 Likes: 6 W. Texas Stealing a thought or two from JB here, but haven't found anything I don't like to hunt either. However, I've been lusting over wild sheep for 30 years and never hunted one. I love hunting free range aoudad, as they are a spot and stalk hunters dream. Another however, big mule deer bucks really turn my crank, and after 40 years of chasing them I never get tired of hunting them or attempting to outsmart one. It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? JGRaider #8736941 04/01/14 Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 7,177 Colorado huntsonora Campfire Tracker huntsonora Campfire Tracker Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 7,177 Colorado 1. mule deer 2. mule deer 3. whitetail deer(all species) 4. antelope 5. tie between elk and sheep

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? huntsonora #8737076 04/01/14 Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 11,273 High Country Colorado Tanner Campfire Outfitter Tanner Campfire Outfitter Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 11,273 High Country Colorado I haven't hunted enough other stuff to say for sure yet, but I can't imagine loving anything a whole lot more than looking for mature mule deer. They are just such an incredibly cool critter and can be so wiley at times that I don't know how it could get much more fun. That may change after this summer....grin Tanner

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Tanner #8737101 04/01/14 Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,283 Mid-west JoshK Campfire Regular JoshK Campfire Regular Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,283 Mid-west Ive got to say whitetails. Life is hard,its even harder when you are stupid.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? JoshK #8737217 04/01/14 Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 9,576 grottoes ,virginia,usa srwshooter Campfire Outfitter srwshooter Campfire Outfitter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 9,576 grottoes ,virginia,usa gota be whitetails because no 2 are alike. trying to kill bigger,wider,taller,heavier with whitetail racks i enjoy most.we have lots of bear but they all look alike,you seen one you seen them all.i would like the chance to killa big elk,mulie or moose. pronghorns to me mostly look the same,don't believe i could stay interested in them long. but i do like long range hunting,so maybe i could.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? srwshooter #8737373 04/01/14 Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 13,930 PA moosemike Campfire Outfitter moosemike Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 13,930 PA It used to be moose. But I got older and my back isn't what it once was. I'd have to say pronghorn antelope. Chasing them around the prairie is some of the most fun I've ever had.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? mudhen #8737672 04/01/14 Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 32,122 Likes: 2 Kenai Peninsula, AK L las Campfire 'Bwana las Campfire 'Bwana L Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 32,122 Likes: 2 Kenai Peninsula, AK Mule Deers first paragraph. Dall sheep/ Mt. goat are #1 tho, with the sheep edging out goat. The only true cost of having a dog is its death.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? las #8737708 04/01/14 Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 9,387 las vegas, Nv. L lvmiker Campfire Outfitter lvmiker Campfire Outfitter L Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 9,387 las vegas, Nv. I enjoy any hunting that requires movement and takes place in interesting environments. I love chasing Muledeer in transition zones where I may be in sagebrush in the morning and Pinetrees at lunchtime. Pronghorns provide the wide open vistas that I also crave. Elk are fun and challenging as well as delicious but for me are more complicated logistically. I can hunt coyotes any time near my house and I am currently obsessed with finding a wolf. Being outdoors w/ a rifle in hand always makes me happy. mike r Don't wish it were easier Wish you were better Stab them in the taint, you can't put a tourniquet on that. Craig Douglas ECQC

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? lvmiker #8737842 04/01/14 Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 9,921 Alaska B bearstalker Campfire Outfitter bearstalker Campfire Outfitter B Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 9,921 Alaska Sitka deer or caribou for me.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? prairie_goat #8737991 04/01/14 Joined: May 2011 Posts: 56,311 Likes: 9 Oregon Fireball2 Campfire Kahuna Fireball2 Campfire Kahuna Joined: May 2011 Posts: 56,311 Likes: 9 Oregon Originally Posted by prairie_goat Current favorite = bear. Especially because they can be hunted in the spring, when there is much less competition for the hills. Least favorite = elk. This. _______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack LOL

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? T_O_M #8737993 04/01/14 Joined: May 2011 Posts: 56,311 Likes: 9 Oregon Fireball2 Campfire Kahuna Fireball2 Campfire Kahuna Joined: May 2011 Posts: 56,311 Likes: 9 Oregon Originally Posted by T_O_M Originally Posted by roundoak What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? Blacktailed deer. Why? Fall is my favorite time of year and prime blacktailed deer habitat is the best place to experience fall. Leaves start to change color, still generally dry out but the edge is gone off the heat, a little chill at night. And with any luck, a little venison for the smoker. Tom And this. _______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack LOL

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Fireball2 #8739838 04/02/14 Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 2,166 Likes: 2 Georgia 4 4winds Campfire Regular 4winds Campfire Regular 4 Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 2,166 Likes: 2 Georgia Hunting and fishing both have kept the kid in me alive for a long time. There isn't a patch of woods or pond I've driven or walked by that didn't have me wondering what critters were in there and how to kill or catch them. If it crawls, walks or swims it's my number one for that moment. Damn, I love the outdoors!

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Fireball2 #8740080 04/02/14 Joined: May 2005 Posts: 154 British Columbia Amphibious Campfire Member Amphibious Campfire Member Joined: May 2005 Posts: 154 British Columbia The Mountains Are Calling And I Must Go

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8740146 04/02/14 Joined: May 2007 Posts: 12,140 Okanagan Falls, BC BC30cal Campfire Outfitter BC30cal Campfire Outfitter Joined: May 2007 Posts: 12,140 Okanagan Falls, BC roundoak; Thanks for the thread topic and thanks to those who've responded, it makes for some interesting reading for me to be sure. Personally my favorite hunt would be mule deer in the high sagebrush bowls that run up against old growth Douglas Fir stands. The kinda county we see here. Truthfully I don't hunt that country very often most years however, because typically it will only have mulies and black bears in it as far as big game. We are quite spoiled here in BC in that we've got almost 3 months to chase big game and it's only from Nov. 11th onward that we'll only be chasing a single animal which is whitetail bucks. From Sept. 10 until then, we'll usually have a black bear tag, bull elk tag, bull moose tag, mule deer buck tag and lastly a whitetail buck tag in tow. There's an area we haunt on the mountain behind the house that holds all of them and on any given morning in fall, if we're lucky we just might bump into any or all of them. Here it is on a November morning at first light - it's a lot "thicker" up here. Anyway that's my choice, why I'd choose it and why I don't follow that choice many seasons - if that makes any sense? Thanks again for the thread and all the best to you and yours this week. Dwayne Last edited by BC30cal; 04/02/14. Reason: added info The most important stuff in life isn't "stuff"

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8740285 04/02/14 Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 29,650 Likes: 5 Mi. E efw Campfire Ranger efw Campfire Ranger E Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 29,650 Likes: 5 Mi. I originally said this: Originally Posted by efw Still working on making an informed decision. ...which is true cuz I am working on hunting different animals right now, but this: Originally Posted by mmgravy Love walking across the prairie hunting antelope the best. Usually decent weather that time of year and then there are those prairie dogs..... ...is true for me so far. The fact that I can take my boys and have them LOVE the WHOLE experience (road trip, new country, many animals, spotting & stalking, etc) is the biggest factor.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? efw #8740348 04/02/14 Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 20 Colorado R rider14x New Member rider14x New Member R Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 20 Colorado Like many of you, being out in the fall is what makes it feel like hunting season to me. Here in Colorado, nothing better exemplifies that than first or second season elk. It also doesn't hurt that elk meat is my all-time favorite!

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? rider14x #8742289 04/02/14 Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 35,900 B BobinNH Campfire 'Bwana BobinNH Campfire 'Bwana B Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 35,900 I am happy to be hunting about anything but in no particular order I like mule deer, whitetails and elk. If I can get a tag for any of these I am a pretty happy camper. The 280 Remington is overbore. The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? BobinNH #8742430 04/02/14 Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 13,354 Florence, Montana M MontanaCreekHunter Campfire Outfitter MontanaCreekHunter Campfire Outfitter M Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 13,354 Florence, Montana Archery elk and Sitka black tail. Because they both taste great and are less filling! Eat Fish, Wear Grundens, Drink Alaskan.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? BobinNH #8742546 04/02/14 Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10,653 Badger State roundoak OP Campfire Outfitter OP roundoak Campfire Outfitter Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10,653 Badger State I feel fortunate to live in some great Whitetail country, but Mule deer is my favorite big game animal to hunt due in no small part to the sight, sounds and smell of the Missouri Breaks. I have hunted Mule deer in the Rockies and Badlands, also, however the Breaks continue to beckon me back. Dusty trails, stunted pines, juniper, sage brush, muddy alkaline water holes and an old trapper log cabin. You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? gophergunner #8743363 04/03/14 Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 499 N.E. Georgia Crowkiller Campfire Member Crowkiller Campfire Member Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 499 N.E. Georgia I used to prefer deer hunting, then coyote hunting, but now that wild hogs have moved in, they take first place. My first four hog kills were made stalking through patches of cane in swampy areas, and were all less than 30 yards. It is very exciting to be in the cane, with 5-10 hogs within 7 to 25 yards, and not to be able to see any of them, just the cane shaking. It anchors you to the now, all your other cares are forgotten. They taste great too! Hunting older deer is quite a challenge, and coyotes are extremely challenging to hunt in this are, but I have come to prefer the get in amongst them hog hunting. TANSTAAFL

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Crowkiller #8743574 04/03/14 Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 20,554 Alaska AkMtnHntr Campfire Ranger AkMtnHntr Campfire Ranger Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 20,554 Alaska Right now, Alaska-Yukon moose are my favorite animal to hunt, just something about glassing for big bulls on a chilly Sept day that brings a smile to my face. When it comes to game meat, dall sheep wins that category hands down, dalls are the best eating game meat in NA IMO. That's ok, I'll ass shoot a dink. Steelhead

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8745118 04/03/14 Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 35,900 B BobinNH Campfire 'Bwana BobinNH Campfire 'Bwana B Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 35,900 roundoak, I agree with you. There is nothing to get blood flowing like great mule deer country. Wonderful! The 280 Remington is overbore. The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? BobinNH #8745183 04/03/14 Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 1,505 G GSP814 Campfire Regular GSP814 Campfire Regular G Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 1,505 Tie between elk and mule deer.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? GSP814 #8745846 04/03/14 Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 953 R Ravenr2 Campfire Regular Ravenr2 Campfire Regular R Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 953 I like hunting all of them. The seasons determine my favorite. That said, it's hard to beat Big Mule deer.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? BC30cal #8745885 04/03/14 Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 123 Northern Colorado L LoneWati Campfire Member LoneWati Campfire Member L Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 123 Northern Colorado Big deer and big antelope!!!!

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? LoneWati #8748912 04/04/14 Joined: May 2010 Posts: 2,337 K kawi Campfire Regular kawi Campfire Regular K Joined: May 2010 Posts: 2,337 Elk with a someday moose.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? kawi #8748977 04/04/14 Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 4,577 Eastern Montana ranger1 Campfire Tracker ranger1 Campfire Tracker Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 4,577 Eastern Montana I haven't hunted the wide array of game that some have, but when it comes down to those that I've hunted, there's no way that I could choose just one as a favorite. I love to hunt antelope, being able to choose from dozens of bucks and see game all day long is fun. Elk are a blast, whether it is an archery hunt during the rut in the Breaks or a late season hunt in the mountains, I really enjoy the whole process. WT and MD are a lot of fun, archery hunting for a velvet buck or hunting our five week rifle season, I'll never tire of looking for a big deer. Bears are fun, but I've shot enough that I do it more for fun than as a serious endeavor. Which isn't to say that I don't get pretty wound up when I see one that I want. I hope to one day be able to hunt some of the other stuff that's out there. For now I'm kept pretty busy just trying to shoot stuff in MT, WY, and ND. A big caribou and a moose are on the short list of stuff that I need to kill sooner than later. The more I think about it, the more I realize that there's no way that I'll ever have a favorite animal to hunt. It's the hunt itself that I enjoy more than anything else.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? ranger1 #8749079 04/04/14 Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 355 F FoxTrotter Campfire Member FoxTrotter Campfire Member F Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 355 When I was young and lived in the East and then the mid west it was mallards and whitetails with a bow. Today I live on the left coast and have found that's there is nothing like chasing big stinky old bull elk in the fall through the beautiful high country of AZ,Montana,NM,CO NV and Utah.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? FoxTrotter #8754146 04/06/14 Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,082 B Biggs300 Campfire Regular Biggs300 Campfire Regular B Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,082 I've only hunted Elk, mule deer, whitetail and hogs but Elk is my absolute favorite. Start young, hunt hard, and enjoy God's bounty.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8754288 04/06/14 Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 4,313 Negaunee, Michigan Youper Campfire Tracker Youper Campfire Tracker Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 4,313 Negaunee, Michigan All of my big game hunting has been white-tail deer and black bears in Michigan. I like hunting deer, but black bear are my passion. The bears are more interesting, the weather nicer, and I have a longer season. Brushbuster: "Is this thread about the dear heard or there Jeans?" Plugger: "If you cant be safe at strip club in Detroit at 2am is anywhere safe?" Deer are somewhere all the time To report a post you disagree with, please push Alt + F4. Thank You.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Youper #8754699 04/06/14 Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,973 Alaska Maverick940 Campfire Regular Maverick940 Campfire Regular Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,973 Alaska Without question and for quite some time now, it's been Coues whitetail deer.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Maverick940 #8758018 04/07/14 Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 853 Texas T Tip926 Campfire Regular Tip926 Campfire Regular T Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 853 Texas BIG whitetail.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Tip926 #8758549 04/08/14 Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,950 Michigan Big_Redhead Campfire Tracker Big_Redhead Campfire Tracker Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,950 Michigan Have hunted whitetails, elk, black bear, and caribou. Killed many, MANY deer and 2 'bou. Have yet to get my first elk or bear. Would like to get a moose someday. One big problem with elk, 'bou, and moose is the expense. Hunting any of those is for the most part out of reach for me financially. The times I hunted elk, I loved the comaraderie of the camp more than the ceaseless hoofing in steep country, which I can no longer do. If I ever do get an elk or moose, I will have to hire it hauled out. Just getting there and back is probably more than I can handle now, unless I can ride in a vehicle. I have to say my favorite is whitetails. I can hunt them out my back door on my own property. My young, strong sons helps me pack them out. Nowadays I hunt a lot with my wife, which we both love a lot. Our God reigns. Harrumph!!! I often use quick reply. My posts are not directed toward any specific person unless I mention them by name.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Fireball2 #8761773 04/08/14 Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,509 R RinB Campfire Tracker RinB Campfire Tracker R Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,509 Desert Bighorns then speed goats “Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Posted by Brad.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Maverick940 #8763140 04/09/14 Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 46,102 Likes: 6 Colorado S smokepole Campfire 'Bwana smokepole Campfire 'Bwana S Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 46,102 Likes: 6 Colorado Originally Posted by Maverick940 Without question and for quite some time now, it's been Coues whitetail deer. I've never seen a Coues, but I know there are a lot of aficionados. What is it that makes Coues a favorite? A wise man is frequently humbled.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Fireball2 #8766476 04/10/14 Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 670 Matagorda, Tx AndySpencer Campfire Regular AndySpencer Campfire Regular Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 670 Matagorda, Tx I really enjoyed my coastal black bear hunt. I like shooting wild hogs as well. Like coyotes, no season, no limit, and they get big. �Some people hear their own inner voice with great clearness. And they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy�or they become legend."--Jim Harrison www.doing-manly-things.com

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? smokepole #8766520 04/10/14 Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,973 Alaska Maverick940 Campfire Regular Maverick940 Campfire Regular Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,973 Alaska Originally Posted by smokepole Originally Posted by Maverick940 Without question and for quite some time now, it's been Coues whitetail deer. I've never seen a Coues, but I know there are a lot of aficionados. What is it that makes Coues a favorite? The remoteness. The terrain. The weather. The wariness of a whitetail buck that's pursued on a daily basis by mountain lions, the occasional jaguar, the occasional red wolf, coyotes, bobcats, black bears and humans. The difficulty of trying to even see an animal that's so incredibly camouflaged. And the allure of chasing specific older age-class bucks that are virtually unseen, in an ecosystem that's beyond challenging. Not to mention how petite and beautiful they are. Used to be that Dall sheep were my favorite big game animal to pursue. That was the case for about 15 years or so. Now it's Coues whitetail deer and that's been the case for about 20 years or so. Currently, second place belongs to mountain goats and older age-class brown/grizzly bears. Dall sheep have fallen to fourth place, behind desert bighorn sheep and California bighorn sheep (tied in third place). Older age-class mule deer -- Sonoran, Rocky Mountain and Pacific (sub-species) -- are tied in fifth place.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Maverick940 #8766555 04/10/14 Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,259 Likes: 6 W. Texas J JGRaider Campfire Ranger JGRaider Campfire Ranger J Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,259 Likes: 6 W. Texas Originally Posted by Maverick940 Without question and for quite some time now, it's been Coues whitetail deer. I thought for sure you were going to say Russian women. It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Ravenr2 #8766559 04/10/14 Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,259 Likes: 6 W. Texas J JGRaider Campfire Ranger JGRaider Campfire Ranger J Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,259 Likes: 6 W. Texas Originally Posted by Ravenr2 I like hunting all of them. The seasons determine my favorite. That said, it's hard to beat Big Mule deer. That's what I'm talking' about. Niiiice! It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8766621 04/10/14 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,901 Likes: 1 Deer Park, Tx R Reloder28 Campfire Ranger Reloder28 Campfire Ranger R Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,901 Likes: 1 Deer Park, Tx Originally Posted by roundoak What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? Axis More bang for the buck. Public hunt Texas Whitetails are hardly worth the effort. "I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8766666 04/10/14 Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 18,497 Colorado antlers Campfire Ranger antlers Campfire Ranger Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 18,497 Colorado Originally Posted by roundoak What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? Pronghorn. It's all spot and stalk. Plus I love the high plains environment where I've been able to hunt them. Every day on this side of the ground is a win.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8767685 04/10/14 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,424 MN B bucktail Campfire Tracker bucktail Campfire Tracker B Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,424 MN For strictly hunting, it would be pronghorn. For the meat, and the camp, it would be elk. If you love someone set them free If they come back no one else liked them Set them free again

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? JGRaider #8767802 04/10/14 Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 10,915 Lubbock, Texas H Huntr Campfire Outfitter Huntr Campfire Outfitter H Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 10,915 Lubbock, Texas Originally Posted by JGRaider Originally Posted by Maverick940 Without question and for quite some time now, it's been Coues whitetail deer. I thought for sure you were going to say Russian women. LOL!

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8768353 04/11/14 Joined: May 2007 Posts: 5,741 (513) F Folically_Challenged Campfire Tracker Folically_Challenged Campfire Tracker F Joined: May 2007 Posts: 5,741 (513) I enjoy the hell out of the spring hog hunts with my buddies. Sometimes, we even kill hogs. The western pack horse hunts I've enjoyed were spectacular, more for the majesty of the land, than for which animal I pursued while there. As for animals, specifically, I'd have to say elk. There's nothing like having a bull bugling his face off at you at 10 yards, and having nothing but a bush between him & yourself. FC "Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a banquet." - Mrs. FC

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Maverick940 #8768485 04/11/14 Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 13,661 Indiana pointer Campfire Outfitter pointer Campfire Outfitter Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 13,661 Indiana Originally Posted by Maverick940 Originally Posted by smokepole Originally Posted by Maverick940 Without question and for quite some time now, it's been Coues whitetail deer. I've never seen a Coues, but I know there are a lot of aficionados. What is it that makes Coues a favorite? The remoteness. The terrain. The weather. The wariness of a whitetail buck that's pursued on a daily basis by mountain lions, the occasional jaguar, the occasional red wolf, coyotes, bobcats, black bears and humans. The difficulty of trying to even see an animal that's so incredibly camouflaged. And the allure of chasing specific older age-class bucks that are virtually unseen, in an ecosystem that's beyond challenging. Not to mention how petite and beautiful they are. Used to be that Dall sheep were my favorite big game animal to pursue. That was the case for about 15 years or so. Now it's Coues whitetail deer and that's been the case for about 20 years or so. Currently, second place belongs to mountain goats and older age-class brown/grizzly bears. Dall sheep have fallen to fourth place, behind desert bighorn sheep and California bighorn sheep (tied in third place). Older age-class mule deer -- Sonoran, Rocky Mountain and Pacific (sub-species) -- are tied in fifth place. Didn't realize the red wolf was quite that far West... The only one's I've seen were in Smokey Mountain National Park.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? pointer #8768696 04/11/14 Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,973 Alaska Maverick940 Campfire Regular Maverick940 Campfire Regular Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,973 Alaska Originally Posted by pointer Originally Posted by Maverick940 Originally Posted by smokepole Originally Posted by Maverick940 Without question and for quite some time now, it's been Coues whitetail deer. I've never seen a Coues, but I know there are a lot of aficionados. What is it that makes Coues a favorite? The remoteness. The terrain. The weather. The wariness of a whitetail buck that's pursued on a daily basis by mountain lions, the occasional jaguar, the occasional red wolf, coyotes, bobcats, black bears and humans. The difficulty of trying to even see an animal that's so incredibly camouflaged. And the allure of chasing specific older age-class bucks that are virtually unseen, in an ecosystem that's beyond challenging. Not to mention how petite and beautiful they are. Used to be that Dall sheep were my favorite big game animal to pursue. That was the case for about 15 years or so. Now it's Coues whitetail deer and that's been the case for about 20 years or so. Currently, second place belongs to mountain goats and older age-class brown/grizzly bears. Dall sheep have fallen to fourth place, behind desert bighorn sheep and California bighorn sheep (tied in third place). Older age-class mule deer -- Sonoran, Rocky Mountain and Pacific (sub-species) -- are tied in fifth place. Didn't realize the red wolf was quite that far West... The only one's I've seen were in Smokey Mountain National Park. We have introduced sub-populations within the Blue and down in the Gila. There's also quite small sub-populations in the Sierra Madre Oriental and also the Sierra Madre Occidental. Out here they're oftentimes referred to as Mexican red wolves or Mexican grey wolves. The type specie is canis lupus baileyi. It looks very much like the eastern red wolf, but possibly even smaller. Pretty animals, though.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Maverick940 #8769049 04/11/14 Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 13,661 Indiana pointer Campfire Outfitter pointer Campfire Outfitter Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 13,661 Indiana Gotcha. Thought maybe you were referring to Canis rufus. Never hear of the Mexican wolves being referred to as red wolves. Carry on.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? T_O_M #8769066 04/11/14 Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 603 Sun City AZ Desertrat Campfire Regular Desertrat Campfire Regular Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 603 Sun City AZ Got to be Pronghorn.....quite a challenge. "It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues." Ten Bears NRA Benefactor LIfe Member USCG Veteran

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Desertrat #8771494 04/12/14 Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,325 Saskatchewan, Canada C castnblast Campfire Regular castnblast Campfire Regular C Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,325 Saskatchewan, Canada Moose in the calling season. And moose in the late season. I've never been a real good moose hunter but I keep trying. Calling a moose in close or tracking one to its bed are skills that I aspire to perfect. Moose mystify me. But recent opportunities are different than a few years back, with easy moose in our farming country and scarce and educated moose in the bush. So they frustrate me too. So probably elk, although elk hunting for me is a very easy hunt. Our farmland elk are wonderful to eat but the hunt is a bit too predictable to be all it could be. We do depend on that great meat for many family meals� Mule deer are fascinating and live in wonderful country. they are a contender. But our mule deer have fallen on hard times with bad winters and CWD� Maybe another trip for caribou is in order, just because of where they live. I dunno what was the question again?

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? castnblast #8772711 04/12/14 Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 6,878 Likes: 3 s.tex R RIO7 Campfire Tracker RIO7 Campfire Tracker R Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 6,878 Likes: 3 s.tex #1 Aoudad, #2 predators.rio7

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? RIO7 #8773681 04/12/14 Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,758 SW Missouri S sambo3006 Campfire Tracker sambo3006 Campfire Tracker S Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,758 SW Missouri I've hunted and been fortunate enough to take whitetails, muleys, elk, antelope, and black bear. The elk, mule deer and black bear share a fair amount of overlap when it comes to terrain and I have enjoyed them all. Antelope country is a different kind of pretty and there are usually lots of them all day long. I hunt whitetails locally every year so the excitement level isn't as high as for the out of state hunts but I have thoroughly enjoyed all the species. Moose and caribou are definitely on the list at some point. The critters have to win every time, I only have to win once. www.swanspointoutfitters.com www.lazybar-t.com outfitters 65-43-22-5

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? sambo3006 #8774052 04/12/14 Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 18,462 Likes: 2 OreGONE G GreatWaputi Campfire Ranger GreatWaputi Campfire Ranger G Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 18,462 Likes: 2 OreGONE Spot and stalk spring bears for me. I've only hunted them the last six years, so it's still new enough to be exciting and it amazes me you can walk up on a bear. That, and it's usually the first hunt of the year after a long winter, so I really look forward to it.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? GreatWaputi #8774366 04/13/14 Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,259 Likes: 6 W. Texas J JGRaider Campfire Ranger JGRaider Campfire Ranger J Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 28,259 Likes: 6 W. Texas Originally Posted by GreatWaputi Spot and stalk spring bears for me. I've only hunted them the last six years, so it's still new enough to be exciting and it amazes me you can walk up on a bear. That, and it's usually the first hunt of the year after a long winter, so I really look forward to it. I wanna try that sometime too. I don't have much interest in killing one from a tree, but the spot and stalk version sounds like a blast. It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Reloder28 #8774400 04/13/14 Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 57,494 Alaska R rost495 Campfire Kahuna rost495 Campfire Kahuna R Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 57,494 Alaska Originally Posted by Reloder28 Originally Posted by roundoak What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? Axis More bang for the buck. Public hunt Texas Whitetails are hardly worth the effort. A couple of the biggest deer I"ve seen were public land TX Whitetails in East Tx. Unfortunately, I"m a bit ethical and refused the fleeting iffy shots... but they were over 150 inches anyway. And saw one at 198 ish that was shot out there..... But I"d prefer the Axis by far. Of course my favorite is anything in Alaska. We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? roundoak #8782489 04/16/14 Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 11,952 NB / Canada SuperCub Campfire Outfitter SuperCub Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 11,952 NB / Canada Originally Posted by roundoak What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? Moose, because I used to hunt them with my father and grandfather. Later in life made two trips to the Yukon for this purpose. 1st trip = no moose. 2nd trip = no moose, but did get a B&C mountain caribou. I've shot three moose here in NB over the years. Hard to get tags here in NB as it's on a draw. Might be time for another trip elsewhere. Originally Posted by castnblast Moose in the calling season. Yes sir!

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? SuperCub #8783808 04/16/14 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,829 Arizona F firstcoueswas80 Campfire Outfitter firstcoueswas80 Campfire Outfitter F Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,829 Arizona Living in Arizona, drawing a quality tag no matter the species is what I enjoy. Archery elk and December rifle coues far and away take the cake.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? firstcoueswas80 #8783942 04/16/14 Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,611 Okanagan Campfire Tracker Okanagan Campfire Tracker Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,611 Mule deer. Posters Mule Deer and BC30cal have expressed my preferences well. A close second is mountain lion. Like Cocadori said: hunting is the operative word. Hunting mule deer is like a favorite wife in the harem and mountain lion calling is like a mistress! Last edited by Okanagan; 04/16/14.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Okanagan #8786595 04/17/14 Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,678 Minnesota B Berettaman Campfire Regular Berettaman Campfire Regular B Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,678 Minnesota I truly enjoy hunting, period. But my favorite is elk. What you do today is important, you are trading a day in the rest of your life for it.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Berettaman #8792287 04/19/14 Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,174 Arkansas R rufous Campfire Regular rufous Campfire Regular R Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,174 Arkansas Having only thus far hunted and tagged moose, cougar, deer, elk and black bear I have to say that bear are my favorite, especially in the spring. Calling them in is quite exciting! I would dearly love to hunt mountain goat, sheep and caribou as well as griz/brown bear but doubt I will ever be able to afford it. Maybe one of these years I will get lucky and draw goat and sheep here in WA State.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? rufous #8806623 04/24/14 Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,860 Arizona boy S sgt217 Campfire Tracker sgt217 Campfire Tracker S Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,860 Arizona boy Elk, for a variety of reasons.. ********

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Reloder28 #8806963 04/24/14 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,901 Likes: 1 Deer Park, Tx R Reloder28 Campfire Ranger Reloder28 Campfire Ranger R Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 20,901 Likes: 1 Deer Park, Tx Originally Posted by Reloder28 Originally Posted by roundoak What is your favorite North America big game animal to hunt and why? Axis More bang for the buck. Public hunt Texas Whitetails are hardly worth the effort. Actually it's more buck for the bang. "I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Reloder28 #8807239 04/24/14 Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,984 Deep South Texas KMS Campfire Regular KMS Campfire Regular Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,984 Deep South Texas Nilgai! Kelly

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? KMS #8807470 04/24/14 Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 6,878 Likes: 3 s.tex R RIO7 Campfire Tracker RIO7 Campfire Tracker R Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 6,878 Likes: 3 s.tex KMS, your right Nilgai, are the S.TEXAS, elk and great eating.rio7

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? mudhen #8809414 04/25/14 Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 12,192 Northern Colorado Tracks Campfire Outfitter Tracks Campfire Outfitter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 12,192 Northern Colorado I love elk hunting but thinking back over the years I had the most fun chasing Blacktail Deer. Maybe because I was younger then and there was more of a thrill to it, but I really miss those days. It's unlikely, because I have so few hunts left in me, but I would love to do it one more time

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? rosco1 #8819271 04/29/14 Joined: May 2003 Posts: 20,494 South Central Manitoba T the_shootist Campfire Ranger the_shootist Campfire Ranger T Joined: May 2003 Posts: 20,494 South Central Manitoba I've only ever hunted moose, whitetails and black bear. Lived a pretty sheltered life, I guess. My favourite for all the reasons above is moose. 1.) Big animals. 2.) Loads of good lean meat. 3.) Rugged country to hunt. 4.) Usually accompanied by some hard work. 5.) Hunted during my favourite time of the year -- Autumn. Whitetails are also fun, and not nearly as much work. The meat is good too, perhaps like it better than moose, but you gotta shoot a lot of deer to fill the freezer compared to a decent moose. I have decided that I am really not a bear hunter anymore, though I love a good bear stew and fried tenderloins. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Prov 4:23) Brother Keith

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? the_shootist #8820362 04/29/14 Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,744 California/Utah S super T Campfire Regular super T Campfire Regular S Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,744 California/Utah Mule Deer are my favorite. But, I'm only interested in real trophy sized bucks. For that reason I haven't killed a buck for several years even though I've had tags. I almost always get a bull elk, they're easy compared to a real trophy buck mule deer. Also like antelope, even like the way they taste. I'll have a tag for each again this year, so maybe, just maybe I'll see Mr. Big, If not I'll eat another deer tag.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? super T #8831056 05/03/14 Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,973 Alaska Maverick940 Campfire Regular Maverick940 Campfire Regular Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,973 Alaska Originally Posted by super T Mule Deer are my favorite. But, I'm only interested in real trophy sized bucks. For that reason I haven't killed a buck for several years even though I've had tags. I almost always get a bull elk, they're easy compared to a real trophy buck mule deer. Also like antelope, even like the way they taste. I'll have a tag for each again this year, so maybe, just maybe I'll see Mr. Big, If not I'll eat another deer tag. I empathize and somewhat sympathize with you. I'm strictly a trophy hunter and I have been since 1973. In that 40-year span I've accrued a heck of a lot of un-punched tags across the United States, because I chose to not pull the trigger. Granted, I've killed more than a mere so-called "room full" of quality big game animals. But even still, I've also not "cut" a large number of tags because I also chose not to kill. That, in and of itself, is gratifying, though. For me, there's nothing quite like trophy hunting for an inconspicuously large male specimen or an incredibly old male specimen of big game.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Maverick940 #8831321 05/03/14 Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 13,606 Middle of SD Colorado1135 Campfire Outfitter Colorado1135 Campfire Outfitter Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 13,606 Middle of SD I'm the opposite, I'd rather take a half dozen 1.5 year olds of any species than one "trophy". all my family eats is big game so it takes several a year to feed us. an elk would be nice, hard to get tags in SD though. Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young. Calm seas don't make sailors.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? Colorado1135 #8854690 05/11/14 Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,362 K KLM Campfire Tracker KLM Campfire Tracker K Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,362 Sheep, and then elk.

Re: What is your favorite NA big game animal to hunt? KLM #8860398 05/13/14 Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 549 Deep South duxndogs Campfire Regular duxndogs Campfire Regular Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 549 Deep South Interesting read, with my vote for elk the very UNOFFICIAL results thus far are; Deer - 33 Elk - 24 Antelope - 13 Sheep - 7 Bear - 6 Moose - 4 Hogs - 1 Nilgai - 1 Aoudad - 1 Turkey - 1 Last edited by duxndogs; 05/13/14. Reason: forgot the turkey I once visited a place where BBQ was a verb, Canadian whiskey was the norm and no sweet tea on the menu. Hell on earth for a Southern boy!!