Hey all,
This may be an odd request, but oh well, thought I'd try. I definitely want to go out west (I'm from IL) to maybe MT, CO, WY, ID, etc.. this year for a big game hunt. Ill be entering my first year in college, so I guess it will be like my HS Grad Present. So, being in school, the only time I would have to do this would be before Sept 1 and during the week of Thanksgiving Break. I'm willing to use my 270WSM or my Q2XL bow, whatever seasons work out will be fine with me. Also, I'd like to limit my license and tag expenses to around 500, but more would be "do-able" if need be. Antelope, mulies, elk, anything would work. Just want to get out there, and I know since I'm only going to have those dates available, I'm not gonna be picky on the animal or location, so if this makes sense and anyone has any suggestions, they would be much appreciated! Thanks for your time.
i have been looking at an elk/whitetail hunt in montana
prices
$2700 for guide food and lodging
$975 for gaurenteed elk/deer license (this number is close i dont remember exact price for license)
or $750(approx.) for deer only
i dont know what the drawing odds are for wy. but the prices are $220-320 for deer and $410-610 for elk and neither are gaurenteed
i know alot of people hunt colo because it is easier to aquire a license but i dont know much else on priceing there
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I just love animals, they taste great.
CO licence for second season elk was $480 for an over the counter nonresident bull tag. (second season rifle is the middle of Oct) I was hunting with family so I didn't have to worry about the expense of a guide. Not sure what the seasons/fees are for bow. I'm sure I could find out easy enough though.
place i go in colo has cow hunts for 550.00 trespass fee and the license is another 250.00 i think would have to check about as cheap as they come unless you hunt public land
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Good friends are like butt cheeks some crap might come between them ,but they will always come back together
cowboyup,
Utah has a state wide archery hunt that is a neargimme to draw. I'm not sure what the non resident fees are but it's within your budget. If you get a tag I would be more than happy to point you to some great spots. Iwill be hunting also and you welcome to come along. I hunt private and public land.
Based on the '03 CO Big Game Brochure ('04 should not change much as it is in the same five-year plan (sounds Soviet doesn't it?)):
I think your best bet would be Wapiti. I know folks that have been bowhunting for 10 years that still don't have an antelope.
The archery season (Wapiti) was 8/30/03 to 9/28/03. Limited units 7,8,9,19 & 20 are either-sex tags only, $480. Unit 7 was undersubscribed for '02, and if that continues, you might be able to pick up a leftover. Put in for the draw, if you don't draw, you could get an OTC tag for unit 6, cow ($250) or either-sex ($480).
Tag: $250 - $480
Gas: 2500 mi / 20 mpg * $1.70/gal = $225
See "World's Largest Ball of Twine" (I-80, Nebraska) or "World's Largest Prairie Rat" (I-70 Kansas) = $10
That is an awfully cheap hunt. If you could get to your unit a few days before the season, no need for a guide.
If there is no way to sneak a few days in the beginning of Sept, cow tags (rifle) were undersubscribed in all the previously mentioned units for ALL the late seasons, but based on the dates for '03, none were around Thanksgiving. There are late seasons in 19 and 20 that ran 11/29 - 12/10 & 12/13 - 12/24, these were undersubsribed as well.
Good luck.
CE
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"A hunter should not select a caliber and bullet that will kill when everything goes right, rather,
should choose ones that will kill when everything goes wrong."
"Recoil lasts a second, but gravity lasts forever."
A hunt out west...
