Hardest critter to hunt
 

I was watching a hunting show a few months ago.(I don't remember which one.) And the guy said whitetails are the hardest animal to hunt. I said to my self.."self, I don't think so." So I was wondering, in your opinion what is the hardest game to hunt.

I 've seen two shows where the hunters made statements like that. One was hunting whitetail bucks - Maybe the same one you are remembering. The other show was about hunting big horn sheep with a bow!!!

Back in Texas, whitetails were fairly simple. My vote would be the Elk.
Dan

depends on the situation...

finding a trophy whitetail in a highly pressured area public or private, taking a big boy can be very hard.

I'd say cougars are pretty tough...try getting one without dogs...

I think they all can be tough depending on the situation and goal.

Hardest to hunt mmmmmmmmm.I don't think whitetail are the hardest animal to hunt.Did these guys give examples as to why they are so hard to hunt.Elk are hard to hunt they have great instinct and use it wisely.Close to the toughest animal to hunt. Sheep are hard to hunt cause of the remote terrain.I think these are harder than elk but it's tough a choice between the two of them.But it's neither here nor there cause 1 species tops them both.Goat are by far the hardest animals to hunt in North America. Some of the steepest most dangerous terrain to access. These animals live in it ,which makes it a tough hunt. These animals walk sleep and eat in it like a human walks eats and sleeps in a park.I have seen alot of friends freeze on the ground, too scared to move a muscle cause they seriously thought they were going to fall to their deaths.This is the same ground these animals walk on,and these friends have never attempted to try it again.
These guys have never ever hunted anything like this if whitetail tops their list.
My vote goes to the Goat.

I think that this is a hard question, especially because each time you go out hunting you are presented with a unique animal, environment, and opportunity. For example hunting whitetail deer over a clover field on private ranch in Kansas, I would say is much easier than stocking a big buck on public land through an evergreen forest in Saskatchewan. The same could be said for a black bear hunt over bait in Ontario vs. driving out laurel patches in PA or NY. And the same for other species. Not only does the quarry vary the difficulty, but also the hunting area and method used to take the game.

To give my experience, I have hunted moose, deer, black bear, turkeys, and small game. I will limit my thoughts to North American Game animals.

However, if we talk in generalities based on typical environment, animal behaviors, and typical traditional hunting methods. I would say that you need to cross out the species that can be easily located or brought in to the hunter via calling, such as coyotes, wolves, moose, elk, turkey, and whitetails.

Also I think we would also need to cross out those species that are typically hunted over bait or based on their behavior frequent key food plots typically, coyotes, deer, and black bear.

I will also eliminate those animals that are typically hunted by chasing with dogs: upland birds, turkey, deer, black bear, and cougar.

Also eliminate those that herd, by which they often feel safety in numbers and a large group of animals are easier to spot and stalk: caribou, elk, musk ox, bison, turkey, and pronghorn (to some extent).

This leaves us with: Grizzly Bears, Sheep, and Mountain Goats.

Grizzlies are the most dangerous, but probably not the most difficult.

Based on my speculation I would say that the shear remotness and ruggedness of the mountain ranges where goats and sheep are found. And the physical stamina and strength that is needed to reach these areas combined with the traditional +300 yard shots that are often required to be made across a mountain valley with winds swirling and drastic elevation changes, (I would assume) make these the most difficult species to hunt.

Although it would be a great boost to my ego, if a sheep hunter disagreed and strongly protested that sheep are much easier to hunt than whitetails. :biggrin:

To me it depends on what is being refered to as hard. Hard because of where they live i.e mountains, or hard because of the animal itself. Whitetail in general are not hard to hunt at all but a *BIG* whitetail buck is a species all to itself, and takes a back seat to no animal in how hard they are to be sucessfully hunted consistently.

Cooter! Definitely cooter. Unless they have been drinking.

As stated, the amount of hunting pressure for that particular animal is the real question.


So then, any animal which has turned nocturnal.



Mountain lions without the use of dogs !

One of the few animals that will hunt you !!!

This can be said about any mature animal for any species though. Consistently finding trophy mule deer or elk is no easy task. The sheep hunts Ive been on in nevada can definately wear on you in every aspect. Yet I still cant imagine how tough a mountain goat hunt could be. Based on habitat only I would think this would be the toughest hunt in north america.

The sheep hunts Ive been on in nevada can definately wear on you in every aspect. Yet I still cant imagine how tough a mountain goat hunt could be. Based on habitat only I would think this would be the toughest hunt in north america.

I've had to shoo them from a campsite backpacking. Perhaps 5 yards away, trying to get them to leave us alone. I could have killed one with a large rock.

It really is all relative.

I would agree when based on the terrain sheep and mountain goat would be difficult to hunt. I would otherwise have to say whitetails are hard to hunt up here. Trying to get a trophy buck to come to a call is almost non-existent. Due to our low deer populations and coyotes running them 24-7 they are truely a hard animal to hunt. From the high hills to the down right ugly cedar swamps. Keep in mind some of these swamp release enough magnetism to keep a compass pointing directly into the middle of them once entering one. Alot of folks get lost in those swamps.. Thanks to all the woods cutting the swamps are getting easier to get out of.

Archery goats or sheep

Well, I have some experiance in the matter having hunted all over North America for many species for 35+ years. I have taken five sheep (three Dalls, one Stone, and a bighorn) plus one goat.

My vote would go to the mountain goat. The old saying is true: "Goat country begins where sheep country ends."

Ramhunter

Is Trophy animals what the topic was suppose to be?Looking at the thread it says Whitetails (general statement) are the hardest critter to hunt. Hunting any trophy animal is tough and a person is damn lucky to get even see a trophy in his lifetime.To me a trophy is defined by the Boone and Crocket scoring system or something similar.Yeah One can make exeptions and go into a park and say these animals are stupid.You can't be more wrong , we have TAMED all those animals.Trophy elk goat moose sheep bear are all in the Park area and they all walk in amongst human activity all the time. Every one of these animals will all walk up to you.If you HUNT any animal location and terrain determin everything. You get a map you say this is where I want to hunt. I'm hunting.You get a topographical map and determine the elevation your hunting and how you are getting there.Then you scout it and you decide what is the best method and determine a strategy to use.This folks is HUNTNG.Sometimes hunting is easy,sometimes it's hard,and sometimes it's extreme.Sheep and Goat hunting generally
speeking are more to the extreme side than whitetail. If you don't believe it, give Sheep hunting a try.After that try Goat.Try getting to the goat after you just shot it and than hiking the meat hide and cape out after you shot it on a sheer rock wall. Your on a almost sheer rock wall forced to stay there maybe for hours cause a thick fog rolled in and you can't move, cause you can't see and one false move and your 1000 ft down..This is extreme hunting. This is for the most part how you have to hunt goat and all these things listed are apart of hunting.Bottem line is most of the time hunters won't shoot these animals cause they have no way of getting to them after
ward.Its near impossible to get these animals to come to you.*They don't come to rattling or calling you can't just drop food from a container for them to eat.To appreciate goat hunting for what it's worth, you have do it. Start by rock scaling in a facility. Pay attention to the vertical climb and notice just what little stuff there is to cling onto. then try Rock scaling in the field than try in the field.Notice the cracks crevaces overhangs loose rocks and shale that can get you in a pickle quick and send that goat you have spent hours to get to walk away like nothing. Next do it with a rifle,
scope binos,spotting scope day pack and rope. next 6000 ft up from the bottem of a canyon.It's scary stuff the hardest hunt ever find.

I can't disagree with that.

I would also like to add the himalayan snow**** to the list. Only found in the Ruby Mountains of northern nevada. It is like goat huntin only you have to get close enough for a shotgun. Same nasty territory where mountain goats live in nevada. Usually above 11000 feet. The only time Ive ever seen them is when they are flying away and I didnt even know they were anywhere around until they took flight. I have gotten closer to the mountain goats in this area than I ever been to that bird. Makes chukkars look incredibly easy.

I know its a bird but the title just says critters not big game. It is another of those hunts you would have to go on just to see what I am talkin about.

Sorry its a himalayan snowc o c k. Thought I had to let you know what the editing wouldnt let me write just incase any of you wanted to look it up.

Yeah, that Himalayan snow**** pheasant bird.Yeah I imagine they would be a tough critter to hunt.Have you actually hunted for them needs recoil.
Note to whomever.
What's with the **** for. Geez this is a hunting forum kids should now that **** is a term used to describe some male species of upland game birds.**** Phesant for example,is a male phesant.
Put four of this thing here (****) on the indentification part of the exam
and the poor kid just got the answer wrong. Common Now!!!Those 4 letters spelling that word aren't bad. That word needs to be known
when it comes to hunting teminology.It identifies the sex.

The hardest animal I have hunted to date was a Bison. I drew a tag the second year they opened up bison hunting in Montana and I ate it. I have never snowshoed so much in subzero temperatures in my life. It may have been easier other years, but it definatley wasn't the ace in the hole hunt I thought it would be. I figured the hardest part about that hunt would be drawing the tag. Boy was I wrong. Only one was harvested in my 2 week season, and I was hunting that day, but not in the right place at the right time, and it was 30 below zero that day.

Yeah I have hunted snow****s before. Its an unreal challenge. Spend all day climbing, hear them, and then spot them with binos. Then move in only to have them fly away around a sheer cliff that a mountain goat wouldnt cross. Back part way down and go at em again. Ill try it again this year.

I think hunting anything is hard. I haven't hunted much but I'd have to say turkeys take the cake for me.

I went out there day after day after day calling those birds. They would come out on the opposite end of the field. so the next day I would move. They came out the very same place I sat the day before.

They were rather frustrating.

I don't think setting in a stand or blind ,day after day is hard ,sometimes boring but not hard .Bow hunting well educated elk can kick your butt.Any hunt in large steep mountains on foot now thats tough.

I would have to say mountain goats.

On any given day any species may feel impossible or extremely difficult, especially when you throw in trophy hunting, weather, and weapon choice. I used to think elk were the toughest but to hunt goats, regardless of weapon choice, you climb right on passed the deer, moose, elk and sheep country. You keep on climbing and eventually you're in goat country and only then can you even start looking for them much less be hunting them.

Imagine climbing up to a 12 to 13 thousand foot peak just to realize the goats are on another peak meaning you have to descend maybe 5 to 7 thousand feet and reascend. Then you try to get into position and the goat is either gone or spooks and you have to do it all over again. That's just opening morning.

Cool.Thats something I really want to try.
I imagine you have that bird mounted eh?

The reason they are so frustrating and I wanted to put them on this list is because I still havent killed one. Several times the thought of bringing a 22 with me has crossed my mind.

I have hunted mule deer, elk, antelope, birds, small game, and mountain lions. I have helped a friend on a mountain goat hunt, and have deer hunted in goat country and sheep country.

For me, by far the most physically demanding, exhausting, mentally challenging hunt is mountain lion with hounds.

You don't have to worry about just you. When you turn the dogs loose, you owe it to them to get to them no matter what. They will do any thing for you, as you should for them. I have put myself in pretty sticky spots hunting the lions.

If I am deer, sheep, goat, elk or whatever else hunting, I can say, nope, will try to get him tomorrow. If I am hunting with the hounds, I have no choice but to get to the dogs, no matter how late I get there, or how worn out I get getting there.

Just my opinion.

Later,

Marcial

SPLIT TAILS.............HAHAHA
You can't ever figure them OUT!!

You must really suck really, I mean really bad.
Ask most hunters, and will tell ya they have had more success and are the esiest hunt if all cheepest too.More hunters have mounted more of them anything else.
That's really bad dude.
that's almost gay.

Snipe. Over 40 years and the involvement of 100s of volunteered fellow campers, we have yet to get one.

I have hunted big game animals lots, and by lots I would imagine on average 75 days a year for big game. Now out of the species it would be elk, mule deer, antelope, whitetail, moose, black bear and mountain lion. I have hunted all with a bow and rifle. To be honest, I believe hunting a mule deer during archery season is the hardest. I don't care what people think, mule deer are extremely smart! Well atleast until the rut where there manly hood takes in, but still not with all the bucks. During archery, these bucks are usually in big bachelor heards and usually always and I mean always have a buck facing every direction. For the most part they can not be patterned and like to choose several different trails. This is just my opinion. Subject to change someday but for now will stick with muleys as the hardest.

HuntinGuy

I can walk on my porch or walk out back and have a deer within the hour. I see turkey, moose, bear and even cougar here on the property. Goat and sheep country is the next range over but getting drawn is as difficult as the hunt. But of all game my toughest challenge would be a "certain" trophy white tail buck. I'm not talking about yard deer or edge feeders, but one particular special deer. They are so difficult to pattern, especially during the rut. Most other animals are or can be patterned (maybe) or you may know where the are after seeing them the evening before, but a trophy white tail is my biggest challenge as I usually hold out till the last week in Nov. when the peak of the rut kicks off, and usually it not the most favorable of conditions but I swear they are the ghost of the forest.

Bobby

it's the sheep and the goats that test my skills as an outdoorsman every year.

once i hunted feral sheep and goats in public land in hawaii. i've NEVER been challenged more. difficult terrain, small animals and lots of public pressure. i could move there and truly be in paradise.

A 300+ bull elk.

I love hunting, but I don't have the money to hunt the stuff alot of other guys here do. BUT I have made the effort to do some camera hunting these last three years. Mountain Goat were by far the toughest. Granted, I found some in Colorado (Mount Evans Area) That I could just walk up to, so I don't count those. But here's a few shots of real wild Mountain Goats and a few other fun stalks I've had. (Granted, with a camera)













-Jake

A few more

Question is a little vauge. Hardest in what aspect. Physicat goats sheep and mountain lion are suposed to be a demanding pysical chalenge. Mentaliy I can hunt myself ragged hunting a bull elk for the month of september in the colorado rockys. White tails are easy compared to the mountain critters in my openion. Keep in mind openions are like butt holes everyone has one and they all stink lol.

for me, whitetail hunting is so formulaic it's long past the realm of challenge. sit in a treestand with whatever bow the pro-shop tells you to buy, with a range finder that tells you how to adjust your point of aim. while wearing clothing that masks your scent. while sitting in front of a foodplot or row-crop field which attracts deer with high protien feed in an area you know has big deer from your trail cam pictures. it's repeated by everybody out there, every year. i still bowhunt whitetails every year because the tags are cheap.

this year i killed a doe off of horseback with my recurve (after many failed attempts including one ending in breaking my thumb) GIVE ME ADRENALINE!

Almost sounds like "Larry" a little bit..........Is that you Relentless ???

Archery Elk on DIY Public Land!