Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Suppose you are wanting to help someone (say a target hunter or a bird hunter) "break in" to the realm of Big Game Hunting (big game lite?) He or she is reasonably proficient with their 30-06 scoped rifle....

What big game animal (USA/Canada) would you recommend they pursue for their first big game hunt?
(One big game animal species only please). You are NOT restricted to your locale.

You vote and I'll keep the tally!

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

I would have to say (if you can actually call them big game), ANTELOPE. Plenty of animals, and usually give you another chance or two if you mess up.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Reindeer, I have a nice red nose spotted and i have him patterned. I know where he is every year on the 25th. Last 2 years I fell asleep on my stand but saw the tracks in the A.M. I think I may take my small caliber rifle though. LOL. On a more serious note, I think that the easiest would be black bear over bait.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Antelope hands down for fun, nice trophy and ease of hunt due to high numbers

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Black bear over bait. Relatively cheap, easy access and easy shooting.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Wow. I just found this place. What a great resource for hunters.
Antelope are fun but I would worry a bit about the longer distance shooting with a new hunter.
I would vote for white tail deer as they are easy to hunt and are found all over the country.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

antelope or whitetails. moose are usually easy also ,ONCE YOU FIND THEM:D.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Deer for sure. No other animal is as wide speard throughout the whole country. Its a good way to teach a young hunter to use the wind and game trails and field dressing skills. Deer are plentiful enough in most area that the new hunter has a good chance to succeed. Although one must that he is not going to score everytime out, its a good start to score on the first hunt.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

another vote for antelope

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Tally so far:

3 for Antelope
2 for Black Bear
2 for Deer
1 undecided.
---
8 Total

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Another vote for antelope.
Antelope are up feeding all day, they are easy to spot & the season in my home state opens the second sunday in October. This "early opening season" in most cases equals mild weather. IMHO most newbies hate getting cold. If you keep them warm, have fun & spot game? You have a good chance at getting them hooked.

Good Luck,

WK

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Definetly white tailed deer sitting in a tower stand over looking a feeder on a private ranch in South Texas. How much easier can it get? Not much.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Elkcrazy8, I shot him 3 times and he still didn't go down and I hate losing arrows!
Antelope would be my vote also ELKampMaster.
Gselkhunter

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

gselkhunter, try shooting him up the chimney this x-mas, You might have better luck bringing him down.

EKM, what cal. rifle would you prefer on a 5000 yard flying shot at a reindeer? lol

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Whitetails, hands down.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Tally so far:

5 for Antelope
4 for Deer
2 for Black Bear
1 undecided.
---
12 Total

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Whitetail Deer due to their population. Good luck.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

whitetail deer.
never been after the others.(except for bear-but never seen any, it's easy to say your hunting them just because you have the tag.) my vote= ole whitey.:)

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

ANtelope in Wyoming would be the easiest. Fairly easy to get a 2doe tag. And you can fill both tags before noon if you can shoot somewhat decently.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Tally so far:

6 for Deer
6 for Antelope
2 for Black Bear
1 undecided.
---
15 Total

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

I vote for deer, like shootin fish in a barrel here. If you want a good one you will have to work a bit, but for a doe tag you should be done in 1/2 an hour of hunting.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

i say whitetails too..... antalopes usually require some long shots making it kinda difficult for a newbe..

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

i say whitetails too..... antalopes usually require some long shots making it kinda difficult for a newbe..

oops...sorry about the triple post.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

i say whitetails too..... antalopes usually require some long shots making it kinda difficult for a newbe..

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

My vote goes to antelope!

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Whitetail!

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Caribou are pretty easy if the herds are around

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Tally so far:

9 for Deer
7 for Antelope
2 for Black Bear
1 for Caribou
1 undecided.
---
20 Total

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

I put a vote in for lopes.Rather easy to spot and with a little effort you can sneak with in a few hundred yards.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Pronghorn antelope. Plenty of animals. Permits are easy to draw (unit 23 Wyoming, not big horns, but plenty of permits). The hunt is not physically demanding. The animals are easy to spot. High success ratios -- maybe 90%. Don't have to use a headache inducing cartridge to put them down effectively. Typically hunted in pleasant weather. Can stay in a motel and get out to hunt easily, don't have to rough it. Even bucks with smallish horns look pretty darn cool and are hence mount worthy. The hunting method for antelope may be more amenable to a newbie: spot 'em and stalk up on 'em. It feels active and exciting. Sitting stock still for hours waiting for a whitetail to show up can get boring for the inexperienced hunter.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Another vote for antelope. I don't know if easy is correct. But it's one of the most enjoyable hunts there is. Lots of animals----in the open---ton of fun puting on stalks. The antelope usually win but it's OK because more are just ahead.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Sitka Blacktail Deer
easiest hands down, like beack combing, when not looking for big bucks
but only in alaska i guess...

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

well how big of big game do you want. if you want something extremely easy try whitails

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Definitely antelope. They are relatively easy to find, but your rifle skills should be good enough to shoot a minimum of 250 yards. I have rarely been able to get closer than that to them except by accident.

Caribou would be my second choice. They seem to die easier, you can get closer, and they definitely taste better, but the hunts are a little pricey compared to Antelope.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

My first species was a wild bore. That was pretty darn easy

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Tally so far:

11 for Deer
11 for Antelope
2 for Black Bear
1 for Caribou
1 for Wild Boar
1 undecided.
---
27 Total

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

You say the easiest and I would say a Whitetail doe.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

Whitetail based on availablity alone (range, population,etc).

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

For one thing, in the original post local did not matter, so the fact that there are whitetails in 48 states really doesn't matter. Also due to the fact that much whitetail hunting is done by sitting in a tree waiting, it is not always the most exciting type of hunting for a first timer. That is why antelope would be the way I would vote. Seeing a lot of animals, spot and stalk type hunting. It typically is just a more exciting hunt for the first timer.

RE: Poll: Easiest Big Game For Newbies?
 

If you cannot get under 200 yds on a antelope,you might try not chasing them with the truck.:D