What have you done?
 

I KNOW how fun it is to travel with friends to hunt.

I KNOW people have their own, personal (;)) reasons for wanting to hunt....and for wanting to kill certain representative animals (reasons I would NEVER gegrudge anyone).

Here's my question.......

You go to another region of the US (or another country) and kill a whitetail larger than anything you've ever seen in your woods.

So....with no disresepct, I ask......"What have you done"? "Why do you go this route"?

If the answer is..."It's just important enough, to me.....to kill a big deer"......then that's a perfectly legitimate answer. Now wrong ones.

Is there anyone else, besides me, that has a hard time paying big $$ to kill an animal that he can hunt at home? (and it could be argued VERY WELL that a "big" deer might not BE available to hunt, "at home"....which would be true in many cases)

Is there anyone else that feels like the 100" (insert ____" to match a great representative deer from your area) deer you took from an area that doesn't produce that many of them is a more meningful trophy than the 150" (again....insert ____" to correspond with area hunted) you took from an area that produces them, regularly?

Just curious as to how you all feel about this. I'm hoping someone might give me reasons to make me change the way I feel about this.

RE: What have you done?
 

I don't think I'd pay big $$$ to kill a bigger deer. I mainly hunt in WV, even though I live in huge buck country in Ohio.

If I kill a 120" deer in WV, it's as much as or more a trophy than a 160" in Ohio...at least it is to me.

RE: What have you done?
 

Let me start by saying I have never hunted outside of my own state, (not because I haven't wanted to, just simply lack of funds to do so). My father in law and myself have been discussing this very thing the last couple of years, we have finally decided to make a trip to the midwest. I just like the idea of hunting different areas that I have never stepped foot in before, simply put, a new huntingexperience. I have travelled pretty much all over the state of Texas bowhunting, I truly like the different terrain's and different ways to hunt them. I could hunt South Texas and have the opportunity to kill as big of a deer as I could ever want but I have have hunted there before. My point is I have never hunted the mid-west and just look forward to learning to hunt a different terrain.
I have never gotten hung up on hunting a buck that is___" I hunt mature deer and if said deer is 100" or 150", I shot a mature deer.

Example, one of my favorite deer that I hunted was a 7 1/2 year old that was only 110" and I passed bigger antlered deer to get this old boy....

RE: What have you done?
 

Perfectly legit answer. Thanks.

But "most" times, it seems......when people are making these trips.....they're hunting in stands set by someone else.....scouted by someone else......etc...

I know there are DIY scenarios....and I understand these fully. The aforementioned (guided) are the ones I'm "more" asking about.

RE: What have you done?
 

i believe my farm is one of the better hunting spots in the US, its between kansas, illinois and iowa so some of them giants are goin to start squeaking there way into missouri therefore i have no reason to pay big money to hunt with an outfitter

RE: What have you done?
 

I haven't traveled to hunt, and probably won't unless It's for elk or something else I can't hunt close to home. As far a whitetails are concerned, you can't get a whole lot better than Illinois!

RE: What have you done?
 

Well, for me,it would begreatto hunt another state just to see other parts of the country. My buddies do self guided hunts all over Kansas, Iowa, South and North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, etc and they do very very well most of the time. Planning a self guided hunt can be pretty fun finding properties, mapping everything out, etc, plus it keeps the costs much more reasonable. 4 of them went to CO last season elk and mullie hunting, its was less than $1600 per person for everything, 3 of them scored on bulls and mulleys. They also did self guided hunts in South Dakota turkey hunting, it was real cheap, they both scored on Merriams. It would befun to test my skills at taking as big a buck as I could in another state given the few opprtunities I will have.

RE: What have you done?
 

Personally, I hunt for the food. If I can take a big buck while I am doing it, GREAT! I would not pay money (1. because I don't have any; & 2. I have deer right here) to hunt somewhere else for deer. I understand that some people have way too much money and will pay to a lot (I know one place in this state that charges $5000 per week for hunting rights) for the chance to get a bigger deer than they can get in their home area. I think it's an ego thing. I also know that every year the DNR busts a lot of poachers here from other states who have killed bucks, cut off the capes and heads, and left the rest to rot. Many of these poachers are wealthy and just came here for a trophy to hang on their wall.

We have elk here (but they're all in state parks & zoos), and if I had the money I would not hesitate to go hunt one in another state. We also have black bear sightings here, but since they are protected, I would pay (once again on the premise that I had cash laying around I didn't know what to do with) to hunt one of those too.

Now for all you big time hunters, I have started a guide business here for those of you that want to take a wiley Iowegian Rabbit. For a mere $1000 per week, YOU can come out here and walk around and take all the rabbits you want. Now you might think $1000 is a lot for a week of rabbiteering, BUT, if you sign up now, we'll include a lifetime membership in the EFA!!! So don't delay, sign up today and get a week of hunting the cunning Iowegian cottontails and a lifetime membership in the Elmer Fudd Association, where our motto is "Shh, I'm hunting Wabbit!"

All satirical views are the responsibility of the poster. Any offence taken is the responsibility of the reader and no others. Void where prohibited by law. yada yada yada

RE: What have you done?
 

I'll never begrudge another man for spending his hard earned money on anything he sees fit. There's no such thing as "too much" or "extra" money.....lol. I'm just asking "why".

RE: What have you done?
 

I enjoy hunting, and I like a change of scenery. I know I could have killed the smae kind of deer here, but I have a better chance out there. That hunt is one of the most memorable and fun things that I have ever done, and better that that it was with my dad. I experienced highs and lows through out the hunt and saw things that I very well may never see here, like a boone and crockett buck and being inches from a deer on the ground. Also the type of hunting changes completly when you go to another state and that was fun to see.
That is my reason for out of state hunting.

RE: What have you done?
 

Good answer. Thanks.

RE: What have you done?
 

GMMAT, I truly believe it is an ego thing. "Look at this monster I shot in Illinois!", "Yeah, last year I took all my execs to Kansas and the first morning over the feeder I nailed this beauty as he stood there lapping up corn!". ETC.

On the other hand, there are those who do it for the friendship and I don't begrudge that.

RE: What have you done?
 

I think you know why I go where I go, so I needn't gointo too many details. Jeff, for meit's all about "location"/no tag draw.;)

RE: What have you done?
 

???

There's nothing wrong with your reasoning, EI....but I'd like to hear exactly what that is....

Thanks.

RE: What have you done?
 

I think it boils down to 2 things.

1) You are perfectly happy shooting the size deer NC holds. I see nothing wrong with that at all.

2) You could possibly be on thecheap side. [8D]:D

There are things I would pay to hunt and others I wouldn't. I would pay to hog hunt, maybe black bear hunt. Those are things I can't hunt here. I've talked to others about hunting different state with smaller deer than what I have here. Its all about the experience, not the antlers to me.

RE: What have you done?
 

Exactly......its an ego thing, and I have to feed mine. :eek:

I try to hunt as many places as possible to see whitetails in their diverse habitats. This fall I'll be hunting WI, IL, Ontario, Alberta and possiblySaskatchewan and/or ND. Each of these places has a totally different terrain and habitat that deer live in. It's amazing, to me, that whitetails live in and adapted to almost all parts of NA.

As for hiring a guide.....In Alberta and Saskatchewan, its the only way you can do it. No choice. Truly, I just love to see the country and if I have to have a guide, so be it.

RE: What have you done?
 

This isn't about me. I don't do it!....lol

We spend $5-$6K traveling every year. We just don't go to whitetail destinations.;)

RE: What have you done?
 

I never have but I would love to. I would probably prefer a semi-guided or do it yourself type hunt that provides lodging and acess to some pretty land. My brother and I talk about it often and for us it is more about the thrill of hunting new woods in an area that may or may ot have some giants wandering around but more importantly it would be a get away, an oppurtunity to travel & hunt with family and friends and share a camp where someone kind of caters to you and you can relax and hunt, kind of just take it all in. I look at itlike a vacation which just so happens to include hunting. Wouldn't mind doing one of those drop hunts up in Alaska, that would probably be an unbelievable experience.

The E.T.A of my first trip will be approximately 20 years when my youngest graduates college;), I'll make sure to contact iamyourhuckleberry for some travel/luggage tips.

RE: What have you done?
 

Some people enjoy a week of full time hunting with people that have the same passion as we hunters do,the chance of a truly great trophy makes it just that much better.Great country &great friends are the rewards of a great hunt.

Others spend weeks in third world countries where the language is foreign and the water toxic. To each their own.[:-]

For me the great Rockey mountains hold far more intrigue than typhoons and drug lords.;)

RE: What have you done?
 

AF, I take exception to that. I'm traveling to IL this year with friends. It has NOTHING to do with my ego. I bought a friend a bow several years ago, this trip is his way of paying me back in sorts. I would however pay anyway as the group of people going, it's going to be a great trip with friends regardless of the outcome.

I won't be sitting behind a giant whitetail saying I'm the greatest hunting on HNI cause I got this done in IL. I realize someone else did most of the work but we're allowed to move stands/locations if we see what we want to see, inseason scouting and that's exactly what I'll do.

I might accept that answer if it were refering to "penned" whitetails or whatever inside a fence. Hunting with a guided outfit is just that, it's hunting, it's not killing. They have access to the land, we don't.

That would be like me saying all of IL hunters have egos cause look at me behind this big buck. Paying for a guided hunt is paying to access the land, not a guarantee on the kill.

RE: What have you done?
 

If I were to travel and pay to hunt whitetails somewhere else it would be, as others have stated, the chance to hunt different terrain and a "different" whitetail. In all likelyhood though, if I were to travel and pay to hunt something, it would be an animal that is unavailable to me at home (Elk, Moose, Muledeer, Pronghorn, etc.) plus the chance to hunt different terrain.

RE: What have you done?
 

Ahhhhh......the king of the attack ad hominem. Thanks for the "input", Jim;)

I believe that, too, Rob. Hell you've been HERE to hunt....lol.

RE: What have you done?
 

Ok, but first I need to say to AF Hunter, with all due respect, my reasons for hunting in Alberta have nothing to do with my "ego". I'm more than happy with my accomplishments as a bowhunter in Pa at thispoint in my life. I'm just seeking a giant buck that I don't think I'll kill in Pa.
Back to the original thread. Ihunt with a guide in the Edmonton Bow Zone in Alberta because as a nonresident,you MUST be guided to hunt in almost all of Canada, it's the law (as I've said before). I also go up there because it's a beautiful country ( big scenery change) with vast farm lands that can not be accessed except with the help of a guide, as it's virtually all private land in the Bow Zone.
This region is famous for it's huge bucks and very low hunting pressure. In my 3 years of hunting there so far, I've NEVER seen another hunter while in the woods, ever! I like that. I also have to say almost every buck I've seen there was a mature buck. Ilike that too.
As far as being "placed" on a stand, I don't have a problem with that because that's the way my guide does things on his properties. I'd preferto set myself up but I don't want to "guide my guide".;):D:DHe does know the area like I'll never know it, so I have confidence in his decision making. This is also an area I've wanted to hunt for a lot of years, so now I'm doing it. You only have one go around. I guess that covers it.:)

RE: What have you done?
 

Nothing wrong with that, EI.....goo luck.

RE: What have you done?
 

I don't agree with this, there may be some who would spend a great deal of time and money to impress their friends, but I've never met any.

The reason that I would travel to another area to hunt is for many reasons. To see different places, different people, geography etc. I will go to Canada some day to try for a giant buck. The reason for this is because I'm so into whitetails that I just have to see a buck up close and in person, that weighs almost 100 pounds more than some of the 220 pounders I've taken where I live. It's all about my personal satisfaction, not what others might think.

RE: What have you done?
 

Are you not the one the boasted about traveling to our southern neighbors during this springs turkey season?:eek:

Your priorities and mine differ greatly. My families well being surpasses every thing else.I'm am forced to travel to Mexico for work,for recreation I can do better.Giving them third world status is very gracious on my part.
I respect my loved ones far to much to take them to a place where wealth is measured by the number of female off spring you have.[:o]

Yellowstone better suits my needs,and English is still spoken there.:)

RE: What have you done?
 

I traveled to Ontario last year and we got hosed big time. Completely midlead by the outfitter, so that left a real bad taste for our group. Canada had been something I was dreaming about since I was a little kid. I now live in IL, so we have plenty of giants here, but the lore of canada lured us for a long time. With that said, I grew hunting the U.P. of Michigan, where a 115" is big. A 140" back home will be the greatest trophy of my hunting career, barring a 200" in IL, but I still think I would cherish that 140" more. It is a posibility that it will happen as antler restrictions have gone into place.

RE: What have you done?
 

Yeah bit the difference is Jim....I didn't make fun of you OR your destinations. I think you'd find that the end destiantions I travel to look anything but "third-world".;)

So back on point.......if you travel to other states/countries to hunt whitetails....I'd like to hear "why".

RE: What have you done?
 

If I ever shoot a buck in Illinois, it will be one that I am proud of and that I have earned through hard work, hours on the stand, perserverance, and passing up the bucks that just don't make for the total experience. I will be proud of it. No one else needs to be. And that would be 'what I have done'.

I go to Illinois (this year will be my third year):

1) Because I wanted a hunting vacation, away from places I normally go and away from the 3 month rifle season and highly pressured deer you typically get in GA.
2) Illinois is a great place for archery hunters and to have an opportunity at quality animals.
3) I have a great group of friends that makes the experience ever better.
4) I have great DIY property. I prefer that, but would use a guide if it were required or necessary.
5) I am a whitetail addict. Elk, mule deer, bear, etc. just doesn't do it for me.
6) It's a close enough drive from GA that I can take all my gear with me and do some year-round scouting.

RE: What have you done?
 

I think you need to adopt me "daddy". lol

RE: What have you done?
 

My bad,I just feel a man of your means could make better use of both time and money. A trip to the Yellowstone area would give you both the opportunity to turkey hunt as well as enjoying the western cultures of Cody's museums and restaurants. In other words the best of both worlds in an area where you are far less likely to become a victim.;)

RE: What have you done?
 

With the rise in the deer population and the low cost it is to hunt up here, this is a common story I hear way too many times. There are outfitters popping up all over the place up here who don't know a thing about deer hunting. I personally know one guy who shot the biggest buck of his life from the road, a 2.5 yr old 8 pt, and the next year he starts a guiding buisness. There are some good ones, but like anywhere else, you have to pay better money for them.

Sorry you had a bad experience Mike.

RE: What have you done?
 

It is like when I was really into bass fishing and fishing in general for about ten years between ages 15-25. I caught a decent amount of big bass for the waters I fished. Probably 8-10 citation largemouths and a citation smallmouth, citation gar, crappie, bluegill. I always dreamed of going to Florida or something and catching a 15 pound bass if I put in the time. But then I would always go back and think, wouldn't it be more satisfying to catch a 10 pounder on my own turf? The answer for me was always yes. I had no desire to travel, just work harder on my own lakes and rivers here in Virginia.

early in--"I'm more than happy with my accomplishments as a bowhunter in Pa at thispoint in my life. I'm just seeking a giant buck that I don't think I'll kill in Pa."

Go get that big buck and I want to see the picture when you do!

RE: What have you done?
 

Damn...a misconception and some unsolicited advice all in one sentence....lol.

More unsolicited "advice".....and another misconception (I've been there).

I didn't start this thread to tell anyone how to do anything. I asked them "why". If you have something to add to that....I'd love to hear it. The advice I coud do without.....especially when it's designed to make me look silly.

You have no idea of how I travel....and the parts of Mexico you go to are undoubtedly different than the ones I go to. I'm guessing your idea of "fun" and mine differs, greatly, too. Keep having your own "fun", Jim. Kudos.

Great analogy, Brett....and I feel the same (which is not "right" or "wrong").

Thanks.

RE: What have you done?
 

I love to travel and I love to hunt so when I have the money to do so I take full advantage. I am in it more to hunt different animals then the opportunity to take a trophy so I cannot see myself forking over the big bucks for a big buck. When I do go out of town and hunt a new animal I think I will always use a guide to get familiar with the habits of the animal and tolearn from a vetran. I love DIY hunts but not for the first time in a new area on a new animal.

RE: What have you done?
 

Like I said, there are others who do it for the friendship and I don't begrudge that. I would love to go hunt somewhere else just to spend time with a friend. I concur that most of the wealthy that are only looking for a trophy to hang on the wall go to "Hunting Clubs" or "Private Wildlife Clubs" and all they are interested in is the mount. A few years ago, I found the carcasses of 8 deer with the only thing missing was the head and cape. Unfortunately for the offender(s), one had dropped a piece of mail where they dumped the bodies. DNR took care of the rest. Then, early this spring, while there was still snow of the ground, I found 8 deer that had been shot and left to die. I know who did it, and their idea of hunting is if you shoot it and it doesn't die immediately, don't spend time tracking it unless it was a trophy, and their other view of theirs is if it dies in an area where it will be difficult to drag it out, leave it for other wildlife to chew on, there are more deer out there. I personally take offense to people who do that and there are many of them. The least a trophy hunter could do is donate the meat to feed the needy. Some do, but many don't. Oh Crap! I am digressing from the subject of the thread, so I'll get off the soapbox.

RE: What have you done?
 

I don’t think there is anything wrong at all to leave home to hunt better quality animals than the ones your herd carries. Sometimes it could even be a matter of hunting a more quality “herd” as opposed to individual animals. Better buck:doe ratios and age structure could make for an entertaining rut compared to one with boatloads of does, and big boys as common as “the Kings” numbers point out.
If I didn’t have such a desire to hunt other species, I would certainly shift my trip focus to hunting better places for whitetails.

If I went to the midwest and killed a big buck and you ask me what have I done. I’d say I put myself in a position that gave me a greater chance to shoot a big deer, no more, no less.

It doesn’t always have to be about the “meaning” behind the animal. Sometimes you just want a chance to hunt the biggest of a species in prime habitat.

I can putz around fishing in my little creeks around home for a nice bass that might go 3#, or I can book a charter up in Erie and land dozens of fish over 4# some hitting 6-7#. Either way, I am bass fishing and having fun, and could care less the meaning behind each trip.

RE: What have you done?
 

When I read something like this, it can only lead me to believe that the proper background check/research was not done.[:@] It's sooo important to talk with hunters (successful and not) who have hunted with any guide/outfitter you plan on using. Ask for answers to all of the questions you might have reguarding the hunt, lodging, food, transportation, tags, # of guides, time in the woods, success rate, and so on. It's as important as where you go to hunt.

RE: What have you done?
 

I have some thoughts on this,

First a little history

When I moved to NC in 97, I did not know anyone, knew nothing about the hunting or anything of the such, But I knew that I was going hunting, as i had done every season in Fla for years. So I contacted an outfitter,charged me $500 for three days of hunting and I went around my birthday(it's how I remembered the dates). Never shot anything with a rifle at this point but owned them for years, had several bowkills under my belt. Anyhow hunted the first day- no deer sighted, hunted the 2nd day killed a large 9 point, the 2nd morning crossing a road, threw the rifle up put the crosshairs on him bam, the next day and half - no more deer sighted - this deer is mounted on my wall-

Now fast forward - as I became more familiar with Land and hunting strategies my focus became on learning about the deer and determining how to set-up which landed me nice bucks in 04, 05, 06 (my biggest with anything-bowkill) I also took a nice buck in 06 with a rifle. So two nice bucks in the same year.

So what does all of this mean
Well the buck I got in o6 is a lot more special than the outfitter buck becuase I found him, I did the work and i got him with my bow

Now to answer your question,
I want to go to the Milk river and hunt whitetails and also to North Dakota- the reason I haven't is I haven't found someone to go with- so I think my answer would be the trip would be worth it for the companionship, but the trophy would not necessarily mean anything more to me than the ones I have taken here - I also have a hard time spending the cash - when a big ole slickhead here means a helluva lot to me

RE: What have you done?
 

I use to make the trip out to Wisconsin every year but as of late I haven't. I have yet to bag myself a deer out there, that state has kicked my ass for some reason and I just have terrible luck out there. We (our little group) have shot one P&Y buck out there so far, we should of had more with all the close calls we had. Money wise it didn't cost much besides the gas out there and the license fee. We go out there to shoot big bucks, the state is loaded with them, but we also go out there to get some deer meat also. The money that some of you spend on your bow set ups is unbelievable but yet you say you can't justify going on a non resident hunt, that to me makes no sense at all!