Hunting Dreams – Flights of Fancy
Compared to past years, I’ve really been spending a lot more time hunting on the computer than in the field this year. There are good enough reasons for this, I suppose, and I’m not here to whine about it right now.
Nope, rather than complain, the time away from the field has given me time to think about how to maximize the time I do get in the field… fulfilling hunting dreams.
Right now, I have a pretty short list of “dream hunts”. High on the list is a trip for caribou. Ideally, I’d do that when the Northern Lights are at their peak, but I don’t think those seasons really overlap… nice dream, though. But really, caribou in Quebec, or in the Northwest Territories would be a spectactular opportunity with or without the Aurora Borealis. My brother and I are planning to make the trip, but we haven’t locked in a date.
Elk were always high on my list, and even though I’ve killed a couple now, I still dream of taking one with my bow. After the experience on my last trip (before the “good” guide got hurt), I can still close my eyes and see that bull bugling in my face from 12 yards. I want that again, and I want to make the shot next time too. Next to getting my caribou, taking a bull with my bow ranks pretty high on the dream list. Again, this one will be a reality… possibly next year if things keep going well.
But then what? Go back and start over? I mean, there are a lot of hunts I’d like to do, and many that I’ll do again and again. I do have daydreams of having a “real” African hunt (think Ruark, Capstick, and Roosevelt), but that’s a rarified air that never was the realm of “regular” guys. To do a month or two safari outside the fenced concessions is possible, but it’s crazy expensive. It’s just not going to happen, and I can’t see myself being satisfied by a week over waterholes and hay bales… no matter how much game I see. I can really do that in Texas, without leaving the comforts and relative security of a first-world nation. Not only that, but if I hunt Texas, I can bring the meat home too… and that’s a pretty big deal to me.
So I’ve been lately thinking about moose hunting. My grandfather went many years ago, and came back disgusted. “It’s like shooting a cow,” he complained. “And then a lot of work to get him out of the swamp.”
He never went back, and pretty well discouraged me from taking the trip myself. But now that I’m getting more and more into this bowhunting, I’m thinking maybe this is an approach that would change my perspective… especially if I could do it in some really remote place, like the Yukon or the Alaskan outback.
And then what? I dunno… but it’s pleasant to think about.
Would love to hear what some of your dream hunts are, folks. Wanna share?
I’d have to say a western elk hunt ranks right up there, as well as a bear hunt in Alaska – that would be insane!!!
And I know this isn’t a dream hunting trip, but I would love to flyfish in Alaska. I’m definitely going to cross that off my list before I check out of this world.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:28 am
1-Spot and stalk western Elk/Muley/Antelope/Blacktail Bow hunt.
2-Moose/Caribou in Newfoundland.
3-Anything in Patagonia.
4-Mexican duck/dove hunt.
5-Anything in New Zealand.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 am
Cape Buffalo with my 500 S&W!
My Pepa always told me that Cat meat (or any predator for that matter) was no good to eat.
After having tasted Mt. Lion meat I would have to say that Pepa was dead wrong, and your Grandfather might also have been wrong about Moose hunting as well Phillip!
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:07 am
1 Join the 1000 shot club in argentina(Dove)
2 Red stag in New Zealand (gold)
3 Tamarau buffalo in the Phil.
(If you want to dream, dream big)
4 A trip to Africa.Game that i dont know yet…
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 am
Set up a regular “Elk Camp” with my Dad and brother in ID. It’s been 10 years since I hunted elk with my Dad, and my brother has never hunted with us. I’d love to make a wall tent home for a week in the woods up north with them and hope we get some meat, but getting out of the cube and reaking like campfire would be plenty sufficient.
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:35 am
Most of my dream hunts don’t seem that dreamy – elk and antelope, pretty standard fare, just a little out of reach for me because it’s hard to get tags for them in Cali and hard for me to hunt out of state because of my job.
But a real crazy dream I have, which I was reminded of a couple nights ago, watching Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations? I want to hunt in Saudi Arabia. Why is a long story, so I’ll just have to blog about it. It is a crazy dream, though. Not many get to hunt there, and I’m pretty sure being a woman would make the quest a thousand times harder.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
Great stuff so far, folks. Please do keep it coming. And Holly, I can’t wait to hear the Saudi Arabia story.
One thing I didn’t mention was the wild dream I have to hunt hogs in every country with huntable populations… as well as to hunt every huntable species of hog. Maybe there’s a Television series in this? Any TV guys wanna give me a call?
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
I have a partial Bucket list in roughly this order:
#1 Hunt Elk in all 11 Western States (I have 3 down Or, Wy, Id)
#2 Alaska moose /caribou
#3 Watch each of my 3 daughter’s first Big Game kill
#4 KILL an elk in each of the 11 western States (2 down OR, WY)
#5) Go on a 10 day Wilderness horse/backpack Sheep hunt.
#6) Take my Dad on a hunt that blows away his expectations. (not sure what would do that yet, maybe #
#7) Variations on #1 and #4 for Deer
#8) Africa in a tent camp ala Ruark (Something of Value)
#9) New Zealand free range red stag during the “Roar”
mostly it is about experiencing the variety of wild country both here and abroad.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
…and wouldn’t you know it, but just as I write about elk hunting with my old man he calls me up today to let me know his buddy just invited him to hunt in southern ID, and I’m invited as well. I can smell the musty wall tent already!
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I’d just like to be able to get out of Northern Virginia for a few days and hunt deer and/or waterfowl in Northampton County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Knowing your East Coast background Phillip, I’ll bet you’d enjoy it too.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Hey, that’s awesome, JR! Is it for this year, or 2010?
And yeah, there’s something about the smell of an old-school, canvas tent.
Matt, never got to hunt VA, but I lived (and hunted) for several years up in Camden County, NC which isn’t all that far down. Beautiful part of the country… I’d love to get back out there sometime.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
A pack-trip with horses deep into elk country. Also, moose with a 45-70 single shot, or a bow, in Alaska. Also, wild bison.
The Alaska trip is pretty doable, of the three. $400 for a tag, and I’ve got contacts up there.
Oh yeah, and pheasant in N. Dakota or Nebraska or somewhere out there.
My wife’s ideal hunt is one that starts about noon.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 pm
[...] Hunting Dreams – Flights of Fancy [...]
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:06 am
you forgot to mention your life-long dream of going to the famous Christmas Place for a hog hunting adventure!
December 7th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Dang, Rex… how in the world did I miss that one? Of course that one ranks right up there… the wilds of Ol’ Miss!
December 7th, 2009 at 10:48 am
OK, I’ve posted about why I want to go hunting in Saudi Arabia – click here to check it out.
-Holly
December 7th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Beings I just got back from the east coast (Maryland – PA), I know one place I have no desire to hunt.
My hot button is a New Foundland trip (Caribou – bear and Moose)with bow. Do a little fishing there too.
The one hunt I dream about and realistically know its not going to happen is the New Zealand Red Stag hunt.
Tell JR that Sue and I are taking the tent to east-central Idaho for the last week in Dec. again this year for elk and wolf. We are having a hard time getting anyone to go with us anymore. The old tents do have their appeal!
Holly going to Saudi Arabia? I’ve got to go see why. that doesn’t come close to the bucket list.
December 10th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
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March 13th, 2010 at 12:00 pm