wife, daughter, and her mom are doing Europe for 2 weeks end of July. I can run my business from lap top and can go anywhere I can get internet once a day.

I'm thinking of somewhere to go for 1-2 weeks.

keeping in mind I will be hunting Dall sheep in Alaska again last 2 weeks of August I should use the time to get in better shape.

is there anything to hunt last 2 weeks of July? only thing I can think of is Aoudad or Axis in Texas, but I've done that a bunch before and not the most physical hunt unless backpacking the Aoudad (hot).

is there any where that has opened archery Elk by then?

If no hunting options, where would a good place be for mountain hiking and maybe some trout fishing? Like hunting, there must be mountain hiking guides in New Mexico or Colorado?

In the end I just want to be in better mountain shape and have some fun too. any ideas appreciated.

Call Taylor. He has a good friend that guides Moutain lions in AZ(year round)

It's a tough hunt if you want it that way. Taylor about didn't make it out if a canyon lol

New Zealand stag/fallow hunt if it's in your budget

red stag on my list, but Argentina since I don't do high fence. Ironic or whatever the word is, but actually don't think the free range Argentina hunts as physical as the New Zealand high fence hunts. Those New Zealand hunts look steep!

They have LF hunts in NZ for any species of animal they have on the island.

anyone used trekking guides in Rockies like http://www.wildlandtrekking.com or http://www.coloradowildernessridesandguides.com/?

talking to the New Zealand gov representative at Safari Club past years I know they have a bunch of public free range areas, but it didn't sound better than Argentina for cost, opportunity, and quality. I don't know though, never been to either.

You have a lot of species to hunt on the public ground...chamois, tahr, stags, etc(just about anything they have had in HF they have LF). They even have WT behind the HF there and said to have wild hogs in LF private land now in areas. The trip was a killer from LAX to Auckland..12.5 hrs. South Island was another 1.5 hrs by plane then 2.5 hrs to lodge. The added cost will be in airfare I would think. Some of the HF outfitters will hunt LF areas that are next to their hunting lands. The quality of Stags is much less in the LF areas but the Chamois and Tahr are the same quality. When I was there my guide had a buddy text him a pic of a Chamois that came off of public land that was just over 11". The issues he told me was getting to some of the public land due to terrain. There are no seasons and the NZ gov. would like all the exotics species killed off since they are not native to the island. 20 or so years ago a lot of the Red Deer that were being trapped and brought into the US were being caught by on Public Land. One of the guides at our lodge used to be a meat hunter. He killed Red Deer to sell meat to commercial venison market. He had to kill a deer, skin, quarter and pack it to a permitted/licensed/inspected processor in (IIRC) 2 hours max from the kill time. Said it was a challenge in the rough country. Said numbers were way down after the 90's on private land/public land. Not sure what they are like today.

what stxranchman says bout public land... Some have archery hog hunts year round...

That would be a hunt. DIY on public land for a big stag or chamois

Longfellow has some great elk. 214,000 acres low fenced. Not sure if they'll be rubbed out by then but they'll be ready to.

http://www.longfellowranch.com/hunting

I did an Elk hunt bordering them 2015 and already talking to Longfellow for next year. They hunt early October. I am a new lover of the Texas Elk hunts and will do one this year, but it is the least physically grueling hunt I've ever done in my life, unless getting your butt sore for bouncing around in a truck 12 hours a day is grueling.

Go to the rockies and kick back.. Enjoy some guided trout fishing, trail riding, and hiking. Might help you prepare for your Alaska trip. We typically go to Estes park the last week of July. You can find all of those activities there.

finding some really neat hiking expeditions, all appear to allow bringing a portable fly rod along.

Yosemite - 7 days, 6-9 miles a day, up to 3,500 foot gain a day, sleep in tent along trail, trout fishing.

Rocky Mountains - 6 days, 8-16 miles a day, 3-5,000 foot gains a day, sleep in hotels/hot shower. Last day Longs Peak (14,255') 14-16 hour day.

I like this....

I've done longs peak. Won't do it again, but glad I was able to check it off the list. Started at 5am, got back around 530 pm.

Id also advise renting a 1 bedroom cabin vs a hotel. Plenty of options in all price ranges. We typically book through ponderosa realty. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to help.

I have never used hiking guides but there are endless trails in the Weminuche Wilderness in South Eastern Colorado that is as remote and rugged as you could want. Granted I always go with at least 3 other guys just in case crap hits the fan. We went last year, too early in the season though, and had to turn back once we got above tree line because the snow was waist deep. Headed back again this year the end of July, first of Aug to complete what we started. Surrounded by multiple fourteeners, remote terrain and crystal clear roaring rivers. It's beautiful and peaceful.

what are the details on Long's Peak? Is it hard even in good shape just because long day? Rough trail or pretty worn? How steep are parts?

had a 25 mile day last year in Alaska with about +3,500 16 hours, so Long's certainly similar to what I'm training for. I don't want to kill myself 2 weeks ahead either, doing it for "fun" vs. chasing a Dall is different too.

Longs is 16 round trip and not easy by any means. You'll see many people on the way up and down. Very clear trail up to Boulder field, then you follow bulls eyes painted on rocks for the last bit. I will say the "chute" on the back side is extremely challenging due to altitude. Take 3 steps and need a break. The last turn is fairly steep (hands and knees for most) and about 200 yards if I recall. My parents did it in their late 50's and remember them leaving around 3 am, so if you take your time, pack plenty of water and snacks, and in somewhat decent shape, you'll be fine. Just plan to be on your way down around noon due to mid day storms.

appreciate the info! they plan to leave at 1 am.

did you have to go through the narrows or is there another route up? the narrows look hairy and some deaths reported on internet.

You do, but I remember thinking that part was a relief after going up hill. That pic looks a little worse than I remember.
It's an extremely popular hike. I bet I saw a couple hundred people throughout the day

If that looks a little extreme, you can hike to a lake below the east face called chasm lake. Same trail then splits before Boulder field.
All of the trails are really well maintained throughout the park. To get acclimated, I'd recommend emerald lake, mills lake, and maybe flat top mid week. In fact, if you opted out of hiking longs, flat top is 8 miles RT and you're up there on top of the range. To make that hike more interesting, you can walk the ridge around hallets peak and slide down Andrews glacier ( check with a park ranger first). From there, you'll find a well maintained trail back to the bear lake trail head which is where you start flattop. Just a big loop probably 10-12 miles RT.
lots of options..

Utah has some great hiking and trout fishing. We have friends that live in Park City and they love it. Might be worth a look if you can't figure out the hunting. My wife and I went to visit them and ski during winter a few years ago. Great small town. Would love to go back in the summer.

Not sure where you hunted. But my ranch was on the southern border on the south side of 90.

And you won't find a more grueling hunt the last two weeks of July. You don't HAVE to ride in a truck. We hunted them by locating the draws they were bedded in. And stalked and drove them on foot. I can assure you nothing you have mentioned above will get you in shape faster or better than hoofing it that time of year out there.

The reason Longfellow doesn't try to hunt them earlier is because they're pretty much completely nocturnal earlier than that.

We killed this one on my place down there on august 3rd. Note the lack of mane. Pic has no reference but that was a monster. He was over 1000#.



Here's a shed I found while hoofing it.


I was only 50 9 years ago when we did that. I ain't doing it again.

But, if you wanted to really work you should see if the Longfellow or the other ranch you hunted would let you have around 10,000 acres with some nice thick draws near water.

One of the most exciting things I've ever done was walking to within 30 yards of a big bull I never saw. Spooked him out of his bed in a super thick draw. Sounded like a bulldozer with an a-frame welded to it flying through the brush. Almost wet myself thinking it was coming at me the first second or two.