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Trophy Hunt Recommendations #8844547 05/02/23 01:17 PM
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Stevarino Offline OP
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Had a friend reach out last night looking for some advice on a surprise 40th birthday gift for her husband. She has about 1 1/2 years to get this planned out but doesn’t have an idea where to start. First thing I asked was budget and tried to throw some ball park numbers on popular big game animals. I asked if she was more interested in an experience vs a huge animal on the wall and she opted for for a wall hanger.
First number she threw out was 6k, so I tried to inform her some of these larger species like an elk hunt in Colorado would exceed that range.
Husband has harvested a few deer, Aoudad, loves bird hunting, will fish but not real passionate about it. I threw out a group cast and blast, exotic ranch options here in the state, a fly in Canada fishing trip, and an elk hunt on a specific ranch in Colorado. I think there’s some flexibility on the budget and she wasn’t too concerned making this a group trip.

So, what comes to mind, places you’ve been or have knowledge of that would produce a quality animal, prefer out of state, close to that budget, that would make this an awesome birthday gift?

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844577 05/02/23 01:46 PM
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Dang, a blank check for an adventure? Awesome couple.
Without knowing the buddy, I'd go adventure over a trophy harvest. He's turning 40, so should in theory still be able to kick [censored] in the mountains or some remote area and if he isn't this will be a good excuse to start getting in shape since there's time. Shooting a wall hanger someone raised on a high fence can be done when he turns 80. If my wife was asking someone to help point her in the right direction, I'd want to do an Alaskan black bear drop camp.

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844581 05/02/23 01:51 PM
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Open country audad or muley in West Texas. Several guides on this site. Agreed, you would need more information.
I had a nice Axis hunt with Charles at Lucky JAC Outfitters this year. He might be able to point you in a good direction.
I'd go fly fishing in New Zealand or Jackson Hole for a week. There are so many awesome trips in that price range. That guy is going to have a blast.

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844586 05/02/23 01:57 PM
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A black bear hunt in Canada can be done for that.
Here is an example:
https://www.blackbearadventure.com/rates-and-info


Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co.
Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844593 05/02/23 02:09 PM
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I'd strongly recommend that you consider a guided black bear and/or mountain lion hunt in AZ behind a group of hounds. Reach out to Mike Harris and Layne Chitwood; they are top notch.

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844606 05/02/23 02:27 PM
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Good stuff. Hadn’t thought of a bear hunt. Although she’s not thrilled on the idea of a huge mount in the house, a rug or tanned hide might go over better

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844631 05/02/23 03:03 PM
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Wyoming back country pack in Bull Elk hunt. I've hunted with these guys 3 times and was very successful on 2 of my hunts. Make sure you book the rifle season opener hunt.

Call these guys, Swift Creek Outfitters there Elk specialists.
Picture of my best bull, it scored 346 7x7.

[Linked Image]

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844704 05/02/23 04:33 PM
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That’s a great elk.


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Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844705 05/02/23 04:33 PM
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I obviously dont know the guy, but if you add a couple of thousand for airfare and taxidermy he could do a South African safari. That would be something he would remember the rest of his life for sure!!!

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844710 05/02/23 04:46 PM
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$6k-$8k budget, go to Eastern Canada for Moose & Bear, go do a Bear hunt in Saskatchewan, Pronghorn in New Mexico or a Mule Deer hunt in just about any Western state.

You’re gonna have to factor in Airfare but you can also do a Red Stag hunt in Argentina or Scotland, plains game in South Africa or Namibia.

You can also do some cool waterfowl hunting in Alaska paired with fishing.

You can also do an elk hunt in several western states for $8k and under


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: angus1956] #8844743 05/02/23 05:34 PM
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quote=angus1956]Wyoming back country pack in Bull Elk hunt. I've hunted with these guys 3 times and was very successful on 2 of my hunts. Make sure you book the rifle season opener hunt.

Call these guys, Swift Creek Outfitters there Elk specialists.
Picture of my best bull, it scored 346 7x7.

[Linked Image]


[/quote]

I’ll check them out. Thanks !

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844944 05/02/23 10:43 PM
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Any other ideas or outfitter recommendations?

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8844973 05/02/23 11:55 PM
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Do a search at Cabelas website, they have a lot of really good hunting and fishing trips and they are well researched.

Also do a search for Frontier's, they also have a lot of quality trips.

Looking at those places would let her see what is available (hunting and fishing and combo trips) and the pricing.

Last edited by fishdfly; 05/02/23 11:58 PM.
Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8845021 05/03/23 12:57 AM
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My wife just got me an ibex hunt in Kyrgyzstan for my birthday. I couldn't be happier. I think it's in that range before airfare and add ons. I am much more about the adventure than the trophy.

Don't know his comfort in the Backcountry, but top of my list would be caribou drop camp in Alaska, black bear in Newfoundland, plains game in Namibia or South Africa, thar in New Zealand.

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8845152 05/03/23 03:20 AM
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Whatever happens tell her that if he isn’t pleased with the gift to drop him and look me up.
I’ll need pictures but we can await developments first……


At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8845209 05/03/23 10:35 AM
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Red stag in New Zealand was one of the best trips we ever took - great for hunting and site seeing -


You can't fix stupid
Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8845233 05/03/23 11:36 AM
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All good info. Thanks fellas.
We’ve narrowed it down to staying in North America, but now I’ve got the bug to go hunt some of these other countries eek

My recommended list in order from top to bottom
1. Back country Elk Hunt
2. Northern Bear Hunt
3. Az lion hunt
4. Axis hunt

So, again, if you have been on one or more of these, please give some feedback/recommendations on outfitters.. dos/donts, ect…

Last edited by Stevarino; 05/03/23 11:37 AM.
Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8845249 05/03/23 11:55 AM
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You need lots of due diligence on the elk hunt. I've used 3 outfitters. The first, a great one, retired. The other two are close to con artists. (One was on here for a while.) Wish I could help more.


...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8846412 05/04/23 11:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Stevarino
quote=angus1956]Wyoming back country pack in Bull Elk hunt. I've hunted with these guys 3 times and was very successful on 2 of my hunts. Make sure you book the rifle season opener hunt.

Call these guys, Swift Creek Outfitters there Elk specialists.
Picture of my best bull, it scored 346 7x7.

[Linked Image]




I’ll check them out. Thanks !
[/quote]
Here's my other bull, scored 315.

[Linked Image]

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: syncerus] #8846609 05/05/23 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by angus1956
Wyoming back country pack in Bull Elk hunt. I've hunted with these guys 3 times and was very successful on 2 of my hunts. Make sure you book the rifle season opener hunt.

Call these guys, Swift Creek Outfitters there Elk specialists.
Picture of my best bull, it scored 346 7x7.

[Linked Image]



Originally Posted by syncerus
That’s a great elk.


And I would have that huge Chit eating grin too up


texas flag








Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8846651 05/05/23 01:36 PM
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Flattops Adventures for elk in Colorado.

Wyoming would take some PP to draw an elk tag.

Mt lion would be a fun hunt, they make great rugs.
Black bear too.
Mule deer pack in trip would be fun as well, mainly Colorado but might pull a Wyoming tag in certain areas with 1-2 PPs.
Pronghorn with Grimmetts would be great, book animals, Pronghorn Guide Service.
Alaska black bear boat hunt or fishing trip, maybe deer from a boat.

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Wytex] #8846690 05/05/23 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Wytex
Flattops Adventures for elk in Colorado.

Wyoming would take some PP to draw an elk tag.

Mt lion would be a fun hunt, they make great rugs.
Black bear too.
Mule deer pack in trip would be fun as well, mainly Colorado but might pull a Wyoming tag in certain areas with 1-2 PPs.
Pronghorn with Grimmetts would be great, book animals, Pronghorn Guide Service.
Alaska black bear boat hunt or fishing trip, maybe deer from a boat.


A archery hunt in the Flat Tops will take PP's for a non-resident these days and I would not call it a trophy hunt or think it could be had for 6k. I know some private ranches around Meeker you can get a elk hunt for $6500 but you are not likely to get anything that breaks 300 inches more like 250.

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Stevarino] #8846956 05/05/23 07:12 PM
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If he loves bird hunting go for King Eider in Greenland


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Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: angus1956] #8847240 05/05/23 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by angus1956
Originally Posted by Stevarino
quote=angus1956]Wyoming back country pack in Bull Elk hunt. I've hunted with these guys 3 times and was very successful on 2 of my hunts. Make sure you book the rifle season opener hunt.

Call these guys, Swift Creek Outfitters there Elk specialists.
Picture of my best bull, it scored 346 7x7.

[Linked Image]




I’ll check them out. Thanks !

Here's my other bull, scored 315.

[Linked Image]
[/quote]

So did these two hunts require preference points? I’m not quite sure how all that works outside of texas, and I’m 99.999% sure this guy doesn’t have any

Re: Trophy Hunt Recommendations [Re: Wytex] #8847242 05/05/23 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Wytex
Flattops Adventures for elk in Colorado.

Wyoming would take some PP to draw an elk tag.

Mt lion would be a fun hunt, they make great rugs.
Black bear too.
Mule deer pack in trip would be fun as well, mainly Colorado but might pull a Wyoming tag in certain areas with 1-2 PPs.
Pronghorn with Grimmetts would be great, book animals, Pronghorn Guide Service.
Alaska black bear boat hunt or fishing trip, maybe deer from a boat.

Good stuff. I’ll look up flattops

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