Most Overrated Hunt and Most Underrated Hunt

[375Fox]

Ask anyone in NJ. We have more per capita than any other state. We have 4000 in just northern NJ. They reinstated the hunt...but no baiting allowed. Supposedly, there's a push to re-allow baiting because even last year, with the hunt, they didn't meet the quota.

Pennsylvania has never allowed baiting. They are hunted with drives.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Pennsylvania has never allowed baiting. They are hunted with drives.

That is done in NJ, but only on private property. It's still illegal but less chance for Mr. Greenpants to come around.

Most of the population here lives in the state forests, WMA's, or on non-huntable private land (within townships, on town property, water commissions, etc.) It sounds like a joke, but when the 7-11 closed across the highway near me, they moved on. Haven't seen many around these last two Spring/Summers. They would happily gorge themselves on the throwaway taquitos.

We have so many here, it's time to allow baiting. I agree with some of the regs, like no sows with cubs and/or none under 75 lbs.

They will never dent the population here with regs like they have now.

 

[Kevin375]

Most underrated hunt would be baboons for me. We already spoke about them earlier this year and where they are hunted quite a bit, they are a real challenge.

Most overrated hunt would be driven hunt. If you don't have your own dogs, you are just another individual, waiting one's luck. I saw a lot of jealousy and very strange behaviours across years. That's why I stopped.

 

[pilar]

Over rated is any baited blind hunt , be it a deer hunt over corn feeders, or RSA PG hunt over water and salt , bear over doughnuts and sweet rolls, ( excluding leopard with out lights)
Under rated a buffalo hunt in wild arse poacher ridden area ( hunting a buffalo off bait on a game ranch shouldn’t even count as hunting imo )

 

[HookMeUpII]

Although I've not been, one hunt that strikes me as being really underrated is woodland grouse hunting. I think it's underrated for the sheer fact grouse numbers are way down. Sure as heck seems like a lot of fun trying to put birds up in the woods with dogs.

 

[Flbt]

I honestly can’t think of a over rated hunt.
Some one somewhere is going to like that animal or way of hunting.
And I can’t think of a hunt that I would have rather been at work than at.

I would say maybe pig hunting is under rated now that there nothing but pest.
But a true pig hunt with dogs and a knife or to catch might be a bit under rated
Especially the first one you grab.

 

[Hunt anything]

To me most overrated is whitetail, could be because of our huge population and extremely generous limits. I’ve killed A LOT of whitetail, somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 bucks and does, with rifle, shotgun, pistol and bow.
Most underrated would be bushbuck in the thick riverine habitat. Odd that it’s almost like the whitetail hunting I do nowadays.

 

[Green Chile]

To me most overrated is whitetail, could be because of our huge population and extremely generous limits. I’ve killed A LOT of whitetail, somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 bucks and does, with rifle, shotgun, pistol and bow.
Most underrated would be bushbuck in the thick riverine habitat. Odd that it’s almost like the whitetail hunting I do nowadays.

I feel the same about whitetails and bushbucks...but have said many times how similar they can be. Perhaps it's the change of scenery and knowing you might see anything while hunting bushbucks.

 

[Russ16]

Although I've not been, one hunt that strikes me as being really underrated is woodland grouse hunting. I think it's underrated for the sheer fact grouse numbers are way down. Sure as heck seems like a lot of fun trying to put birds up in the woods with dogs.

It’s a great hunt. I hunt them in WV and the numbers are really low. 15-20 days hunting a year and if I get 10 flushes in a year it’s a great year. Scratch down 1-4 birds a year.

 

[Green Chile]

It’s a great hunt. I hunt them in WV and the numbers are really low. 15-20 days hunting a year and if I get 10 flushes in a year it’s a great year. Scratch down 1-4 birds a year.

I have a lot of respect for what you said and how you go about it. Some things are like that...swans for example...prairie chickens...capercaillie...it's not about the numbers but about the experience. There's a sink box hunt in Nova Scotia that hunts ducks the OLD way of the market hunters. Things like that are fading away and I want to experience more of them.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I want to preface this by saying; This will probably be inherently controversial, because one person's trash is another's treasure and vice versa. But I'm sure we can give our opinions with the understanding other people might not have the same.

What do you think is the most overrated hunt, and which hunt do you think is the most underrated?

For me:
Most overrated hunt would be Nilgai
Most underrated hunt would be Eland

Most overrated is anything in a high fence operation.

Most underrated would be Columbia blacktail deer.

 

[Hunt anything]

Most overrated is anything in a high fence operation.

Most underrated would be Columbia blacktail deer.

I spent about 10 days or so chasing Columbia blacktail back in 1989, it was a wonderful hunt. I went with an old friend that I played baseball with. He had a ranch around Petaluma and then we went up into the Yolla Bollas . I think it was A1 and B1 zones. The yolla Bollas was a hell of a hunt .
He warned me it would be a very tough hunt and was true to his word. Absolutely great hunt . Now I want a Sitka blacktail to go with my Columbian.

 

[gizmo]

I would have to say for me the most overrated is Public Land Elk hunting. Whether draw or not opening morning is like June 6 1944 and when the landing craft ramp drops it’s a dang war. I tried it a couple of times and hated it. Too many dang people banging around and shooting at everything that moves. That’s essentially what got me into archery hunting because I figured I was a heckava lot less likely to get shot by some weekend warrior that’s half crocked and shooting at every bush that moves.
Most underrated for me is waterfowling. I loooove to hunt waterfowl and it’s still the most reasonably priced hunt (assuming one is going on a guided hunt somewhere). Lots of action and I am obsessed with chasing down the NA waterfowl slam. That being said I hunted Eygptian Geese in Namibia and had an absolute hoot doing that as well. I really don’t think a guy can go wrong chasing waterfowl. Of course I hunt a lot of public land waterfowl as well with my own gear but even then when there are the inevitable idiots at least then staying out of shotgun range easy to do and 9/10 they end up pushing the birds to me so it works in a weird way.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I spent about 10 days or so chasing Columbia blacktail back in 1989, it was a wonderful hunt. I went with an old friend that I played baseball with. He had a ranch around Petaluma and then we went up into the Yolla Bollas . I think it was A1 and B1 zones. The yolla Bollas was a hell of a hunt .
He warned me it would be a very tough hunt and was true to his word. Absolutely great hunt . Now I want a Sitka blacktail to go with my Columbian.

I once packed a forked horn out of a canyon not too far from Petaluma. When I got to the truck it was 109°. A Zone in California. Average was probably closer to 85 - 90°

Did someone remember to bring a warm coat? Oh yeah. It's a canteen!

 

[Milo]

Most overrated - king eider ducks
Most underrated -- wallaby in NZ.

 

[Hunt anything]

Most overrated - king eider ducks
Most underrated -- wallaby in NZ.

Don’t know a thing about wallaby hunting.
I haven’t hunted king eider but I would think it’s more of the journey to get there and for many it’s the culmination of a lifetime pursuit of North American waterfowl. If I could justify spending multiple thousands of dollars to go shoot one I would but I’ll probably just have to be satisfied without a king in my collection.

 

[Milo]

Don’t know a thing about wallaby hunting.
I haven’t hunted king eider but I would think it’s more of the journey to get there and for many it’s the culmination of a lifetime pursuit of North American waterfowl. If I could justify spending multiple thousands of dollars to go shoot one I would but I’ll probably just have to be satisfied without a king in my collection.

King Eider - Glad I did it? sure. Worth the money? Not really, and i got away cheap.
I've been to a lot of harsh, cold and wet places that provided more bang for the buck.

While I'm at it - spring snow geese is an overrated shitshow. But at least it's cheap.

 

[HookMeUpII]

It’s a great hunt. I hunt them in WV and the numbers are really low. 15-20 days hunting a year and if I get 10 flushes in a year it’s a great year. Scratch down 1-4 birds a year.

I would be interested in maybe booking a hunt somewhere for them one day. I believe an acquaintance of mine goes to Maine every year and gives it a shot. I don't think he's gotten one though. I imagine it's the type of thing you need more than a day. Give it like a solid week of combing the woods with a good guide. Not something you can expect to put a day in and be successful.

I have a lot of respect for what you said and how you go about it. Some things are like that...swans for example...prairie chickens...capercaillie...it's not about the numbers but about the experience. There's a sink box hunt in Nova Scotia that hunts ducks the OLD way of the market hunters. Things like that are fading away and I want to experience more of them.

So I will say, if you like the NS sinkbox thing, you may want to make your way to NJ coastal. There is a ton, and I do mean a ton, of old school heritage hunters here. Up until a couple years ago, I hunted out of a 70's era Barnegat Bay sneakbox. But, with kids coming along for me, I didn't find it smart to be hunting an 11' boat 6' off the water in winter. Now I hunt a more modern rig. Couple guys I know hunt restored glass over cedar and even, all cedar boxes. Some of these guys are hunting over hand carved cedar or cork decoy rigs.

I have a buddy, although frowned upon, who still tows out "floating blinds" that are 6" off the water. They are in reality, sink boxes. You can call them whatever you like, they're still a sink box. He hunts with a famous Nascar driver.

To your point, most of my hunting is the old school way. We hand grass our rigs with salt hay. I hunt over a small black duck rig. Sometimes I'll throw some pintails out. I have a broadbill rig I'll set on the points.

I think if you wanted to shoot a banded bluck duck or brant, NJ is your best bet.

The south shore of LINY has a ton of heritage too but is less accessible with more quirky gun laws.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Most overrated - king eider ducks

The thing with king eiders is you can only really be successful with them in 1-2 general locations. Once you get there, the guides usually have them dialed in so good it's more of a shoot, than a hunt.

I see you're in Alaska so that makes sense.

 

[Russ16]

I would be interested in maybe booking a hunt somewhere for them one day. I believe an acquaintance of mine goes to Maine every year and gives it a shot. I don't think he's gotten one though. I imagine it's the type of thing you need more than a day. Give it like a solid week of combing the woods with a good guide. Not something you can expect to put a day in and be successful.



So I will say, if you like the NS sinkbox thing, you may want to make your way to NJ coastal. There is a ton, and I do mean a ton, of old school heritage hunters here. Up until a couple years ago, I hunted out of a 70's era Barnegat Bay sneakbox. But, with kids coming along for me, I didn't find it smart to be hunting an 11' boat 6' off the water in winter. Now I hunt a more modern rig. Couple guys I know hunt restored glass over cedar and even, all cedar boxes. Some of these guys are hunting over hand carved cedar or cork decoy rigs.

I have a buddy, although frowned upon, who still tows out "floating blinds" that are 6" off the water. They are in reality, sink boxes. You can call them whatever you like, they're still a sink box. He hunts with a famous Nascar driver.

To your point, most of my hunting is the old school way. We hand grass our rigs with salt hay. I hunt over a small black duck rig. Sometimes I'll throw some pintails out. I have a broadbill rig I'll set on the points.

I think if you wanted to shoot a banded bluck duck or brant, NJ is your best bet.

The south shore of LINY has a ton of heritage too but is less accessible with more quirky gun laws.

If you want a first class hunting experience for ridged grouse and woodcock this is the place to go. Probably the most expensive but truly first rate.

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The upper Midwest when the cycle is up is probably the best place to hunt them. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan.