What are your 3 favorite hunts?

[Green Chile]

I enjoy hearing why hunters are really into a particular species or type of hunting. As we get into the show season, that's a lot of what I listen for and I find it interesting and inspirational. Join me in sharing some of your favorites and why.

First of all, what do you love hunting around home or where you come from? For me, I really love turkey and waterfowl hunting and have done it in over 25 states so far. Every guide is a little different and every location has unique challenges. I have learned a lot by moving around to see how ducks are hunted in different states and by chasing turkeys all over the country. I feel like it has given me a broad range of experiences instead of 20 years of experience doing the same thing in the same place.

Next question is what do you enjoy traveling outside of your country to hunt and why? I really like hunting the wild bovines of the world and will continue adding to those experiences. I've hunted them in Africa numerous times and also Argentina. I plan on adding Australia to that list. They are priced reasonably enough to continue chasing them and you can even get into culling experiences to get a lot of feedback on bullet performance, shot angles, etc. I like getting close to them and hearing their stomach rumble and their tail swishing...even their barnyard smell is appealing to me.

Final question is what would you like to get a lot more hunting experiences with in the world? I'm tempted to say red stag as I love hunting them but practically speaking, I don't have the room for all of those antler racks and I don't have a spare castle to store them in. I will say the pursuit of roe deer fascinates me and they are found in so many countries that I could chase them for decades and not repeat countries. I do plan on going after them and feel that I could make that a serious pursuit for a long time and enjoy seeing a lot of different places they call home.

How about you? What are some of your favorite species at home and abroad and why do you favor them?

 

[analog_peninsula]

You don’t have a spare castle? Harrumph! The people they let on this forum these days. ….

 

[ftothfadd]

1. Bowhunting antlerless WTD anywhere - no pressure, just fun.

2. Hunting in the mountains in general my last trip for mid asian Ibex in Tajikistan was a true expedition with zip line crossing over streams and climbing very steep exposed mountains while running into brown bears. Culminated in a 140 yard shot on a glacier.

3. I have hunted Africa only ones in Limpopo for buffalo. It was a classic tracking hunt with two native trackers who could track the spirit of a ghost on rocky ground. Was just unbelievable. On the third day I managed to kill an old bull out of a group of four. I would love to go back and watch the trackers do their magic again

 

[Slickshooter]

#1 Cape Buffalo (without question the venerable dugga boy), preferably in Tanzania once more. Although I also dream of hunting the Niassa and Caprivi for buff as well...but honestly I will go back to the Selous for this adventure.

#2 Kodiak Brown Bear in Alaska. Been there once and would go back for another crack at one of these monsters.

#3 Hippo on land. What an experience and would love to do it again, also in the Selous Reserve where this is possible.

I don't care for airplanes much but for the above three I would make that sacrifice of comfort. No other animals of interest outside of Black Bears around home here. Cheers

 

[Wildwillalaska]

1. Around home is hands down dall sheep. Nothing like hunting our steep mountains in search old, broomed rams. Keeps me motivated to get into the gym and hike as much as possible in the summer to stay fit enough to survive the season each year, and a few times I've done back to back hunts for myself, then my ex-wife, my daughter, and another buddy. Like other hunts, only thing better than taking one yourself, is helping someone else take their first. I will say calling in big bull moose is a second, and back in the day, I also loved hunting big brown bears, but have moved on some since...the weather is just so miserable during the peak seasons for brownies. Still a must do a time or two in your life though.

2. I love hunting cape buffalo more than anything else outside sheep so far. I cannot imagine this fascination with tracking and stalking old broken up bulls will ever subside, at least I hope not. High on my to-do is elephant, which I can see enjoying nearly as much, but not something I would likely want to do once or twice a year going forward.

3. As far as interests abroad going forward, totally outside my present and past experiences, I would like to hunt Asia and some of the mountain sheep and ibex there and the Stans.

 

[DLSJR]

Here in the US, my top 3 have to include Waterfowl, Turkeys and Elk. This current season is my 58th year chasing ducks & geese. I haven’t hunted them much outside California & Idaho but have been blessed to hunt them on some of the finest areas in the country. I’ve started hunting them more in others states and have enjoyed that a lot. Turkeys…. Started hunting them in 1978 and hit that real hard till 2019. Nowadays I mostly enjoy getting others on big Tom’s but I expect to hunt them more myself again in ‘26. And hunting rutting elk is something I’ll never tire of doing. Haven’t done that in a while as I haven’t drawn but with the points I’ve built in multiple states I’ve got some great elk tags ahead of me.

Outside North America it’s pretty much Africa for me. I love hunting buffalo and the spiral horns mostly. I’ve got hunts booked for ‘26 for both, but my wife has health issues so these are somewhat tenuous at this time. It’s been too long since I’ve hunted elephants and I’m planning to do that again, probably in ‘27. I’ll keep hunting Africa as long as I can. There is so much still to do across that great continent.

Other stuff to experience…. I’d enjoy experiencing some of the hunting in Europe, especially for Roe Deer, but also Red Stags and Ibex. Asia, yes please but my days of scaling big mountains are mostly behind me. Still plenty of interesting things to see there someday. And Australia! I need to hunt buffalo at least once Down Under.

 

[375Fox]

I hate to say it but for local hunting I’ve really lost the passion I used to have. I see deer and Turkey everyday and I think it’s become too normal. However, I started trapping again after a long break. I forgot how much I enjoyed it. I think it will really help nesting success with Turkey too.

For international hunting, it’s definitely roe deer in Europe and Eland in Africa. With roe deer I enjoy seeing new countries and the amount of fast paced action you get during their rut. Eland are special to me because of the distance they cover and the tracking to hunt them. I enjoy hunting buffalo, but I typically expect I’ll get one. Eland is more of an accomplishment to me because I don’t know if all the variables will line up on that particular hunt or not. It’s the top trophy in Africa to me. I’ve been lucky to get a few different subspecies so far. Going to add another in a few months.

I’m going to have my first proper red stag hunt during roar next year. I think that’s a species that could pull me in. Many European countries plus Turkey to hunt in fall then Argentina and New Zealand offer spring hunts in southern hemisphere.

 

[steve white]

Africa--Cape buffalo (with a side of sand grouse shooting after tagging out)
America--quality white tail deer
For trigger pulling, in at number 3--wild ring necked pheasant!

Don't tell anybody, but I like a good creek bottom squirrel hunt with .22 rifle, too!

 

[MontanaPat]

Hunting close to home / North America for me would be upland birds (pheasant, grouse, Hungarian partridge and chukar) and then big whitetail (still chasing that 160”+)

Favorite hunt abroad so far would be tracking eland I think for the same reasons @375Fox mentioned in his post. Red stag was also a lot of fun and kudu or bushbuck is always a good time.

The hunting I want to do more of is European hunts, particularly roe deer. Did my first this year is Spain, going to Scotland in 2026 and hopefully many more places in the future. Neat little deer plus with so many places to go hunt them and the fact it is usually only a 2-3 day hunt allows my wife to travel with me and we tour the new places together after the hunt.

 

[Fatback]

At home it’s turkeys gobbling in the spring, late season squirrel hunts after the leaves are mostly off the trees and predator trapping to help poult and fawn recruitment. If I can convince a coyote to put his front foot on a 1 inch circle, then I feel like I’ve accomplished something.

As far as travel hunting, it is either mule deer in Alberta or DG hunting in Africa. I have shot on land hippo, elephant and 3 buff, so I don’t have a large amount of experience with it but enough to know I will continue to pursue more DG as much as I am able.

I’d really like to try red stag, in the roar, in all the various locations they are found. I think that would be quite an exciting hunt in the various locations.

 

[Green Chile]

I get the excitement of trapping and playing chess with a predator's mind and behavior. I used to go out with a trapper in the Alaskan Bush and we would work an 80+ mile line in the winter. Very interesting.

Squirrels have been mentioned and if I lived in an area with good hardwoods, I could happily chase them with a quality rimfire looking for head shots. Lots of good memories from my early years related to hunting squirrels.

 

[chashardy]

Here in Texas, my favorite hunt is doves in September each year.
For big game: Cape Buffalo. I've hunted 3 of them and would do more if I can find the money.
Third place: any upland bird hunting--quail, pheasant, etc.

 

[dhughes66]

I dream of hunting dangerous game in Africa one day but for now, all my hunting has been locally in Georgia. To me the most exciting hunt is trying to call in a tom turkey. They will really get your heart pumping when they are coming in. Dove hunting is probably the most fun because of the fellowship you get from hunting with friends and family. Nothing like making fun of a good friend when they make a bad shot. Haha. I deer hunt to relax. I enjoy just sitting out in God's creation taking it all in. If I see a deer great, if not all is good when you are sitting in the woods. Quail hunting is something I enjoy a lot as well but don't get to do it very often. Nothing like watching the dogs work.

 

[BourbonTrail]

1. Upland game, I don’t really have any opportunities anymore, but its still nice to stroll around the woods and fields looking for game to pop up.

2. I like hunting anything outside the US that gives me an immersive experience that keeps me moving. I don’t like sitting and waiting for whitetail/turkey, so I don’t have any interest in doing that anywhere else. I’m very interested in tracking hunts and hunting over hounds.

3. I would love to do more elk and/or mountain hunting, but it has become such a fad that it’s not really accessible to my bank account anymore. I’m also impatient, so I won’t wait on tags to get drawn.

Basically, I don’t care about the species. I care about being active and engaged.

 

[dhoover]

1 Elk in the Western US. I hunted elk 31 years in a row in Idaho, Colorado or Utah. I just couldn't get enough until in 2021 I broke the streak and went Dall Sheep and Caribou hunting in Alaska.

2 Alaska. I've been 3 times in the last 4 years and going back in 2027 for Brown bear.

3 Africa Went in 2024 and going back in 26 I will go for Cape Buffalo and Kudu every chance I get.

 

[Russ16]

1. Opening day of dove season - it is like the dawn of a new year, start of all the hunts
2. Anything where I can stalk big game
3. Following my dog for any upland bird

And as a bonus

4. The next one

 

[Green Chile]

I always thought Alaska would be my go to spot. I lived there for a number of years and raised our girls there. The village I lived in was subsistence and heavily pressured for probably 100 miles around it. I never saw a legal moose in 3 years there. When we moved to the road system, that's a whole different problem and I didn't have the $ back then to hire bush planes, etc. I took my first trip to Africa during that time and never really looked back. Alaska was one of my biggest dreams in life and it just didn't turn out, even with a lot of effort. It's all about the access...and of course, the weather.

 

[Philip Glass]

I enjoy hearing why hunters are really into a particular species or type of hunting. As we get into the show season, that's a lot of what I listen for and I find it interesting and inspirational. Join me in sharing some of your favorites and why.

First of all, what do you love hunting around home or where you come from? For me, I really love turkey and waterfowl hunting and have done it in over 25 states so far. Every guide is a little different and every location has unique challenges. I have learned a lot by moving around to see how ducks are hunted in different states and by chasing turkeys all over the country. I feel like it has given me a broad range of experiences instead of 20 years of experience doing the same thing in the same place.

Next question is what do you enjoy traveling outside of your country to hunt and why? I really like hunting the wild bovines of the world and will continue adding to those experiences. I've hunted them in Africa numerous times and also Argentina. I plan on adding Australia to that list. They are priced reasonably enough to continue chasing them and you can even get into culling experiences to get a lot of feedback on bullet performance, shot angles, etc. I like getting close to them and hearing their stomach rumble and their tail swishing...even their barnyard smell is appealing to me.

Final question is what would you like to get a lot more hunting experiences with in the world? I'm tempted to say red stag as I love hunting them but practically speaking, I don't have the room for all of those antler racks and I don't have a spare castle to store them in. I will say the pursuit of roe deer fascinates me and they are found in so many countries that I could chase them for decades and not repeat countries. I do plan on going after them and feel that I could make that a serious pursuit for a long time and enjoy seeing a lot of different places they call home.

How about you? What are some of your favorite species at home and abroad and why do you favor them?

In addition to Africa hunting Ibex is a second passion for me.

 

[Green Chile]

In addition to Africa hunting Ibex is a second passion for me.

That makes total sense to me. I would really like to chase the various species but the time required to get to some of them makes it difficult. I'm not the guy to chase sheep/argali but the capras are very interesting.

 

[dogcat1]

1. In the USA - elk and pronghorn hunting. One is a social gathering and the other is playing hide and seek in the woods. Pheasant hunting is tied as well.

2. Outside the USA would be Lord Derby Eland and any other eland hunting in Africa. Best tracking hunt there is and to me, the most challenging.

3. Third - Red stag, fallow deer and roe deer in Europe. New Zealand is fine but you can kill a truck load of stag and fallow without a lot of effort. In Europe, I love the traditions and the stalking.

Worst hunt that I have done 14 times - sheep. I love/hate sheep hunting to the extent that I may need psychologic treatments for this. Nothing better than outsmarting that ram or goat or urial or argali but nothing more crushing than climbing at 15,000' or missing the shot.... I love/hate sheep hunting.