Be Your Own Guide

by: buckmanPabucks
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Word Count: 1204

Wheather it's for Whitetail, Bear, Elk, Mule Deer or any other game you desire there are cost effective and efficient ways to hunt them in another State. Hunting another State on your own is not for the faint at heart but, it's not as difficult as many believe either. I live in Pennsylvania and have hunted neighboring States but, for the sake of this article, I will reference experiences I had in States further away.

The first thing I do is consider how much money is available for such a adventure and how far it will get me. A few good examples I can provide on how far money will go are, I hunted (7) days in Colorado for Mule Deer and Cow Elk at a total cost of $1100.00, I hunted (6) days in Maine for Whitetail and Black Bear at a total cost of $600.00 and I hunted (3) days in Virginia for Whitetail at a total cost of $300.00. The cost of these hunts included everything from tags, accommadations and food to traveling expenses to and from. The further away the planned hunt takes place, you are almost surely going to spend more money.

The second thing I do is consider what game it is I desire hunting and what caliber of that species I'm looking for. Personally, I like mature animals but when considering out-of-state hunts and keeping the cost respectable, I keep my expectation level in check. The worst thing you could possibly do is expect to kill a trophy sized animal in areas that have few and far between. Now that's not to say, you can't plan a hunt in a State or area known for trophy animals. The key here is that to keep things affordable, you will very likely be hunting public land and knowing which specific areas hold larger animals will obviously increase the chance of killing one.

The third thing I do is start making phone calls and as many as is practical to get the answers you need. I call the State Game Department first and speak with a game Biologist for the species I'm hunting to find out conditions around the State and where they would recommend I hunt. I would also ask them for literature such as State owned land maps and special regulation areas such as Archery only hunting zones. I will then narrow my choice hunting areas for that State to a few counties and the public land available. After doing this, I then call the Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO) for that specific area. I will ask him questions like, how's the hunting pressure on public land for the season I intend on hunting? What areas in his district are often overlooked and have very little pressure? What primary food sources are available to the game? Is there active farming or CRP nearby? Finally, if the area I'm focusing on includes National Forest land, I will contact their office and speak with the local Forester. He can provide answers to how their land is regulated and provide insight for how recently certain areas have been clearcut. A Forester could also provide information on hunting pressure and overlooked areas.

After narrowing my choice of hunting location because of the answers I now have, I then consider what my accomadation options are. Will I stay in a nearby hotel, motel, hunting lodge or bed and breakfast? Do I have the means to stay at a campground in a travel trailer or tent? How will I get food and where can I store it if I'm making my own meals? These questions will often determine the final cost for your hunt and plan it for your level of comfort. I'm fortunate enough to have a father who owns a travel trailer and it greatly reduces my cost. However, when I hunted Colorado, we had to share the cost for a efficiency room and the food. In Maine, I stayed at a lodge that provided a bed and food while we hunted on our own. Whatever the accommadation, it can be done for a reasonable cost and remember that a good nights sleep will make the hunt more enjoyable.

Now, after narrowing your choice areas to hunt and figuring out your accomadations, the fun begins!! I like looking at specific areas I intend or I'm thinking about hunting by surfing the web. Personally, I go to web sites that have aerial photographs and topographical maps. I like getting down to details and trying to figure out the lay of the land. I also try to determine how the animals will travel, feed and bed according to the terrain. Another key element in studying maps is accessibility and how far you anticipate hunting from these access points. This will also allow you to study the possible movements of other hunters into the area and how much pressure is possible. A quick phone call to one of the previously mentioned references could also provide the answer to this question. Studying maps can be invaluable toward getting a look at the area without physically being there and after you print them out, you now have them to reference during the hunt to plan startegy as you go and so you don't get lost either. Did you realize that all of what I have mentioned can be accomplished from the comfort of your own home? That's right! We haven't even left the house and you already have a mountain of things accomplished! In my opinion this is why I enjoy out-of-state hunting, I know where I'm going, where I'm staying, how and probably what I'm eating, the lay of the land, the general condition of the animal I'm hunting and all I really need to think about from this point on is the hunt itself.

The final stage of pre-planning your hunt is to make the trip and if at all possible visit the intended hunting location at least one day in advance. Taking a quick look around won't hurt in the long run and will provide additional insight on the habitat you can expect to deal with. I like getting my feet wet before making my initial hike through darkness in somewhat unfamiliar territory and who know's, you may find hot sign to hunt right away. Another good idea is to have a back-up location to hunt in case the primary area is slow to produce animal sightings or hunting pressure is too extreme for you.

In closing, the above plan in my opinion will promote success as I rate success. I'm not a expert on out-of-state hunting but, I can certainly say that I enjoyed every trip I've made by using this plan wheather I killed a animal or not. Success to me is enjoying the area I'm hunting, seeing animals, being well fed, getting enough sleep and at least one person successfully harvesting the game we're hunting. I have enjoyed all of these things and more!! If you haven't tried hunting another State to test your skills on unfamiliar turf, your missing out on a great hunting adventure!