couples hunting trips

Take a Romantic Hunting Trip to Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch

Whether you’ve just finalized your nuptials or have been with your partner for decades, the last thing you want is to let the adventurous spirit of your relationship slip away like a bull into the woods. One way to inject some excitement into your love life is to embark on a romantic hunting trip to Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch in Newdale, ID. Whether you both hunt or only one of you does, guided elk hunts promote bonding and brings couples closer together as they surmount new challenges. While there are many decent Idaho elk hunting ranches, you’ll want a place that provides guaranteed elk hunts, rustically exquisite lodging , and a bevy of outdoor recreation activities from fishing to scaling sand dunes in an ATV. Today we offer three reasons to book a romantic hunting trip with Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch.

The Area around Newdale, ID, Is Gorgeous

Our lodge is ideally located within the mountains and showcases marvelous panoramic views and sprawling vistas. By combining western conventionalism with modern luxury, we put a great deal of consideration into creating a setting that lends itself to discovery, exploration, and wonder. As a result, you’ll find yourself surrounded by inspiration, scenic beauty, and an abundance of tranquility, further adding to your romantic hunting trip.

Unrivaled Amenities

As soon as you step foot on our slice of paradise, you’ll feel as if you’re right at home. First of all, handcrafted log furniture, a wrap-around deck with 100-mile vantage points, and private balconies to complement the comfortable lounge area will greet you. What’s more, our neighbors at the bottom of the hill offer hot springs for a relaxing soak after a long day of chasing elk. You also won’t have to worry about bringing and maintaining foodstuffs since we’ll be providing you with three hearty meals each day .

The Best Guaranteed Elk Hunts

Now let’s get to the nitty-gritty. What makes guided elk hunting in Idaho so excellent is the same thing that makes a romantic hunting trip an intimate experience. You and your partner will share heightened emotions ranging from frustration to tears of joy. Hunting requires you to meander through diverse feelings, and who better to share that with than the one you sleep next to at night? Not only will you and your special someone disconnect from life’s trials and tribulations, but you’ll also grow closer as you plan your days. Furthermore, spending time with your partner while hunting will help you peer deeply into their mind, body, and soul.

Guaranteed Elk Hunts near Newdale, ID

Going on a romantic hunting trip may not seem like the most traditional way to ignite the flames of love, but one thing is sure, it will bring you closer to your partner, unlike anything else. Life’s best memories are those we share with the ones we hold dear to our hearts, and we firmly believe few things can bring you closer than hunting. For more information or to make a reservation, please reach out to us online or call 208-351-7301.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

918-819-8213

All Inclusive Packages at Hunt Mill Hollow Ranch

Our guarantee.

Our Hunt Guarantee

Although our success rates are extremely high for harvesting your trophy (nearly 100%), we can't guarantee that every hunter will harvest their trophy. If you don't shoot any game (harvest or wound), you will not pay a trophy fee. All you pay for is the lodging, meals, transportation around the ranch, and guides fees which are all included in the hunt package fee for each hunt. 

Trophy Elk Hunt Packages

Our 2023-24 trophy elk packages include five star lodging for 3 days and 4 nights . Your hunt package includes delicious meals, snacks, with wine or beer after the hunt. Additional days/nights can be added if desired ($650ea).   The fully guided hunt includes recovery, field dressing, skinning (to the skull), and quartering of your trophy. Also included in the package is the transportation of your animal to our local taxidermist or game meat processor. Skull caping at the ranch or with a local taxidermist will incur an additional fee of $150. 

HUNT PACKAGE FEES:  Non-refundable fee whether an animal is harvested or not. This fee covers your stay at the ranch, guides, and other expenses. Trophy fees are in addition to the Package cost, but if you do not draw blood there will be no trophy fee. Wounded animals will be charged the same trophy fee as a kill.

• Individual Package:    $2500 plus the trophy fee, non-hunting spouse is free
• Group Package (5 or more hunters):    $2200 per hunter plus the trophy fees.

Non-Hunter Additional Guest: $500/night

Trophy Elk Fees:

• Under 320" gross B&C score - $7,000
• Elk 320" to under 350" gross B&C score - $9,500
• Elk 350" to under 375" gross B&C score - $11,500
• Elk 375" to under 400" gross B&C score - $14,500
• Elk 400" and up gross B&C score - $15,000 plus $100 for each inch above 400"

* In the case of irretrievable wounded animals, full price must be paid based on the gross B & C score. We do our best to recover any shot game, but can not guarantee the recovery of all wounded game.

One wild hog is available for a processing fee of $300.

Groups of two or more can add a quail, chukar, or pheasant wingshoot for an additional $600 per hunter (Includes 10 pheasant, or 12 chukar, or 15 quail per hunter, guide, and cleaning/packaging of birds).

Your guides, lodge chief and cleaner, and game processors will work hard for you and work for tips. If you feel they have done a good job, please tip them individually or as a group. The gratuity is customarily between 15% to 20% of the total hunt. Please use a separate check or cash. 

BOOKING A HUNT

*Once dates are scheduled, $2000 deposit is required to preserve a date for all hunts. Deposits are non-refundable at 3 months prior to the hunt date. Make checks payable to:

Anchor Point Properties, LLC

2215 Indian Sky Lane

Newbury Park, CA 91320

The remaining balance of the hunt or recreation package is due upon arrival in cash, check, or credit card. Trophy fees or additional fees are due at the end of the hunt.

Book Your Hunt!

Trophy Whitetail Hunt Packages

Our 2023-24 trophy whitetail packages includes five star lodging for 3 days and 4 nights. Your hunt package includes delicious meals, snacks, with wine or beer after the hunt. Additional days can be added if desired ($650 ea). The hunt includes field dressing, skinning (to the skull), and quartering of your trophy. Also included in the package is the transportation of your animal to our local taxidermist/game processor. Skull caping at the ranch or with the local taxidermist will incur an additional $150 fee.

Hunt Package Fees:  

Non-refundable fee whether an animal is harvested or not. This fee covers your stay at the ranch, guides, and other expenses. Trophy fees are in addition to the Package cost, but if you do not draw blood there will be no trophy fee. Wounded animals will be charged the same trophy fee as a kill.

• Individual Package:    $2500 plus a trophy fee, non-hunting spouse is free. 
• Non-Hunter Additional Guests: $500/night

Trophy Whitetail Fees:

• Doe - $800 
• Management Bucks 3+ year old, under 130", and 8 points or less - $2500;  September and October Early Season Management - $2200
• Bucks 130" to under 150" gross B&C score - $6500
• Bucks 150" to under 175" gross B&C score - $8500
• Bucks 175" to under 200" gross B&C score - $10,500
• Bucks 200" and up gross B&C score - $12,500 plus $100 for each inch above 200"

* In the case of irretrievable wounded animals, full price must be paid based on the gross B & C score. We do our best to recover any shot game, but can not guarantee the recovery of all wounded game.

Semi-guided Management Day Hunts:  

• $750 per day ranch fee (does not include lodging or meals) plus the management trophy fee

Groups of two or more can add a quail, chukar, or pheasant wingshoot for an additional $600 per hunter (Includes 10 pheasant, or  12 chukar,  or  15 quail per hunter, guide, and cleaning/packaging of birds).

The remaining balance of the hunt or recreation package is due upon arrival in cash, check, or credit card. Trophy fees or any additional fees are due at the end of the hunt. 

Buffalo Hunting Packages

Hunt Mill Hollow Bison Hunts 2023-24. The hunts will include meals & lodging for 1 day and 1 night. Additional day/night(s) can be added for $650 per day/night.

Trophy Bull - $8000

Mature Bull - $6500

Management Meat Hunt - cow, heifer, or yearling bull - $3800/bison

*If blood is drawn (bull is wounded), there will be a trophy fee.

Groups of two or more can add a quail, chukar, or pheasant wingshoot for an additional $600 per gun (Includes 10 pheasant, or 12 chukar, or 15 quail per gun, guide, and cleaning/packaging of birds).

*Once dates are scheduled, $2000 deposit is require to preserve a date for all hunts. Deposits are non-refundable at 3 months prior to the hunt date. Make checks payable to:

Wild Hog Hunt Packages (2023 update)

ALL PACKAGES ARE 2 NIGHT MINIMUM - Package fees include lodging; food, snacks, and drinks; transportation around the ranch; recovery, gutting/skinning, quartering your hogs "Ranch Processing" ; storage of your meat in a walk-in cooler prior to your trip home. 

2 HOGS/hunter are included in all packages. Additional hogs will a have fee of $300  each

1)  Individual Package:   2-night minimum lodging - $1600 includes meals and game processing for up to 2 hogs.

    Additional nights - $650/day-night

    Non-hunting spouse or child sharing hunter's room - $75/night

2) Group (5 or more hunters) Package:   2-night minimum lodging - $1400/guest, includes transportation around the ranch, meals, and game processing for up to 2 hogs/guest

Additional nights - $650/guest/night

Non-hunting spouse or family sharing the hunter's room  -  $75/night

Non-Hunter Guest:   Additional Non-hunter Room - $500/room/night

Individual Single Day-Only Ranch Passes:    $800 per day, No trophy fees, includes transportation around the ranch, lunch, and "Ranch Processing" for 1 hog; Ranch processing fee for additional hog(s) - $300 each.

Wild hogs can be harvested in addition to any Whitetail Deer, Axis Deer, Elk, or Bison Trophy hunts or recreational package 

Your guides, lodge staff, and game processors will work hard for you and work for tips. If you feel they have done a good job, please tip them individually or as a group (preferred). The gratuity is customarily between 15% to 20% of the total hunt cost. Please use a separate check or cash.

*Once dates are scheduled, a $1000 deposit for individual hunters ($3000 total for group hunts) is required to preserve a date for all hunts. Deposits are non-refundable at 3 months prior to the hunt date. Make checks payable to:

The remaining balance of the hunt or recreation package is due upon arrival in cash, check, or credit card. 

Axis Deer Hunts

Hunt Mill Hollow Ranch has been building a trophy Axis Deer herd for the last few years. Our 2023-24  Trophy Axis Deer package (beginning and ending in April) includes your stay at a five-star lodging for 3 days and 4 nights .   Your stay will include delicious meals, drinks, and snacks.

HUNT PACKAGE FEES:     The hunt package fee is charged whether an animal is harvested or not. This fee covers your stay at the ranch, guides, and other expenses.  Trophy fees are in addition to the package cost, but if you do not draw blood, there will be no trophy fee. Wounded animals will be charged the same trophy fee as a kill.  The fully guided hunt includes recovery, field dressing, skinning (to the skull), and quartering of your trophy. Also included in the package is the transportation of your animal to our local taxidermist or game meat processor. Skull caping at the ranch or with a local taxidermist will incur an additional fee. 

Individual Hunt Package Fee:   (2023-24) $2500 plus a trophy fee, non-hunting spouse is free

Group Package (5 or more hunters): (2023-24)  $2200 per hunter plus the trophy fees.

Additional days/nights can be added if desired ($650 each).

Individual Day-Only Ranch Passes:    $800/day/person, includes guide, transportation around the ranch, lunch, and "Ranch Processing.

AXIS DEER TROPHY FEES:

• Buck in hard antler and less than 30" - $4200
• Buck in velvet (any smaller size) or hard horned 30" to under 32"- $4800
• Buck in velvet or hard horned 32" and under 34" - $5400
• Buck in velvet or hard horn 34" and over - $5500 plus $500 per inch 
• Axis doe - $1200

* In the case of irretrievable wounded animals, the full trophy fee must be paid. We do our best to recover any shot game, but cannot guarantee the recovery of all wounded game.

The remaining balance of the hunt or recreation package is due upon arrival in cash, check, or credit card. Trophy fees or additional fees are due at the end of the hunt. 

Fallow Deer Hunts

Hunt Mill Hollow Ranch has been building a trophy Fallow deer herd for the last few years. Our 2023-24 Trophy Fallow Deer package (beginning and ending in April) includes your stay at a five-star lodging for 3 days and 4 nights .   Your stay will also include delicious meals, drinks, and snacks. 

HUNT PACKAGE FEES:     The hunt package fee is charged whether an animal is harvested or not. This fee covers your stay at the ranch, guides, and other expenses.   Trophy fees  are in addition to the package cost, but if you do not draw blood, there will be no trophy fee. Wounded animals will be charged the same trophy fee as a kill.  The fully guided hunt includes recovery, field dressing, skinning (to the skull), and quartering of your trophy. Also included in the package is the transportation of your animal to our local taxidermist or game meat processor. Skull caping at the ranch or with a local taxidermist will incur an additional fee. 

Individual Hunt Package Fee:   (2023-24) $2500 each plus a trophy fee, non-hunting spouse is free

Additional days/nights can be added if desired ($650/hunter).

Individual Day-Only Ranch Passes:    $800/day/person, includes transportation around the ranch, lunch, and "Ranch Processing.

FALLOW DEER TROPHY FEES:

• Fallow Buck - $4800
• Fallow Doe - $1600

Groups of two or more can add a quail, chukar, or pheasant wingshoot for an additional $600 per hunter (Includes 10 pheasant, or 12 chukar,  or 15 quail per hunter, guide, and cleaning/packaging of birds).

Your guides, lodge chief and cleaner, and game processors will work hard for you and work for tips. If you feel they have done a good job, please tip them individually or as a group. The gratuity is customarily between 15% to 20% of the total hunt. Please use a separate check or cash.

Aoudad Hunts

Hunt Mill Hollow Ranch has been building a trophy Aoudad herd.  We are finally ready to begin our Aoudad hunts in May 2021. 

HUNT PACKAGE FEES: Our 2023-24 Aoudad package (pricing beginning and ending in April) for a 3 day/4 night hunt is $2500.  This fee covers your stay at the ranch at our five-star lodge, guides, and other expenses. Your stay will include delicious meals, snacks, with wine or beer after the hunt. The hunt package fee is incurred whether an animal is harvested or not. Trophy fees are in addition to the package cost, but if you do not draw blood there will be no trophy fee. Wounded animals will be charged the same trophy fee as a kill.  The fully guided hunt includes recovery, field dressing, skinning (to the skull), and quartering of your trophy. Also included in the package is the transportation of your animal to our local taxidermist or game meat processor. Skull caping at the ranch or with a local taxidermist will incur an additional fee. 

Additional days/nights: can be added if desired - $650/night/hunter.

Aoudad Trophy Fees:

Rams less than 30" - $4400

Rams 30" to under 32" - $4800

Rams over 32" - $5200

Groups of two or more can add a quail, chukar, or pheasant fall/winter wing-shoot for an additional $600 per hunter (Includes 10 pheasant, or 12 chukar,  or 15 quail per hunter, guide, and cleaning/packaging of birds).

The remaining balance of the hunt or recreation package is due upon arrival in cash, check, or credit card. Trophy fees or other additional fees are due at the end of the hunt. 

Luxury Quail Hunting Packages

Field Hunt (15 quail per person, includes lunch) - $600 per person

Full Day Field Hunt with overnight stay (30 quail per person with breakfast, lunch, and dinner) - $1550 per person

Additional Quail - $20/bird

Additional Pheasant - $30/bird

Additional Chukar - $25/bird

Additional Nights lodging - $650/night

Dog Handler/dog: Half day - $100;  Full day - $150 per day

Non-Hunter Additional Room: $500/room/night

Non-hunting spouse in the same room:   Free!

Your guides, lodge chief and cleaner, and game processors will work hard for you and work for tips. If you feel they have done a good job, please tip them individually or as a group. The total gratuity is customarily between 15% to 20%. Please use a separate check or cash.

*Once dates are scheduled, $600/gun deposit is require to reserve a date for all hunts. Deposits are non-refundable at 3 months prior to the hunt. Make checks payable to:

Guided Pheasant Hunting Packages

Pheasant Half Day Hun t (10 birds/person) - $600 per person

Pheasant Full Day Hunt with overnight stay (Includes 20 birds, breakfast, lunch, and dinner) -  $1550 per person

Additional Pheasant - 1-10 birds - $30/bird

Additional Chukar - 1-10 birds - $25/bird

Additional Quail - 1-10 birds - $20/bird

Additional Night Lodging - $650 per person

Dog Handler/dog:  Half day- $100;   Full day - $150

Non Hunter Additional Room: $500/room/night

Non hunting spouse in the same room:   Free!

Your guides, lodge chief and cleaner, and game processors will work hard for you and work for tips. If you feel they have done a good job, please tip them individually or as a group. The total gratuity is customarily between 15% to 20%.

*Once dates are scheduled, $500/gun deposit is require to preserve a date for all hunts.  Deposits are non-refundable at 3 months prior to the hunt. Make checks payable to:

Guided Chukar Hunting Packages

One Half Day Field Hunt (12 birds per person) - $600 per person

Full Day Field Hunt (24 birds per person, includes lunch) - $900 per person

Full Day Field Hunt with overnight stay (20 birds per person with breakfast, lunch, and dinner) - $1550 per person

Dog Handler/dog: Half day - $100   Full day - $150/day

**Not Included In The Packages**

Transportation to or from the ranch: The ranch is located just southeast of Stilwell, Oklahoma. If you need to get picked up at a local commercial airport (Fayetteville, AR  -1.5hrs; Fort Smith, AR - 1hr; or Tulsa, OK - 2hrs), there will be an additional charge of $500 round trip (maximum of 3 passengers).

Oklahoma Hunting Licenses:                                                                                                                                              During the Oklahoma deer hunting season, you are required to purchase an Oklahoma Resident Annual Hunting License, a Nonresident Fiscal-Year License, or a Nonresident 5-Day Hunting License. If you are hog hunting outside of the state deer hunting season, you are not required to purchase an Oklahoma Hunting License. www.oklahomawildlifedepartment/licensing 

Your guides, lodge chief and cleaner, and game processors will work hard for you. If you feel they have done a good job, please tip them individually or as a group. The total gratuity is customarily between 10% to 20%. 

Alcoholic beverages: BYOB except for trophy elk, deer, and bison hunts

Taxidermy: There are several local taxidermists that can do beautiful whitetail deer, elk, and wild boar mounts, or you can bring your trophy home to your own taxidermist. 

Additional meat processing: Arrangements can also be made with a local meat processor for complete processing, packaging, and shipping of meat. 

Maps: If you are going to go off into the woods, it is a good idea to go on-line to  OnX Maps . You can download Oklahoma or the ranch area to save for offline mapping. Your GPS on any smartphone will work offline with an OnX map. Cell reception is best with Verizon.

Booking at Hunt Mill Hollow Ranch

*Once dates are scheduled, deposit is required to preserve a date for all hunts and events. Deposits required are listed with each package.  Deposits are non-refundable at 3 months prior to the hunt. Make checks payable to:

Book at HMH Ranch!

Our Alaska Guided Hunting

Hunt in true wilderness with managed game to ensure quality hunts and a rewarding experience

Guided Hunting Trips in Alaska

The hunt is a pilgrimage back to the origins of mankind. The hunt is where we first learned to improvise, build tools, and work as a team to carry out complex plans. The hunt was our first education, our first job, and the stakes for success were the lives of our families who relied on us to bring meat home at the end of the day. To hunt is to participate in nature rather than to merely observe it. Every detail of nature takes on a whole new meaning when we make the step from Observer to Participant. The hunter is observant of the wind and its track of scent, the clouds and a looming storm, the darting scurry of a mouse or weasel, the scent of fall and waning seasons, the suns approach of the day’s horizon. These burn into the mind and become a part of the hunter, for a successful hunter must be the keenest observer, focusing on the surroundings and beyond the self. This scrutiny of the surroundings brings an awareness, appreciation, and respect for the natural environment and all its inhabitants. To Alaska wolverine hunts is more than to pursue the animal, it is to pursue a union with nature that cannot be experienced along any other path and to find the very roots of our human character.

The best hunting trips for couples offered by Wrangell Outfitters are targeted toward the sportsman who wants a very classic and exclusive experience. The hunting area that we use is an exclusive Federal Concession within the Wrangell, St. Elias National Park Preserve. Wrangell Outfitters is the only company that can contract Alaska wolf hunts for this area. Horses are used to access the distant corners of the hunting area and help to create the nostalgic feel of the classic Alaskan Safari. We do not look at nature as our enemy or adversary. The concept of "man vs wild" is as foreign to a true bush man as the concept of "man vs living room" would be to any man who lives a house.

Price includes transportation from Fairbanks to Horsfeld and return, all accommodations, food, Alaska Hunting Guide service, trophy preparation and care while at Horsfeld. Reservations can be made for you in Fairbanks as well as arrangements for shipping of horns, capes and hides. Additional species are taken on the species specific trophy fee list listed below:

Couples Hunting Trips

Single Species Hunt Price:

1 guide on 1 hunter: $25,000 USD 1 guide on 2 hunters: $38,000 USD Sheep: $7,500 Moose: $6,000 Grizzly Bear: $5,500 Black Bear: $3,500 Wolverine and wolf: $1,500

License: Non-resident hunting license - $160. Tags: Sheep - $850 / Moose - $800 / Grizzly - $1000 / Wolf - free / Wolverine - $225

Guided Hunts:

May 25-June 5 : (Spring Grizzly, Black Bear,) June 5- June 16 : (Spring Grizzly, Black Bear) June 19-July 1 : (Spring Grizzly, Black Bear) August 8-20 - 1st Fall Hunt: (Sheep, Grizzly, Black Bear, Wolf) August 20-September 2 - 2nd Fall Hunt: (Sheep, Grizzly, Black Bear, Wolverine, Wolf) September 8-September 20 - 3rd Fall Hunt: (Sheep, Moose, Grizzly, Black Bear, Wolverine, Wolf) September 20-October 1 - 4th Fall Hunt: (Moose, Grizzly, Black Bear, Wolverine, Wolf) October 1-October 12 - 5th Fall Hunt: (Grizzly, Black Bear, Wolverine, Wolf)

Hunting in United States

990 hunting trips from 200 outfitters starting from a 10,707

Share this page with friends

Why united states.

Vast selection of species

The United States offers a vast selection of species to hunt, many of which cannot be hunted anywhere else in the world

Variety of hunt options

The United States features diverse terrain, and different regions of the country use different hunting methods. This allows hunters a wide variety of hunt options to suit their physical abilities and preferred method of hunting. From the Eastern hardwood timbers to the plains and Rocky Mountains of the West, picturesque scenery and unique challenges await the hunter venturing to the United States

Safe destination

The United States is a safe destination that is easy to get to from nearly anywhere in the world

United States on map

States all states (39).

About hunting in United States

The United States is a huge country with diverse terrain, almost two dozen species of big game, and a wide variety of waterfowl, small game, and upland birds. There are few places in the world more exciting and challenging to hunt. From the snowy peaks of the northern Rockies to the deserts of the Southwest to the hardwood forests of the East and Midwest, the wide variety of landscapes provide a breathtaking array of hunting experiences for a plentiful selection of game animals. Whether you desire pronghorn, mountain goat, moose, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, black bear, mule deer, elk, or mountain lion, each offers a different adventure. Because hunting in the USA is managed on a state-by-state basis and the game and terrain is so varied, it’s easy to find a trip perfect for your skill level, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hunter. From stand hunting for whitetails to spot-and-stalk hunting for elk to pursuing mountain lions over a pack of hounds, there is something for every hunter in the vast forests, plains, and mountains of the United States.

What you need to know

• 1. Planning your trip
• 2. Upon arrival
• 4. After the hunt

Planning your trip

Visas, laws, and regulations.

The United States requires a visa for entry, but citizens or nationals Canada and Bermuda, as well as of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, are exempt from the requirement if they are traveling to the United States for 90 days or less. Find the list of countries eligible for the visa waiver here .

Travelers must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from their planned departure from the USA, and those using the Visa Waiver Program must have an e-passport.

Importing Firearms

Visiting hunters who are not citizens or legal residents of the United States are required to obtain a federal permit for their firearms and ammunition in advance of their arrival through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and firearms (ATF). You will need to obtain and complete ATF Form 6NIA (5330.3D Application/Permit for Temporary Importation of Firearms and Ammunition by Nonimmigrant Aliens) to apply for the ATF permit. Contact ATF's Firearms and Explosives Import office with questions at [email protected] .

Licenses and Tags

All states in the United States require hunters to have a state-issued hunting license to hunt within the borders of that state. In many cases an additional permit for the specific animal, or “tag,” is also required. In many states, a valid hunting license from your home country will allow you to purchase the required hunting license; in some states, however, you may be required to prove that you have completed a hunter education course in order to buy a license. If you are hunting migratory birds, including ducks and doves, you will also be required to purchase a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp. Your outfitter will provide you with details of what licenses and tags are required for your specific hunt and how to purchase them.

Upon arrival

Upon arrival into the United States you will go through passport control then proceed on to collect your bags and firearms for customs inspection. You re-check your bags with your airline for your next flight and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) official will check your firearm, then escort it to your plane. TSA regulations require that firearms must be transported unloaded in a hard-sided, locked case, and ammunition must be checked in a separate bag. Certain airlines may have additional restrictions.

Wildlife management in the United States is handled on a state-by-state basis. Each state has its own hunting rules and regulations, and even within a particular state, hunting styles as well as gear and clothing may differ widely. Most outfitters can be relied upon to provide a list of recommended gear and clothing, as well as suggestions for firearm types and calibers. Stand hunts, for example, often call for heavy, warm clothing, while hunters venturing to the mountains or taking on strenuous spot-and-stalk hunts should dress in layers. Comfortable boots appropriate to the terrain are a must for any hunt. Some states require hunters to wear a fluorescent orange hat, vest, or sometimes both. Because enforcement of hunting regulations is taken very seriously in the United States, it’s a good idea to obtain a copy of the state regulations where you will be hunting and familiarize yourself with them. Look for these regulations on the website of the fish and game agency in the state you plan to hunt.

After the hunt

Tipping is generally expected and appreciated on most hunts in the USA. Tips generally range from 5 to 15 percent of the total hunt cost.

Your outfitter should be able to recommend local taxidermists and meat processors, but these services are not included in the hunt cost. Discuss these aspects with your outfitter before arrival. Local taxidermists can prepare and pack trophies to your specifications, but it will be up to you to check legalities and arrange transport and shipment of the trophies to your home.

Price distribution

Special offers, hunting methods all hunting methods (18), rifle hunting.

Bow Hunting

Game classification All classifications (7)

Dangerous Game

Meet your guides

• Laurie Meyer Louisiana, United States 9.7 • 1 review "Shoot Your Boots!" "Kill A Gator Wear 'Em Lator!" Wear Your Trophy! Only turn-key gator hunt with all-inclusive package hosted in Louisiana that includes both gator hunt & custom gator boots, belt & wallet! View the outfitter page
• Alisha Mutts Decker Alaska, United States 9.8 • 3 reviews With over 40 years of guiding experience in Southeast Alaska and Glacier Bay National Park, We are an exceptional choice for your next hunting adventure in the Alaskan wilderness. We were formed in 1974 by Master Guides Jimmie C. and MaryAnn. Over the years, the business has grown to be one of the largest professional Guide/Outfitter operations in the State of Alaska. We are a family-owned and operated, with Master Guide Mutts and Zach carrying on the outfitting tradition. View the outfitter page
• Bob Cusack Alaska, United States Nestled on the Alaska Peninsula between Lake Clark National Park and the Katmai National Monument is the Cusack's Alaska Lodge. The lodge sits 200 miles to the southwest of Anchorage amid the beauty of wild Alaska. Your hosts are Bob and Lula Cusack, who built the lodge. Bob is a professional grade bush pilot and has been flying fisherman to remote locations for nearly 40 years. This is a rustic, luxury lodge that blends the best of wild Alaska with the best of modern society. View the outfitter page
• Jerry Cates Alaska, United States I have always loved sharing the wilderness spirit that can only be found in the last remaining truly wild places, Alaska is one of those places and perhaps the best. Come experience a hunt that will be shared again and again around campfires and anywhere where hunters gather. Happy hunting to all. View the outfitter page

Animals All animals (85)

• Elk Wyoming There's not much more exciting than being in the woods during the elk rut. Being in the presence of bugling bull elk will get any hunter's heart pumping. This episode of Bush TV will do just that!
• Alaska Wolf Not your every day footage folks! A young wolf poking around in brown bear territory. Similar in size and behaviour (being social creatures), humans and wolves have always competed for food and territory.
• Bison You wouldn't want to get between these tow fighting Bison!
• Bighorn Sheep With Ewes in estrus, Bighorn Sheep Rams become very worked up and the Mating Dance ensues. Few people get to see this ritual up close.
• Elk Bugle There's not much more exciting than being in the woods during the elk rut. Being in the presence of bugling bull elk will get any hunter's heart pumping.
• Moose Bull Moose bull just taking a stroll in Iowa.
• Mountain Lion A (New) Mexican standoff! Normally when you see mountain lions held at bay by the hounds, the cats are up on a tree, but not this time around.
• Sparring Pronghorn Who will be the dominant male in this sparring contest? The Pronghorn is the fastest animal in the Western hemisphere, reaching speeds up to 60 miles per hour, and can maintain 30-40 mph over long distances, which can often be witnessed come migration time.
• Elk Bugle Big bull Elk bugling
• Alaska Brown bear The Alaskan brown bear is the largest land predator on Earth. One reason for the exceptional size of these bruins is the plentiful supply of fat and protein in the form of salmon in Alaska's rivers and streams. Here's an up close and personal look a hunter got of this ritual for survival!
• Wild Turkey The wild turkey is a favorite pursuit of many hunter's dreams. The wiley and elusive gobblers can test the most experienced and patient sportsmen. But in some cases their desire to mate and their bravado overpower their good senses. Check out this gang of gobblers taking out their frustrations on this hunter's Jake decoy!
• Whitetail Deer Love monster whitetails? Ever heard of a "horizontal rub?" Check out this video of some magnificent free-range Iowa whitetails making use of these man-made devices. Warning: Not responsible for facial injury from watching these Midwest jawdroppers!
• Alligator Glide Alligator just gliding through the water
• Coyote Calling Group of Coyote's calling
• Moose Family Moose family walking across a river in Iowa.
• Sparring Mule Deer Mule Deer sparring to see who is the dominant male
• Brown Bear run Brown Bear running away from a drone
• Wild Turkeys Fight Wild Turkeys fight for many reasons, such mating rights, territorial usage and social intra flock structure. Fighting establishes their pecking order. Awesome footage of two Turkey going at each other.
• Bison Dust Storm Two American Bison putting up a dust storm
• Fighting Alligators Two Alligators taking one another on to show who is the boss
• Caribou Herd Big healthy herd of Caribou in Alaska
• Grouse Fight Grouse fighting to see who is the dominant one
• Mule Deer in snow Beautiful Mule Deer walking through the snowy fields of Texas
• Bighorn Sheep Bighorn Sheep bashing horns
• Moose Bulls Two Moose bulls having a very relaxed sparring session
• Pronghorn chase Two Pronghorn antelope chasing one another at the speed of light
• Curious Shiras-colored Brown Bear This Shiras-colored Brown Bear really wants to know what is going on and who is looking at him
• Brown Bear eating lunch Amazing footage of a Brown Bear enjoying lunch in the water
• Bear fishing for Salmon This huge Brown Bear is fishing for salmon in Alaska with Full Scope Outfitters
• Moose swim Moose taking a swim in Alaska
• Majestic Moose Majestic Moose bull walking through the field
• Busted by Bear Bear strolling along and then he smells us! That was the end of our stalk
• Bear eating grass Beautiful brown Bear strolling about and eating grass
• Bear Snacking Bear enjoys an afternoon snack
• Bear in rain Big Bear in the pouring rain
• Big Moose Big Moose in the Alaskan forest with Glacier Guides
• Close encounter Close encounter with a big Bear while walking in the forest
• Close to tree stand Bear getting very close to our tree stand
• Massive Brown Bear Massive Brown Bear standing in the rain
• Mountain Goat Mountain Goat coming down a mountain in thick snow
• Mountain Goat on the edge Beautiful Mountain Goat on the edge of a cliff staring straight at us
• Mountain Goat scratching Mountain Goat scratching his head on the ground
• Bear searching Bear searching for food on the edge of a river
• Two Bears Two Bears feeding
• Bighorn searching Bighorn searching for food
• Yawning Bear This Bear must have had a late night
• Scratch my Back This bear has a really bad back itch!
• Bear search in Snow This Bear is hard at work looking for something in the snow
• It is hard to get up Oh boy its is very hard for this Bear to get up!
• Bighorn in gust Bighorn standing on a cliff with the wind blowing the snow from the trees
• Bighorn in snow Bighorn sheep stand in the snow on a mountain side
• Smelling Bighorn Ram This Bighorn sheep smells something in the air
• Bighorn smile Bighorn sheep can smile too
• Coyote taking a stroll Coyote taking a stroll looking for food
• Elk bugle echo Elk bugle echoing though the woods
• Elk itch This Elk has got a real bad itch

There are few places in the world more exciting and challenging to hunt. From the snowy peaks of the northern Rockies to the deserts of the Southwest to the hardwood forests of the East and Midwest, the wide variety of landscapes provide a breathtaking array of hunting experiences for a plentiful selection of game animals. Whether you desire pronghorn, mountain goat, moose, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, black bear, mule deer, elk, or mountain lion, each offers a different adventure.

Whitetail Muzzleloader Hunt

Night Vision & Thermal Hog Hunt

Season Special $100 OFF Unlimited Hogs

Interested in this destination? Create a subscription to get offers right to your inbox

You might also like

{{ $ctrl.data.title }}

Join for free, to receive special offers and discounts.

• MERCHANDISE STORE
• USA SHOW SCHEDULE
• CUSTOMISE SAFARI

Couples Hunting Package

Couples hunting package - package overview.

Somerby Safaris offers exclusive luxurious Couples African Safaris. We cater for every member of the family – Offering exciting activities for the non-hunters! Bring your wife for an intimate and unforgettable African safari experience with Somerby Safaris!

Our Couples hunting safaris are all custom designed to meet the requirements of the client. Please use the "Enquire Tab" for more details.

Read our hunting reviews here

Couples Hunting Package - Package Includes & Exclude

Hunting Packages Include :

• 15% Government tax
• Trophy fees for the animals mentioned in the package - taken, wounded or lost
• Daily fees for the number of days specified, which include:
• Transfers to and from Johannesburg Airport
• Service of a Professional hunter and use of hunting vehicle
• Accommodation, full catering, and daily laundry service
• Local liquor in moderation
• Field preparation of trophies and delivery to shipping agent.

Hunting Packages Exclude :

• Any species not specified in the package or additional animals
• Dipping, packing and shipping of trophies
• Accommodation before or after contracted safari period – Arrival day fee.
• All air fare
• Gratuities and personal expenses, phone calls.

Terms & Conditions:

• A deposit will be required to confirm your booking, payable in cash or wire transfer. 50% of your total estimated safari cost is to be paid 2 weeks prior to arrival.
• The balance is payable upon completion of the safari in cash or by wire transfer.
• Please enquire about our cancellation policy.
• All prices may be subject to change, due to fluctuations in Exchange rates; prospective clients will be notified in advance.
• All clients are to sign the safari contract and indemnity waiver.

Couples Hunting Package - Gallery

View full gallery on our species pages

Couples Hunting Package - Hunting Areas & Safari Lodges

Hunting areas in the limpopo province, hunting in the free state, hunting near kruger national park, hunting in zimbabwe.

Drom, and his dedicated staff of five full time Professional Hunters operate on eleven exclusive hunting concessions within the nine provinces of South Africa and in Zimbabwe for the hunting of dangerous game. In each camp you will be transported to another time and treated as royalty in luxurious comfort. From beginning to end all your needs are attended to in careful and attentive fashion. Each area is uniquely different from the other in topography and vegetation, thus different species are more prevalent in certain parts of the country. We constantly strive to acquire new concessions to continue to ensure the top trophy quality we have achieved the past 10 years. We manage our areas well by not over hunting them and resting them rotationally. We have a good relationship with the landowners in our areas and can hunt on several other properties around our land and concessions if we need to. We always go the extra mile to make sure our hunters get the trophies they are looking for.

Click the icons on the Google map below for more information and links to the various areas.

Couples Hunting Package - Enquire

Somerby Safaris team is ready to assist to plan your dream African hunting safari! We will make sure that your African safari experience is the most exciting adventure and that it will remain etched in your memory books for life! Please provide us with the following information and then we will get back to you within 24 hours!

Somerby Safaris will not share your personal information with any third-party organisations.

Add-on Tours

Add any of our exciting add-on tours to this hunt and get it at a special discounted rate.

3 day / 2 night luxury tour to the magnificent Victoria Falls

$1850 per person sharing, view trip itinerary, 3 day / 2 night standard tour to the beautiful city of cape town., $1100 per person sharing, 3 day / 2 night standard tour to the world-renowned kruger national park, $1350 per person sharing, read our reviews.

Somerby Safaris provides excellence and is at the top of their field. From arrival to departure Somerby Safaris is driven to be the best!

I have been laying over in cities all over the world for more than 30 years and have had some really great times. But I have 4 words to describe my short time with Somerby Safaris, BEST LAY OVER EVER!!!!!

Have hunted Africa 6 times – First 5 with other outfitters and first one with one with Somerby; 6th Safari beats the first 5, Somerby is the best!

Absolutely one of the best hunting experiences of my life. For anyone looking to book a serious African safari, do not hesitate to contact Somerby!

It’s not just the doing of a thing, but how one does a thing that at the dusk of memory takes one back to the sharp moment of action and then a whiskey and a fire shared with a trusted PH ... that is the true and the beautiful essence of “Safari,” at least for me.

Somerby is a wonderful professional organization to work with, hunt with and just know. Booking your first overseas hunt is a huge decision but you can rest assured that Somerby has all the angles covered before during and after the hunt.

Our hunting experience with Somerby created memories and trophies we will cherish for years. Somerby is second to none. Don't wait, don't think twice - Book NOW!

I have hunted with other hunting outfitters in the US, and Canada, none have compared to Somerby!

As my group and I were on our way back home we were already planning for the trip back to Somerby safari

This was without a doubt, the best hunting trip we have taken. We have been taking hunting trips all over the US and Canada for the last 30 years. This trip topped them All. Somerby's far exceed our expectations and we are already planning our return. If you have ever considered an African Safari, call Somerby's you will be happy you did.

Somerby Safaris is first class all the way! I will be back to Africa and Somerby Safaris is the only Safari for me! Hunting with Somerby Safaris was the best trip of my life! All I can think about is going back! - Thank you, Somerby, for a wonderful Safari!

If you are looking for an outfitter that doesn't treat you like a client but a friend, look no further.

VIEW ALL REVIEWS

Hunting Packages

Africa Big Five Hunting Package

Dangerous Game Hunting Packages

Plains Game Hunting Package

Family and Couples Hunting Packages

Hunters Information

Hunting Areas and Lodges South Africa

Non Hunting Activities

Hunting Safari Information South Africa

South African Hunting Safaris – Rifles

Price List & Daily Rates

USA Annual Tour Show Schedule

About Somerby Safaris

Why book with Somerby Safaris?

Read our Hunting Reviews

The Somerby Team

Contact Us:

Drom & Sune Beukes

Drom: +27 72 118 4800

Sune: 011 27 79 873 5154

Office: 011 27 82 207 7576

USA: 1-469-559-2669

(Cell – Jan & Feb only)

USA: 815-361-9079 (Fax)

Price list 2024

InAfrica Tours Brochure

[email protected]

Subscribe to Somerby Safaris Newsletter

Schedule a zoom meeting, couples hunting package | resources, © all rights reserved somerby safaris.

Find Your Perfect Hunting Trip

Check real-time availability on hunting trips. Online booking | 4.9 / 5 stars | Guides from $525

• Invasive Species

Experts Available 24/7

Licensed & Insured Guides

100% Weather Guarantee

Top Types of Hunting

Top Cities for Hunting

Top Species for Hunting

Top Techniques for Hunting

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond to provide you an incredible trip, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and about empowering people to find the perfect-match guide for the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Everything to Know About Booking a Hunting trip

Why should i book a hunting trip with captain experiences.

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer hunting trips, and the most popular trips are Cape Coral Iguana Hunt guided by Roland , Iguana Hunting Veteran Guides guided by Todd , and Iguana Hunting Insanity guided by Carlos .

All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, and more.

Looking for kid friendly hunting guides? Check out our beginner and family friendly hunting guides .

What types of hunting trips are common?

Duck hunting is the most popular for hunting as well as hog hunting, alligator hunting, and upland hunting.

The most commonly sought after species for hunting are: 1. blue-winged teal, 2. green-winged teal, 3. wigeon, and 4. northern pintail.

The most common hunting techniques are shotgun hunting, hunting from a blind, and rifle hunting but decoy hunting and calling are popular as well.

How much does a hunting trip cost?

prices can range anywhere from about $525 to $6,175, but the average price for a half day trip is $2,268. The average price for a full day trip is $3,401.

What month is best for hunting?

The most popular season for hunting is summer, and most hunters book their trips 36 days in advance.

Where can I look through all Captain Experiences trips?

See here to browse all the trips we offer.

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

Nathan G. with Charlie L. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Deborah M. with Carlos I. of Lantana, Florida

Joseph A. with Bill H. of Delray Beach, Florida

Glen P. with Justin N. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Dalton F. with Gene P. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jeremiah, A. with Justin N. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Bill K. with Roland W. of Cape Coral, Florida

Matthew S. with Carlos I. of Lantana, Florida

Luke B. with Justin N. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Luke S. with Justin N. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Ryan . with Charlie L. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Terry E. with Justin N. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Austin J. with Mark M. of Hockley, Texas

Brett W. with Bill H. of Delray Beach, Florida

Travis J. with Charlie L. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jeffery W. with Justin N. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jeffrey H. with Michael O. of Plantation, Florida

Jodah B. with Michael O. of Plantation, Florida

Rachel H. with Carlos I. of Lantana, Florida

Jay H. with Justin N. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

• Abilene, TX
• Amarillo, TX
• Aransas Pass, TX
• Boothville-Venice, LA
• Cape Coral, FL
• Coldspring, TX
• Corpus Christi, TX
• Crystal River, FL
• Dodd City, TX
• El Campo, TX
• Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Freeport, TX
• Garwood, TX
• Lindale, TX
• Lubbock, TX
• Marble Falls, TX
• Matagorda, TX
• Okeechobee, FL
• Orangetree, FL
• Orlando, FL
• Palestine, TX
• Plantation, FL
• Poinciana, FL
• Port Aransas, TX
• Port Mansfield, TX
• Port O'Connor, TX
• Rockport, TX
• Rocksprings, TX
• South Padre Island, TX
• Zolfo Springs, FL

Top Targeted Hunting Species

• Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
• Blue-Winged Teal
• Canada Goose
• Cinnamon Teal
• Common Goldeneye
• Common Merganser
• Green-Winged Teal
• Hooded Merganser
• Mottled Duck
• Northern Pintail
• Northern Shoveler
• Ring-Necked Duck
• Sandhill Crane
• Specklebelly Goose
• Whitetail Deer

Top Hunting Techniques

• Decoy Hunting
• Hunting With Dogs
• Hunting from a Blind
• Management Hunting
• Released Bird Hunting
• Rifle Hunting
• Shotgun Hunting
• Thermal Hunting

Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?

Our guides are Damn Good Guides, which means they’re licensed, insured and vetted by our team of outdoor experts who know them on a first-name basis. We hand pick our Damn Good Guides, and our network spans all across the country and beyond.

The proof is in the pudding, and we’re incredibly proud of our 4.9 / 5 average review score. Hit the button below to see more trip options:

C Lazy U Ranch: Luxury Big Game Hunting Lodge

The C Lazy U Ranch is nestled in the beautiful Colorado mountains near Rocky Mountain National Park. With over 20,000 acres of varied mountain terrain for hunting, the ranch is home to healthy herds of elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope.

C Lazy U , an all-inclusive, year-round guest ranch offers the best of both worlds: high-class amenities and down-home experiences, with luxurious cabins, gourmet meals, and world class service. The outfitting experience is designed to accommodate many hunting interests, from the die-hard hunter to the family hunting experience, we flex to fit your hunting needs.

We operate in a fair-chase environment on predominately private land complimented with 1,000's of acres of private land on the ranch boundaries.

Our goal is to make you leave wanting more, which is backed by our 80% rebooking rate.

Lodge Amenities

We blend world-class guided hunting trips with the comforts of a luxury guest ranch – and families of hunters are very welcome at the C Lazy U ; your spouse and children will never be bored while the hunters are out on the range.

• Luxurious lodging in well-appointed cabin suites
• Three gourmet meals each day, prepared farm-to-table style by our executive chef
• An expertly curated wine list and an extensive beer and liquor selection
• Abundant non-hunting activities such as fly fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and more
• Access to the award-winning Lazy You Spa

With so many things to do, C Lazy U Ranch is one of the best hunting locations that are fun for the family.

Request More Information

Awards & accolades.

Legacy Ranch member of the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 8th year in a row

C Lazy U is a regular Top Ten Winner

Ranked #2 by Food & Wine's Global Tastemakers

Consistently in the Top 10 Colorado Resorts

Consistently in the Top Ten All-Inclusive Family Resorts

Top 500 Hotel Worldwide

5.0 rating on TripAdvisor over 280 reviews

Chosen as one of the finest fly fishing lodges in the world by Gene Kilgore

Best Guest Ranch Suites in the American West

Gold Member of the Gene Kilgore's Ranch Vacations Web

Winner in Food & Wine's Global Tastemakers Awards

7 Luxury Hunting Lodges for Your Next Vacation

From birds to bucks—turn your hunt into a relaxing retreat. 

Spend your days on guided deer hunting excursions and your evenings sipping bourbon with your friends. Luxury hunting lodges across America are situated on prime real estate, where big game is right in your backyard. Not only that, but you can also enjoy amenities like meals prepared by gourmet chefs, comfortable lodging, golfing, fishing, and more. If you want to add a little luxury to your hunting, check out one of these seven incredible hunting lodges for your next vacation.

Primland, Meadows of Dan, VA

Primland is a gorgeous golf resort and spa located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Deluxe accommodations and gourmet dining are the standard, but hunting and sport shooting are front and center. You can hone your hunting skills with archery, air rifle, and sporting clay opportunities. Then, in season, put your skills to work with semi-guided excursions to hunt deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, or chukar. Outside of hunting season, you can enjoy nearby fly-fishing opportunities. Then retire back to the resort and regale your companions with hunting stories over a glass of fine wine or bourbon.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Primland (@primlandresort) on Mar 25, 2019 at 7:28am PDT

Deer Haven Acres, Adams, WI

Deer and turkey hunters can pursue their favorite quarry from luxury accommodations and recount their exploits in the hot tub or over a game of billiards at Deer Haven in central Wisconsin. Located about 90 minutes north of Madison, the lodge is situated on a 238-acre whitetail deer and turkey hunting preserve that consists of rolling hills and rock bluffs interspersed with fields and hardwood forests.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jonathan Gill (@jonathaninmke) on Mar 3, 2018 at 7:31pm PST

Highland Hills Ranch, Arlington, OR

Upland bird enthusiasts will be in heaven at Highland Hills Ranch in north-central Oregon. The ranch has twice been named “Wingshooting Lodge of the Year” by Orvis. In addition to upland bird and pheasant hunting, Highland Hills also offers the opportunity to bag a trophy mule deer. After a day in the field, return to the spectacularly-appointed, 10,000-square-foot log lodge for a chef-prepared meal and camaraderie with fellow hunters.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by jamescva (@jamescva) on Nov 24, 2019 at 8:34am PST

Forrester's Bighorn River Resort, Fort Smith, MT

Forrester’s Bighorn River Resort is located directly on the river of the same name and within the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in southeastern Montana. Guests of the resort will enjoy top-notch, chef-prepared cuisine, commodious lodging, and countless opportunities for upland bird, including pheasant grouse or partridge, or migratory waterfowl hunting. Guests can even take advantage of Forrester’s “Cast and Blast” packages that includes a day of guided fly fishing on the Bighorn, bookended with morning and evening waterfowl hunts.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Forresters Bighorn River (@bighornriverresort) on Feb 15, 2018 at 10:16am PST

Joshua Creek Ranch, Boerne, TX

Joshua Creek Ranch was a recent Orvis-designated “Wingshooting Lodge of the Year.” Even apart from its luxurious accommodations and fine dining, Joshua Creek Ranch is a hunter’s paradise. Hunters can target upland birds, including quail, pheasant, and doves, as well as mallard ducks, wild turkey, and axis or whitetail deer. Between hunts, hone your skills with sporting clays or enjoy on the water fly fishing or kayaking.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joshua Creek Ranch (@joshuacreekranch) on Dec 12, 2018 at 2:05pm PST

Deer Creek Lodge, Sebree, KY

For more than four decades, hunters have flocked to Deer Creek Lodge in western Kentucky for delicious food, luxury accommodations, and unparalleled hunting experiences. Another Orvis “Wingshooting Lodge of the Year” winner, Deer Creek offers pheasant, quail, duck, and turkey hunting opportunities to its guests. Between hunts, enjoy trophy bass fishing or a round of golf.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deer Creek Lodge (@deercreeklodge) on Jan 25, 2019 at 8:00am PST

Rockin 7 Ranch, Shawnee, WY

Big game hunters will appreciate all that Rockin 7 Ranch has to offer. Located in eastern Wyoming, the ranch consists of 140,000 private acres of diverse terrain on which its guests may hunt. Hunters are able to target elk, buffalo, whitetail or mule deer, antelope, coyotes, or even prairie dogs. The ranch can even process your meat for you. The lodge, itself, offers guests generous and delicious home-cooked meals and comfortable accommodations with stunning views of the Wyoming landscape.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Reese Family (@rockin7ranchlife) on Jan 4, 2018 at 4:50pm PST

Editor's Top Picks

This Year’s Best Turkey Loads for Spring Gobblers

Why You Need To Be Hunting Squirrels Right Now

21 Influential Female Hunters to Follow on Instagram

Gearing Up for Prairie Dog Shooting

Four Steps to Late-Season Whitetail Success

Get connected.

Step Outside Organization

Summer Activities

Water sports.

Canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding opportunities near you

Your local trail guide for all ages and skill levels

Local fishing holes, gear advice, and retailers

Discover local campsites, helpful hints, and where to buy gear

Education, permits, regulations and where to hunt in your area

Local archery ranges, tips for beginners, and advice on the proper gear

Shooting Sports

Get started right with local safety education, training, ranges and retailers

Motor Sports

Off-road riding in your area, plus instruction, rentals and dealers

All-Inclusive Hunting Packages Include Lodging

Our majestic location.

The Wilderness Reserve is located in Phelps, Wisconsin, amidst the vast forests of Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The quiet community of Phelps is one of the friendliest towns in Wisconsin, attracting hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and nature lovers from all over the world. Making your way out to the wilderness, the fresh air in Phelps is a great place to breathe a little bit easier and shake off the stresses of life!

Traveling to The Wilderness Reserve

The Wilderness Reserve is conveniently located near three local air fields, the Land O’Lakes Airport (20 minute drive), Eagle River Union Airport (30 minute drive), and Rhinelander Airport (one hour drive). It is an easy half to full day drive from most Midwest metropolitan cities. This easy to reach location, makes The Wilderness Reserve a premier hunting and vacation destination.

The Lodge is a perfect setting for weddings, corporate retreats, special events, and family gatherings. Our Lodge provides the splendor of Northwoods charm with it’s knotty pine interior and wood burning stove while providing the modern conveniences of high speed internet and satellite HD TV. Along with plenty of space for special events or corporate meetings, The Lodge also has 5 bedrooms. Add our all-inclusive hunting packages and this is a dream come true for any hunter!

Private Cabins

Our 5,500 acre property features 4 unique, secluded cabins for our guests. Our private cabins are each on their own picturesque lake and surrounded by nature. Each cabin has a wood burning fireplace to enjoy a warm, comfortable evening. There are outdoor fire pits at each cabin to do campfire cooking or take in the breathtaking starry sky. Each cabin has a 12′ fishing rowboat for your lake enjoyment.

Email Address *

Moose Cabin

Our Location

The Wilderness Reserve 680 Reserve Lane Phelps, Wisconsin 54554 Tel: 715-545-2700

Wisconsin and Upper Michigan’s premier hunting preserve featuring guided elk, whitetail deer and upland bird hunts.  We also offer guided fishing and top-notch shooting courses for trap and sporting clays.

Our consultant will help you plan the perfect hunt package or event! 715-545-2700 info@TheWilderness.net

• svg]:stroke-accent-900"> 735K
• svg]:stroke-accent-900"> 133K
• svg]:stroke-accent-900"> 54.1K

5 Killer Big-Game Trips for Hunters on a Budget

By Darron McDougal

Posted on Oct 2, 2019 6:30 PM EDT

7 minute read

With creative planning and realistic expectations, you can hunt five North American big-game species for less than $2,000 each. Here’s how.

Hunt #1: Alaska Moose

A moose hunt for under $2,000 is impossible, right? Wrong. Be flexible on antler size and hunt the Last Frontier.

Locations/Habitat:

Fairbanks: Urban with flats, rolling hills, and low-lying bogs and swamps

Food Sources:

Willow and alder browse, and grasses

Where to Hunt:

Fairbanks Management Area, national and state forest

If you’re looking to tag any legal bull, lace up your boots. When you spot one, stalk it. Make your shot count, because you don’t want your moose expiring in someone’s backyard. Get off the road and be prepared for a serious workout if you want to take a larger bull.

Budget Breakdown:

• Flight (Minneapolis to Fairbanks, including baggage): $550
• Economy rental car, including fuel: $300
• Camping on state lands: $0
• Food (10 days at $15/day): $150
• Moose tag and annual hunting license: $960
• Total: $1,960

Money-Saver Tip: You’ll need to stash a little extra cash for this trip because moose are heavy critters. The most cost-effective method for getting all that meat home? Process it on your own. Find a way to freeze it and then pack and ship it home overnight via FedEx or UPS. It won’t be cheap, but it will almost certainly be less than the baggage fees at the airport.

Licensing: Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Hunt #2: idaho elk.

Idaho isn’t Arizona. Still, I hunt it often because it has solid elk numbers and good bulls with first-come, first-served, over-the-counter tags—and no shortage of areas to explore.

• Sawtooth National Forest: More than 2 million acres of pine forest, meadows, and quaking aspen; moderate foothills to vertical canyons
• Caribou-Targhee National Forest: 3 million acres

Browse, grasses, and ag fields on adjacent private lands

National forests, state forests, private lands enrolled in the Access Yes! program

Keep your GPS handy and consider hiking deep into remote drainages. Bulls here respond well in the dark, not so much during daylight. Locate a bull and reach him by daybreak, then dog him until you kill him or he disappears, checking wind constantly. Cow-call sparingly. During midday or afternoon, monitor wallows, water holes, or seeps.

Primitive camping is allowed at no cost in most national forests.

• Fuel (15 mpg vehicle at $2.50/gal. for 3,500 total miles): $585
• Camping in national forest: $0
• Food (10 days at $25/day): $250
• Elk tag, hunting license, archery permit: $591.50
• Meat processing: 300 lb. at $.95/lb.: $285
• Total: $1,711.50

Money-Saver Tip: Store meat in a cooler with dry ice and process it yourself when you get home.

Licensing: Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Hunt #3: nebraska whitetails.

Nebraska borders the whitetail wonderlands of Iowa and Kansas, but has two big distinctions: Tags are sold over the counter and are about half the price. Public-land hunting opportunities abound statewide.

• Eastern Nebraska: Lightly wooded rolling hills and bluffs
• Southern Nebraska: Prairies and river bottoms
• Sandhills: Rolling hills with drainages, cedars, and occasional cottonwood stands
• Pine Ridge: Ponderosa pines amid rolling to vertical terrain

Corn, beans, acorns, and alfalfa

State parks, state wildlife management areas, national forests, national grasslands

With a September 1 opener, Nebraska offers a shot at velvet whitetails. Hunt staging areas near hoof-pounded food and/or water sources.

As the rut draws near, exploit river-bottom funnels to intercept cruising bucks. Late in the season, deer will be back on the food sources to recover from the rigors of the rut and build up reserves for the upcoming winter. Take a stand and wait them out.

• Fuel (15 mpg vehicle at $2.50/gal. for 1,700 total miles): $285
• Lodging (7 nights at $50/night: $350
• Food (7 days at $20/day): $140
• Deer license and habitat stamp: $267
• Total: $1,042

Money-Saver Tip: Camp out in warmer weather for $0–$10 per night and save $280–$350.

Licensing: Nebraska Game Parks

Hunt #4: south dakota mule deer.

Solid muley bucks certainly exist in South Dakota, and there is abundant public land, relatively light hunting pressure, reliable populations, and decent trophy potential.

• Missouri River Breaks: Deep, brushy canyons and steep, cedar-dotted hills
• Badlands: Rock formations, deep canyons, and sprawling grasslands
• Black Hills: Ponderosa pines and steep canyons bordered by gentle hills, ag, and coulees
• Northwest South Dakota: Pine forests and rolling, sage-dotted prairies

Corn, grasses, alfalfa, and sunflowers

Gaining access to private land is feasible (sometimes with a small trespass fee); private lands enrolled in the state’s Walk-In Area program; Black Hills National Forest; Buffalo Gap National Grassland; Custer National Forest; state game production areas

I’ve arrowed three mature South Dakota bucks—one on public land—in November. The common denominator? The rut gets wild, and mature bucks sometimes forsake all common sense. Watch the wind, but hunt aggressively. Use a silhouette decoy to draw a buck in close.

• Lodging (7 nights at $60/night): $420
• Deer license: $286
• Private land trespass fee: $500
• Total: $1,631

Money-Saver Tip: Tent camping opportunities are available.

Licensing: South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks

Read next: ultimate bucket list: the 10 north american hunts you must try before you die, hunt #5: wyoming antelope.

Nowhere else will you see so many speed goats. If you’re new to Western hunting or love antelope steaks as much as I do, Wyoming is the place to be.

Lusk/Gillette/Casper: Flat, as well as rolling prairies dotted with sage and occasional drainages

Forbs, grasses, alfalfa, and sagebrush

State land, Walk-In Areas, BLM land, Hunter/Landowner Assistance Program

Consider accumulating one or more preference points before trying for a tag. If you don’t draw, check for leftover tags for a unit with less public land and lower trophy potential but still plenty of goats. In hot weather, focus on water and alfalfa fields. If that doesn’t work, spot-and-stalk a buck. In late September, deploy a decoy.

• Fuel (15 mpg vehicle at $2.50/gal. for 3,050 total miles): $510
• Lodging (7 nights at $18/night in a campground): $126
• Application fee, hunting license, archery license and conservation stamp: $328.50
• Total: $1,104.50

Money-Saver Tip: Food costs can add up quickly. Save cash by preparing meals at home and freezing them for easy, inexpensive dinners. And don’t overlook the standbys of PB&Js, ramen noodles, or canned tuna.

Licensing: Wyoming Game & Fish Department

Author’s note: Costs will vary based on actual mileage or changes in fuel costs, flight rates, etc. ––Darron McDougal

The Best Budget Gear for Your Hunt

There’s no shortage of cheap choices on the market, but you don’t want to bet your whole hunt on crappy gear. Avoid the temptation to go full-Scrooge, and instead invest in durable—yet affordable—gear that will survive your hunt and prove useful on the next dozen to come. Spend some time bargain and second-hand shopping. If you plan to buy new items, skip new-for-this-year offerings and look for last year’s model. The performance difference is usually minimal, but the savings are often substantial.

With that in mind, here are a few of our favorite cost-conscious picks.

1. Rifle: CVA Cascade

Price: $557

This straightforward centerfire offers everything you need in a big-game rifle with minimal fuss. The synthetic stock is suitable for harsh conditions, and the rifle includes extra touches like a threaded muzzle, an extra swivel stud for a bipod, and good texturing for better handling. Best of all is its sub-MOA accuracy: Our testers printed an average group size of .841 inch with the Cascade. The rifle is currently available in three short-action calibers (6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Rem. and .308 Win.) with long-action options available in 2020.

2. Shotgun: Stoeger P3000 Pump

Price: $250

Stoeger’s shotguns aren’t known for their frills, and that’s exactly the point. This bare-bones pump is a workhorse that previously earned our Great Buy award You can take it anywhere, beat the hell out of it, and keep hunting—all for a couple hundred bucks.

3. Binoculars: Maven C.1 8×42

Price: $325

Another of our Great Buys , these handy 8x42s from Maven are a steal for the price. The direct-to-consumer company managed to shave cost by swapping some premium materials for more budget-friendly options (a polymer frame and glass sourced from the Philippines rather than Japan). But the C.1 still maintains a bright, sharp sight picture, and is a smart investment for more productive hunting.

4. Tent: REI Co-op Passage 2

Price: $159

You might consider REI a haven for hippies, but don’t let that fool you. Their in-house brand is the real deal, and usually the cheapest option among similar offerings from other name brands. Not only can their gear take a beating, but REI has a killer return policy in case something does malfunction. Their tents in particular are durable, and this 2-person backpacker is no exception. Best of all, it costs as much as two nights in a motel and lasts way longer.

5. Knife: Ka-Bar Dozier Folder

This folder is one of my favorites, thanks to a tip from our hunting editor, Andrew McKean. It’s a basic blade, but I’ve bought half a dozen over the years simply because they’re less than $20, lightweight, and get the job done several times over before they needed resharpening. You can certainly use the Dozier for big tasks like quartering or field dressing, but you’ll most likely end up sliding one into your pocket and tossing an extra in your glove box for daily tasks. ––Natalie Krebs

Latest in Big Game Hunting

Can ticks kill fawns as ticks get worse, more fawns could end up like this missouri deer can ticks kill fawns as ticks get worse, more fawns could end up like this missouri deer.

By Natalie Krebs

Montana Police Chief Faces Felony Charges for Illegally Hunting on Tribal Lands and Tampering with Witnesses Montana Police Chief Faces Felony Charges for Illegally Hunting on Tribal Lands and Tampering with Witnesses

By Alex Robinson

Our Top 10 Hunting Lodges in the American Backcountry

This article about hunting lodges is brought to you by Morsel spork, whose spork  includes a spatula, a stirring spoon, a fork, a knife, and a tablespoon all in one. It’s the last spork you’ll ever need!

Hunting lodges have experienced a renewal in popularity of late, if not because of the activities offered there, then for the amenities and opportunities for outdoor exploration that continue to improve. Families interested in staying at a hunting lodge can expect horseback rides for the kids, swimming pools, and daily activities to keep the whole family entertained. Adults seeking some time away from the little ones can find at any lodge on this list a variety of ways to escape the day-to-day craziness, whether it be taking a guided fly fishing trip, going bird hunting on some of the best land in the country, or indulging in the high quality cuisine that’s offered across the board. Whether you’re visiting for company, solitude, or to reconnect with your wilder side, hunting lodges are no longer just for hunting, they’re for hiking, fishing, relaxing, and, above all, getting outside.

10 Hunting Lodges For Cabin Camping in the American Backcountry

While there are a few longtime staples on this list of our favorite hunting lodges, many of these American backcountry havens have revamped their offerings, from guided hunting and fishing excursions to ATV adventures to five-star cuisine and spa accommodations. It’s like glamping, only better.

1. Broken Arrow Lodge —Alder, MT

Photo from Broken Arrow Lodge

Located out of Alder, Montana, the Broken Arrow lodge sponsors guided trips for bow hunting, elk hunting, rifle hunting, and mountain lion hunting, all located in the expansive Montana backcountry. Visitors pay for guided trips between 3 – 5 days (4 – 6 nights), and the Broken Arrow Lodge provides luxurious backcountry accommodations, including wall tents, wood stoves, carpeted floors, and full bathroom and shower amenities.

There are few backcountry “camping” experiences that will match the Broken Arrow’s attention to detail and expertise in the field. Trips are available throughout the year, and vary depending on weather conditions and hunting restrictions for the area. For hunters who also wield a fly rod, the Broken Arrow Lodge offers guided fly fishing trips as well.

2. Grey Cliffs Ranch —near Bozeman, MT

Photo from Grey Cliffs Ranch

Another Montana staple, this lodge is located in the cinema-famous Madison River Valley, most commonly known as the setting for the iconic film “ A River Runs Through It ”. With a variety of offerings, from bird hunting to fly fishing, this hunting lodge is tough to beat, as it combines the luxury of a well-established lodge with the excitement and ruggedness of the Montana wilderness. Located on over 5,200 acres of landscape, the opportunities for guests here abound, and guide-optional hunting means that visitors can take to the fields at their leisure. Not to mention the food!

3. Three Forks Ranch —Wyoming/Colorado Border

Photo from Three Forks Ranch

This Colorado hunting lodge offers over 50,000 acres of private hunting grounds, including large populations of deer, elk, and antelope. During the early fall, populations of elk have been known to grow in this region up to 6,000 head, solidifying its position as one of the premier hunting lodges in the Wyoming / Colorado region. Along with offering prime access to otherwise private land, guests at the Three Forks can enjoy the five-star amenities such as the pool, fine dining, and an array of spa services. Despite its location in the backcountry, this hunting lodge is no stranger to the comforts of luxury.

4. Flying B Ranch —near Kamiah, ID

Slightly more rustic than its luxurious counterparts, Flying B Ranch is tucked away in Lawyer’s Canyon in Northern Idaho, just outside of the little town of Kamiah. Flying B offers world-class hunting trips, including guides and services that have been endorsed by Orvis both as a Wingshooting Lodge of the Year and an official, Orvis-approved Fly-Fishing Lodge. With access to over 700,000 acres of Nez Pearce and Clearwater National Forest land, guests are given the chance to access some of the best backcountry in the world.

5. Harpole’s Heartland Lodge —near Nebo, IL

Photo from Harpole’s Heartland Lodge

Specializing in whitetail deer hunting, upland bird hunting, and waterfowl hunting, Harpole’s Heartland Lodge is a perfect place in the midwest for a hunting excursion or a quick backcountry vacation. Set in the rustic backcountry of Pike County, Illinois, this hunting lodge offers far more than its hunting services, and regularly hosts guests for weddings, group outings, and other large-scale events. Its bed and breakfast-style amenities make staying there a breeze, even if you’re not hunting. With opportunities for horseback riding, ATV-ing, mountain biking, and hiking, this Mississippi River Valley gem is a great option for all types of hunters and outdoors enthusiasts.

6. Brush Creek Ranch & French Creek Sportsman’s Club—near Saratoga, WY

This Western backcountry resort is a trademark hunting lodge situated in the gorgeous Saratoga, Wyoming. At the base of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Brush Creek offers an array of activities for guests, including the incredible French Creek Sportsmen’s Club. Located on just over 15,000 acres of land, the guided hunting trips out of French Creek include game and bird hunting as well as world-class fly-fishing. Its location grants access to some of the most varied land of any hunting lodge in the country, allowing hunters and eager sportsmen to enjoy the outdoors in innumerable ways.

7. Libby Camps —Millinocket Lake, ME

Photo from Libby Camps

One of the only east coast hunting lodges on our list, Libby Camps is set on the beautiful Millinocket Lake, home to hunters and anglers alike looking for their next big catch. The central lodge at the Libby is primarily suited for fly fishermen, though its hunting amenities are certainly nothing to shake a stick at. The lodge provides access and guided trips to the North Maine Woods, home to over 3.5 million (yes, million) acres of land and one of the largest grouse populations in the entire United States. In addition to that, visitors may also hunt black bears or moose, depending on the year, and Libby is a proud owner of records in both of those species. The amenities at Libby camps are slightly more rustic than the “luxury” backcountry hunting lodges on our list, offering small log cabins with wood-burning stoves, which surround the main lodge complete with its tall stone fireplace and group dining area.

8. Honey Brake —Larto, LA

As hunting lodges go, Honey Brake is world-class. Guests staying at Honey Brake have the opportunity to test their wingshooting skills in one of the largest flyway convergences in the country. Both the Central and Mississippi migratory patterns converge over Honey Brake, making it a wingshooter’s paradise. For those not interested in the birds, the Dewey Wills Wildlife Management Area, located just adjacent to the 20,000 acre hunting area, provide ample opportunities whitetail deer and wild boar hunting as well. Looking for the amenities? The 13,000 square-foot lodge looks over Larto Lake, and offers 5-star meals full of rich, southern seafood delights.

9. Deer Creek Lodge —Sebree, KY

Photo from Deer Creek Lodge

A premier bird-hunting destination, Deer Creek Lodge is a haven for hunters and anglers alike located in Sebree, Kentucky. This southern backcountry lodge offers some of the best bird-hunting in the south, complete with guided trips and one-fee, no limit quail hunts that attract a large number of visitors each season. Other options include turkey hunts, pheasant hunts, and duck hunts. With three different lodges to choose from, the accommodations are perfect for groups of all sizes and preferences, including both the lakeside lodge and the renowned, Orvis-endorsed wingshooting lodge. Planning to leave hunting for the birds? The nearby Deer Creek Lake is a trophy bass fishing paradise, with 10-pounders that’ll regularly crush your topwaters, flies, and subsurface lures.

10. Joshua Creek —near Waring, TX

The 2018 Orvis Endorsed wingshooting lodge of the year, Joshua Creek is tucked away just 45 minutes north of San Antonio. With acres of land winding across the Guadalupe River and Joshua Creek, the hunting grounds here provide excellent access to a variety of terrain. Joshua Creek is unique in that it is one of a handful of hunting lodges to offer European-style pheasant shooting as well as quail, duck, and dove hunting on a seasonal basis. Apart from hunting, Joshua Creek offers several different cabins for larger parties and single guests to stay in, each of which features top-of-the-line amenities and rustic ranch decor.

This article was brought to you by Morsel

Morsel’s spork is the perfect way to fit all of your needs in one convenient tool.

Popular Articles:

• Get the Latest 2024 Camping Travel Trends
• How To Find Free Camping in National Forests
• The Checklist Every First Time RVer Needs
• Find Free Camping With The Dyrt Map Layers
• The Ulimate Boondocking Guide To Free Camping
• Everything You Need To Know About Wifi For Your RV
• 7 of The Best Overland Routes in North America
• 14 Wilderness Survival Tools You Should Have in The Backcountry
• Here's What To Add To Your Primitive Camping Checklist

Tyler Wildeck

Tyler Wildeck is a writer with a passion for all things outdoors. His favorite place he's ever visited is Alaska, and his favorite activity might be fishing or reading, depending on the day. In his free time, Tyler can be found searching Portland for the next great food establishment or perusing the many bookshelves of Powell's.

More Articles

A Different Kind of Festival: Pickathon Offers Forested Camping and Sustainability

This article about Pickathon is brought to you by Banner & Oak, a company with deep expertise in headwear. Their trucker hats are the perfect…

Grand Canyon National Park Has Been Officially Recognized as an International Dark Sky Park

From canyon-edge vistas at Mather Point to the towering peaks surrounding the Bright Angel Trail, Arizona’s most notable national park has no shortage of visual…

Montana Guided Elk Hunting

These are among the most rugged Montana elk hunts, and we often describe them as “extreme” hunts. Our hunts are guided in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Swan Valley areas of Montana off of horseback. Our guides and horses have been preparing and getting shape all summer long on backcountry pack trips, elk season is what they’ve been waiting for!

Montana Elk

Our elk herds are in better shape today than they have been in thirty years! Our hunting areas also support ample populations of whitetail and mule deer and color phase black bear, increasing the chances of success across species. This terrain is more challenging to hunt elk in, no doubt, no flat land here. We utilize our horses to search the front range of the Bob Marshall for elk. With exclusive access in the areas where we hunt, Swan Mountain Outfitters is able to offer archery elk hunters perhaps one of the most unique and best opportunities to bag an elk of a lifetime with a bow. As the season progresses, migration of elk begins and affords our late season elk hunters an opportunity to bag an elk at lower altitudes.

Our Montana Guided Elk Hunts

All of our Montana elk hunts require more or less rigor and we offer elk hunting in three distinct seasons:

• Our season starts with archery elk hunting.
• We then offer rifle elk hunts in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The Bob Marshall is one of the few areas in the country where you can rifle hunt elk during the rut.
• Our last hunting season is during the general Montana hunting season.

We offer combination hunts in which you can target mule deer, whitetail, and bear as well. Some of our hunters have snagged a wolf tag too! Many of our elk hunters bring both their rifle and bow. Multi weapon hunts are popular with elk hunters that like to maximize their opportunity.

We like to get deep into the back country and utilize spike camps. This can get us in closer proximity to the elk for opening day. This spike camp strategy has produced many harvested elk in seasons past, but does lack the comforts of traditional hunting camps.

Not sure you can handle the physical rigor of our Montana wilderness elk hunting? You might consider a later season guided elk hunt, when mother nature brings the elk out of the high country and into proximity of our base camp. The hours in the saddle and elevation gained in hiking is lessened, and the base camp has a few more modern amenities than our upper camp and spike camps. These are good first time elk hunts for youth elk hunters. An extra bonus is that our base camp is in the heart of whitetail deer territory for hunters looking to combination hunt.

Archery Elk

Archery hunting elk, requiring close proximity to the animal, is, by its very nature, quite different from hunting these animals using a rifle. Successful archery hunts require excellent calling abilities and guides who know the difference between techniques utilized for archery versus rifle hunts.

Archery hunts necessitate minimizing over exposure of hunting areas and minimizing scent control and noise. For these reasons, we only take two hunters to each of our “archery only” designated areas.

We have experimented with various styles of guided archery elk hunts and we believe we have landed upon an offering that delivers the ultimate archery elk hunting experience in Montana. Even though the season is actually longer, we focus solely on the time frame surrounding the rut to maximize our opportunity: we offer three sessions of 7-day archery only hunts. Note that this boils down to 5 days of solid hunting as the rest of the time is spent getting to and from the area. We employ two-on-one guiding as we have found it is the best way to maximize our hunters opportunities to be successful.

With limited space, our archery elk hunts are the first to book up. We typically have been booked two years in advance, so don’t wait!

Current Trip Rates

2024 hunting season.

Group Discount Rates: 10% for groups of 4+

Family Discounts: Son/daughter Discount (swan location only): 50% discount for under age of 25 hunting with parent. Hunting Spouse Discount (swan location only): 25% off.

One-on-one guide: $1500 extra

3% Administrative Fee : All multi-day trip rates will have an additional 3% administrative fee added per reservation. If you have any questions please feel free to call us at (406) 387-4405.

Cancellation & Refund Policy: For all hunts, $1,000 per hunter is required to secure the reservation. A secondary deposit of $2,000 is required no later than March 1st the year of the hunt. Both deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable. The remaining balance is due June 1st. If you do not get drawn we will refund a deposit, but will not for any other reason. There are no refunds due to weather or not harvesting an animal. Since all of our hunts are free chase, there is a chance you may not see an animal during your hunt. If the thought of going home without of an animal is not palatable to you, do not book a hunt! Credit Cards accepted for initial deposit with no fee, all other subsequent payments can be made with a check or cash or a credit card. If you choose to pay with a credit card a 3% convenience fee will be added. Above prices do not include tags/licenses that are paid directly to the state of Montana, or a Hunter Defense Fund fee of $50 collected of all outfitted clients of Outfitter members of the Montana Outfitter & Guides Association for the purposes of defending nonresident hunting rights in the state of Montana. All hunts are offered under Montana License #34041, Patrick M. Tabor Jr. 26356 Soup Creek Road, Swan Lake, MT 59911 (406)-387-4405.

2025 Hunting Season

Cancellation & Refund Policy: For all hunts, $1,000 per hunter is required to secure the reservation. A secondary deposit of $2,000 is required no later than March 1st the year of the hunt. Both deposits are non-refundable. The remaining balance is due June 1st. If you do not get drawn we will refund a deposit, but will not for any other reason. There are no refunds due to weather or not harvesting an animal. Since all of our hunts are free chase, there is a chance you may not see an animal during your hunt. If the thought of going home without of an animal is not palatable to you, do not book a hunt! Credit Cards accepted for initial deposit with no fee, all other subsequent payments can be made with a check or cash or a credit card. If you choose to pay with a credit card a 3% convenience fee will be added. Above prices do not include tags/licenses that are paid directly to the state of Montana, or a Hunter Defense Fund fee of $50 collected of all outfitted clients of Outfitter members of the Montana Outfitter & Guides Association for the purposes of defending nonresident hunting rights in the state of Montana. All hunts are offered under Montana License #34041, Patrick M. Tabor Jr. 26356 Soup Creek Road, Swan Lake, MT 59911 (406)-387-4405.

Photos from the Field

Featured Videos

Fly Fishing in Montana

Swan Mountain Hunting

Swan Mountain Review

• Attractions
• Reservations
• General Whitetail Info
• Premier Whitetail Outfitter
• Illinois Archery Hunts
• Illinois Gun Hunts
• Early Season Whitetail Hunting
• Hunting The Illinois Whitetail Rut
• Late Season Whitetail Hunting
• General Upland Information
• Illinois Pheasant Hunting
• Illinois Quail Hunting
• Upland Waterfowl Combo Hunts
• Corporate Hunting Packages
• Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting Lodge
• General Waterfowl Information
• Duck Hunting
• Canada Goose Hunting
• Snow Goose Hunting
• Waterfowl Upland Combo Hunts
• General Turkey Information
• Youth Turkey Hunts
• Combo Hunts
• Sporting Clays Course
• News, Promotions & Blogs
• Our Values – Our Team
• Bed & Breakfast
• Weekend Getaway
• Romantic Getaway
• Girls Weekend Getaway
• Special Events
• Horseback Riding
• Vacation Ideas
• Anniversaries
• Activities & Amenities
• Main Lodge and Cabin Page
• Quail Ridge Cabin
• Private Luxury Cabins
• Heavenly View Cabin

Sunset Valley Lodge

• Prairie Ridge Lodge

The Original Lodge

• ATV Riding Information
• ATV Vacation Packages
• ATV Rentals
• River Tour Excursions
• Our Values - Our Team
• Corporate Retreats
• Executive Retreats
• Conference Facilities
• Team Building Activities
• Recreational Activities
• Resort Reservations

Family Hunting Vacation Trips

Are you looking for a family friendly hunting trip for your next family vacation? Harpole’s Heartland Lodge specializes in creating family-friendly hunting memories that you and the rest of your family will cherish for seasons to come!

For nearly three decades, Heartland Lodge has offered family hunting vacations including deer, upland, waterfowl and turkey hunting vacation packages. Your all-inclusive family hunt package includes all the meals, lodging, game cleaning and guiding. With a variety of on-site activities and short-day trips for non-hunters as well! Our hunting heritage at the lodge goes back for generations, we extend our invitation to you and your family to create new legacy memories and hunting traditions that will be cherished and retold for many years to come.

Family Deer Hunting Vacation Trip Package

If you are a serious whitetail hunter, having a family deer hunting vacation in the legendary Pike County, Illinois might just be the epitome of whitetail trips for your friends and family group. At Heartland Lodge, we manage 5,000 acres of prime whitetail hunting habitat that has all the ingredients for producing world-class, free-range whitetail hunting:

• age class management
• productive soils (antler development)
• high quality cover and food sources.

We offer both archery and firearm whitetail hunting packages. To view our available rates/ dates for this season, Click Here >>

FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR WHITEAIL HUNT PACKAGES, CLICK HERE >>

While the hunters in your family are out in the field, the non-hunters can enjoy a variety of activities such as horseback riding, ATV riding, hiking, fishing, and more. ( check out our full list of family friendly activities here ) After the hunt, enjoy our rustic lodges and tell your day’s adventures over the bonfire or cozy fireplace.

Family Upland Hunting Trip

We host several family groups each year that have made coming to the lodge for a hunting trip an annual tradition. We are the only Orvis and Shooting Sportsman endorsed lodge in Illinois. We offer fully-guided upland hunts on thousands of acres of native habitat that pheasants and quail thrive in. Our upland hunts are all-inclusive hunting package that includes professional guides and their dogs (some of the finest in the country!), gourmet meals, lodging and game cleaning. For more details on our upland hunting packages, Click Here >> .

Check out our Family Holiday Hunting Package Here >>

All-Inclusive Hunt Vacation Package

When you book a family hunting trip at our lodge, you won’t have to worry about making the meals or doing the dishes! Relax and unwind with your family and friends over the fireplace with your favorite beverage, shoot a round of pool or take in the beautiful views around the lodges in our comfortable outdoor furniture with covered porches. The meals at the lodge are an attraction in themselves. Enjoy hearty, gourmet style cooking passed down from generations ago from the Harpole Family. The hunt package includes an Original Lodge room with either two twin beds or bunk beds, booked double occupancy. Private rooms/lodges can be reserved based on availability. We offer several lodging options for your hunt group to choose from including private luxury cabins and suites.

To view our different lodging options, Click Here >>

Family Hunt Vacation Lodging Options

We have a lodge or cabin for all family hunt sizes from 2 to 30! When you book a hunt at the lodge, a regular room in the Original Lodge is included in your hunt package, booked double occupancy. Upgrades/ private rooms are available for an additional nightly fee.

The Original Lodge is full of tradition and memories! This cozy lodge was the first lodge built at Heartland Lodge and has become one of the favorites among our family hunting groups. At 9,500 square feet, it features eleven regular rooms, the Angler Room and the Whitetail Suite for thirteen total rooms. An incredible Great Room (where many of our spectacular photos are taken), Recreation Room, and front and back decks provide the perfect family retreat.

More information on The Original Lodge

Prairie Ridge Lodge – Luxury Suites with Hot Tubs and Fireplaces

Prairie Ridge Lodge , named after the prairie grasses, that surround the resort is also known as our luxury hunting lodge. This lodge has over 10,000 square feet and features seven luxury suites, making it one of the nicest hunting lodges in Illinois. All luxury suites, each decorated to its own theme, feature an ultra-comfy, king-size, triple-sheeted canopy bed, private bath with Whirlpool, fireplace, daybed, comfy sitting area, mini-refrigerator and direct access to the expansive wrap-around decks. A Recreation Room, Banquet Hall/Conference Room and a Dining Hall make this luxury lodge perfect for your next hunting retreat.

More information on Prairie Ridge Lodge

Quail Ridge Cabin (Perfect for a Private Family Hunting Retreat for up to 8 Guests)

Private Luxury Cabins -with Fireplace and Hot Tub! (Hunting Honeymooners Favorite Option)

Heavenly View Cabin (Perfect for a Family Two – Ten People)

Heavenly View  is a luxury cabin with views that will take your breath away! Nestled near the top of the Mississippi River bluff, this cabin provides amazing views of the Mississippi River valley and the surrounding property. The cabin sits on 50 private acres which you can enjoy from the covered patios and screened-in porch that adjoin three sides of the cabin. Wake up in the morning with a cup of coffee and step outside to listen to the wild turkeys gobble around you or watch the whitetail deer feed in the meadow at the bottom of the valley. Savor the sunset and its beautiful colors across the Missouri hills.

More information on Heavenly View Cabin

Sunset Valley . The name of this lodge says it all. The view from the expansive rear deck as the sun sets over the horizon of the Mississippi River bluffs will take your breath away. This 10,180 square foot luxury lodge features seven suites and rooms. Located less than one mile from our other two lodges,  Sunset Valley  sits on its own 52 private acres and provides an outdoor entertaining environment you would expect with a lodge rental.

More information on Sunset Valley Lodge

Family Hunt Reviews

• “Very family oriented place to gather for meals & hunting on some beautiful property. Our guide Ben, did awesome job showing me how to hunt for pheasant. His dogs were definitely a great team out there in the fields. Thank you for an Amazing time!”  -Ruby Turpin
• “Heartland Lodge exceeded all of my expectations. Lodge accommodations were great. Staff was very welcoming and helpful. Food was excellent, especially the pecan pie. Chris the upland bird guide and his dogs made the hunting experience very enjoyable. Everyone in our group had a great time and can’t stop talking about the great memories we made on our short trip.”    -Kyle Hunter
• “Accommodations were excellent! The food, service and staff, hunting, everything was top notch. One of the best lodges and hunts I’ve ever been to. Ben was an excellent guide – very knowledgeable and went the extra mile to make sure we had a great hunt. His dogs were two of the best I’ve seen. Thank you!!”    -Greg Clifton
• “2022 was my 5th year archery whitetail hunting with Heartland and as previous years was an awesome experience. The accommodations, food and staff were excellent. Heartland has tremendous properties in Pike and Calhoun countries, most impressive. I had a couple encounters with shooter bucks, needed a couple more minutes of daylight each time, even though the weather was really warm. My son accompanied me on the hunt and took a heavy horned 140 inch 10 point. Have already booked for 2023 hunt and looking forward to another awesome trip.”    -John Burdette

Quick Links

Upland Hunting 

Whitetail Hunting 

Waterfowl/ Combo Upland Hunts

Turkey Hunting

Hunting Rates/Packages

Last Updated: November 29th, 2023

5 thoughts on “ Family Hunting Vacation Trips ”

Interested in an anniversary trip for one hunter and one non hunter

Do you offer any kind of special deal for husband and wife whitetail hunt. Thanks

What’s the cost of a husband and wide combo. Also what is the limit of deer bucks and does, and antler restrictions.

My son is getting married this year, him and his bride too be wants to go on a hunting trip for their honeymoon. Can you send prices and availability. Not looking to kill trophy’s , just want to kill deer and have a good time

Me and my wife are approaching our 10th October 17 2025 I would like to do this for her We both are avid hunters Please send me info

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

FIELD & STREAM+

• Join 1871 Club

Dream Hunts: 20 Incredible Big Game Hunting Trips

From moose hunts in Canada to monster mule deer hunts in the desert, here are our picks for 20 hunting trips to plan your greatest outdoor adventure ever

By The Editors | Published Mar 4, 2021 5:24 PM EST

We know that big game hunting season is still months away, but just the idea of getting to travel more easily and safely this year already has us thinking about dream hunts. S we asked our experts to pick the best big game hunts in North America that the average hunter can actually pull off. To be clear: This isn’t another lists of cheap, DIY hunts (though some of these are easily taken on your own), nor is it a roundup of expensive outfitters. These trips are chosen for value. So, quit dreaming and start planning.

The 20 Best Hunting Trips for Your Budget

We’ve done the research—and taken many of these hunts ourselves—to create a list of the very best big game hunting opportunities and affordable hunting trips.

1. Where to Hunt Moose in Alberta

Logistics: Once you secure a moose tag from your outfitter, you just need a passport to get into Canada, the proper paperwork to get a firearm across the border, and a Wildlife Identification Number (WIN) card to hunt Alberta. Price: $5,000 to $7,000 — Will Brantley

2. Hunt Record-Book Black Bears in Northern Saskatchewan

Why You Should Go: Huge swaths of northern Saskatchewan are only accessible by boat or plane. Up there, most black bears die of old age. A few outfitters are pioneering into areas where bears have never been hunted. This region has the genetics for giant boars; it may be the best opportunity anywhere to shoot a true trophy-class black bear. Logistics: The best hunting is in June. Licenses are only available through an outfitter. Hunters fly into Saskatoon, and then make the rest of the trip in vehicles, floatplanes, and boats via the outfitter. Price: $4,000 to $5,000 (Guided) — Brad Fenson

3. Travel to Kodiak Island, Alaska, for a Blacktail Deer Adventure

Why You Should Go: If hunting blacktail deer on the home turf of the world’s largest brown bears doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping, then we can’t help you. These true wilderness hunts are usually based from a boat that provides a dry place to sleep (and protection from bears). Good bucks abound here, and depending on the weather, you may find them anywhere from the beach to the high peaks. Logistics: The small planes and boats required to get to Kodiak make travel challenging. Transporters provide boats for D.I.Y. trips, but the hunting is up to you. Outfitted hunts are much more inclusive. Licenses are over the counter. For more information, go to adfg.alaska.gov. Price: $3,000 to $4,000 (Transported and unguided or guided) — B.F.

4. Stalk Giant Velvet Mule Deer in Alberta

Why You Should Go: Three-hundred-plus-pound muleys, close-range spot-and-stalk, and velvet antlers are indeed the stuff of dreams for most bowhunters: It’s what makes Alberta such a hot destination during the September bow season—and your odds only go up during gun season. The region is marked by rolling prairie, steep coulees, and a smattering of cropfields, making it the perfect place to grow trophy bucks, and to sneak up on them. Logistics: The only way to obtain a tag in Alberta is through an outfitter, but there are dozens in the region. The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society has a directory. Price: $3,000 to $4,000 (Guided) — B.F.

5. Why Idaho Is the Best State to Hunt Color Phase Black Bears

Why You Should Go: Idaho has one of the largest black bear populations in the Rocky Mountains, and a high percentage of color-phase bruins. From mid April through June, you can spot bears on south-facing slopes, munching on the green grass they need to flush their systems after hibernation. You can hire a guide, or spot-and-stalk from the dirt roads and trails coursing through national forest land for a rare D.I.Y. trophy. Logistics: There are plenty of tags available over the counter, and some units allow you to take two bears. There are dozens of reputable outfitters for both spot-and-stalk and baited hunts. Price: $2,000 to $3,000 (Guided); $1,000 to $2,000 (Unguided) — Ben Romans

6. Wyoming Pronghorns Is One of the Most Affordable Hunting Trips in the U.S.

Why You Should Go: ­Wyoming has more antelope than people, and an array of hunting opportunities. To chase a trophy pronghorn, you can build points for a managed area. If you just want to hunt antelope, there are zones where you can draw every year or buy a leftover tag, of which there are usually plenty. You can hire a guide, hunt on public ground, or hunt private ground for a landowner fee—or in some cases for free with permission. Logistics: Wyoming begs for a D.I.Y. hunt, but there are plenty of good outfitters, too. Wyoming Game and Fish’s new Hunt Planner is an invaluable resource. Price: $2,000 to $3,000 (Guided); $1,000 to $2,000 (Unguided) — B.F.

7. Welcome to Axis Deer Paradise

Why You Should Go: If you’re after adventure, natu­ral beauty, exclusivity, and the finest red meat on earth, then Lanai, a 90,000-acre private island 40 miles west of Maui, is the spot. You may see hundreds of animals in a day while hunting one of the world’s largest populations of free-range axis deer . There are mouflon sheep, too. The terrain is spectacular and ­diverse, with mountains, plains, and ocean vistas. Logistics: You’ll fly to Maui, Hawaii, then ferry to Lanai. The stunning Hotel Lanai is under $200 per night. Since the game is privately owned, you’ll pay an outfitter about $3,000 for one day (though bowhunters might need two) of guided hunting that includes a trophy stag and two non-trophies. Price: $3,000 to $6,000 (Guided) — Jeff Johnston

8. Chase Barren-Ground Caribou in Manitoba

Why You Should Go: Northern Manitoba borders Hudson Bay, and the mixed habitat along the shoreline is the historical migration route of central barren-ground caribou. This hunt won’t cost you much more than a D.I.Y. fly-in adventure in other parts of the North, but it’s logistically easier, and success rates on trophy bulls are much higher. Logistics: The region is only accessible by airplane, with licenses available through outfitters who take care of planning and details. Much of the hunting is done from boats, and from both permanent and spike camps. Price: $5,000 to $6,000 (Guided) — B.F.

9. Stalk Trophy Mule Deer in the Nebraska Sandhills

Why You Should Go: The Nebraska Sandhills are the up-and-coming place to kill a big mule deer buck. Miles of rolling hills are woven with creekbottoms and some agriculture. Like Alberta, it’s ideal habitat for growing big deer and for spot-and-stalk hunting—but more affordable, and with great D.I.Y. opportunities. Logistics: Permits are available via application, and most tags are good for either a mule deer or a whitetail ­(outdoor​­nebraska.​gov/​hunting​­seasons). There are significant chunks of public land, along with some excellent outfitters for hunting private ground. Price: $3,000 to $4,000 (Guided); $1,000 to $2,000 (Unguided) — B.F.

10. Tag a 350-Inch Bull Elk in New Mexico

Why You Should Go: The Gila National Forest in southwest New Mexico is 3.3 million public acres of famously good elk hunting. Secure a tag and you have a solid chance at killing a 350-inch bull. The terrain is largely sandy, and full of pinyon and ponderosa pine. The climate is mild. Though some outfitters use horses to get deep into the backcountry, plenty of the Gila is accessible on foot. Logistics: New Mexico doesn’t award preference points. Nonresidents hunting solo are allotted 6 percent of the licenses in a drawing pool; nonresidents who book with a guide, 10 percent. You can apply as a party to help your chances, and a good outfitter can assist you with the process and put you on elk once you’ve drawn. According to the outfitters we polled, most hunters get drawn at least once every four years, so put in now. Price: $5,000 to $6,000 (Guided); $2,000 to $3,000 (Unguided) — W.B.

11. Plan the Ultimate Big Game Hunting Trip in Montana

Why You Should Go: Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness is one of the only places in the world where you can rifle hunt rutting elk, mule deer, black bears, and wolves all at the same time. Hunter success with a good outfitter runs about 50 percent, meaning that a hardworking hunter should take two of the four species during a 10-day hunt, with pretty good trophy potential. Logistics: Riding in via horseback takes a full day and can leave you too sore to hunt hard the next, so opting for a picturesque helicopter ride into “The Bob” is worth considering—and less costly than you may think. Contact an outfitter early to apply for tags, and you’ll almost surely draw. Price: $4,000 to $6,000 (Guided) — Joseph von Benedikt

12. Travel to Utah for One of the Best Mule Deer Hunts Ever

Why You Should Go: Utah’s extended archery hunt offers a chance to chase rutting muley bucks on an easy-to-draw tag. Draw for any unit in the state (some regions are almost 100 percent odds even for nonresidents), but don’t hunt the regular season. Hold off and that unused tag will qualify you to hunt the archery-only area in the public-access Wasatch Mountains during late November and early December. There’s no rifle season here, allowing bucks to grow big and old. It’s arguably the best big-buck hunt in Utah short of drawing a premium tag, which can take decades. Logistics: You’ll need to earn an online-education certificate for this hunt, but it’s not difficult and well worth it. Prepare to glass big country, stalk up steep canyons in knee-deep snow, and shoot long. Price: $1,000 to $2,000 ­(Unguided) — J.v.B.

13. Chase Northwest Colorado Pronghorns

Why You Should Go: There are antelope all over the West. But if you’re after a true bruiser of a buck, few regions are better than northwest Colorado. Moffat County consistently produces more Booner speed goats than any other county in the state. The rolling landscape here has plenty of peaks and valleys for spot-and-stalk hunting, and numerous irri­gated alfalfa fields and livestock operations for water-hole archery hunts. Logistics: You can apply for points, hunt the ample BLM ground in the area, and probably kill a giant buck in a couple of days—especially with a rifle. The best trophy units here can take up to 15 points to draw, though with a little research, you can get a tag within five years in units that are almost as good. If you’re going guided, a number of outfitters have tags for sale every year. Price: $3,000 to $4,000 (Guided); $1,000 to $2,000 (Unguided) — W.B.

14. How to Plan a D.I.Y. Coues Deer Hunt

Why You Should Go: These tiny gray deer live in lonely, high-desert country, and they behave—and are hunted—more like desert bighorn sheep than whitetails. Prepare to have your mettle tested against steep, remote mountains infested with thorns—and your soul renewed by a backdrop of shockingly beautiful desert sunrises and sunsets. Logistics: Tags are easier to draw during the November pre-rut than for the December rut hunt. If you’re willing to build points, you can eventually draw a tag for a unit offering a legit chance at mature bucks with big genetics, though it’s possible to draw every year in some less popular units. Check the Arizona Game and Fish for details. Price: $1,000 to $2,000 (unguided) — J.v.B.

15. Guide Hunts for Mountain Lions in Idaho and Colorado

Why You Should Go: If you love the sound of hounds at work, intense physical challenge, and an element of danger, go on a mountain lion hunt. Both Colorado and Idaho have thriving cat populations, and the states are neck-and-neck for B&C entries. When the dogs strike a hot track, the experience is as intense as it gets. Logistics: Both states ­offer over-the-counter ­licenses and long seasons open to hunting with hounds, but you want to go later in winter. Ideally, you keep a flexible schedule with an outfitter and hunt after a fresh snow. Check regs closely; in Colo­rado, you must pass a free (but easy) online course before getting a license. Check quotas daily. And plan on bringing the meat home—it tastes just like pork. Price: $4,000 to $5,000 (Guided) — W.B.

Win the Lottery: Our Top 5 Bucket List Tags for the Ultimate Big Game Hunting Adventure

These five bucket-list hunts can take 10 years or more to draw. But you’ve just got to try…

1. Bighorn Sheep: Missouri River Breaks, Montana

If you draw, you can tackle this adventure on your own or hire an outfitter. Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks

2. Trophy Elk: Arizona

In several trophy units, bulls scoring 380 B&C or better are regularly taken, including some over 400. Arizona Game & Fish

3. Mule Deer: Utah

Odds of drawing in a trophy unit are long, but this 20-plus-point tag promises a muley buck of a lifetime. ­ Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

4. Mountain Goat: Colorado

You don’t have to leave the Lower 48 to hunt a billy if you’re persistent. Colorado Parks & Wildlife

5. Desert Bighorn: Nevada

The holy grail of sheep tags will cost $1,200 if you’re drawn. Nevada Department of Wildlife — B.F.

903 287 6336

Texas Whitetail Deer Hunting  Premier Trophy Hunting Destination

Trophy whitetail deer hunting packages high class guides. luxurious lodges. all-inclusive meals..

Our high class trophy white tail deer hunting matched with luxurious lodging, and excellent service will give you a truly enjoyable experience . Our hunting approaches include high end blinds, as well as  elevated stands.

Check out our all inclusive package options below with lodging, meals & hunting.  

Trophy Fees

140" - 169" SCI - $ 9,500   |   170" - 189" SCI - $10,500 |  190" - 209" SCI - $12,000

210" - 229" SCI - $13,500 |  2 30" - 249" SCI - $15,000 |  250" - 279" SCI - $17,000

280" - 300" SCI - $19,500

Presidents Club (300+) - $22,500  (LIMITED ONLY)

Package Costs = Trophy Fees (above) + Hunt Package (below)

Executive hunting package all-inclusive - starting from  $9 5 0 - $ 1250 per night.

Choose from either a 3-day/2-night or a 4-day/3-night stay @ one of our Premier lodges

Enjoy 4-6 Hunt Sessions per Person

Relish the services of a Private Chef, providing delectable All-Inclusive Meals with a 3-course formal dinner

Complimentary Drinks w/ Optional Bar

Expert Field Dressing assistance

Embark on a Guided Bass Fishing adventure (gear included) for half a day

Take on our 5-stand course for Clay Shooting or visit our Pistol/Rifle Range

We'll also arrange for the Transportation of your harvested Animal to the Taxidermist or Meat Processing facility

Why CCR Excels in Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunting:

Mastery in Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunts: With a wealth of expertise, CCR specializes in trophy whitetail deer hunting, guaranteeing an exceptional hunting experience.

Variety of Hunting Opportunities: Our selection of trophy whitetail spans a range of options from 140" to 300"+ SCI, ensuring you have the opportunity to pursue trophy whitetail deer according to your preferences.

Premium Accommodations: Our luxurious lodges, strategically positioned elevated blinds, and world-class amenities create a comfortable and upscale setting for your hunting expedition, ensuring a restful stay.

Professionally Guided Hunts: Our experienced guides will accompany you during your hunt, offering invaluable knowledge and ensuring a safe and gratifying experience as you chase after trophy whitetail deer.

Dedication to Ethical Practices: CCR is deeply committed to ethical and sustainable hunting practices, actively participating in the conservation and preservation of the whitetail deer population.

Tailored to Your Needs: Customize your hunting adventure to match your specific preferences, whether you're an experienced hunter or new to the pursuit. We cater to all levels of expertise.

Immersive Natural Setting: Delight in the awe-inspiring beauty of nature as you venture into the pristine outdoors in pursuit of your trophy whitetail deer.

Exceptional Hospitality: CCR takes pride in delivering top-tier hospitality, ensuring your entire experience is not only memorable but also unforgettable.

CCR seamlessly integrates mastery, adventure, and expertise, crafting an unparalleled experience in this cherished hunting pursuit.

What Some of our Hunters Say

"Let me just say WOW! Cedar Cove Ranch and its employees are top notch. We took some of our best customers on a hunt for exotics here and we were not disappointed in one way. The level of professionalism from their staff surpasses any other ranch I've hunted. Our private chef knocked every meal out the park as well. They have a nice selection of animals and if they don't have what you want they will bring it in. Accommodations are very comfortable and the landscape is breathtaking. Waking up and having coffee overlooking the the lake was very relaxing. The owners really set this place up nice and the large binds around the hunting area are custom built. I would recommend checking this place out. We will be book future hunts here for sure."     

 - Palmer

The Best Time to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Texas

You can hunt whitetail from October to January typically.  The best time to hunt whitetail deer in Texas is during the rut, which usually occurs the last two weeks of November through the first two weeks of December. During the rut, bucks are actively seeking does and are less cautious, making them easier to hunt. The rut can vary slightly from year to year, depending on weathe r, moon phases and other factors, so it's always a good idea to check with your outfitter or guide before planning your trip.

What Weather to Expect in Dallas, Texas during Your Visit to Hunt Whitetail Deer

If you're planning a trip to hunt whitetail deer in Texas, you should be prepared for a variety of weather conditions. Dallas, Texas, where many hunters start their trip, experiences a humid climate, with hot summers an d mild winters. Here's what you can expect during your visit:

Fall (September to November): Mild to cool, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit. Expect occasional rain and thunderstorms.

Winter (December to February): Cool to cold, with temperatures ranging from the mid-30s to the mid-50s Fahrenheit. Expect occasional freezing temperatures and snow flurries.

Now that you know the best time to hunt whitetail deer in Texas and what weather to expect in Dallas during your visit, it's time to start planning your trip. At Cedar Cove Ranch, we offer the ultimate whitetail deer hunting experience, with world-class guides, luxurious accommodations, and a wide range of amenities & activities. Our deer are  80% south Texas bred with typical mainframes, we focus on a management plan that boasts symmetry and the occasional drop tine buck. Our environment is different from the rest of Texas. We boast wooded forests with rolling terrain that steers away from the Texas hill country or flatlands that most people associate with. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or a beginner, we can tailor your trip to meet your needs and exceed your expectations. We host a much more intimate experience that is high class and hand crafted. Contact us today to learn more and book your hunt!

7 Inexpensive Guided Hunting Trips with High Success Rates

A few years ago, I noticed my two boys needed some toughening up. Too many trips to all-inclusives or amusement parks. I wanted to start them hunting, but I wanted them to enjoy the experience. I began taking them on guided hunting trips with high success rates to get them excited about it, and it worked. Now a few years later, they are both hooked.

The good news for you is I’ve spent many thousands of dollars trying different trips, and so I can recommend some good ones for you here, and many of them are relatively inexpensive.

I spent many thousands of dollars and tons of time hunting the places on this list so that I could recommend the best trips for you.

Whitetail Deer Hunting in Texas

Price: $2,995 includes whitetail deer and hog hunting for 5 days, AND all your meals and lodging. Not a bad deal!

Deer hunting is usually the first big game hunt that people go on, and whitetail deer in Texas have dense populations, making the shot opportunity very high in many areas.

I hunted at Arrowhead Outfitters in Cameron, Texas a few years ago and had a great experience. They are in a very rural area and hunt truly wild whitetail. They have basic feeders and blinds set up on a very large farm. The feeders are just enough to get the deer interested, but don’t overfeed them to where they become unnaturally large. These are wild animals on a real hunt.

The owner, Mark Tieden and his wife were very accommodating and made sure we had a positive experience.

Based on our experience hunting there, I would say the shot opportunity is about 40% per day you’re there. So if you stay for 3-5 days, you could pretty well count on having an opportunity at a nice whitetail. We didn’t see any monsters there, but we did see a number of respectable nice-looking whitetails that I’d be happy to shoot.

Shots are generally very short at less than 100 yards, so it’s a good opportunity for new or young shooters who will have buck fever when the moment comes.

Watch this video starting at 4:11 and you’ll see the whitetail deer hunt we did at Arrowhead Outfitters.

African Safari Trophy/Cull Hunt in South Africa

Price: About $4,450 includes flights, lodging, meals, 5 days of hunting, and you can hunt FIVE big game animals!

I know, an African safari? What happened to “inexpensive”? It certainly won’t be as cheap as a simple coyote hunt 45 minutes from home, but what if I told you that you could hunt in Africa for CHEAPER than a guided elk hunt in Idaho or Montana (which would fetch around $6k plus tag fees)?

I have twice hunted with [redacted – I know longer recommend this outfitter due to unfair business practices] in South Africa, and they were two of the best weeks of my entire life since I enjoyed them with my family. We did a combination of cull hunting and trophy hunting, so we took some smaller animals or females, and a few trophies, so as to reduce the cost of the trip.

Here’s what the hunt will likely cost:

• $2,700 – Bargain package at [redacted] which includes meals and lodging, plus 5 animals
• $1,200 – Flights to/from Johannesburg
• $300 – Flights from Joberg to Port Elizabeth
• $250 – One night hotel in Johannesburg, and help at airport with firearms

When you arrive at [redacted], you’ll be picked up at the airport by one of the owners or their staff. They will drive you to the lodge (several hours away). The lodges are basic by western standards, but quite comfortable. Everyone was very kind and accommodating. The food was great, cleaning service was responsive, and the PH’s (professional hunters) were a pleasure to be with for the week.

The animals in Africa are far more abundant in the United States. Having said that, you cannot guarantee you’ll get the species you’re after. This is a hunt and not a shoot. If you want a kudu and only a kudu, then you may or may not get your shot. Having said that, we had 18 animals on our package last time we went, and we came home with 17 of them. You will not have difficulty finding game to hunt.

The hunting area is absolutely gargantuan, so don’t expect this to be a shoot. You’ll be hunting. There is no shooting from vehicles or anything crazy like that. It takes a solid 35 minutes+ to drive across the entire hunting area. It’s big. Springbuck, wildebeest, blesbuck, and ostrich are pretty easy to hunt as they are abundant in large herds and you can wait under a bush in the plains. Kudu, zebra, gemsbuck, waterbuck, nyala, and other animals will be more of an active hiking hunt. I’d recommend a hunt that involves a little of both.

My only tips for hunting there are: (1) You absolutely need this chair . You’ll spend many hours on your butt on sharp rocks hiding under bushes waiting for some of the herds to move your way. Seriously, it’s mandatory. (2) Get a swagger bipod . The weeds/brush is just high enough that you can’t quite shoot off your backpack most of the time, so a bipod is perfect. I’d get the 9.75″ to 41.25″ version. The swagger is PERFECT for this hunt because it allows you to move quickly. Many african animals are herd animals, so you’ll need to adjust many times as you pick out which animal in the herd is the one for you to take. Trust me, that’s the bipod you want for this specific hunt.

One thing that could substantially increase the price of this hunt is if you choose to purchase taxidermy. If you don’t get taxidermy at all, then a 20% tax applies, but choosing expensive taxidermy obviously won’t come cheap. In this video , I shared how much I spent on taxidermy. The second time we went to hunt in Africa, we just left everything there for the locals and didn’t do any taxidermy to save money.

Coyote Hunting

Price : About $250 per day, plus lodging and food

Coyote hunts are fantastic because they usually require no tags, have no limits, and usually involve shooting several animals over a few days.

You can easily hunt coyotes yourself without a guide, but my guess is that many of the people searching for inexpensive hunts with high success rates are people who want some help learning to hunt successfully. I count myself in that group since I love learning from guides each time I go.

I have not personally hired a guide to hunt coyote, but there are many guided coyote hunts listed on bookyourhunt at extremely affordable rates that have good reviews.

Blacktail Deer Hunting on Kodiak Island, Alaska

Price: $2,475 includes five days of guided blacktail hunting, plus lodging and food. Just add flights.

Kodiak island is home to some of the largest bears on the planet, and the blacktail deer are giants too. Blacktail deer don’t grow massive antlers when compared to whitetail or mule deer, but they are very big-bodied. Best of all, tags are easy to acquire over-the-counter and you can get up to 3 tags per year.

The rut for Kodiak blacktail deer occurs in late October or early November, so prepare for weather and cold. As the saying goes, “Nothing leaves Kodiak dry.” You’ll need top quality gear to be prepared for the elements.

There are many ways to hunt blacktail deer. Some people get a plane in to a remote area and stay alone in a DIY hunt. Others hike with a guide. Most of the locals drive the road system in parts of the forest to spot them. In my case, I’m going on a boat-based hunt on Kodiak in just a couple months with Driftwood Wilderness Lodge . We drive the boat around the shoreline and use binoculars to spot the animals, then park the boat and stalk in.

Shot opportunity is very high, but so is the likelihood of encountering bad weather.

Feral Hog Hunting in Texas

Price: $1,050 includes three days of hunting, lodging, and all meals

Feral hogs are a destructive and invasive species currently wreaking havoc on many areas of Texas and other southern states. They populate quickly, and hunters so far have been unable to keep their populations in check.

I have hunted hogs a couple times, but my top recommendation would be to go with Mark Tieden at Arrowhead Outfitters (same guide I mentioned earlier for whitetail deer hunting). You can certainly do a combo hunt, but if you only hunt hogs, the price goes down.

My recommendation would be to bring night optics. You’ll unquestionably see hogs, but having good optics will dramatically improve your chances of success. I bought this sight for under $1k , and I’m not sure we would have shot our hogs without it. Many people hunt with just a spotlight, which does work for sure, but I was happy to have the night optic.

Baited Black Bear Hunting in Idaho

I live in St George Utah, but I grew up in the great state of Idaho. Idaho is one of the few states that allows bear-baiting. There is nothing as exciting as patiently waiting and then seeing a giant black beast sneak into a bait.

Bears have overpopulated in Idaho, making the cost of tags go down and Idaho even allows hunters to take two bears in some circumstances.

Black bear is a great quarry because it doesn’t require giant cartridges so it’s accessible for youth shooters and recoil-sensitive shooters, but is still a large animal with heavy bones.

Ox Ranch as a Family Vacation/Hunt

Price: About $3,750 total for a family of 5 to spend four days and have all your meals and lodging paid-for. Then just the trophy fee for an animal if you kill one. You’re not obligated to hunt. You could just go and enjoy the area and activities and see some cool animals with the family.

Ox Ranch is an absolutely incredible place. You’ll never experience any other hunting ranch quite like it. The owner created a tech company, Hostgator, and when he sold it, he used some of the money to create a hunting mecca in Texas.

I hunted at Ox Ranch with my family in early 2021. My family loved it. We rode ATV’s to see dinosaur footprints, swam in the pool until the wee hours of the morning, caught so many huge bass that our arms were tired, ate great food, stayed in a much better-than-anticipated family cabin, drove and fired a real tank (not kidding), fed a giraffe and kudu, and hunted.

Here’s what I’d say about the hunting at Ox Ranch. For many of the species, it’s a shoot and not a traditional hunt. There are blackbuck, elk, and dozens of other species walking around like a park. Most people shoot safari style from jeeps. The hog blind literally has security cameras all over the woods so you can spot the animals coming in.

For many hunters, this will be a major turn-off. For me, I have no interest in paying thousands of dollars to blast an elk from 100 feet away while sitting on top of a jeep. However, there are some species at Ox Ranch that will require more traditional fair-chase hunting techniques, and by no means have a 100% shot opportunity. I hunted aoudad at Ox Ranch and didn’t see a thing until day 4 with only an hour left in the trip. I was able to seal the deal on a great ram that I was proud of and worked hard for. There is definitely hard, real hunting at Ox Ranch, but you have to know what you’re signing up for and pick an experience that matches that.

I really enjoyed Ox Ranch because it was 70% family vacation, 30% a dad/boys hunting trip. We spent a day in San Antonio to go to Six Flags, then spent four days at Ox Ranch. We had tons of fun family activities all day to keep everyone down to our four-year-old entertained, but then in the mornings and evenings, I could put on camo and go hunting.

Don’t Forget About Tips

I don’t think anyone loves the way the tipping system works, but it’s even crazier in the hunting industry. Generally, about 20% of the hunt is expected as a tip. In the pricing above, I’ve included list prices for each of the hunts, but remember that after the hunt, there will be a fee for a tip, and possibly taxidermy if you choose to purchase it.

Are you an outfitter wanting to get recommended on Backfire? We only recommend hunts we actually have experienced ourselves. For the right hunt, I’m often willing to pay for me and my two sons’ travel if an outfitter will take us hunting in exchange for a recommendation. We love trying out new places to see if they are hunts we can recommend to the Backfire audience.

Jim Harmer is a host of the Backfire Youtube channel. He has managed multiple gun ranges, and has hunted around the world. He is a well-known entrepreneur, having started many successful online brands, and lives in St George, Utah.

• Free NFA Gun Trust On All Silencer Purchases
• Let Our Experts Guide You. Call 888.781.8778
• View ATF Wait Times
• 888.781.8778

8 Affordable Hunting Trips for the Budget-Minded Hunter

Many people think that you need big-time money to go on a big game hunting trip. While money can certainly buy you some exciting hunting experiences, you don’t need to break the bank in order to have a great time hunting. Check out our list of affordable hunting trips so that you can find how to have a great time hunting on a budget!

Table of Contents

Hunt Elk in Idaho

Hunt whitetail deer in kansas, hunt antelope in wyoming, hunt turkey in nebraska, moose in alaska, south dakota mule deer, hogs in texas, black bear in idaho, make sure you’re fully equipped for your big hunt.

Idaho may not be the first state that many hunters think of when they think of elk habitats, but there are plenty of good bulls that call Idaho home. Plus, the state provides over-the-counter tags at a first-come, first-serve basis , meaning that anyone has the opportunity to score an elk tag.

In order to find land to hunt elk in Idaho, you want to search in grasses and agriculture fields. There’s a plethora of natural forests, state forests (which are public), and private lands that are a part of the Access Yes! Program . If you have a GPS and a general bearing of your surroundings, you should be able to track down a bull, stalk him and get your chance at a kill.

Why It Made the List

The main reason that Idaho elk hunting made the list is the fact that you can primitively camp in most national forests at no cost. This saves you a good amount of money on lodging, meaning you can save most of your money on the tag, license, and permit (around $600 total), food, fuel, and more.

Price: Less than $1,500

Many hunters have heard the lore of the giant whitetail deer that roam in Kansas — and the stories are true. The entire state is littered with trophy deer, and although the price of a tag is pretty expensive (near $450), the rest of the trip is incredibly affordable, which makes it a great option for anyone looking for one of the best hunting trips on a budget.

The state of Kansas is broken up into four different regions for deer hunting, and the tags are all available through a drawing process. Once you get your tag, there are plenty of options for how you hunt. Depending on your budget, you can cut costs by camping in a tent or an RV, or if you have a little bit of wiggle room, you can stay in hunting lodges or motels. Do your research and find a method that works best for you to get a cheap hunting trip put together!

Price: $500 – $1,000

Have you always wanted to try out hunting antelope in the United States? Wyoming provides you with plenty of opportunities to hunt down some speed goats without breaking the bank.

Wyoming is filled with state land and walk-in areas that you can hunt in. However, you’ll want to accumulate some preference points before you try for a tag since the tags can go pretty quickly. If you aren’t able to get a tag, there are leftover tags available, which will have less public land and less trophy potential, but still a good amount of antelope.

Wyoming is filled with different opportunities for you to hunt antelope at an affordable rate. You can find lodging at a campground for less than $25 per night, and if you prepare correctly (pack food ahead of time) and cut corners, you should be able to tag an antelope for a great price.

Price: $1,000 – $1,250

When it comes to getting a lot of game for your dollar, it’s hard to beat a turkey hunt in Nebraska. In the spring, you are allowed up to three birds per season, and a single turkey permit costs a little over $100. Plus, with modern-day technology and smartphones, you can purchase extra permits on your phone, meaning that you can hypothetically get all three turkeys in the same day for less than $350.

If you’re looking for a cheap bow hunt, you’re not going to find many hunts that are more budget-friendly than a Nebraska turkey hunt. Once you’ve got your permits and your bow, the rest of the expenses are minimal. Most turkey hunting can be done on public land, and the state of Nebraska is relatively cheap in terms of lodging. As long as you don’t have to travel too far to get there, it’s an incredibly affordable trip to take.

Price: Less than $500

Many people would assume that any moose hunt would cost well over $3,000 — and when you mention that it’s in Alaska, you would think that it would cost $5,000+. While a tag and license do cost close to $1,000, if you’re willing to put a little bit of work in and walk for a ways, you can swing an entire moose hunt for closer to $2,000, which is a pretty cheap big game hunt.

Obviously, one of the most expensive parts of this hunt will be getting to Alaska. But, once you make it there, you’ll have to put some work in. Lace-up your boots and be prepared to stalk some moose — especially if you are looking for a bigger one.

Price: Around $2,000

Not only is there an abundance of mule deer in South Dakota, but there’s also an abundance in public land, and with reliable populations and relatively light hunting pressure, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get a mule deer without breaking the bank.

A deer license in South Dakota costs just south of $300, but once that’s been paid, you can be generally flexible with the rest of your expenses depending on how comfortable you want to be in your hunt. If you’re hunting near the national forests, you can find lodging for around $60/night. Take some time to do some planning and figure out when and where you want to go for your hunt.

Price: $1,400 – $1,600

Texas is a state unlike any other, so it’s only right that they have a hunting experience that’s completely unique. Not only can you hunt feral hogs in Texas, but you can do so at any time of the year and without a bag limit. Just purchase Item 157 (their “non-resident 5-day special hunting license) for a little less than $50 and you can hunt throughout the week!

There are some public hunting lands that you can utilize, but for the price, your best bet is to work through an outfitter and get put in a position to succeed. With such a low overhead cost and the affordable price of a license, spend the extra money on a good outfitter and make it the most productive week possible!

Price: $500 – $1000

A bear hunt may seem to be the pinnacle of pricey, but it doesn’t have to be! If you’re looking to hunt black bears in the Rocky Mountains, you can do so for a reasonable rate in Idaho from late spring to early summer.

If you want to keep the hunt under $2,000, you’ll have to go without a guide. Thankfully, there are plenty of tags available over the counter in Idaho, and some places even allow you to take two bears. Take to the national forest land and prepare to do some spotting and stalking for a while, but if you are patient, you should get the opportunity to find a nice bear.

Price: $1,500 – $2,000

Does one of these inexpensive hunting trips have you packing your bags and looking at dates? If so, you’ll want to make sure that you’re fully equipped for your big hunt! Have you considered hunting with a suppressor for these hunts? Contact the team at Silencer Central today and browse our selection of silencers and suppressors!

Please enter your date of birth. You must be 21 or over to enter this site.

By entering this site, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .