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Planning Your Out of State Hunt - Part I

Dave Blake - JHO ProStaff - Los Angeles, CA
January 28, 2006

Big Game Dreams
For many hunters, the dream of a big, out-of-state hunt can become a reality. Over the next few editions, the JHO Journal will look at what it takes to make this dream come true.

The 2005 hunting seasons are over and its time to take account of what you have accomplished. The freezer is full of wild meat and fish as a result of your carefully planned outings throughout the year. The photo album is full of pictures of successful trips and the friends you hunted with. The common thread in each picture is the smile on your friends' faces hinting at the fun times had by all.

Up 'till now all of your hunting has been done close to home. However, as you look forward to the 2006 season, you might be thinking about hunting out of state for new types of game and experiences. Just a look in the back of any major hunting magazine fills your head with numerous possibilities such as moose in Alaska, elk in Colorado, or pronghorn in the rolling hills of Wyoming.

But how do you get started? Is hunting out of state really just for the rich, leisure-class, or is it an accessible endeavor for the common man? Over the next few editions of the JHO Journal, we’ll take a look at what it takes to book an out of state hunt. We’ll look at the options available, from fully guided to rough, do-it-yourself hunting, then go through the steps necessary to research, select, and book the trip. We’ll also take a look at some of the more popular locales for non-resident hunters, and the species you can hunt there.

Upcoming articles in this series will discuss how to get tags for the species and areas you want to hunt, and how the point system can work for you or against you, depending on what you are looking for. Each state has specific deadlines for applications, and the article will deal with this detail as well.

Finally, we’ll talk to some guides and outfitters, who will let you know what to expect when dealing with these professional outdoorsmen. We’ll delve into what you, as a client, should do to make sure you make the best of your hunt, and what the guides expect from you to make sure they are able to bring you success and bring you back again and again.

The best thing you can do right now is start researching the state fish and game website of your choice. Some states have their 2006 applications up already and deadlines are around the corner. Then stay tuned to this series of articles. You just might find some useful info for your next hunting adventure.