Hi Guys.

Im playing with the idea to take the family to America in Dec.California for all the family things and attractions.Then hire a bus cum sleeping truck and drive to Las vegas and from there to grand canyon stay there a few days and then drive up to yellowstone stopping everywhere and enjoy the area.

The question is is there any hunting available at that time of year i will probably go down to houston also to go say hi to few family members.

Iknow its not africa hunting but its a african boer wanna hunt in america.

All your input and maybe areas i wanna see will be appreciated.

Regards
Luan

In most (Western) states, you'll be limited by what hunting tags you have managed to draw - e.g. deer, elk, etc. Since most (all?) states have pretty much completed their big game drawings for the year, you pretty much have to rely on tags available over the counter. Hog hunting in California will be open to you year round - assuming you purchase the right licences and tags. Texas also has almost unlimited hunting with over the counter tags - for both "exotics", and, if I'm not mistaken, for deer as well? Since you intend to travel to TX anyway, I suggest you look into the options to hunt there. Just remember, TX is a BIG place, so it is probably worthwhile trying to locate hunting close to where you are going anyway.

- mike

thank you very much sir.

Texas will be your best bet without having to "draw" tags. You can hunt ducks and geese around Houston in December, lots of them. You do not need tags for the exotics in the Hill Country. A hunting license will come with deer and turkey tags, 5 deer and 3 turkey. You can kill all the hogs and coyotes you want, no tags needed. Most ranches will accomidate the family for a minimal fee if they are not hunting. If there is not too much snow you may be able to do a prarie dog hunt out west.

Perry

If you are in California you must see the Redwoods and Yosemite before heading to Vegas and Grand Canyon, if you are in Northern California you should see Crater Lake in Oregon too. Between California and Yellowstone a great stop is Mesa Verde in Colorado.
Mike's post covered it well for the hunting, while in California get a guide/ranch hunt for hogs when in Texas hogs and exotics require only a hunting license and there are plenty of game ranches in Texas. Whitetail seasons will be coming to the end of season but may still be open when you are there.
Have a great trip

Luan - Big Whitetails in eastern Colorado, with a Landowner voucher, is easy to do. December rifle season is Dec. 1 - 14. In 2010 we shot 13 whitetails, 10 of them over 160", 7 of them over 170". You can e-mail me if you want more info.

We have 2 Landowner vouchers available.

There are cow elk hunt opportunities in Utah, on private lands, no need to draw a permit as the landowner has vouchers. Cost can be $600-1,500. You must have completed a valid hunter education and there may be other restrictions placed non-res-aliens. As you will be in Utah, that is a valid option.

Texas will provide the most opportunity at antlered animals.

December is THE hunting month in Texas. Most of the western/northwestern states on your itenerary are beyond their prime season by December (and the weather is too cold and there is too much snow on the ground to allow you access to many hunting areas.)

Regardless of where you might wish to hunt, the hunting is going to have to be pre-arranged, either by having drawn a tag or having bought a landowner tag in most western states, or by arranging for a couple of days of lease hunting with a landowner/broker in Texas. There is essentially no public land available for hunting in Texas, so all will be by (paid) permission of the landowner.

If you are traveling to Houston from the Yellowstone area, then your route will transect several excellent Texas areas for whitetails (and turkeys), including the Panhandle, Hill Country, and coastal plains. You may buy your hunting license over-the-counter once you arrive in Texas and it will cost about $250 (and is all-inclusive of all game and bird species). The fee for hunting a private ranch may range from $100 per day with no extra kill fee to as much as some idiot will pay -- several thousand dollars. If you just want a hunting experience and not a trophy, doe hunts are very economical. As Perry mentioned, feral hogs often encountered and are nearly always free when hunting deer, as are coyotes.

If you enjoy bird hunting, then the season is still on in several plains states as well as Texas. Bobwhite quail hunting is also in season, but the current drought is making prospects poor in Texas.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Most of the western/northwestern states on your itenerary are beyond their prime season by December (and the weather is too cold and there is too much snow on the ground to allow you access to many hunting areas.)

The weather's too cold, and there's too much snow on the ground, who told you that? I assume you've not hunted eastern Colorado in December? HWY 287 from TX to I-25 in Colorado, drives within 20 minutes of our best deer hunting spots, and December 1-14 is an excellent time to kill a big whitetail. Stonecreek, just sayin

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Most of the western/northwestern states on your itenerary are beyond their prime season by December (and the weather is too cold and there is too much snow on the ground to allow you access to many hunting areas.)

The weather's too cold, and there's too much snow on the ground, who told you that? I assume you've not hunted eastern Colorado in December? HWY 287 from TX to I-25 in Colorado, drives within 20 minutes of our best deer hunting spots, and December 1-14 is an excellent time to kill a big whitetail. Stonecreek, just sayin

The first word in the sentence is MOST. MOST of the high country is inaccessible and MOST seasons are already closed in the western/northwestern states. Besides, MOST people, when asked to place Colorado in the "northwest" or the "southwest" choose the "southwest", so even the qualified statement wouldn't directly apply to Colorado.

That said, I'm sure you have some great hunting opportunities in Eastern Colorado in December. I'm also sure that you frequently, but not always, encounter some unpleasant weather at that time of year, inlcuding very cold temperatures and even blowing snow. A dedicated hunter could still have an outstanding hunt under those conditions, but it is only fair to let a prospective hunter know what they might expect.

There's a cow elk hunt in New Mexico on the Vermejo Park Ranch owned by Ted Turner. I did it last year and was successful. I did an antelope hunt with the same outfitter in 2009 and was happy with that one as well. You can PM me if you want details. FWIW, I may do another cow elk hunt with him this year if I can get a few bills squared away.
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Most of the western/northwestern states on your itenerary are beyond their prime season by December (and the weather is too cold and there is too much snow on the ground to allow you access to many hunting areas.)

The weather's too cold, and there's too much snow on the ground, who told you that? I assume you've not hunted eastern Colorado in December? HWY 287 from TX to I-25 in Colorado, drives within 20 minutes of our best deer hunting spots, and December 1-14 is an excellent time to kill a big whitetail. Stonecreek, just sayin

The first word in the sentence is MOST. MOST of the high country is inaccessible and MOST seasons are already closed in the western/northwestern states. Besides, MOST people, when asked to place Colorado in the "northwest" or the "southwest" choose the "southwest", so even the qualified statement wouldn't directly apply to Colorado.

That said, I'm sure you have some great hunting opportunities in Eastern Colorado in December. I'm also sure that you frequently, but not always, encounter some unpleasant weather at that time of year, inlcuding very cold temperatures and even blowing snow. A dedicated hunter could still have an outstanding hunt under those conditions, but it is only fair to let a prospective hunter know what they might expect.

"Most", ok I got it. , just giving you a hard time.

Fact is though, "RARELY", would one encounter really cold/snowy weather in eastern Colorado, even in December! Average percipitation per year is only 14"-16", and average temps are in the 30's - 50's, that exactly what a perspective hunter might expect. Not to mention, in 2009 & 2010 we took 25 whitetails total. 75% of them scored 160" or better, so a little uncomfortable weather is worth it.

quote:

75% of them scored 160" or better, so a little uncomfortable weather is worth it.

Agreed!

Paul B: Thanks for mentioning the cow elk hunts in NM. Similarly, I did one several years ago on the Jicarilla reservation in January. NM cow hunts are usually reasonable in price and have a high success rate.

Thanks guys.

As this is a family vacation or thats what im telling the family look like i need a guide to take them around and i will be hunting.

Luan

Luan,

Do not try to go to Yellowstone in December unless you are interested in snowmobiling. There could be huge amounts of snow. You'll have to hire a guide for a snowmobile trip but it might be a real adventure for your family. The Yellowstone website willgive yo uallthe info you'll need.

Deer hunting in TX could be marginal this year as the drought and fires have decimated some large areas. We are not booking a couple of hunts in TX this year at the operators request. They just don't think they'll be able to provide a good experience. All areas in TX may not be in this situation but make sure you check it out before booking.

Mark

Yellowstone in dec will be covered in deep to very deep snow with very limited access for conventional vehicles,,,you could always come on up here and hunt mountain lions (dec 15-apr 15)

Luan,
Which way are you driving into Houston from?
Makes a big difference where you can hunt what!
What are you interested in hunting?

Unlike others, I am not trying to sell you anything. I would take the family to Yellowstone and do a snowmobile or snowcoach tour. It is the only time of year when it isn't completely overrun with humanity. I would hunt and not in Colorado or Texas. Take a look at a Mountain Lion and Bobcat hunt here in Idaho (I think bobcat opens on dec. 15 or there abouts). I think Nevada has over the counter tags for mountain lion as well. Maybe Wyoming or Utah also. December is prime Cat time. Everyone has killed a deer or 25.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
Unlike others, I am not trying to sell you anything. I would take the family to Yellowstone and do a snowmobile or snowcoach tour. It is the only time of year when it isn't completely overrun with humanity. I would hunt and not in Colorado or Texas. Take a look at a Mountain Lion and Bobcat hunt here in Idaho (I think bobcat opens on dec. 15 or there abouts). I think Nevada has over the counter tags for mountain lion as well. Maybe Wyoming or Utah also. December is prime Cat time. Everyone has killed a deer or 25.

SG - Why would you not hunt CO or TX in December?

Mountain Lion is an excellent idea, but that too will cost him alot of money, as an outfitter/houndsman is needed, so someone will be selling him something.

You're right, most of us have killed lots of deer. But Luan is from S.A., how many N.A. whitetail/mule deer do you figure he's shot?

quote:

You're right, most of us have killed lots of deer. But Luan is from S.A., how many N.A. whitetail/mule deer do you figure he's shot?

Excellent point. My assumption is that Luan is looking for a representative North American hunting experience. A deer hunt would fill the bill, as would a mountain lion hunt (assuming you get your jollies from shooting a badly frightened cat from 30 feet away as it stares down on a half dozen barking cur dogs from its final, precarious perch in a spindly pine tree.) But regardless of the type or location of hunting that any one of us might prefer, I'm sure that Luan is pleased to get a range of suggestions and options. I know that I would be if I were headed to S.A.!

Maybe Luan has hunted Colombia, where they have whitetails and hunt them in a truly wild setting.

Stonecreek, are you really offended enough by SG's recommendation that you use such terms as "jollies" in a derogatory manner? Come now, if Luan wants to trudge 1-20 miles through the elements, following dogs chasing a cat, then let him decide. I guess he could stop by TX and sit in a blind, waiting for the corn feeders to go off and shoot a buck coming to the dinner bell. I mean 2 can play the derogatory game. Sad thing is no one should have played it at all.

Luan, the point about Yellowstone is valid. You could go to Jackson Hole and see the elk and buffalo on the refuge, depending on the weather. You would enjoy the National Parks of Southern Utah and Colorado, which fill the void of not visiting Yellowstone. Ahhh, the fun of planning a vacation.

If you are a archery hunter come to South Dakota for mule deer or white tail deer.

If you're interested in bird; especially goose hunting, right around the Houston area is one of the hotbeds of goose hunting. Family friends with a great outfitter.

RVL

thanks for the info my family havent seen any snow in there life(weird) but thats the nice problem we having living in africa.I dont know which way im driving in im still going to plan that,but i would really like a whitetail.

Eeveryone else thanks for the info i really like all the ideas and hunting stuff im just wondering how a big lad with shorts are going to cope with snow?

Luan

Hi Luan

Thanks for the call yesterday, had a hard time hearing all the details as the airport was really busy.

Texas Whitetail is your best bet in December. There is a real drought (and fires) going on in parts of Texas, so be sure to have your local contacts set up the best area.

Looking forward to seeing you on this side of the ocean!
Mike

Mike