My American Big Game hunting is really limited to Whitetails and tree stands. I'd love to hear what animal, where, and how you get your most enjoyment from hunting.

I got this idea by watching a baited bear hunt on TV and it reminded me how I'm getting a little tired of sitting in one spot for hours on end and not being able to see very far.

So what do you enjoy the most!

Geoff, This is a fine question in that so many American hunters live in a world of whitetails. I think that for the most part the answer lies in yourself and your experiences and approach to the woods and outdoor experiences. For many years I was like you describe yourself, a whitetail hunter. But having some experience in the Adirondaks of NY and Black Bears always held an appeal. It was indeed the bears which helped me bridge the species gap along with reading including some classical works of interesting places and experiences wich drove me further on. For you it might begin with a trip to a far away place to hunt deer, or maybe Maine has a bruin with your name on it... either way walk on the wild side and adventure will find you.

I think that right now it's a toss up.

Sitting over a hot field full of colony varmints with shots from 100 yard out to 1,000 yards.

The spot and stalk on antelope, being able to see and judge 50 or more bucks a day and putting the sneak on them to get within judging/shooting range.

About a hundred big game critters later, I'd say either hogs or varmits (p-dogs, fox, or coyotes, etc) are my favorites. I really like deer of all varieties but I've shot my share and would prefer some younger person shoot them.

Geoff, for me it's a little bit of a couple. Like you, I'm immersed with the whitetail, and it is my favorite game animal. I hunt them several different ways, and in a couple different locations, i.e. Kansas, Texas, and here in Georgia. Hunt with bow from climbing portables, and ladder stands--got to get close and be on your game--any false moves and you're busted.

Rifle hunting the same way basically, thick areas--plus ghosting around on the ground in some bottoms and edges of fields--old school called 'still hunting'.....plus long range spot and stalk around the fields & gas lines etc., looooong shots sometimes. Freezing my ass off in a stand in Kansas, or floating through the bottoms there--a whole other world yet!

Then for sheer fast pace, and the running crawling, stalking, buck judging (see Franks post!) and camraderie during the hunt as opposed to mostly after the hunt--Antelope hunting is something I plan to do for a long time--I love it! Marksmanship is definitely a part of that game, and I like that factor immensely as well!

I LOVE to spot and stalk Blacktails in the dense, wet cover of my beloved home state of Washington. Spot and Stalk Blackbear in the same place ranks a close second. Nothing better than the sound of rain on your hat, as you inch your way through the devils club, skunk cabbage and vine maple. Love the smell of douglas fir in the new growth. A drop of rain dripping from your hat, spilling on your Winchester M-71 .348. That's LIVING!!!

Backpacking for Dall Sheep in the Northwest Territories of Canada. A total outdoor experience.

There was a time when deer hunting was my holy grail, both whitetails and mulies.Black bear hunting was great sport also.Now I live for elk hunting, I eat, sleep , breathe and dream elk hunting.I still hunt everything else but it is in between elk hunts. The other guys are right about PD's too.I could do that for ever and never get tired of it.

I love whitetails as well, got one still hunting this past season which is a rush. But there is nothing that compares to elk for me. Just being where they live, makes me feel like a little kid on my first hunt, every time. I don't get to go as often as I would like, but I'm sure that has a lot to with the desire.

DGK

For me , it's sheep hunting in the Brooks. 2 week trips or maybe longer. Absolutely no contact with the outside world. Walk a couple of miles, sit for an hour or two glassing then walking some more. The big push comes upon spotting a likely trophy then trying to get close enough to judge him better & get a shot.
But the best part is that there's miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles. Can't wait.
Bear in Fairbanks

Bear, that does sound sweet! Nothing like a little (or a lot) of solitude.

GeoffM24,

I have a limited experience compared to most here in that I've only taken around 150 big game animals. I've only taken 6 species in NA and I'll have to say that IMO it's hard to beat a whitetail as far as a challenge. I find the challenge of pursuit of whitetail bucks to make my heart pump harder than any other animal I've hunted. I find them to have the best senses of any animal I've hunted thus far. Sure, there are many places where you can shoot them like fish in a barrel but, A large whitetail buck in a pressured environment where he lives 96% of his time only moving at night is a hard challenge to beat.

Big Toms Gobbling in the spring and Elk bugling in the fall would have to be close behind.

Good Luck

Reloader

After hunting whitetails for 35 years in the hardwood forests of PA, VA and MD - and hardly ever being able to see more than 100 yards while staring through endless branches and limbs - my 2004 trip to Wyoming for pronghorns was a real eye opener. To be able to sit on a ridge and look out over miles of wide open country was amazing. And then you pulled up your binoculars, gazed for awhile and found a buck antelope on the skyline a mile away - already staring at you!

It was simply an awesome experience.

Now if I could only experience a Dall Sheep hunt.....