Gents:
After 32 years of hunting in my home state of Alaska and with my 17th Africa trip coming in July, I would like to explore hunting in the Lower 48 and would appreciate some suggestions and/or directions.

I would like to take a white tail, mule deer, pronghorn, mountain lion, and a nice 6x6 elk.

I want to hunt with a double rifle and have scopes on my .350 no2 Rigby and my .450-400.

Some things I want to do and don't want to do:
I don't need a five star lodge, I'm happy in a tent or small room. I don't need fancy foods, I'm happy with a burger, peanut butter sandwich, apples, etc. I can't use the meat so will need to donate it nearby the hunt locations. I do not want the capes and will only keep the skull and horns (antlers) and the skin and skull of the cat. I will make my own European mounts.

I do not want to put in for a draw each year (too old for that) and want to avoid buying points. I don't want a guaranteed hunt in a small enclosure behind a high fence (large ranches are fine). I want to feel the enjoyment of the hunt rather than a drive up and shoot. With my doubles, 100 yards is no problem, 150 yards is getting to the limit, and 200 yards is possible but I'd like to avoid this distance.

Any suggestions on where to go? If you've been there I'd appreciate your input. If you're a guide and have what I seek, please let me know. I'm old and retired, can walk with no problem, and free to travel in the fall and winter.

Last of all, I don't enter anything in the "book"--it's just my personal satisfaction.

Thanks for looking and for your replies.
Cal
calpappas.com
pappas@mtaonline.net

How big would your whitetail have to be to suit you?

If not record book and 100% fair chase diy with lodging works then I can help.

Missouri is also OTC

No shit, who wouldn't like to collect all those, especially the same year!

For antelope I'd suggest Wyo. Huge valley just west of I-25 south of Cody 30-75 miles, for the H of it one day in the spring when trucking I stopped and walked up there to look over and saw HUNDREDS of antelope scattered all over the place. That was about '74, so can't give a GPS location. Had fun, on the way back I almost stepped on a 2wk old fawn that took off running. I chased it going down slope and was gaining, at about 3-4 more long strides I would have been even with it, it turned sharp and went back. I couldn't turn that quick and gave it up. Wish I could walk or run half that good now. Wife was watching from the rig and was really surprised I was actually out running it. Had to be very young, I guessed two weeks old maybe at the time.

Big elk? Northern NM, don't know the tag details, check it out. CO? Well, NW corner around Craig IF you can get permission. Start with the Chamber of Commerce there for contacts. Ask if the lady is still there that her husband had both knee's replaced during season about '11. Real nice lady and was very helpful to me.

I looked around but, didn't find a ranch so didn't get on anyplace. There is a lot of fine BLM lands around there, and some moose too. I saw where a mtn lion chased a snowshoe around in circles in a foot of snow a few times and caught it.

IF not for CO putting all deer on draw a few years ago I'd suggest both the Craig and west of Pagosa Springs areas. They're both known for big muley's.

Someone else will need to come up with the others.

Best of luck Cal.
George

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
How big would your whitetail have to be to suit you?

If not record book and 100% fair chase diy with lodging works then I can help.

Missouri is also OTC

Ted:
I'm all ears. I don't know whitetail at all. Just would like a good representative animal.
Cal

if you want a more guided, more guaranteed hunt for a better representative for the white tail I would look at the pictures from different states since some states in the south grow nice racks on tiny bodies, or maybe look into Saskatchewan for a big white tail.

for an experience hunting whitetails: I would look at your time/finances start in NY, spend thanksgiving in NY or PA then if you have time spend at least a week in PA for their deer season, find someone that will let you join in on their hunting camp's drives (get a doe tag for either state)

I figure by adding NY at the start of your trip it will give you a bit more of an opportunity to hopefully harvest a whitetail... or a few. PA has antler restrictions so there are nicer bucks being shot but possibly less bucks being shot but the experience is still something that you don't generally get from a guided hunt so figured it may be an interesting way for you to pursue a new animal

Having friends that drive year after year from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey and hearing of the massive hunter density I
wouldn't / couldn't consider any of those.

I have 2 different lion guys...one NM the other from NV

PM coming Cal

Depending on you personal agenda/desires, Texas has some decent hunting opportunities all depends on what type hunting you want to try.

Thanks, Ted. I've just emailed the whitetail ranch in MO. Lion?
Cal

Cal: I have whitetails in KY or MT (KS but you must draw a tag). Mule Deer/Antelope in MT or NM. Elk/Antelope in NM. Mountain Lion in AZ, etc. All are fair chase. Most hunts are on private land. Our State allows 2 bucks per year. If you want to DIY, I'll be happy to assist you with information on where and how. LDK

David:
Please feel free to email me any info you have--prices and dates, etc.
Cal

Lots of replies--here, pm, and email. Thanks all and give me some time to sort it all out. I should do 1-2 hunts this year.
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
Having friends that drive year after year from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey and hearing of the massive hunter density I wouldn't / couldn't consider any of those.

I have 2 different lion guys...one NM the other from NV

PM coming Cal

i won't deny that there are a bunch of people in the woods of PA, many less in upstate NY BUT the experience of deer camp is something else when you get 15-20 people doing drives

Cal, After wanting a mountain lion for about 40 years, buying tags and hoping to run across one while hunting deer and elk in my home states of Colorado and Montana, and even seeing three of them within 1/4 mile of my house, last year I finally booked a lion hunt with JT Robbins in Fruita, Colorado.

See my report "Colorado Mtn Lion November 201..." in the Hunting Reports section. JT also does elk hunts, and driving from my cat hunt back to his house, we passed fields with hundreds of elk in them.

Cal,

I sent you a private message.

Wyoming is far and away your best bet for pronghorn. MT can be ok, but the best units are draw only.

MT has some nice whitetails along the rivers, and you can get nice racks and plenty of meat without paying what you might in the golden triangle or WI/MN. It depends on what you want.

Elk populations in MT and parts of ID have been affected by a number of problems. NM seems to have the best density of outstanding Elk.

Hi Cal:

If you want to send me a PM, I'll give you a call. I am not a guide or a booking agent. However, I have a good friend who has some outstanding ranch leases (free range) for elk, deer, and antelope. I can't recommend him enough! He's honest, hard working, and knows how to hunt. The hunts are in Utah and Wyoming.

I hunted mountain lion with a great guide in Montana- 2 years ago. Took a very large Tom the first day. It exceeded my expectations!

Good Luck!!