Hunting Bucket List

[marksman13]

Piggy backing off of the General Discussion thread on the same topic, what’s on your hunting bucket list? Personally, I want to kill a bull elk, complete the North American waterfowl slam, and kill a 170 inch whitetail before I turn 50. That gives me roughly 11 1/2 years. The waterfowl slam will probably be the most difficult considering I just killed my first duck last week, but 170” deer don’t grow on trees either. I’m not going to claim that any of those goals are attainable without spending a ton of money, but I guess that’s what makes it a bucket list right?

So, what’s on your hunting bucket list? I think it’s going to be extremely interesting to see what comes out of this discussion and see what other members see as bucket list hunts.

 

[courtgreene]

I realize that for some my bucket list is a typical hunting season, but in addition to deer (which to me are groceries) I would like elk, prong horn and a hog. In a dream world, add ibex to that.

 

[marksman13]

I realize that for some my bucket list is a typical hunting season, but in addition to deer (which to me are groceries) I would like elk, prong horn and a hog. In a dream world, add ibex to that.

I’d like to kill a pronghorn as well. We’re all dreaming here. That’s the whole point. If you find yourself in central Mississippi and want to kill a hog, we can scratch that one off your bucket list.

 

[courtgreene]

I’d like to kill a pronghorn as well. We’re all dreaming here. That’s the whole point. If you find yourself in central Mississippi and want to kill a hog, we can scratch that one off your bucket list.

If that happens I’ll holler. Hasn’t yet, but we never know where life will take us.

 

[Bazoo]

Deer with a handgun. Wasn’t able to get a good shot last season but came close.

Deer with a knife, though not legal here.

Bobcat with a handgun is on my short list. I’ve seen two bobcats, one when hunting deer but it wasn’t legal.

Elk, black bear, both with 30-30. Then maybe either with handgun.

Mountain lion with either levergun or handgun.

I’d like to go on a horse pack in hunting trip. Not necessarily big game. I like the idea of a mixed bag hunt, including some fishing.

 

[FL-NC]

I'd be happy finishing my turkey slam, getting a nice black bear, and some legit trophy white tails. No one comes to Fl to deer hunt- its just those of us who live here hunting the ones we got.

 

[marksman13]

Deer with a handgun. Wasn’t able to get a good shot last season but came close.

Deer with a knife, though not legal here.

Bobcat with a handgun is on my short list. I’ve seen two bobcats, one when hunting deer but it wasn’t legal.

Elk, black bear, both with 30-30. Then maybe either with handgun.

Mountain lion with either levergun or handgun.

I’d like to go on a horse pack in hunting trip. Not necessarily big game. I like the idea of a mixed bag hunt, including some fishing.

A pack hunt would be a blast. Seems like we’ve got enough members in the hunting forum to make something like that happen one day. It would be fun to meet up and pack in on horseback with some new friends on one of the planet’s last few real adventures.

 

[WestKentucky]

My bucket list has changed. Used to I would have said I wanted to do a North American grand slam of big game species. Now I just want a few… wild boar, pronghorn, and gator. My daughters are showing some interest so the biggest thing on my bucket list honestly is to say that all of my kids have killed a deer. I’m pretty close to the whitetail slam… I have killed with rifle, pistol, and bow. I need a crossbow kill and a shotgun slug kill to finish that off. It would be really nice to make that happen, but I wouldn’t call it bucket list worthy accomplishment… unless I do it with guns that I have personally built or rebuilt.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

First, and the most likely to happen soon, I want to take a deer with a handgun.

The other two hopefully eventually happen, but they will be down the road.
They are:
1. Caribou hunting in Canada
2. Hunting any big game in Alaska

 

[JmacD]

I’d like to get a good bull moose and elk. Like to get a 180-190 class whitetail. And I’d like to help my daughter become a hunter. That’s going to be fun!

 

[Axis II]

Well I scratched 2 off my list. 1) kill a big buck and goose hunt. If you call 125” and 154” big I have both. 2) Bull Elk with my 45-70 lever action or a bolt action rifle. 3) South Dakota pheasant. Been thinking about pronghorn cause it seems cheap but I have heard they taste nasty and hard to get.

 

[JmacD]

Well I scratched 2 off my list. 1) kill a big buck and goose hunt. If you call 125” and 154” big I have both. 2) Bull Elk with my 45-70 lever action or a bolt action rifle. 3) South Dakota pheasant. Been thinking about pronghorn cause it seems cheap but I have heard they taste nasty and hard to get.

Hmmm. Born and raised in SD. The pheasants are AWESOME!!!(I miss it!!) and I can tell you that if properly prepared(!!!!) pronghorn is very good. Some better than others, so it is with all the wild game I’ve ever had.

 

[Chuck R.]

I'm working on my bucket list hunt now, buying pts in WY for an Elk horseback pack hunt. Looking at 2024 or 2025, by then I'll have the points for the area and the guide lined up.

For at least a duck grand slam I only need a Fulvous tree duck. I've managed everything else. I've also gotten most of the geese, but need a dusky, pacific black brant, emperor to complete. A barnacle would be cool, but actually very rare in NA.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have a few lists in my bucket!
Alaskan moose/caribou hunt is one. I love the water. I would base my hunt near a river and use a boat to travel, and be able to indulge in another hobby....fishing.

Another real option for me would be an Alaskan coastal black bear hunt. The hunt is based on a larger boat where you fish and drop crab pots while you glass the coastline for bears. I think there is a very good chance that I will do this hunt in the next 5 years...
Fishing, hunting, eating fresh seafood...not really roughing it.

 

[Highland Lofts]

First, and the most likely to happen soon, I want to take a deer with a handgun.

The other two hopefully eventually happen, but they will be down the road.
They are:
1. Caribou hunting in Canada
2. Hunting any big game in Alaska

I wonder how hunting will be in Canada now. They just outlawed long guns there.

 

[Patocazador]

I like variety .. oddball variety. Of animals that are still legal to hunt and don't cost a fortune, mountain goat, javelina, brocket deer, and caribou. Of animals that do cost a fortune, bongo, chamois, tahr, and leopard.
#1 would be a jaguar or polar bear but both are protected.

 

[Laphroaig]

Any whitetail with my recurve.

Another elk hunt in the mountains.

 

[Patocazador]

I wonder how hunting will be in Canada now. They just outlawed long guns there.

I hadn't heard that. If so, Canada is where Pelosi and Schumer would be ecstatic.

 

[Bronco72]

Water Buffalo in Africa with a lever action rifle! I got the 50-110 as a retirement gift to me then talked to a fellow at the range who had been to Africa numerous times. About 10 or 15 years ago price was about $70K, everything included. I don't enough money to fill all the buckets with cash to go. I guess I will have to be satisfied with ground squirrels

 

[Frulk]

My hunting bucket list is pretty simple. Spend as many days as I can during the remaining years I have toting a 20 gauge around the woods during grouse season.

 

[burrhead]

My wife and I have our property up for sale and we're moving into town. After the sale I'll be able to justify the cost of a scimitar oryx. I've wanted one for years but it's a pretty expensive hunt. Would also like to get a big fallow. They're both excellent table fare to boot.

 

[ms6852]

I've been fortunate to fulfill most of my bucket list about the only thing missing is a whitetail or mule deer and an elk using a recurve bow. I don't see that happening as I am nearing 70 years of age and I am simply to lazy to go stalking. Am heavily thinking about breaking in to a petting zoo which could expedite my bucket list.

 

[Bazoo]

I’d like to find a friend in SE Alaska that would put us up and guide us or drop us off to hunt black bear. Stay bout a month and help with firewood or other chores of course.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Water Buffalo in Africa with a lever action rifle! I got the 50-110 as a retirement gift to me then talked to a fellow at the range who had been to Africa numerous times. About 10 or 15 years ago price was about $70K, everything included. I don't enough money to fill all the buckets with cash to go. I guess I will have to be satisfied with ground squirrels

There are no water Buffalo in Africa. There are Cape Buffalo and I’ve got an acquaintance who’s killed multiple Cape buffalo with his Lever Gun in .50 Alaskan. Just FYI you can hunt them for a lot cheaper than $70K.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I like variety .. oddball variety. Of animals that are still legal to hunt and don't cost a fortune, mountain goat, javelina, brocket deer, and caribou. Of animals that do cost a fortune, bongo, chamois, tahr, and leopard.
#1 would be a jaguar or polar bear but both are protected.

You can still hunt Polar Bear, you just can’t import any portion of a polar bear into the USA. Because climate change.. Despite the fact that Polar Bear populations are higher than ever and growing. The Antis got the ban on polar bear trophy importation passed based on climate change and the theoretical future decline of polar bears.