As many state's lottery deadlines approach, I have been thinking a lot about what hunt to plan for this up-coming year other than the default of whitetail hunting at home (MN). I am sure many of you are doing the same.



What hunts are you guys and gals planning for in 2013?



I have a couple of points in SD for pronghorn and west river deer, but found out non-residents can no longer apply for pronghorn... may be west river deer DIY on a budget!

Black bear in Maine and in North Carolina and possibly in Virginia. Whitetail in Virginia and North Carolina, and wild hogs in North Carolina as well. That will pretty much encompass the year.

Hopefully antelope here along with elk and deer, whitetail or mule deer, not sure yet.

Simple year for me, 2013 will be my first year using only a revolver though

I have Cali blacktail deer, black bear, and hog plus maybe a little coyotte hunting.

No out of state hunts planned at the moment

Africa for cape buff and lion and plains game. Gonna take an eland in texas. A few more oryx in texas and elk in colorado

Of course hogs. Mule deer and coyotes on my property as well

Wow! Sounds like a "Bang-up" year, trademark! Looking forward to seeing the results....

No Kidding! I agree KRal! tradmark, you better post up some good pictures on how your 454s do the trick!

I will be anxious to know gun and bullet choices as the date nears on your Africa trip!

Tradmark I look forward to seeing pics of your lion!

Thanks guys. I think gary may try the same animals as well. The portion of the trip will be stalking kalahari loons on foot and should be a very exciting hunt. Were gonna take lioness'. The choice of taking a male lion or taking a lioness and bringing my oldest son was an absolute no brainer. Hes hoping to take a giraffe and various plains game but dad may let him shoot one of my animals. Heck, hes a better shot than me anyway. I think ill be using a combo of swift 325 gr aframes and 325 gr barnes busters loaded to the same point of impact and the same bullets will likely be loaded in his 460 brass as well. Though we may use barnes 275 gr xbps in his. Those are just such an incredible performing bullet. Hope to get good pics and some great video.

Tradmark, What part of Africa are you planning to hunt?

south africa

Did you plan to register your guns yourself with the SAP? I will never forget the pain that was

The second trip over, I used Air2000 to help getting my guns into country. I have to say money well spent, we went through the office in minutes and were on our way to camp. Best way to go..

I will open up in central Kentucky in the first week of their gun season. My XP 358 and Encores in 6.5-284,30.06,7mm08 and 25.06 are all candidates to make the trip. I will then be doing the first Illinois gun hunt with my new Encore 300 AAC Blackout Bergara along with the trusty Encore 454.
Hog hunting on my place here in Alabama this weekend with the XP and 454. Hope to have pictures soon!

Im using the service through gracie travel. Whom is who our ph uses regularly and evidently they do a great job

I'm on year 8 of my Maine Moose draw with finger's crossed. I'm also planning to take my 11yrld. daughter on her first hunt this fall. I'm thinking about a canned pig hunt for her, we are gonna start working on her shooting skills with a 375mag. in an old Ruger Blackhawk that I'm planning for to use on the hunt.

Anyone have any suggestion on a good bullet choice in the 357 that she is gonna use on the hunt?

I've acquired some new hardware since last season ended. So I'm going to be doing some hunts with different guns this year.

I picked up the Colt Anaconda in 45 colt and am going to take it deer hunting with me here in Colorado. Possibly bears at the same time. We are on the verge of going mountain lion hunting, just need work to slow down a bit so I can turn things over to my relief supervisor and take a few days off.

The trusty 460 is going to be going for elk, but it will also have company. I am having the 500JRH built now, and it will be along on the elk hunt also. Anything under 100 yards will be the 500JRH. Anything beyond that will be the 460 since it is scoped.

I'll also be going to Wyoming for Antelope. The owner of the company I work for has a ranch up there, and wants to get rid of some of the speed goats. So I volunteered!!! Not sure which gun I'll be taking there, but I'm leaning towards the Anaconda.

I'd still like to do a javelina / hog hunt. But don't know if I can pull that one off or not. Still looking into it.

I think Coyotes are going to be first on the list, and that may happen in the next few days. Always wanted to shoot one of those "end for end" with my 460, but haven't done it yet. I hate coyotes... no, let me rephrase that... I HAAAAAAATE Coyotes. Can't wait to turn one of them inside out.

Linebaugh. Good choice! I got my daughter hooked on hunting through. Various levels of canned hunts. Now she wants to chase bears and go to africa with me!

I love to hear stuff like this. I actually think I'm more excited over the pig hunt then the impending possible moose hunt.
I can't wait till the snow breaks so I can get started on shooting with her.

Africa for Lion & Buffalo and hopefully some oryx cross breeders for meat next month.

Morons.....who

Whit, where will you be hunting bear at in NC?

Did I miss something?

yeah I went back a page thinking I missed something too...

Kingfisher?

I think a hit and run so to speak

yeah i guess so lol. That was weird

tradmark or Gary, how many people are going to africa with you guys?

Right now just 3

Right now it looks like Colorado in october for elk. Whitetails in Georgia. If any hogs show themselves around any of the farms I have acess to I'll work in a hog hunt also.

I have a couple of points in SD for pronghorn and west river deer, but found out non-residents can no longer apply for pronghorn... may be west river deer DIY on a budget! [/quote]

North Dakota has not had an antelope season for three years and can only imagine the SD herd numbers are also down.

Not any thing real big or exciting for me, probably try and find a new spot in Wy for antelope, depending upon my sons thoughts. maybe muledeer in the badlands, tags are rare.

I'm waiting to see what James has knocking around in his head.......that will make up my decision.

looking to do some small game hunting.

Re booked in Ohio for shotgun, I will be taking the PC. 460, the MGM 460, encore and the MGM 357 Max, 3 tags and a target friendly envirement.

Deer here at home and hopefully be drawn for a KY elk tag.

Would love to go down south hog hunting but it ain't happening this year.

My next big game hunting goal has been to guide my son Joe to a nice trophy bull elk; he hasn't killed an elk yet. Joe has been applying for a special GMU in Colorado for a good many years and hopes to draw soon.

Other than that, I will be guiding a few handgun hunters for antelope in Wyoming. And then just the usual deer and elk hunts after that.

North Dakota has not had an antelope season for three years and can only imagine the SD herd numbers are also down.

Not any thing real big or exciting for me, probably try and find a new spot in Wy for antelope, depending upon my sons thoughts. maybe muledeer in the badlands, tags are rare.

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Yeah I have heard you guys have had it tough over there too. hopefully they rebound in a couple of years.

I might start looking at WY for pronghorn also in case I want to do a goat hunt anytime soon

Lord willing, I plan on a deer/boar hunt in Ohio with the XP-100 .308.

I'll be putting in for mule deer and elk firearms on the east side of the state as well as antelope. I'll also put in for spring bear hunt. If I don't draw I'll be bowhunting for deer and elk but I also pack a revolver for back up and bear and cats. I'll probably carry the FA I picked up a couple months ago, it's a 4 3/4" fixed sight 83 in 454. If I do draw I'll pack my own custom 8" 454.

Friday my Dad and I attended the Springfield Sportsmans Show where a number of outfitters and guides set up booths to sell hunts. Our intention was to glean as much information as possible from this day out and plan a hunt together for the fall of 2013.

We chatted with a large number of guides and have more or less narrowed it down to the following:

1. A combination deer and feral hog hunt in Eastern North Carolina.

2. A combination deer and feral hog hunt in South Carolina.

3. A wild boar/feral hog hunt in Florida .

Out of state Fallow deer. ASAP