Don’t Dream it, Do it!

Dream hunts become a reality by taking action.  Want to hunt out West, bag a big hog in the South, or tackle a new whitetail property for a Kentucky velvet buck like this one by Stan Potts?  All these hunts are within your budget and capability, but you must begin the process, now.  The COVID pandemic forced a lot of people to try hunting because other recreational options were closed.  They loved it, surprise, surprise, and created greater competition for select hunting licenses, the kind we dream about.

Ready, Fire, Aim

This phrase was a marketing strategy for IBM and has great relevance when changing dream hunts into solid plans.  Nike would say “Just Do It, ” essentially the same concept.  Before working out all the details of a dream hunt, just decide to do it.  Once you have made that difficult decision, the path to completing that goal will suddenly become clearer.  You will find ways to raise the money, adjust your work calendar, and get tags for the animal you want to hunt.

Include Your Friends

Many years ago, I convinced my father to hunt mule deer in Colorado.  That led to our first elk hunt with more than a dozen to follow.  It was a cheap, DYI, adventure but we included several of his friends who were serious blue-collar hunters.  Although the hunt lasted only a few days, we discussed, debated, and dreamed about it for the entire year.  Once we learned the section of national forest, we hunted, our success soared.  Several of that group, I saw once a year, yet our dedication to the team was profound and every hunt was one we couldn’t wait to repeat.

Attend Sporting Shows

Once you have narrowed the choice of dream hunts, organize your group and attend a sporting show, like the NRA Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.  I once shared a campfire with a stranger in the Outback of Australia.  As we got to know each other, I asked how he found this hunt with the answer, “The Harrisburg Show.”  You will see numerous posts from the NRA GAOS in coming weeks, but it and others are the ideal way to meet an outfitter in person, ask the tough questions, and nail down a dream plan.

Include the Family

Women are among the fastest growing demographics in hunting.  In the old days, she stayed at home, but today’s gals may be just as excited about the adventure as you are.  If you take a week’s vacation and travel, it’s a “hunting trip.” If you take your spouse or children along, it becomes a “family vacation.”  Including your family in your dream hunts greatly enhances the probability of future adventures.  My three grandsons and daughter, shown above, absolutely loved their African adventure.  I cashed in a $2,000 stock purchase I had made 30 years previously and got every penny’s worth of interest in family enjoyment.

Search the Internet

Next to attending sporting shows and speaking with outfitters in person, the internet is a wonderful, time-efficient tool.  Searching for “Wyoming mule deer hunts” will bring up a host of possibilities but use the same discretion that you would use with any search.  The first website listed, isn’t necessarily the best but one the owner paid to have placed there.  Always follow up links with personal phone calls and ask for references.  You want a third party’s opinion on the hunt to get the complete picture.

Gear Up, Including You

In 2020, I took this great 6×6 bull elk on a DYI hunt in Idaho.  Barnett had just introduced the 430 Hyper Ghost that launched .210 diameter arrows for greater penetration.  The combination seemed perfect for this hunt and every aspect of gear was needed for a long-range shot.  Physically, get your body in shape for any hunt, even if it’s just across the state line.  Wear out a 3-D target and practice holding at full draw for long periods of time.  Build your muscles and stamina so you will be at your best at the moment of truth.

I’m the new Editor at Bowhunting.Net and I’d love to hear about your dream hunts.  Send a picture to [email protected]  and we’ll do our best to include it.  Hunt safely and begin 2024 with a dream hunt come true.