Own your Own Whitetail land, but also go on guided, out of state hunts?

I’ve shot two does on public this year and seen several others. Every hunt is with a stand on my back, free of charge except gas and taxes, but it’s been super rewarding. This has made me a better hunter and appreciate my own place more. Would like to try some public in other states at this point as opposed to paying for a guide.


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I joined a lease for a farm in Illinois about ten years ago and went two years in a row. It was a good time and we saw some great deer but I don't have the desire to go anywhere else to hunt whitetails. Now heading out west is a different story. I love going to Colorado every year elk hunting and plan to go every year going forward. Once I went on my first elk archery hunt I realized that sitting in a tree stand waiting for a whitetail to walk by was pretty boring in comparison. I would also like to go on a out of state duck hunt one day with my son.
 
I own 200 acres that I manage for deer here in Georgia just because I like working the land. For sure, I will never produce the kind of buck I want to shoot due to the surrounding property owners. But, it is a good stress reliever and good exercise so how do you put a price tag on that? I hunt in northwest Nebraska for whitetails, antelope, turkeys, ducks, and geese EVERY year and have since 2000. Friends own the land and let us stay in a house they own so it is all DIY. Killed some really nice bucks there but the size has kinda maxed for me so I haven’t killed a deer there since a 150” in 2015. I went on an outfitted hunt in Kansas last year (they provide the land and accommodations) on which I killed the biggest buck I’ve ever killed—a153” 4x4. So, I’m going again this year. That experience will determine if I go again next year.
 
I own a small property that is special to me because it’s mine. There’s no where else I’d rather hunt because of what I put into it and what it means to me. I do hunt out of state and am not opposed to using guides. If I’m hunting out of state it’s for an experience that I can’t really get in Indiana. Elk or Mt Lion out west, pheasants in Dakotas, etc. I don’t have much desire to hunt whitetails out of state, but that’s mainly because if I’m spending the time and money I want to do something that I cannot do in my own backyard.


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Good thing about Indiana that folks like Triple C and I can't enjoy is we don't have whopper bucks in our backyard. We got to travel to find those. Now if I want to kill does, raghorns, and dinks, I'm in heaven at the farm.
 
We are pretty lucky here as we can kill some 150-170 class deer with a short stroll from our house...sometimes even from the house if we are watching...
I used to enjoy south Texas Javelina hunting though. No guides...just paid for access...
 
THE LLC said:
Good thing about Indiana that folks like Triple C and I can't enjoy is we don't have whopper bucks in our backyard. We got to travel to find those. Now if I want to kill does, raghorns, and dinks, I'm in heaven at the farm.
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Ha, Ha. Indiana is getting to the point you are lucky to see a Deer. Our DNR has not responded to the crisis quick enough, and our population is in a downward spiral.
 
Stonewall said:
Curious how many people out there own their own piece of dirt that they manage for whitetails, but also go (whether annually or every few years) on guided hunts? What other types of guided hunts do you go on....also whitetail, or different species alltogether? If whitetail, why do you do that? Do you ever struggle with the amount of time or money you spend on either, taking away from the full potential of the other? If you have been doing this for a long time, what advice would you give to other people who try to do both?
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I've always wanted a massive chocolate colored rack from Canada, and a WIDE droptine buck from down south! Will probably never do either one. Money just isn't plentiful enough to justify those expenses, and I have good hunting at home.

When the wife and I committed to building our house on the land we knew the financial ramifications. We went from having our house and debt completely paid off (except for the occasional car purchase) to having a substantial burden. We are doing fine, but the land and new house means a different strategy that does not include a Canadian hunting trip. So... to answer your question; I desire to go on guided hunts but not as much as I desire to live on the land and hunt there.
 
We largely have everything I could NEED to hunt on my land in northern MN. We are also right next to all the proposed wilderness that they (the state, RMEF and others) want to reintroduce Elk into, so that would be great if in my lifetime we had a huntable population beyond just the 30 or so tags we offer annually for NW MN.

Whitetails, Bear, Grouse, pheasants, waterfowl.

That being said, I am moving towards doing a mule or elk hunt annually. Luckily I know some guides and long time hunters out there that have all helped me plan, but I will be doing the final planning and hunting alongside some buddies. We plan to make a week long trip of it yearly, camp at a trailhead and give the mountains hell. The idea formulated around it being a bucket list trip for my father (he's canoe hunted and killed a moose in the yukon already) to kill an elk. I hunt almost entirely for meat, but I would be a liar if I said a big rack on the wall doesn't get me excited.

I also have connections in Alaska that have offered for moose and caribou, but that will take some more convincing from my wife to get out there.

If you look at the cost of DIY public land out west, you can keep the cost outside of the tags to a very minimum.

I've looked at purchasing land in Wisconsin so I can extend my whitetail season, but it's hard to swallow the tag fees for out of staters for whitetails.
 
DRandall90 said:
We largely have everything I could NEED to hunt on my land in northern MN. We are also right next to all the proposed wilderness that they (the state, RMEF and others) want to reintroduce Elk into, so that would be great if in my lifetime we had a huntable population beyond just the 30 or so tags we offer annually for NW MN.

Whitetails, Bear, Grouse, pheasants, waterfowl.

That being said, I am moving towards doing a mule or elk hunt annually. Luckily I know some guides and long time hunters out there that have all helped me plan, but I will be doing the final planning and hunting alongside some buddies. We plan to make a week long trip of it yearly, camp at a trailhead and give the mountains hell. The idea formulated around it being a bucket list trip for my father (he's canoe hunted and killed a moose in the yukon already) to kill an elk. I hunt almost entirely for meat, but I would be a liar if I said a big rack on the wall doesn't get me excited.

I also have connections in Alaska that have offered for moose and caribou, but that will take some more convincing from my wife to get out there.

If you look at the cost of DIY public land out west, you can keep the cost outside of the tags to a very minimum.

I've looked at purchasing land in Wisconsin so I can extend my whitetail season, but it's hard to swallow the tag fees for out of staters for whitetails.
Click to expand...
Keep an eye out for CWD, cause the DNR is hauling those elk in from an endemic area and they're not testing them before transplanting.
 
Stonewall said:
Curious how many people out there own their own piece of dirt that they manage for whitetails, but also go (whether annually or every few years) on guided hunts? What other types of guided hunts do you go on....also whitetail, or different species alltogether? If whitetail, why do you do that? Do you ever struggle with the amount of time or money you spend on either, taking away from the full potential of the other? If you have been doing this for a long time, what advice would you give to other people who try to do both?
Click to expand...

I bowhunt (I only really care to Bowhunting and find zero challenge or enjoyment or satisfaction in killing stuff with a gun) on my land and my leases and on public land and in many many states for things like whitetail deer, Hawaiian Vancouver bull, Hawaii pigs, Florida alligators, Water buffalo, Red Stag, Eurasian boar, Russian Boar, Bear, Idaho Elk, etc. I also kill deer for the local municipality with my bow and have take 13 deer this year. Im working on an Africa Bowhunt. Public, private, guided, outfitted, low fence, high fence, no fence, walk in, I dont give a rats jazz, If I have a bow in my hand and am seeing new lands and hunting new species, Im a happy man and If I can do it year round, Big win.

I feel sad for those that only hunt one species on the same piece of land. That would bore the hell out of me. That sounds like a miserable existence that a person only tolerates rather than celebrates. I like to travel and hunt year round and go after many species. A traveling bowhunter has to travel. Pic attached are just some of my bow kills in the last two seasons. Nearly 8,000 lbs of live weight archery kills. All the new lands and species and memories is what drives me. Frankly after killing 140 deer, they have become common place so other species keeps bowhunting exciting. As far as guides and outfitters go, Some species I want to hunt, I cant do it without a guide or an outfitter. (Like Africa or My bow hunts in Hawaii) I cant imagine the mindset that would object but I also dont understand liberals yet I know they exist.

The money is not an issue and I own my own bowhunting products company so Im always testing the bowhunting gear Ive designed for my company or other companies that hire me so its part of the job I really enjoy to test the effectiveness of the new products on live game plus and adventure bowhunter is always looking for his next adventure bowhunt.

And I would like to take a deer with a bow in every state that has deer but my biggest deer (164" whitetail) was taken on my own land.
 

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MarkDarvin said:
Keep an eye out for CWD, cause the DNR is hauling those elk in from an endemic area and they're not testing them before transplanting.
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My understanding (I haven't looked into it in a while) was that they planned to source the Elk potentially from the Kentucky herd, and I don't remember hearing they had CWD issues.

The other more likely option is from the WI herd, which I also have not heard much about CWD there, but with Wisconsin's complete mismanagement of CWD it would not surprise me.

I'm hoping for the best, but I think we are still over a decade away from anything actually happening in the Nemadji state forest and surrounding habitat.
 
Ron Kulas said:
I feel sad for those that only hunt one species on the same piece of land. That would bore the hell out of me. That sounds like a miserable existence that a person only tolerates rather than celebrates.
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No need to feel sad for us poor souls that have no desire to chase whitetails anywhere other than our own properties or leases. We doing pretty good and loving every minute of it. Have a buddy that outfits in KS and has invited me out several years. For some odd reason I just have no desire to go. Rather chase what we have on our own place. Got a buddy in NE that comes down each year to hunt my farm. He's been sending pics of huge bucks in his area. Prolly gonna go hunt with him next year because I enjoy his company so well but not because his deer are bigger. Now for other species, waterfowl and birds, I'm all about it. But for whitetails, prefer to chase em on my own dirt.
 
Ron Kulas said:
I bowhunt (I only really care to Bowhunting and find zero challenge or enjoyment or satisfaction in killing stuff with a gun) on my land and my leases and on public land and in many many states for things like whitetail deer, Hawaiian Vancouver bull, Hawaii pigs, Florida alligators, Water buffalo, Red Stag, Eurasian boar, Russian Boar, Bear, Idaho Elk, etc. I also kill deer for the local municipality with my bow and have take 13 deer this year. Im working on an Africa Bowhunt. Public, private, guided, outfitted, low fence, high fence, no fence, walk in, I dont give a rats jazz, If I have a bow in my hand and am seeing new lands and hunting new species, Im a happy man and If I can do it year round, Big win.

I feel sad for those that only hunt one species on the same piece of land. That would bore the hell out of me. That sounds like a miserable existence that a person only tolerates rather than celebrates. I like to travel and hunt year round and go after many species. A traveling bowhunter has to travel. Pic attached are just some of my bow kills in the last two seasons. Nearly 8,000 lbs of live weight archery kills. All the new lands and species and memories is what drives me. Frankly after killing 140 deer, they have become common place so other species keeps bowhunting exciting. As far as guides and outfitters go, Some species I want to hunt, I cant do it without a guide or an outfitter. (Like Africa or My bow hunts in Hawaii) I cant imagine the mindset that would object but I also dont understand liberals yet I know they exist.

The money is not an issue and I own my own bowhunting products company so Im always testing the bowhunting gear Ive designed for my company or other companies that hire me so its part of the job I really enjoy to test the effectiveness of the new products on live game plus and adventure bowhunter is always looking for his next adventure bowhunt.

And I would like to take a deer with a bow in every state that has deer but my biggest deer (164" whitetail) was taken on my own land.
Click to expand...
I somehow get the impression you read through these threads and then start telling stories...
It is really hard to follow you when the rut hunt you went on this year with the babysitter ended up with you trashing him on your blog because he didn’t spread enough corn on front of the stand he placed you in...Ohio I think it was...
 
OkieKubota said:
I somehow get the impression you read through these threads and then start telling stories...
It is really hard to follow you when the rut hunt you went on this year with the babysitter ended up with you trashing him on your blog because he didn’t spread enough corn on front of the stand he placed you in...Ohio I think it was...
Click to expand...
Don't think he's going to be responding...
I am a little lost on the guy. Reading his posts had me thinking he does a lot on Boards for bowhunting, but I also read that maybe he was caught illegally hunting over bait several yrs ago. Do I have that right, or am my mistaken?
 
catscratch said:
Don't think he's going to be responding...
I am a little lost on the guy. Reading his posts had me thinking he does a lot on Boards for bowhunting, but I also read that maybe he was caught illegally hunting over bait several yrs ago. Do I have that right, or am my mistaken?
Click to expand...
That’s what happened...I know he is gone from here but the word “narcissist” comes to mind...
 
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