What's on your hunting bucket list?

Northern Shooter

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Whether it be strictly a specific game species, a different region of the Country, another Country entirely or type of firearm used, what's on your bucket list? As a Ontario Hunter, most of the game I'd like to hunt resides outside of the Province and is located in Western Canada. Due to this fact, I'll likely require an outfitter and guide for most of these bucket list hunts.

1. Rocky Mountain Elk hunt (guided) in either AB or BC. Never hunted in the mountains, never hunted elk. It seems like the perfect introductory hunt into the rocky maintain terrain. As someone who mostly hunts from blinds, tree stands etc. I'm looking forward to a more active hunt where we can cover lots of ground. I'm told bugling for bulls ranks #1 for many hunters plus I love the taste of elk meat. I'm currently scheduling this hunt for 2026.

Side note - I'm actively putting in for the very limited Elk draws here in Ontario but they only draw something like 8 per year. Maybe I'll draw one 20 years from now.

2. Bison & Caribou hunt in Yukon Territory. These would be my number 2 and 3 species that I'd like to hunt, and given the options, I think I'd like to hunt both in the Yukon. From what I've been seeing, both the scenery and abundance of game cannot be beat anywhere in Canada. I may be booking this for the 2027/2028 season.

Side note, it appears that Manitoba allows for non-residents to do DIY caribou hunts ($360) so this may actually be a more affordable option for 2025.

3. Coastal brown bear - Alaska. Other than black bear I've never hunted dangerous game. This would be my first international hunt so I'd need to figure out the logistics of that firearms import/export, meat/trophy export etc. I know that Yukon and NWT are also options for Brown Bear but from what I'm seeing they cost many times what the Alaskan does, even after the conversion.

4. Rocky Mountain Goat/Sheep hunt in BC or Yukon. This one seems to be a bit more of a pipe dream given the sky high guided hunt costs. None the less, the thought of toughing it out in that elevation terrain for 10 days and pushing yourself to your limit sounds pretty epic. I think the elk hunt will act as a bit of a pre-cursor to this.

5. South African Plains Game & Cape Buffalo. Everyone has to hunt Africa at least once, right? The abundance of game, the relatively affordable price points, the scenery and culture. I'd get to put my dangerous game rifles to proper use and would likely bring the 338 and 458.


What's on your list?
 
I'm not a trophy seeker so don't have any bucket list hunts. I am quite content to bang away at critters locally I can put on the dinner table. However I have a few bucket list fishing trips I'd like to accomplish before I am no longer able.
 
Not a bucket list kind of person, but I still have yet to tag a moose or a whitetail.
Have done the bighorn sheep, goat, antelope, mule deer, and elk in my younger days.
I don't do as much big game hunting as I used to, but I will still try for moose if I can draw an LEH.
 
Man, I'm excited for mountain goat, caribou or sheep this coming year. Maybe a black bear before this fall season closes.

Looks like you're a BC resident so how does it work for locals with these game, drawn lottery? OTC? That's a pretty exciting season if you're going to have tags for all 3 next year.
 
They are all over the counter tags. Cost me between 30 and 60 dollars each. I can enter for limited entry draw and I will do that for spatzizi. But if that doesn't workout I'll go up north with general open season tags.
 
bucket list hunts..... I've been pretty fortunate over the years to hunt most of BC. Some hunts by lottery (LEH) and most by way of general open seasons.
All the tags in BC are over the counter or purchased online and come in the mail. Whether you can hunt the species of tag you bought depends on what general open seasons are availlable or your success in the LEH draws.

I do have a couple hunts onmy want to do list.
I'd like to harvest a big bull elk. Doesn't need to be a trophy but a legal 6x6 would be nice. Overall I would just like to start elk hunting every year and be successful before the body won't let me do these things.
When I started hunting on my own it was all about bighorn sheep and waterfowl..... then I wrecked my body and can't shoot a shotgun anymore and the terrain the sheep reside in is not condusive to a guy that's wrecked like me LOL
I would still like to harvest a mature bighorn ram one day.

Pronghorn are on my list..... always been fascinated by those animals.

the only other animals I would love to hunt would Ibex , european red stag and wild pigs.
 
Being born in BC, and living in the province practically all my life [except a couple of years in Alberta]
I have had the privilege of harvesting practically every legal animal here, and in AB.

I would not mind chasing a feral pig, but other that that, I am happy to settle for another Elk, or Moose
for table fare. My old frame is not what it used to be, so another goat or sheep is not viable.
Whitetails and Muleys are still on the menu though. I have access to farmland where they can be found.

It has been a wonderful 65 years of hunting though. I think I should be satisfied to fill an easy tag. EE
 
Anyone heard of Markhor? They're a goat, you can hunt em in Tajikistan iirc. Crazy ass spiral horns on em!

science.abn0745-f1.jpg
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As many have pointed out, being a BC resident gives me a lot of opportunity without having to shell out guide money, so rather than a bucket list I have a few dream hunts that I dream of doing but likely won't get to all of them - or even most of em. In no particular order:

1) Markhor. Just look at those horns.

2) New Zealand for tahr, chamois, red deer. Always wanted to go to NZ, can't think of a better reason than to chase cool critters in even cooler landscapes.

3) Africa plains hunt. But a wild hunt, not high fence. Might not be much of that left by the time I'm financially capable of such a trip though.

4) Coues Deer in the Sky Islands of Arizona or Mexico.
 
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Mines a moose cow or bull doesn't matter never ate one so like to taste . Moose is difficult as I have no friends or family and have to have 2 people to hunt one here. Plus a whitetail buck here in Quebec.
 
Anyone heard of Markhor? They're a goat, you can hunt em in Tajikistan iirc. Crazy ass spiral horns on em!

science.abn0745-f1.jpg
.

As many have pointed out, being a BC resident gives me a lot of opportunity without having to shell out guide money, so rather than a bucket list I have a few dream hunts that I dream of doing but likely won't get to all of them - or even most of em. In no particular order:

1) Markhor. Just look at those horns.

2) New Zealand for tahr, chamois, red deer. Always wanted to go to NZ, can't think of a better reason than to chase cool critters in even cooler landscapes.

3) Africa plains hunt. But a wild hunt, not high fence. Might not be much of that left by the time I'm financially capable of such a trip though.

4) Coues Deer in the Sky Islands of Arizona or Mexico.

That's a good list. I have heard of the Markhor but only because of Jim Shockey
That would be an interesting hunt.
 
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