DIY hunting in the USA, suggestions where to go?

[PrechtlM98]

Hello,

I'm just at the beginning of my next plan, but
within the next five years, I'd like to ship my 4x4 camper for one year to the states.

As far as I figured out, it is not that complicated to get tags for hunting on
public land as a foreigner.

In general it should be one year off for overlanding, with the possibility to hunt
from time to time, with some breaks for fishing ;-).
As far as I have learned you have pretty short hunting seasons
for most mammals, so maybe the trip should be planed by hunting season (I think Maine has
other seasons than Florida or Colorado?).

What would you suggest where to go and what to hunt and when? Arriving at the eastcost, time for one year!
Could it be a problem to travel with a weapon in some states (Gunsave is installed), maybe better to skip some
states?

Best regards

PM

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Welcome aboard!

Quick planning notes for you;
1. Almost all USA big game seasons fall within September through December. There is however spring gobbler seasons for male turkeys. Very sporting!
2. In USA game belongs to the people of each state and is managed by states' departments of natural resources or fish and game . One needs a hunting license for each state. Further, tags for big game such as bear and elk may be drawn by lottery system. Much research and planning will be helpful to you!
3. Most sporting rifles are legal throughout the continental USA. Firearm license are only required in very large cities. For a tourist visa, there may be some restrictions...
Semi automatic rifles and magazines more than five rounds are sometimes restricted. Same for bottle neck cartridges like a .30-06 used for big game near urban areas or in very flat terrain. The 450 Bushmaster class cartridges are legal in those areas and are good for at least 150 yard clean kills.
4. Summer shooting of prairie dogs in the Midwest or woodchucks in the east was always one of my favorites.
5. Most if not all states require hunters education although probably less than in Europe. Bring proof of hunting and safety training. Worse case, bring prior hunting licenses.
6. Some states have much public lands and others have little. Look for national forests , state forests, state game lands, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands and so on.

The above is but a guide. Others will provide much more information...

PS: Make sure your 4x4 camper is legal in the USA. It may be less expensive to lease a truck and camper here for a year.

 

[JimP]

You would be a lot better off by forgetting the hunting part and just enjoy traveling around visiting the National Parks that are here.

As was mentioned most hunting is restricted to the fall months and while a number of states offer over the counter licenses and tags finding the animals can be quite difficult. Where I live in Colorado even seasoned hunters go home empty handed.

If you do still want to experience hunting here in the US, I suggest that you decided on what animals you want to hunt. Then figure out what states offer the best chances for these animals and take a look at their licensing system and tag allotments before committing to a large financial outlay.

 

[Field28]

Couple of trips I've been thinking about.
Black Hills turkey hunt.
One of my sisters has a place that borders Deschutes National forest in Oregon.
That would be either a blacktail/ fly fishing trip or turkey/fly fishing trip.

One trip that I will do in the next couple of years is a fly fishing trip to Outlaw Canyon in Wyoming. Very remote, said to be some of the most voracious trout in the world.
Added perk of the trip is that you get to see the caves that Butch and Sundance hid out in.

 

[skydiver386]

Hunting is different depending on whether you are east or west of the Mississippi river.

Although there are huge public lands in the Western States, drawing a tag for a specific species can be difficult. It often takes years to build up bonus points toward drawing a big game tag of any sort.

In the Eastern States, most tags can be purchased at retail outlets or online at the same time you purchase your hunting license. There are places to hunt and camp on public land, but they can be over hunted. Yes, the seasons can be short, but if you hunt with a bow or crossbow, the season can be from September till the end of January. Feral hogs are considered a nuisance and can be hunted year round in many states.

The biggest question is what species do you want to hunt? Once you've answered that you can plan accordingly.

 

[WildWill]

First remember you will need a hunting license and tag for every state you intend on hunting. Many are over the counter but certain hunts especially in the western US and some more sought after like moose in the east are draw hunts.

Few questions?

1:Are you only interested in big game or is bird and small game on the menu?
2: Is fishing something you'd be interested in?
3: Are backpack wilderness type hunts something you're interested in or more day trip type hunts?
4: Do you bowhunt?
5: Whats your budget for tags and license? I ask because some hunts like pronghorn are not very easy to get OTC (unless archery) but landowner tags are but not cheap.
6: When do you plan on starting the trip?


If it were me I'd come over in let's say June. Cruise down the east coast fishing saltwater all the way to Florida then over to the gulf in Texas. Around August I'd head towards the rockies shooting a pronghorn in NM if the money was there. I would spend most of September in Colorado and Wyoming in the mountains listening to elk bugle even if I didn't have a tag always lots of grouse to hunt. October is when your options really start to open up and from then till December there's too many options to name. I would highly recommend if you want a true US hunting experience find some where to hunt whitetail deer from late Oct to late Nov. If planned accordingly you could probably rifle hunt public lanf across the south or Midwest with a rifle or muzzleloader for most of the fall. In December I'd do some duck hunting while working my way to the SW. I'd spend January and February going from the big bend country in west Texas to the grand canyon in Arizona and back. There's a possibility of a javelina tag in AZ but involves a draw system. Again if I had the money I'd end my trip in west Texas with a Auodad hunt (javelina would be cheaper) but these will be private guided or semi guided hunts. I'd spend March hunting pigs in Oklahoma (my home state) or a state further SE. Then spend all of April and May chasing turkeys. Again too many OTC options to go into but I'd focus around TN,KY,NC area. It's a gorgeous area part of our Appalachian trail has lots of public and OTC tags. Maybe head up towards Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire to chase birds in May to get that new England experience.



Sounds like a hell of an adventure. If you end up in Oklahoma I can help point you to some pretty good deer, turkey, hog, and duck hunting on public land.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

All, perhaps our new friend @PrechtlM98 desires to spend a year visiting the USA to enjoy the freedoms provided to her citizens and legal visitors. Most citizens of the USA don't appreciate our freedoms until we visit other countries.

What? How dare I say that! Try to buy ammunition in Zimbabwe as a surprise gift for your PH. It is going to legally happen! I bet I could not easily ammo in Germany.
A visiting German in the USA can buy a case of .50 BMG if they want to. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Buying a rifle on a tourist visa may be more complicated but... I bet if the home country is okay with it so is our ATF! Just fill out the additional paperwork...

If our German friend wants to peacefully protest a USA law, okay fine. That may be okay in Germany but not everywhere. God bless our founding fathers.

Now we are very restricted on suppressors and short barreled rifles but no country is perfect!

We are not however restricted on how many firearms we may own. Come on over to most any American AH member's home and go swimming in their gun safe... Want to shoot handguns? Mom, Apple Pie, and .45's!

Fifty years ago...
As a teenager some bozo placed tourist advertisements in a Quebec hunting magazine. Come to Potter County Pennsylvania where there is a deer behind every tree! Suddenly, we had many French-only speaking hunting parties. I guided one party but they had compasses and took maps. Who guided who? A couple times the game warden asked my father, originally from Northeast Maine (Acadia) to help him communicate with the French Canadians who where doing something illegal. My father told me that where the Quebecoise were from, they would never see a deer. In Potter County they would see many deer. The Quebecoise seemed very happy to hunt there!

Come, enjoy the USA! Hunt, fish, hike, shoot, visit gun shows, and upon return home, tell all of your experiences in the USA!

 

[jomw10]

You can definitely and legally buy rifle with a visitor visa in the US. It probably won't happen on a big retailer store due to their own policies but small shop may do it, well maybe not in California!.


Here is the section of the law:

An alien admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa is prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing a firearm or ammunition […]

[…] unless the alien falls within one of the exceptions provided in 18 U.S.C. 922(2), such as: a valid hunting license or permit, admitted for lawful hunting or sporting purposes […]

So, buy a hunting license, and then buy the rifle. You can buy ammo over the counter in most states.

You can always come to Texas and hunt any of the exotics we have over here. Season is open year around. It will be pricey. A few eastern states have some public land and deer tags are included in your license. Big game hunting in western states is going to be difficult, mostly draw hunts.

 

[skydiver386]

Two things I should have mentioned in my post above.

1. Randy Newburgh has a very good YouTube channel and his do it yourself Public Land videos would be right up your alley. His videos on each States license lottery system for big game tags would really help you in the application process.

2. Wyoming has unlimited across the counter whitetail doe tags available at the end of the general deer season. This is done mainly in the agricultural areas close to the towns, and suppressors are used. Securing some farm land to hunt on would be your biggest obstacle.

Bighorn Outfitters in Buffalo Wy has this listed on their website.

Guided Wyoming Whitetail Deer Hunts at Big Horn Outfitters

Big Horn Outfitters offers some of the best whitetail deer hunting in Wyoming with high success rates on bucks between 130" and 150".

www.bighornoutfitters.com

Tina and I hunted with them a few years ago and had a great time.

 

[Stetsonham]

As for Colorado here’s some hunts I think you could do with little planning.
OTC -over the counter

-Spring turkey is otc
-2nd and 3rd rifle elk is otc in a lot of units. Could be changing soon though.
-In the southwest corner of the state bear tags are very easy to get. You must draw but you can get them first year applying. Season is the month of September.

Those are the easiest ones I can think of. If you end up in sw Colorado I’m more than happy to lend you a gun. .416 rigby open iron for the bear ?? hahaha

 

[Firebird]

Big game would require ALOT of research and planning. Birds and fish however would be easy. Definitely hit the dakotas for pheasants, Arizona for quail, Idaho for chukars, Wyoming sage grouse and on and on. Most states the species overlap and you can do multiple species in a days hunting.
Fishing is the same thing, but a license, do some easy research and off you go. This would be the route I would pursue.
Big game would be much more complicated but still doable.
If you get to Utah in the spent-December months I would be happy to spend a couple days and see what birds and fish we can scratch up.

 

[Reed Thoma Outdoors]

There are lots of opportunities to hunt throughout the year.

Whitetail tags in many states are over the counter and can be fairly successful unless you are going for a really big buck.
Waterfowl and upland game can be done in most states pretty easily.
In Texas you can find hog, varmint, and some exotics for a fairly cheap price, as do other southern states like Florida.
Arizona has OTC Coues/mule deer and javelina archery hunts for a more mid-winter hunt.
Turkeys are always fun to chase in the springtime and is usually easy to get a tag.
Spring bear in Idaho and Montana is OTC.
Alaska has Sitka blacktail deer, moose, caribou, and bears that you can hunt OTC if you are up for more of an adventure.
But if you are wanting to hunt bigger game like elk its going to have to be Colorado OTC or you will have to get a landowner tag from somebody which can get expensive.

There are many opportunities available and if you are willing to pay to play then it can really open up more.

 

[DLSJR]

There is a window of time from around mid-September through the end of October when you’d really enjoy being in the western states, but especially Montana, Wyoming & Colorado. The hunting seasons are open, the weather is generally very nice, the fall colors are beautiful and you can wander to see the very best of the American western states.

Montana - lots of upland bird hunting for pheasants, sharp tail grouse, Hungarian partridge and also ducks & geese. It is the best time to fish legendary trout rivers such as the Yellowstone, Madison, Big Hole, Missouri and others. The crowds have diminished in the parks and you’ll enjoy rutting elk in Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks. The scenery is simply spectacular. You have excellent chances to see Grizzly Bears and Wolves, especially in Yellowstone.

Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park is just south of Yellowstone and is a ‘must see’ destination. In Wyoming you can pretty easily get permits to hunt mule deer & pronghorn antelope.

South Dakota - Mount Rushmore National Monument, outstanding pheasant hunting as well as duck & goose hunting.

If you plan to spend 6-12 months in the USA, I’d spend the fall enjoying the western states and wandering from north to south. I’d end in Arizona as the Grand Canyon is another ‘must see’ destination. The Colorado River has excellent fishing by drift boat below Glen Canyon dam and you should consider a whitewater raft trip through the Grand Canyon.

There is so much more but these are some random ideas or your trip.

 

[bashaw]

Couple of trips I've been thinking about.
Black Hills turkey hunt.
One of my sisters has a place that borders Deschutes National forest in Oregon.
That would be either a blacktail/ fly fishing trip or turkey/fly fishing trip.

One trip that I will do in the next couple of years is a fly fishing trip to Outlaw Canyon in Wyoming. Very remote, said to be some of the most voracious trout in the world.
Added perk of the trip is that you get to see the caves that Butch and Sundance hid out in.

You won't find Blacktail in the Deschutes National forest, you would need to be on the West Side of Cascades Willamette NF you would find Blacktails. If you want to hunt Mulies in the Deschutes NF you better start applying for points

 

[Ridge Runner]

As all have stated above, and I'm sure more will follow.

As for locations to hunt and fish first pick the animals and class of animals, and other critters you want to hunt.

Big game animals, ie. deer, bear, elk, moose, are bigger in the colder northern states and areas with vast amounts of agricultural fields. Moose don't live here in the southeastern US, the same as gators don’t live in the northern or western states. North Carolina and Tennessee you can purchase a sportsman's license that covers all fish species, and hunting seasons: big game, small game, birds, and waterfowl, plus put in for several quota hunts at no extra charge. In Tennessee the only additional permits required are: federal duck stamp for hunting waterfowl; for special quota hunts; and for Land Between the Lakes (LBL) permit.

You can find the full Tennessee Hunting and Fishing Regulations at tn.gov/twra or at gooutdoorstennessee.gov.

Tennessee has a lot of public hunting land: Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, U.S. and State Forestry lands, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineer lands.

If you find yourself wanting to hunt or tour Tennessee I would be glad to show you around.

 

[Ryan]

There are lots of opportunities to hunt throughout the year.

Whitetail tags in many states are over the counter and can be fairly successful unless you are going for a really big buck.
Waterfowl and upland game can be done in most states pretty easily.
In Texas you can find hog, varmint, and some exotics for a fairly cheap price, as do other southern states like Florida.
Arizona has OTC Coues/mule deer and javelina archery hunts for a more mid-winter hunt.
Turkeys are always fun to chase in the springtime and is usually easy to get a tag.
Spring bear in Idaho and Montana is OTC.
Alaska has Sitka blacktail deer, moose, caribou, and bears that you can hunt OTC if you are up for more of an adventure.
But if you are wanting to hunt bigger game like elk its going to have to be Colorado OTC or you will have to get a landowner tag from somebody which can get expensive.

There are many opportunities available and if you are willing to pay to play then it can really open up more.

Unfortunately, Alaska requires a guide for non-resident alien hunters for all species. That gets pricey for both the guide and tags.

 

[375Fox]

@PrechtlM98 What is a gunsave? If you mean a suppressor I would not consider traveling to US with it. Some states are more strict than others but it is still a federally regulated item with a different licensing process unless things change in the next few years. It could result in a lot of trouble for you.

 

[Safari Dave]

Here is my take...

Even though I hunt Africa on occasion, and in the Western US every few years, the southeastern US may offer the most liberal seasons and firearms restrictions.

(*** you have to pass a state-approved Hunter's Education to hunt in almost every state in the U.S., but every state is reciprocal, so a free class in Florida, Texas, or any other sate where you will buy a license is accepted by all other states, provided you are a prior customer of the state that OK'ed the course).

Assuming public land (in Georgia) for everything that follows (2024-2025 regulations) ...

You can hunt feral pigs with "small game weapons" (any bow, muzzleloader, or .22 caliber rimfire) starting August 15. (I've found a .22 WMR to be quite effective)

You can start hunting deer & bear with archery equipment (in addition to pigs) on September 14.

(There are some centerfire rifle bear hunts in the mountains in September).


You can start hunting deer & bear (and pigs) with muzzleloaders and archery on October 19.

(You can always shoot pigs with whatever weapon is legal for whatever game animal is in season).

You can start using centerfire rifles for deer & bear from October 19 through January 1 on most public land. (But proceed with caution, because many Wildlife Management Areas are only open for specific weeks during this period, but most Federal lands are open the entire time).

After "big-game" season closes on January 1, you can continue to hunt hogs with "small game" weapons until February 28.

(Feral hogs are always legal, but not on public land)

Then we have a "lull in action" until April 5 through May 15, when turkey season starts!

Turkey season starts on April 5 (2024) and hogs can be hunted with legal "turkey weapons" (any bow, muzzleloader, or shotgun loaded with #2 shot or smaller.)

#2 tungsten will kill a hog at 100 Meters!

So, if you consider hogs as big game animals, you can hunt them (in Georgia) from August 15 through May 15 on public land.

If you can find private land that you can hunt, they are available 24/7/365 with any firearm you choose!

In Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, or Tennessee, there is no "gun registration."

If you can legally own a firearm in the U.S. of A., you can legally carry it.
No problem, whatsoever, in the S.E. USA.

(Unless a private property owner or local Municipality forbids it).

Then, you just have to put it back in your car.


Freedom is great!


I, highly, recommend it.,..

 

[Reed Thoma Outdoors]

Unfortunately, Alaska requires a guide for non-resident alien hunters for all species. That gets pricey for both the guide and tags.

Oh ya, forgot about that part, sorry for the misinformation

 

[uplander01]

My advice would be get in touch with a ranching for wildlife property in Colorado or Wyoming, do whatever tag process they have and do an elk hunt. It will be the most detailed thing to organize on your trip. As far as the rifle, once you get it in the country and have it stowed properly in you overland travel rig I wouldn’t worry about it. Good luck, that sound like a fun year. Make sure you’re in Michigan in June/July and get in on some salmon fishing on Lake Michigan.