Good US hunt on a Budget

I know, everyone wants to have a great hunt for a cheap price. What I'm looking for is a good experience, some potentially great meat, and a cool trophy to remember it by. This year I'll be doing a javelina/ram hunt end of this month as well as a stag/muntjac in England in October. This brings me to next year. I've looked at nialga(sp), antelope, black bear, aoudad, etc. My only restrictions are, less than $3000, continental US, free range, and can be done in a week vacation.

What would everyone choose and where with these criteria?

Thanks
Dale

Pronghorn in Texas. I'm not sure of the going rate, but I seem to recall prices being in that neighborhood.

Not continental US, but close. Look at the discussion below on blacktailed deer hunting on POW Island.

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbth...unt#Post6648514

Or, just head up to the Panhandle and spend the week hunting ducks, geese, cranes, pheasants, and quail. You can do all guided hunts for 5 or 6 days and stay within your budget. Plus, finding your own spots to hunt isn't all that hard (many will let you hunt if you just ask).

I looked before posting and didn't see that other post you linked. Same idea but post has been derailed by the Alaska suggestion. I love the idea of Alaska but I fear the cost will climb rapidly to make it all I would want an Alaskan hunt to be. I see a lot of recommendation for antelope there as well. I'm not a huge bird hunter and am more looking for "big game".

I actually live in SC and we have whitetail and hogs but that's about it so always looking for a new animal and scenery

Like many, I think a pronghorn hunt in any western state would fit your bill. My order of states would be NM, WY, CO, TX. These rankings are based on the likely quality of the scenery on each hunt, not trophy quality. NM has the best mix of both IMO. Your budget will allow for a top-notch hunt.

Other states like NV, UT, MT may also be good choices but I am not as familiar with their pronghorn hunting options/quality.

I agree with the pronghorn suggestion ... NM, WY, TX

Axis or blackbuck

If your wanting good table fair that limits you

We hunted pronghorn in 2015 in Wyoming. Was a fun hunt and it was probably the cheapest hunt you can do

They are not the best eating however if your real hung up on that.

Pronghorn in Wyoming would be my selection. You can also squeeze an DIY Over the counter (OTC) elk tag in some parts of Colorado. Biggest cost is simply getting there and having food, coolers and all the other equipment you need in the bed of your truck.

Free range axis in Hill Country, TX. Plenty of outfitters with big deer and should be done in a couple of days. Seen many weekend packages with meals and lodging go for $2500.

Pronghorn in NM and TX..is more than the 3k mark...Nilgai is a good option I always enjoy a Nilgai hunt--and if your selective should take about 2 days with travel 3 days are taken leaving you time for family and other things on a week va-Kay...Aoudad for a trophy ram in west texas has crept about $3.5K-4.5k for a 4 day hunt...again outside of your budget. The Alaska option above will exceed the $3K mark with travel and logistics. Don't know where your at but barring travel--I'd say a hog/ female exotic hunt, a cougar hunt with dogs--can be found for that amount of cash...and the nilgai hunt will yield a lot of good table fare and is a fun--usually low stress hunt..

Ed

I'm actually located in South Carolina.

What I see from some google searching is Montana is OTC and great success. Cost I see for 3 or 4 days is $2000 fully furnished which leaves $1000 for flight and they pick you up at airport. Anyone hunt Montana pronghorn? I'm starting to lean towards pronghorn in fall 2018 and black bear spot/stalk in spring 2018

Free range axis is something I'll be looking at now as well!

We spend a good deal of time in MT, but fishing instead of hunting. It is a beautiful state so if you can get a tag to hunt them there you will not regret it.
I'm told the spot and stalk bear hunting is a great experience too.

It will be two totally different hunts as the pronghorn hunt will be in the rolling to flat open terrain in the east and the bear hunt would be in the mountains of the south/west.

Good luck!