Coming over to the USA for a holiday

[63 Shiloh]

Hello all,

Due to the strength of our dollar I have decided to take my holidays in 2011 in the US.

I have been there before when I was in the Australian Army, we went to Hawaii and then to Fort Irwin in the Mojave desert. Had a bit of leave and got to see a few things.

This holiday I am planning will be around Sept 2011, I am very keen to do some hunting whilst over there.

Game I would like to hunt include Bear, Moose and Deer species.

Very keen on visiting Montana to have a look at the Shiloh, C Sharps and Cooper Arms factories. My plan is to hire a Winnebago and just drive across the country having some fun and meeting new people. There are a some tourist places I would like to visit. These include Montana, NYC, Las Vegas, Washington DC and other places as I do my research.

My question is, I am very keen to hunt Bear, is there a season for these? Any info on best time and even guides would be most welcome.


Mike

[44man]

I would love to have you for deer here in the eastern panhandle of WV, near Harpers Ferry. All you need is a license. You can shoot anything and I have stands all over. Gun season opens the Monday before Thanksgiving. Need a doe tag if you want one.
I hope you find a bear hunt, we have none here.
I hope you have a good time. :drinks:

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

Montana you should be able to hunt all three . . . not sure of the seasons . . . or cost.

How long do you plan on staying here? That is quite a trip, hurrying it could take three weeks, or could take you three months . . .

[runfiverun]

iirc sharps is in cody wyoming.
you can get there from billings montana or go through yellowstone park.
if you are going to cody you might as well see the buffalo bill museum that takes a day and a half.
and the dug -up relic museum which takes an hour or so but is pretty cool.
in most states in the west the hunting seasons for deer and elk are in october/but the bow hunting is usually in september.
in some units in idaho a non-resident deer tag can be used for bear instead.
the hunting in montana,wyoming and idaho is really becoming hit or miss because of the wolves.
even as far down as the south eastern part of idaho is beginning to feel the impact.

[koehn,jim]

Hunting is scarce in Los Angelus but we do have a good target range with metal sil targets out to 600 yards and trap and skeet plus the usual tourist stuff. Let me know if interested,

[montana_charlie]

iirc sharps is in cody wyoming.
The man from Australia is better informed.
CM

[spqrzilla]

If you are going to do any hunting with guides in the US, you need to get the hunt booked right away. If you are going to hunt without a guide, you really need to hook up with a local to get some guidance on how and where to hunt. These states are huge and take a long time to scout out.

If you are going to use public hunting licenses, the application deadlines for any license obtained through drawing will usually be some time early next year. The dates vary by state. Some states sell most or all licenses for some species in the drawing. If there are left over licenses those will be available for purchase later. Some species' licenses in some areas are available for purchase "over the counter" ie., by simple transaction without a drawing.

Montana used to reserve licenses for outfitters separately but I think that program was killed off by a voter initiative this election and so I'm not sure what the outfitters are doing for Fall.

Montana website:
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/default.html

Colorado:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/

Idaho:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/

Utah:
http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/hunting.html

If you need help interpreting game regulations, just ask.

By the way, every state in the US requires hunters to complete hunter education and carry proof of it during hunting ( although there are exceptions based on birth date in some states ). Be sure to check on that and schedule its accomplishment as necessary.

[spqrzilla]

As for driving across the country via Winnebago, most foreign visitors do not understand just how large the US is, especially European ones. However, as an Australian, you should understand the scope of driving across even the western states, much less to D.C.

[Old Ironsights]

If you are going to do any hunting with guides in the US, you need to get the hunt booked right away. If you are going to hunt without a guide, you really need to hook up with a local to get some guidance on how and where to hunt. These states are huge and take a long time to scout out.

If you are going to use public hunting licenses, the application deadlines for any license obtained through drawing will usually be some time early next year. The dates vary by state. Some states sell most or all licenses for some species in the drawing. If there are left over licenses those will be available for purchase later. Some species' licenses in some areas are available for purchase "over the counter" ie., by simple transaction without a drawing.

Montana used to reserve licenses for outfitters separately but I think that program was killed off by a voter initiative this election and so I'm not sure what the outfitters are doing for Fall.

Montana website:
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/default.html

Colorado:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/

Idaho:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/

Utah:
http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/hunting.html

If you need help interpreting game regulations, just ask.

By the way, every state in the US requires hunters to complete hunter education and carry proof of it during hunting ( although there are exceptions based on birth date in some states ). Be sure to check on that and schedule its accomplishment as necessary.

Agreed. I would also check with Joe Reikers at TAR Sports. He has properties/events all over.

http://www.webspawner.com/users/albemarle/

[spqrzilla]

Another useful link
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/nonimmigrant-aliens.html#what-form

[Suo Gan]

Sounds like a fun trip. You say you are keen for hunting bears. Hire a houndsman in the Klamath Mountains of California. The tags are over the counter, and the season lasts for five months. After you get a bear, get a bobcat, trophy blacktail, and a Russian boar. Hunting over bait might be another option in another state. If you opt to be a real sportsman and spot and stalk, the odds will be against you taking a bear unless you are in a small handfuls of areas. California has some monstrous bears. Several in the past few years have gone over the 800 pound mark. You will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful area anywhere in the world.

[mooman76]

If you come through Vegas I'd be more than happy to welcome you. Not much hunting here either but there is some. Better hunting in this state anyway in northern Nevada. Each state has there own game rules and you can find them on line state by state under fish and game.

[JIMinPHX]

There's pretty good hunting in AZ. Bear tags are pretty easy to get. Deer are a little tougher, but not all that unlikely. You can always get a small game tag & at least go after coyotes if nothing else is in season. An out of state person can get a 3 day AZ small game license for around $50. The full license & tags for larger game cost more. The tag prices vary with the species. Bears are pretty cheap. Buffalo are insanely expensive. We also have pronghorns, javalina, elk, big horn sheep, large cats & a few other noteworthy species. More details here - http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting.shtml

The best moose that I've seen in the US were in northern VT, NH & Maine.

The firearm laws in the US vary from state to state. Do not get caught with any firearm in NYC or DC. An air rifle can be a felony in in places like NYC. In Arizona, you pretty much need to actually cause a problem to get yourself in trouble, but there are a few places that are off limits. Know the laws before you travel through each state.
More info here -
http://www.nraila.org/gunlaws/
http://www.gunlaws.com/links/
http://www.handgunlaw.us/
http://www.opencarry.org/
http://www.usacarry.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_the_United_States_%28by_state%29

[spqrzilla]

As an aside, as a non-immigrant alien, you'll find a hunting license useful to be able to import and possess a firearm with you during your trip. Otherwise, you would need a letter from a recognized shooting sports organization.

[63 Shiloh]

Excellent information fellers, thank you all very much.

I have some research to do it seems, now big cats have been mentioned, so they are on the cards too now.

My main concern would be bringing my own rifle/s over for hunting, I do not want to run foul of State regs and will study this very closely.

My time frame is up to a 8 week holiday (have not had one in 5 years due to work commitments), so I will be able to see quite a bit of your country I hope.

To those who have kindly offered me a hunting opportunity, well, that is just too good of an opportunity to pass up. I am amazed at the hospitality.

Will keep posting updates as I get things organised.

Mike