There is no one formula for romance. And for couples seeking an exciting adventure, hunting together might be a good option.
Hunting trips are becoming more popular for honeymoons instead of traditional getaways.
In a Hurry?
Essentials for a hassle-free hunting trip:
- Plan your trip.
-Check entry requirements, hunting licenses and tags, and firearm licenses.
-Know the legal restrictions of your chosen state and the chosen species.
-Take note if the chosen species is seasonal so that you can plan ahead.
- Book your trip.
-Always check the package inclusions with your outfitters. -Most packages include a guide, a private cabin, and food.
- Prepare proper outfit and weapon.
-During the hunt, make sure that you have the proper outfit and weapon.
-Having field dressing skills helps, but some packages include field dressing.
- Go to a taxidermist.
-After the hunt, pay your guide fee and go to the local taxidermist and meat processor to prepare your trophy.
-Remember to ask your outfitter for their recommended taxidermist and always know the regulations for trophy transport.
-Ask about trophy fee for the hunting area
-Ask about professional guides and inclusive hunting packages
Why Honeymoon Hunting Trip is a Great Idea
- Adventurous setting that can create a deeper bond between you and your partner
- Great scenery and fresh air
- Balances wildlife populations
- Hunting fights wildlife poaching
Types of Hunt
- Bow Hunts
- Crossbow Hunting
- Rifle Hunting
- Shotgun Hunting
- Stalk Hunt
- Baiting
- Calling
- Driven Bird Hunt
- Driven Hunt
- High Seat
- Horseback Riding Hunt
- Hunting from a Blind
- Management Hunting
- Meat Hunt
- Mountain Hunting
- Muzzleloader
- Rattling
- Walk up with Dogs
10 Game Options for Hunting
- Big Five.
- These are elephants, rhinoceros, buffalo, lions, and leopards.
- These species are considered the most desirable trophies, as they are also the most dangerous to hunt.
- Big Four.
- This is the Big Five less the rhinoceros.
- Due to the commercial hunting of rhinoceros, it is now prohibited to hunt them.
- Big Game.
- Big Game hunters look for animals larger than rabbits and squirrels.
- This game option is an effective and efficient tool in conserving wildlife.
- Dangerous Game.
- Dangerous games cover mostly predators: crocodiles, hippopotamus, brown bears, lynx, mountain lions, wolves, and black bears or wild hog.
- It also includes the big five games.
- While having a professional guide on this kind of trip can minimize risk, it is important to always exercise caution and safe thinking.
- Plains Game.
- It covers a wide variety of species between the small game and dangerous game.
- It includes antelopes, deers, giraffes, warthogs, baboons, and ostrich.
- There are some highly desirable games in this category: oryx, kudu, sable, nyala, and eland that have high trophy fees.
- Predators.
- Included in this game are foxes, lynx, wolves, bobcats, coyotes, and hyenas.
- Sheep and Goat.
- Sheep and goats are hunted for their varying horns.
- The most notable games in this classification are the Marco Polo Argali, and Dall Sheep.
- Small Game.
- This hunt is for animals that are abundant and common.
- This usually includes rabbits, hares, squirrels, partridges, pheasants, doves, and pigeons.
- Waterfowl Hunt.
- This hunt is for geese, ducks, and cranes.
- Wing Shooting.
- This includes turkey hunts, quail, swans, doves, pigeons, and partridges or a duck hunt.
- Shooting a sitting bird is considered taboo in wing shooting, as it is customary to shoot a flying bird.
Best Hunting Areas and Destinations
When looking for a great place to hunt, the United States is the best option since there are a variety of species and games that you can choose from.
There are different types of the hunt, and most are safe destinations. But there are also many guided hunts in other countries that you can choose from.
Guided Hunts in Other Countries
- African Countries like Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon are perfect places for hunting the Big Four.
- Countries in North America like Canada offer Big Games. It is also available in South Texas and other states in the United States.
- Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Belarus, Canada, and Ethiopia have dangerous games available.
- Spain and Texas are ideal places for an ibex hunt, a species of wild goat with massive and decorative horns.
What to Know and How to Prepare for the Best Hunting Trip You’ll Ever Have
You’ve decided what type of hunt you want, now it’s time to prepare for the best honeymoon hunt!
Step 1: Planning
- Visas and Passports:
- Determine the visa and entry requirements of the country you want to have your trip in.
If you are from outside the United States, you must process your visa for entry.
Here is a list of countries exempted from processing visas for tourism and other business reasons if they are traveling for 90 days or less.
- Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from entry.
- Firearms:
- Most US citizens can easily get firearms licenses as long as they are:
- 21 years old;
- Able to demonstrate competency in handling firearms; and
- Currently residing in the US.
- You can be barred from obtaining a firearm license if you have convictions for felonies and other crimes. See the full list of possible reasons for ineligibility here.
- If you are not a US citizen, you must obtain a federal permit for firearms and ammunition at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) prior to your arrival in the US.
- Hunting Licenses and Tags:
- Most states have a state-issued hunting license for you to be able to hunt within their jurisdiction.
That means that if you are planning to hit multiple states, you must possess multiple hunting tags. There are animals that require specific tags to be hunted.
If you are hunting for birds, doves, and ducks, you have to have a Federal Migratory Birds Stamp.
- If you have a valid hunter’s license from your home country, you will be able to purchase a state-issued hunting license in most states.
Others might require you for proof of completion of hunter’s education before you can purchase a license.
Step 2: Prior to Hunting
Things to Know Before Booking a Hunting Trip
After making sure all legal and hunting requirements are done, you can proceed in booking your trip.
Many websites and hunting outfitters offer different hunting trips with varying locations and game options.
- Choose a general location for the hunting trip, and what kind of game/species you want to hunt.
You can also get advice from seasoned and avid hunters for the appropriate hunt for your honeymoon.
-Take note that some species require day hunts, while some are best hunted at night.
- Do your research.
-Choosing the perfect spot for a specific species is important to have a high success rate in your hunt.
Species to Hunt and Which State to Find Them
- Mule Deers – Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Utah
- Wild Hogs – Texas, Florida, and Louisiana
- Mountain Lions – Idaho, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
- Bears – North Carolina, Wisconsin, California, Idaho, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Alaska, New Jersey, Alaska
- Geese and Duck – Texas, North Carolina, New York, Florida, Arizona, Kentucky, California, Massachusetts, Ohio, Montana, Illinois, and Colorado
- Elk Hunts – Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico
- Fallow Deers and Axis Deers – Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee
- Antelope Hunts – Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, and Arizona
- Moose – Alaska, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Washington, and Utah
- Doves and Pigeons– Oklahoma, Texas, South Dakota, Nevada, Kansas, Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, Nebraska, and Arizona
- Some species are available year-round but there are also set hunting seasons for some specific species, so you also have to note that.
Since the US is a vast country that varies in season some species will be available in different states at different times.
- Research your chosen outfitter for what they offer and what are the inclusions of their package.
It is important to see if you will have experienced guides and if those guides will be full or semi guidance.
Outfitter usually offers packages like trophy whitetail packages, big game packages, deer hunting packages, and other common hunting games.
Booking Process
- Most sites will require you to search the type of hunt and game you desire.
- Once you’ve narrowed down your option, indicate your name and contact details.
- You will have to state the weapon type for your hunt.
- Be ready to put down at least a 50% initial deposit via a credit card payment.
- Always read the cancellation terms of your outfitter and terms if you cannot get a state-issued license.
- Note the guide services included in your package.
Upon Arriving (If you are coming from other countries)
- If you are arriving from other countries, expect to go through passport control and then to customs for inspection of your firearms and ammunition.
- An officer from the Transportation Security Administration will be the one to check and escort your firearms to the plane.
- Always pack your firearms unloaded in a hard-sided and locked case and the ammunition in a separate case.
- Check your airlines for other restrictions in transporting firearms.
Step 3: Hunting
Hunting in the US varies from state to state. They vary in allowed hunting styles, gears, even clothing.
- Always check with your outfitter what are the other requirements for hunts in their state.
- New and average hunters may not have yet skills required for field dressing so outfitters offer packages that include this.
- Hunts usually last 3-5 days depending on the game. It may require additional days depending on weather conditions.
- It is important to be physically prepared for the rigorousness of hunts.
Step 4: After the Hunt
After the hunt, processing your game is essential. Ask your outfitter for the local taxidermist and meat processors.
These local taxidermists can prepare and pack your trophies as you prefer, but you must assume the responsibility of checking the legalities, shipping, and transport of your trophies.
It is also expected to pay guide fees or tips to your guide.
Tips are usually 15% of the total hunt cost.
FAQs
What is a fair chase hunt?
Fair chase hunting is the balancing of skills and equipment of the hunter with the ability of the animal hunted.
This ensures that hunters don’t have an unfair advantage.
Under this, it is banned to use vehicles, airplanes, radios, electronic calling, and shooting in enclosed fences.
What is the most affordable hunt?
Doing D.I.Y. hunts definitely cost less, but if you are a beginner, you can check out:
- Pronghorn Hunt in Wyoming
- Elk Hunt in Idaho
- Whitetail Deer in Kansas
- Turkey in Nebraska
- Moose in Alaska
- Mule Deer in South Dakota
- Hogs in Texas
- Black Bear in Idaho.
What is the best hunt for beginners?
The best games for beginners are small and upland games.
It doesn’t require specialized equipment and is less physically demanding.
What other hunting considerations?
- Plan your hunt of a lifetime and find the best hunting trips
- Also consider private land hunt with private cabins or a base camp or hunting lodge with plenty of spaces
