Trying to combine brown bear, elk, moose and mule deer all into one hunt is practically impossible.  Brown bear, by definition, live in a very limited area along/adjacent to coastal areas on mainland Alaska along with the various islands including the ABC islands (Admiralty, Baranof, and Queen Charlotte) as well as Kodiak and Unimak Islands.   With some exceptions including the Kenai and Katmai Peninsulas of Alaska, moose are generally not available in occupied brown bear habitat.  Likewise, mule deer are non-existent in Alaska.  Roosevelt elk are available on some of the Alaskan islands but I believe that they are on a limited quota and tags are hard to come by.  So, the brown bear combination is not practical – most folks that hunt brown bear do so stand alone, although Sitka blacktail deer are available in some areas in conjunction with the fall hunting seasons.

Elk and mule deer are available in a combination hunt in many areas of the western US and southern Canada.  Specific areas of British Columbia may also be able to offer grizzly bear in conjunction with antlered game including elk and/or mule deer – but grizzlies in BC are very expensive.  Insofar as Alberta is concerned, I believe that the grizzly bear season is closed for non-resident alien hunters, but would have to double check that to be sure.

All in all, there are a number of factors to consider in planning your hunt.  If you are looking for a six-point bull elk in excess of say 320 B&C and a mule deer buck in excess of say 170 B&C then it is altogether a different ball game as males of this size just don’t grow on trees and it becomes a function of time.  Moreover, the more animals that you try to combine on one North American hunt, the more likely you are to fail on one or more species – the days of unlimited game populations are over, weather often can be a factor during the fall, etc.  The more animals you try to combine on one northern hunt, the more that these factors come into play and the more limited the areas that we have to choose from.   

My recommendation would be to look at either an elk/mule deer hunt or moose hunt.  You will need to decide if you want Canada moose or Alaska-Yukon, which will then dictate where we need to look and what other species might be available.  An Alaska-Yukon moose would also give an opportunity for black/grizzly bear and/or caribou depending on where you go – keep in mind that Alaska-Yukon moose hunts will run well over $10K/hunter depending on the area and the outfitter and trophy fees will be required for grizzly bear/caribou so you could be looking at $20K each by the time it is all said and done. Canada moose hunts are cheaper, but the moose are smaller and the opportunities for other big game species will be limited depending on where you hunt.  Western Canada moose are generally only available in southwestern Canada.

Brown bear hunts in Alaska are currently running anywhere from $10,800 to over 20K per hunter plus air charters.  Grizzly bear hunts in AK are currently running from about 8K to well over 13K depending on the area and outfitter.

Bob Anderson
Worldwide Hunting Consultant
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc.

Global Sporting Safaris’ Bear Hunting Blog is based in Casper, Wyoming.  Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Booking Agency established in 1991. We have a staff of Bear Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience. We hold Integrity, Ethics and Honesty in high regard and deal with each client in a one on one basis

Global Sporting Safaris is now offering Free “How To” Hunting eReports on their website.  Current free reports include;

• The Best Countries to Hunt Cape Buffalo
• The Best Time to Hunt Dove in Argentina
• The Best Time to Hunt Ducks in Argentina.

For yourfree report, go to:  http://www.gssafaris.com/e-hunting-reports/ and click the cover ofthe report you are interested in.  Fill outthe short form and the eRport is emailed to you in minutes.

Jim Riley

Jim’s life in the outdoors began in Minnesota. Known as the Land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota was a great place to begin a life as an international hunting and fishing consultant. Jim grew up in Maplewood, a suburb of St. Paul, and an area known for its outstanding fishing. Many summer days found Jim riding his bike to the nearest lake, pond, or river to chase sunfish, crappie, and the occasional northern pike. Jim’s father knew he needed to get this young explorer more room to roam. It was then he purchased what became known to friends as simply “The Farm.” The Farm was two hours from the cities in the heart of prime hunting and fishing. Very near the famous Mille Lacs Lake. It is here where Jim’s hunting addiction hit the hard core mark. Whitetails, black bears, ruffed grouse, and ducks called this region home, and on the weekends, so did Jim. In addition to roaming the farm, Jim, his father, and friends traveled to North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Canada to on various hunting and fishing adventures.

When it came time for college Jim attended The University of Wisconsin Stout where he received his degree in Marketing Education. Stout was a great place to get an education and, of course, hunt and fish. After college Jim worked for two high profile companies as a territory sales manager. Four years later he decided to hang up the suits and begin his quest of making a living sharing the outdoors he loved so much with others.

Jim had no idea how many other people have this same dream! Fortunately, Jim was able to use his extensive sales and marketing background to gain a spot on the world-respected Cabela’s Outdoor Adventures team. Jim may have been a decent hunter and guide at this point, but Cabela’s saw to it that Jim traveled the world, honing his skills as a hunter and as hunting and fishing consultant. Some of the destinations Jim has hunted and fishing are: Africa, Russia, Argentina, Bolivia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, all over Canada and the United States.

It was a difficult decision to leave Cabela’s but Jim wanted the freedom to spend more time in the field guiding hunters and fishermen. Subsequently Jim guided in Colorado, Alaska, and South Dakota for elk, mule deer, antelope, brown bear, black bear and moose. Jim feels his time guiding gives him more respect with the outfitters that Global Hunting Adventures represents.

Jim currently resides in the outdoor paradise of Bozeman, Montana. His goal’s while at Global Sporting Safaris are to continue to provide clients the very best in worldwide hunting and fishing adventures. As always he will continue traveling the world searching for your next dream adventure!

A lot of folks keep “to do” lists for their adult lives. For some, the list is studded with sincere goals or accomplishments and may feature such endeavors as “finish master’s degree” or “bicycle through Italy.” Others compile lists that are more adrenaline charged; they want to check the box next to “scuba dive with sharks” or “bungee jump.”

But if you are the kind of person who would rather be in a duck blind on a bright November morning than anywhere else, you don’t want to jump off a perfectly good bridge anyway. In your world, bungee cords are meant to hold duck boats in pickup beds. So when the editors of Ducks Unlimited asked me which items I might include on a duck hunter’s “life list,” I compiled the following summary of 10 defining tasks and unique destinations for waterfowlers. Perhaps my suggestions, presented here in no particular order, will inspire you to create and pursue a list of your own.

1. Hunt the Canadian Prairie in Early Fall

Whether you choose Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta, an early-season trip to Canada will change your perspective on ducks and duck hunting forever. Hunting seemingly endless prairie dotted with sapphire potholes is truly magical. And this isn’t like duck hunting at home; you can’t just put out your decoys and wait. In Canada, you must go to the birds. That means driving the countryside to find them and then making plans to be under them before they return the next morning.

You can hunt ducks on big water or small potholes, but what defines prairie waterfowling is dry-land hunting in immense agricultural fields. Once you have been under the milling vortex of hundreds or even thousands of mallards pouring into a pea field or have seen the golden sun set across a sweeping horizon of cut barley, then you can say you’ve experienced the prairie in the fall, the place where the migration begins.

Read Number 2-10 of Duck Hunters Top 10 List, by Doug Larsen, on the Ducks Unlimited website by clicking here

About Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. 
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Booking Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience.   We specialize in Duck Hunting, Africa Hunting Safaris, New Zealand Hunting and Argentina Hunting.   Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our hunting trips with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.

Big bucks! No, not the kind that grow antlers, but what many duck hunters spend to fund their sport: private clubs, fancy blinds, pricey shotguns, super-sized decoy spreads, and more. This is one undertaking that can suck up money like a bowling ball in quicksand.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Hunters can experience quality duck hunting while sticking to a budget. Penny-pinching hunters may have to hunt a little harder and smarter, but they can still find high-quality waterfowling.

So, if the recession has left a lasting impression, your credit card is maxed out, your kid’s college tuition has skyrocketed, and you can’t afford 24-carat duck hunting, don’t despair. The quality of a hunt doesn’t always rate proportionally to its cost. Here’s how to cut corners to hold duck hunting expenses down and still enjoy great shooting.  Here more of the story….

• Low-Cost Decoy Spreads
• Saving Dollars on Equipment
• Strategies for Hunting Ducks on a Budget
• Have the Right Mindset
• Hunting Spots for Budget-Minded Hunters
• Budget Blinds

Read the rest of Hunting Ducks on a Budget, by Wade Bourne, on the Ducks Unlimited website by clicking here

About Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. 
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Booking Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience.   We specialize in Duck Hunting, Africa Hunting Safaris, New Zealand Hunting and Argentina Hunting.   Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our hunting trips with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.

MISSOULA, Mont.—If you’re an elk hunter, or would like to be, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is offering 10 ideas for improving your efficiency this hunting season.

All were condensed from recent and coming features in RMEF’s bi-monthly member magazine, Bugle. A subscription comes with an annual RMEF membership for $35. To join, call 800-CALL ELK or visit click here.

1. Scout from Space

If you’ve looked into the night sky, you’ve noticed the many satellites now orbiting our planet. They’re great tools for today’s hunter. Google Earth (earth.google.com) uses satellite images and aerial photography to give birds-eye views of elk country. Locate meadows, burns, roads, water, heavy-timber escape areas and more. You can even find places where the forest canopy thins to suggest hidden grazing spots for elk. Newer GPS units accept uploaded coordinates from Google Earth, allowing you to walk directly to and more efficiently ground-truth potential honey holes.

2. Count Points Quickly

In good habitat, a bull normally has a 5-point rack as a 2-1/2-year-old and a small 6-point rack the following year. Instantly distinguishing five- and six-pointers is not difficult. The fourth point, sometimes called the dagger point, is normally the longest point and most distinctive feature of an elk rack. If the main beam goes straight back from the dagger, you’re almost certainly looking at a five-by-five. If there’s another point rising upward behind the dagger, perhaps forming a horizontal “Y,” then you’re looking at a six-by-six.

3. Practice for Stress

Flinging arrows in the backyard is a far cry from placing a perfect shot on a live elk. In addition to changing shot angles and distances, hunters also must cope with distractions and excitement. Hone your focusing skills by practicing out of your comfort zone. Go to a public range, enter a 3D tournament, practice in the rain, shoot with strangers, hunt small game, anything to break normal concentration and practice rhythms. If you’re with buddies, try talking trash: “Hey, watch and learn while I center-punch this target…” Creating pressure and mental stress, expressly for the purpose of ignoring it, can help you overcome bull fever in the field.

Read Efficient Elk Hunting Ideas 4-10 by clicking here.

About Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. 
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Booking Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience.   We specialize in Wyoming Elk Hunting, Africa Hunting Safaris, New Zealand Hunting and Argentina Hunting.   Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our hunting trips with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.

MuleyCrazy Magazine is excited to announce the release of MULEYCRAZ-E––the highly-anticipated e-version of MuleyCrazy Magazine! Available in 27 languages, MULEYCRAZ-E uses cutting-edge technology to interactively bring the pages of the magazine to life.

With the click of a mouse, you can now witness running video of giant bucks, you can be there for all the intense hunt sequences, you can watch incredible kill shots over and over again, and you can be there for all the fun, camaraderie, and thrill of the hunt! And here’s the best part…it’s absolutely FREE!

So, if you’re ready to take your MuleyCrazy passion to a whole new level, then click here, sit back, and enjoy the first edition of MuleyCraz-E  

About Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. 
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Booking Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience.   We specialize in Africa Hunting Safaris, New Zealand Hunting and Argentina Hunting.   Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our hunting trips with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.

Safari Club International (SCI) and Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) are proud to announce that Dr. William E. Moritz is the new Executive Director for the worldwide organization. Dr. Moritz will begin as the Executive Director of SCI and SCIF on Oct. 1, 2010.

“I am very excited and proud to name Dr. Moritz as our Executive Director,” said SCI President Dr. Larry Rudolph. “SCI and SCI Foundation have always been advocates for hunting, hunters and science-based wildlife conservation. Dr. Moritz’s substantial experience as the Washington Office Director will increase SCI and SCIF’s focus on those core missions.”

“The opportunity to lead the foremost global hunting advocacy and wildlife conservation organization is the culmination of a career dedicated to sustainable wildlife conservation and hunting management,” said Dr. Moritz. “I look forward to working with staff and volunteer members, our corporate partners, and the wildlife conservation community to build on the successful foundation of SCI and SCIF missions and programs.”

Over the past three years, Dr. Moritz has directed the SCIF Department of Science-Based Conservation Programs & Research in the Washington, DC office. Under his leadership, the programs led by his staff have been the most ambitious in the organization’s history. Program successes of particular note include SCI Foundation’s participation in a $15 million caribou predator study in Newfoundland, an African Lion survey in Tanzania, and establishing Marco Polo argali sheep surveys in Tajikistan providing credible science to once again establish a sustainable hunting season.

Also, as the Director of Hunter Advocacy, he and his staff successfully participated in the defense of two Supreme Court cases, facilitated hundreds of meetings with Federal lawmakers, advocated to protect hunter access on federal land and lobbied to increase funding for land conservation programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

Before joining SCI & SCIF in 2007, Moritz served as the Wildlife Division Chief for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Contact:
Nelson Freeman
Media@safariclub.org

About Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. 

Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Booking Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience.   We specialize in Africa Hunting Safaris, New Zealand Hunting and Argentina Hunting.   Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our hunting trips with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.

Elk country, there is magic in it. It is not just for those of us who belong to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, it is there for everyone. Our goal is to keep it that way forever. See for yourself what we mean in this edition of PASS IT ON Chronicles, as we feature just a few of the 5 million plus acres we have either protected or enhanced and the animals that call it home. Thanks for all you do for elk country and please “Pass It On”

Watch the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation ”Pass It On” video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjoUINDcVPY

About Global Sporting Safaris, Inc.  
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Booking Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience.   We specialize in Elk Hunting Wyoming, New Zealand Hunting and Argentina Hunting.   Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our hunting trips with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.

By NRA Staff

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has released its annual forecast of the elk population in North America. This state-by-state compilation is a must read for anyone who has an elk tag for this season or is looking for an elk hotspot for the future. Elk used to live across this continent, but, as you can see from the map below, these days you are most likely to find them in the western states and provinces.

A mild winter, spring and summer precipitation and successful habitat conservation are all breeding optimism for the upcoming hunting season for the RMEF. However, wolves are a concern in more than a few sections of elk country. According to the RMEF, elk calf survival rates are now insufficient to sustain herds for the future. The urgent need to control wolf populations is a localized wildlife management crisis now compounded by a recent court decision to return wolves to full federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.

“Generally speaking, elk populations are in great shape and hunters have much to look forward to across the West, as well as in several Midwestern and Eastern states,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the Elk Foundation.

To see these forecasts in their entirety, with links to respective elk regulations or other resources, visit http://www.rmef.org/. But, for now, we’ve compiled the condensed version into an interactive map.  Click here to view the map.

About Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. 
Global Sporting Safaris, Inc. is a Full-Service Hunting Booking Agency located in Casper, Wyoming and established in 1991. We have a staff of 7 Hunting Consultants and Fishing Travel Agents with a combined 175 years of experience.   We specialize in Africa Hunting Safaris, New Zealand Hunting and Argentina Hunting.   Global Sporting Safaris invests time, effort and financial resources in developing our hunting trips with a constant eye on the quality and professional services they offer.