69firebird
Well-Known Member
My wife and I would like to go stag hunting. We have looked and New Zealand, Argentina, and Europe. We have hunted across Canada, USA, and South Africa.
New Zealand is so far the cost of travel to go hunting for 4 days rules it out. Most of its high fenced, managed herds, I've seen some free range but I don't want the bait and switch.
Argentina is more viable for travel costs but with the visas, gun papers, and talk about getting trophies home it's doable but abit of a turnoff. When I talk to some outfitters it could be my prejudice but I get a 'greasy' feeling. I feel about 50% is high fences managed herds.
Europe is another option and honestly I haven't finished my research there. I believe there is some true free range hunting options.
So that leaves option # 4- Canada, 8 hours from home. The place is a high fenced farm. Significantly smaller then the farms in Argentina or New Zealand but then again a game farm is a game farm.... it's tough mountains, not pasture.
Pros:
- 8 hour drive
- with proximity I can get last minute deals and cancellations
- I take my enclosed trailer and haul all the meat home, along with my trophies!! BONUS!!
- cost is the same as Argentina, with the advantage of the last minute deals We could shoot larger stag.
-my young son and parents can come for a luxury vacation for minimal cost, a whole family affair!
- no gun papers, visa, exchanging money, or trusting someone on another continent
-no airfare or big travel costs, also means I can put those savings toward larger stag or taxidermy
Cons:
-smaller farm than other options (but still a GAmE FaRM)
-we don't get to hunt and visit another part of the world.
And just some other thoughts:
- i won't be trying to pass the stag of as free range and not going to enter any record books.
- it's more of a shopping trip than a true free range, anything could happen, adventure. Which is more my style.
So IMO the farm in Canada is no different than a farm anywhere else in the world. It's a farm raised fence stag. The Pros heavily outway the cons for me. And with the proximity and the fact that I'm taking all the meat and trophies home with me that's huge in my books.
I should mention that I do have a budget and that is also a factor but all these options are in my budget. Unfortunately airfare takes a huge chunk out of it.
Anyways just looking for some opinions. And I don't want to hear "I'd never go to a game farm, that's not hunting" cause your wasting my time.
I talked to a TV host that shot a show on the farm here in Canada and he has hunted stag in New Zealand and has quit a few shows on South Aftrica. It wasn't him hunting that episode in Canada and I asked him why. And he said it was too small. I almost opened my mouth and said something about you hunt in all the other game farms!! But didn't. And I guess he draws the line on high fences by how big the area is lol. I thought he was being a little hipocritical.
New Zealand is so far the cost of travel to go hunting for 4 days rules it out. Most of its high fenced, managed herds, I've seen some free range but I don't want the bait and switch.
Argentina is more viable for travel costs but with the visas, gun papers, and talk about getting trophies home it's doable but abit of a turnoff. When I talk to some outfitters it could be my prejudice but I get a 'greasy' feeling. I feel about 50% is high fences managed herds.
Europe is another option and honestly I haven't finished my research there. I believe there is some true free range hunting options.
So that leaves option # 4- Canada, 8 hours from home. The place is a high fenced farm. Significantly smaller then the farms in Argentina or New Zealand but then again a game farm is a game farm.... it's tough mountains, not pasture.
Pros:
- 8 hour drive
- with proximity I can get last minute deals and cancellations
- I take my enclosed trailer and haul all the meat home, along with my trophies!! BONUS!!
- cost is the same as Argentina, with the advantage of the last minute deals We could shoot larger stag.
-my young son and parents can come for a luxury vacation for minimal cost, a whole family affair!
- no gun papers, visa, exchanging money, or trusting someone on another continent
-no airfare or big travel costs, also means I can put those savings toward larger stag or taxidermy
Cons:
-smaller farm than other options (but still a GAmE FaRM)
-we don't get to hunt and visit another part of the world.
And just some other thoughts:
- i won't be trying to pass the stag of as free range and not going to enter any record books.
- it's more of a shopping trip than a true free range, anything could happen, adventure. Which is more my style.
So IMO the farm in Canada is no different than a farm anywhere else in the world. It's a farm raised fence stag. The Pros heavily outway the cons for me. And with the proximity and the fact that I'm taking all the meat and trophies home with me that's huge in my books.
I should mention that I do have a budget and that is also a factor but all these options are in my budget. Unfortunately airfare takes a huge chunk out of it.
Anyways just looking for some opinions. And I don't want to hear "I'd never go to a game farm, that's not hunting" cause your wasting my time.
I talked to a TV host that shot a show on the farm here in Canada and he has hunted stag in New Zealand and has quit a few shows on South Aftrica. It wasn't him hunting that episode in Canada and I asked him why. And he said it was too small. I almost opened my mouth and said something about you hunt in all the other game farms!! But didn't. And I guess he draws the line on high fences by how big the area is lol. I thought he was being a little hipocritical.
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