Bowhunting destiny: twenty great places and hunts to set your bowhunting fantasies into motion.

BUY A TAG, KILL AN ELK

Best Place: Idaho, USA

Cost: $ Stress Test: !!!

Idaho provides a rare combination of quality elk hunting and unlimited tags. Tags are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis beginning in December; while purchasing an additional leftover non-resident tag actually allows you to tag a second bull.

Top trophy spots include the Caribou Forest (Diamond Zone), Clearwater Forest (Lolo Zone), Nez Pierce Forest (Selway Zone), and Tarhee Forest (Island Park Zone). About 50-percent of the bulls taken in these areas score more than 300 inches.

Sweet Spots: During the past 10 years Idaho's most frequent archery record-book entries have appeared in Caribou, Lehmi, Valley and Idaho counties, respectively.

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Mode of Operation: Spot-and-stalk techniques are best in areas where hunting pressure exists, though hiking into more remote areas can make calling productive.

Prime Time: Like elk hunting everywhere, the rut offers the best chance of success via bugling bulls. In Idaho this normally means early to mid September.

More Info: Contact Idaho Game & Fish, [phone]; www.state.id.us/fishgame; or for an outfitted hunt: Dale Denney, Bearpaw Outfitters; [phone]; www.BearpawOutfitters.com.

Close Second: Colorado, USA

Cost: $ Stress Test: !!!!

Colorado is another state with abundant numbers of elk and areas allowing over-the-counter tags. While trophy bulls are less common here, bowhunting opportunities are excellent, with archery record-book bulls taken yearly by ambitious archers.

Look to Larimer, Mesa, Routt, Las Animas, Montrose and Rio Blanco counties--in that order--for the best combination of trophy quality and available tags. Of these only Larimer County has produced bulls scoring better than 350 inches.

Info: Contact Colorado Division of Wildlife, [phone]; www.wildlife.state.co.us.

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SKEWER A 50-POUND CARP

Best Place: Ohio River, Illinois/Kentucky, USA

Cost: $ Stress Test: !

"Bighead" carp imported from Asia are the target here, behemoth fish that can tip the scales at 50 to 70 pounds; with 85 pounds constituting the current bowfishing record. That's a real handful of fish, with lengths of four-feet-plus not unheard of.

Fish this big demand special equipment; extra-stout line, rugged fish arrows and tips like Muzzy Quick Release or Sullivan Industries Grapple fish points to hold a fish tight during a long fight. AMS Retriever Reels also make good sense.

Sweet Spots: The entire length of the Ohio River from Indiana downstream seems to hold trophy fish, but look to the Paducah, Kentucky, area for regular success.

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Mode of Operation: Wade and bank shooting is possible in some areas, but a boat is a definite plus on this big river; especially where shores are privately owned.

Prime Time: Carp in this region can normally be found spawning in shallower water by late May, though, all of the summer months provide the opportunity for success.

More Info: For information on area boat launches, motels, and public-land access, contact the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, [phone]; www.paducahchamber.org. More information might also be found on www.bowfishingassociation.com.

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Second Best: Lake Michigan Illinois/Indiana, USA

Cost: $ Stress Test: !

The shore of Lake Michigan between Gary, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois, regularly produces some of the nation's biggest carp. These are garden-variety European carp, making 50 pounds a rare occurrence, though such carp have been taken.

The 35 to 40 pounders that are regularly bagged are nothing to get snooty about, and public access for wading fishermen is abundant. Still, archers with a boat will have a better chance at finding the biggest fish by covering more water.

Info: Contact Gary Chamber of Commerce, [phone]; www.garychamber.com.

GET YOUR BUTT KICKED AND LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT

Best Place/Hunt: Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA, Mountain Goat

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !!!!

Bowhunting mountain goat on the glacial peaks of southeast Alaska is pure adventure. You are never out of sight of goats for long, but you still have to be tough--and brave--enough to reach them, without falling to your death while getting there.

An outfitter is required by law to keep you out of trouble, but assures you will get into the right area and see trophy billies. Backpacking is typically required to access better trophy ground, with eight- to 10-mile treks not out of the question.

Sweet Spots: The Prince William Sound area is a jumble of glacial cuts, broken rock and sudden drops that make getting close easier, and trophy billies abound.

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Mode of Operation: Hunts are typically conducted out of backpack spike camps, climbing to reach vantage points then employing classic spot-and-stalk ploys.

Prime Time: September through early October is prime, providing the best overall combination of weather and prime coats; though rain is always in the forecast.

More Info: Contact Dennis Zadra, Lonesome Dove Outfitters, [phone]; www.ldohuntak.com.

Close Second: New Mexico, USA, Persian Ibex

Cost: $$ Stress Test: !!!!(+!)

New Mexico's Florida Mountains are tilted vertically, made of sharp, serrated rock. Only the imported Persian (Iranian) Ibex survives up there. Archery hunters have been pursuing them for about 20 years--and have managed to kill only 15 or so.

You'll see dozens of ibex daily, but you'll seldom get close, much less get a shot. This is the most challenging bowhunt on earth, bar none. If you enjoy dangling from rock ledges, are adept at insanely long shots, you just might join these elite few.

Info: A non-resident license costs $1616, won through a lottery drawing. Odds aren't as bad as you might think; about one in six. Contact New Mexico Game & Fish, [phone]; www.gmfsh.nm.us.

SPEND YOUR INHERITANCE IN ONE FELL SWOOP

Best Place/Hunt: Tanzania, East Africa, Dangerous-Game Safari

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !!

Tanzania is the last place in Africa where classic safaris like Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark enjoyed in the heyday of East African hunting are possible. It's also the most expensive hunting option today. Bowhunting was only recently legalized.

If you have, say, $100,000 in loose change you can enjoy a 28-day tented safari including many unique species of plains game (gerenuk, lesser kudu, Grant's gazelle), plus a chance or two at some of the infamous Big Five animals.

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Sweet Spots: Elephant are hunted on the Selous Reserve only, while Natron and Rungwa are prime for lion. Natron is the best bet for rarer species of plains game.

Mode of Operation: Old-fashioned spot-and-stalk techniques are common, though tracking is also popular, with limited water hole opportunities available.

Prime Time: For the best combination of weather and game visibility choose October. September can be good during a dry year; November excellent but very hot.

More Info: Contact Neil Summers, Bowhunting Safari Consultants, [phone]; [e-mail]; www.bowhuntingsafari.com.

Second Best: Nunavut Polar Bear

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !!!!

If you can afford it, this could be considered a "get it while you can" bowhunt. Environmentalists have targeted polar bear sport hunting for elimination through the guise of extinction under Global Warming, despite scientific fact to the contrary.

Affording it means coughing up upwards of $30,000 (plus transportation; up to $5,000) for bears that can be imported into the United States after a successful foray. These are real adventures in the frozen Far North with native Inuit guides.

Info: Contact Mark Buehrer, Bowhunting Safari Consultants, [phone]; [e-mail]; www.bowhuntingsafari.com.

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GET THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BOWHUNTING BUCK

Best Place: Southern Africa

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !

In a world where quality elk hunts have began to reach $6,500--for maybe a 50-percent chance of a shot at a single animal--Africa is a real bowhunting bargain. For the same price you might kill five or six animals on a typical Southern African bowhunting safari.

This isn't a matter of if you will get a shot, but how well you can shoot under pressure--because you will receive shooting during a seven- to 10-day safari. With luck on your side and a little straight shooting, bagging a good variety of game is common.

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Sweet Spots: South Africa's Limpopo region, Namibia and Zimbabwe are all good bets for quality bowhunting for popular game such as kudu, warthog and impala.

Mode of Operation: The most productive African bowhunting is conducted from pit blinds guarding water, with shots normally under 25 yards.

Prime Time: When bowhunting over water, the drier the better. This makes the African dry seasons of June and July the best bets for consistent success.

More Info: Contact Abrie Myburgh, Tholo Safaris (South Africa, Zimbabwe), www.tholo.co.za; Selwyn Low, Maclaren Safaris (South Africa), www.maclaren.co.za; Boer Coetzee, In Africa Safaris (South Africa), www.phasa.co.za/inafrica; Thodo Garbade, Onduno (Namibia), www.onduno.com; Neil Summers, Bowhunting Safari Consultants, [phone]; [e-mail]; www.bowhuntingsafari.com.

Second Best: Newfoundland, Canada

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !!!

The island of Newfoundland has a lot to offer. It's readily accessible from the East Coast, making driving possible, guided hunts are relatively inexpensive and it includes a wide variety of prime and unique bowhunting opportunities.

In a single hunt it is possible to bowhunt the woodland caribou, Eastern Canada moose and black bear. Caribou success typically approaches 100-percent, with baiting offering high success on trophy bear.

Info: Contact Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism, www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/HuntingAndFishing; or for a guided hunt, Horace Lane, Riverrun Outfitters & Tours Ltd., [phone]; www.riverrunnl/hunting.htm.

SHOOT A WHITETAIL DEER IN VELVET

Best Place: Wyoming, USA

Cost: $$ Stress Test: !!

With a healthy deer population and early September 1 archery season opener, Wyoming has emerged as the hotspot for velvet-antlered whitetail. Tags are limited but easily drawn, applying for a general tag then purchasing an archery license after.

Area experts call this a 50-50 proposition; half the September bucks hard-horned and half in velvet during the first week of season. Hunting is most productive in agricultural areas where deer come to feed during early morning and late evening.

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Sweet Spots: The Cowboy State's most reliable whitetail hunting is found in the northeastern tier of the state in unit two, and west of the Bighorn Mountains.

Mode of Operation: The best bowhunting is normally found on private ground, sitting tree stands near riparian habitat and farm fields where deer come to feed.

Prime Time: The earlier the better if velvet antlers are your dream. Even season opener can present many bucks that have already stripped and are hard horned.

More Into: Contact Wyoming Game & Fish, [phone]; http://gf.state.wy.us.

Close Second: Idaho, USA

Cost: $$ Stress Test: !!

With an archery season opening during the last weekend in August, over-the-counter tags and a growing whitetail population, the Gem State offers a top-notch opportunity to take a velvet-antlered whitetail buck with your bow.

Private-land areas with riparian habitat and agricultural fields offer the best chances of success in many areas of western Idaho, though the Panhandle region offers whitetail hunting on public lands dominated by pine forest.

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Info: Contact Idaho Game & Fish, [phone]; http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/. For a guided bowhunt contact Clint Gray, Buckshot Outfitting, [phone]; [e-mail].

DECOY A RUTTING PRONGHORN 

Best Place: Montana, USA

Cost: $ Stress Test: !!

Decoying pronghorn dependably means bowhunting during rut dates in mid to late September when bucks become goofy while defending harems. Many prime pronghorn states don't offer archery hunts this late, but Montana is one exception.

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Public lands in the form of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or state "Block Management" areas offer plenty of ground to roam and find trophy bucks willing to charge into decoys. These areas can also offer prime upland bird hunting.

Sweet Spots: Montana is not short on pronghorn habitat, but some of the state's biggest goats come from areas surrounding Rosebud, Garfield and Fergus counties.

Mode of Operation: Successful pronghorn decoying means stalking in close before deploying your fake, preferably inside of 300 yards, with wind in your favor.

Prime Time: Pronghorn normally begin rutting at this latitude by early September, with generous season dates allowing you to hunt much later.

More Info: Unlimited licenses must be purchased before June 1. Contact Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, [phone]; www.fwp.state.mt.us. For a guided trophy hunt on private land contact Dale Denney, Big Sky Trophy Outfitters; [phone]; www.BigSkyTrophyOutfitters.com.

Close Second: The Dakotas, USA

Cost: $ Stress Test: !!

North and South Dakota offer the advantage of relatively inexpensive and unlimited tags, plus long seasons that run well into the rut. North Dakota archery hunters may hunt August 31 through October 7, South Dakota archers August 19 through October 31.

National Grasslands in the western portions of these states offer plentiful public access, with Dunn and McKenzie counties in North Dakota, and Perkins and Stanley counties in South Dakota recently producing goats scoring 75 inches or more.

Info: Contact North Dakota Game & Fish, [phone]; http://gf.nd.gov; South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, [phone]; www.state.sd.us/gfp. For pronghorn decoys and to chat bowhunting, contact Mel Dutton Decoys, [phone]; [e-mail].

TAKE YOUR WIFE ON THAT PROMISED VACATION WHILE YOU BOWHUNT

Best Place: Hawaii, USA

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !!

Hawaii is every woman's idea of a dream vacation, but many fail to understand that the island getaway can also prove an archery hunter's paradise. Many species of exotic big game have made their way to Hawaii, offering bowhunting opportunities galore.

Prime target species include abundant axis deer, Polynesian wild boar, mouflon, Corsican and Moreno sheep, Spanish goats and even wild Rio Grande turkey. Some public hunting is available, but the best hunting is on private ranches.

Sweet Spots: The island of Maui (see below). Rumor has it that Lanai is making a strong comeback for axis deer.

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Mode of Operation: Spot-and-stalk and still-hunting are the primary ploys for success while bowhunting these semi-tropical and alpine habitats.

Prime Time: Year-round bowhunting is possible on nearly any of Hawaii's numerous islands, but the best time to visit is when it's cold and nasty at home. Axis deer rut in May and June primarily.

More Info: Established: axis deer and mouflon-cross sheep on Maui: Jeff Grundhauser, (888) 6799863, www.arrowoneranch.com; Spanish goat and wild boar on Maui: Rodney Perreira, [phone], www.mauihuntingsafari.com. Coming on strong: axis deer on Lanai, contact Steve Gelakoski, [phone].

Second Best: Florida, USA

Costs: $$$ Stress Test: !

For those with kids, Disney World is the prime family hotspot. But what is there to bowhunt in tropical Florida, you ask? On the Brady Ranch an hour south of Disney World the answer is just about anything you can imagine; plus local alligators.

The Brady Ranch offers the largest free-ranging axis deer herd in North America with trophy bucks common; plus fallow, red and sika deer, blackbuck antelope, water buffalo, Osceola turkey and whitetail deer.

Info: Contact Brady Ranch, [phone]; www.bradyranch.com. For the best Florida alligator guide in the business contact Capt. Lewis Clanton, Bow Gator, [phone].

CLIMB OUT OF YOUR TREE STAND AND BOWHUNT WHITETAIL THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY

Best Place: Eastern Colorado, USA

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !!

It's a strange place to find whitetail, no doubt, out there in all that wide-open nothingness. But they are there all right, and they're big, too. Boone & Crockett-class bucks are taken every year in the rolling CRP and agricultural fields.

If you want a big buck you might sit a windmill, but nothing beats snake-belly stalking for fast action and pure excitement. You can expect to spot, and stalk, up to three good bucks a day on better ground, with 150-inch bucks common.

Sweet Spots: It's difficult to find a bad area on the Eastern Plains of Colorado, but the east-central portion seems to have the best draw odds; units such as 201.

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Mode Of Operation: This country is wide open. You'll be doing lots of glassing. After you spot a buck kneepads and leather gloves are a huge plus.

Prime Time: Seasons are open in October, November and December. All can be good, but November dates include rutting bucks and fast action.

More Info: Contact Colorado Division of Wildlife, [phone]; www.wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/. Most prime ground is private and leased by outfitters. For a guided hunt on managed private land contact Aaron Neilson, Adventures Wild, [phone]; www.advwild.com.

Close Second: Western Kansas, USA

Cost: $$ Stress Test: !!

While most archery hunters install themselves in a tree stand to find success in Kansas, the fact is these are some of the calmest whitetail in the country. Western Kansas' rolling terrain, broken creek beds and persistent winds make a close approach viable.

November rut dates mean many bucks are out in the wide open and preoccupied, making sneaking in for a bow shot that much easier. These stalks can mean long belly crawls, but also make those bucks far from trees fair game.

Info: Contact Kansas Dept. of Wildlife & Parks, [phone]; www.kdwp.state.ks.us. For a guided hunt on managed private ground contact Ted Jaycox, Talltine Outfitters, [phone], www.talltine.com.

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BOWHUNT BLACK BEAR FACE-TO-FACE

Best Place: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !!!

Spot-and-stalk black bear hunts are a hallmark of Vancouver Island, a place where not only are bears extremely plentiful, but also where trophy quality is exceptional. Boone & Crockett bears are taken, with archery record-book bears quite common.

Spring hunts find bears on clear-cuts grazing on new growth, while it is more common to hunt coastlines during fall looking for bears foraging along rugged shores. These bears can prove aggressive, making for added spice and adventure.

Sweet Spots: The entire island is a black bear haven, but generally the best places are found in more remote regions of the island that are hunted lightly.

Mode Of Operation: You must book an outfitter to hunt on Vancouver Island (or any part of Canada), hunting from 4WD trucks or from boats along coastlines.

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Prime Time: Spring and fall dates prove equally productive, making May or September best for finding bears with prime, silky coats and feeding heavily.

More Info: Contact Brian Swift/Glenn Venus, Trophy West Hunting, [phone]; www.trophywesthunting.com.

Close Second: San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation Arizona, USA

Cost: $$$ Stress Test: !!!

The San Carlos is a unique place, including high alpine habitat with monster elk, spilling off into javelina and saguaro cactus desert. It is this diverse habitat that creates one of the most unique black bear hunting experiences in North America.

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Mid-August hunt dates find bears at lower elevations feeding on oak mast, but most notably prickly-pear cactus fruit. These also happen to be some of the highest-scoring skulls in the nation. Past success has hovered from 88- to 100-percent.

Info: Contact San Carlos Apache Recreation & Wildlife Dept., [phone]; www.sancarlosrecreationandwildlife.com.

KEY:

$= do-it-yourself hunts on public lands; private-land permission gained by knocking on doors.

$$=self-guided with trespass fees; affordable semi-guided options.

$$$=fully-guided hunts; room and board included.

!=stand sitting; relaxed hunt.

!!=difficult weather; stalking in gentle terrain.

!!!=strenuous spot-and-stalk hunting on public lands; potential extreme weather factors.

!!!!=backpacking in difficult terrain on public lands; extreme weather.