Hunting is among the earliest human activities, a tradition, a passion, and a widespread hobby. For some people, it is an occasional recreation, while for others, it is a way of life.
In America, there’s a tradition of hunting that is passed on from father to son. It is usually the hunt of the local game in the specific seasons of the year, where the family and close friends have fun and socialize.
There are also the hunters who approach the hunt in a different way. They choose to hunt in extreme conditions, with serious preparations, and with their goal set for a valuable trophy. The more challenging the hunting becomes, the more valuable the prey is.
In North America, there are over 440 million acres of public land available for hunting and many other outdoor activities. In the harsh conditions of the great outdoors, you may discover amazing animals that make a worthy opponent in the game of hunting.
Furthermore, the difficult terrains and tough weather require solid physical preparation of the hunter, suitable equipment, rifles and ammo.
The ammo must be chosen carefully to give you the best results depending on the kind of game you are hunting, period of the year, and many other conditions. You may find the right hunting ammo for your needs at the Natchez Shooter Supplies.
If you like to try the extreme experience out in wild nature, you will find many interesting and exigent hunts in North America.
Below is our selection of the toughest hunts in North America that will allow you to challenge yourself.
Table of Contents
The More, the Merrier — Birds of Hells Canyon in Idaho
Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America, comprising a vast and remote landscape in Idaho and Oregon. It is unique for dramatic alterations in terrain, elevation, vegetation and enchanting diversity of animals and bird species.
Due to its configuration, the canyon is very hard to explore. The steep terrain with hard rocks requires excellent physical condition. You need to have the proper shoes that will protect you from slipping down and prevent possible ankle injuries. It is strongly recommended that people with a heart condition should not test their luck over there.
By planning your route carefully, however, you can explore some amazing parts of the terrain.
Starting your hike from the Snake River, you will find ruffed grouse in the area of the creek. From there, you can carry on to the lower terrains, and you may encounter pheasants and quails. The gray partridge comes out on the gentle slopes.
On the other side, the steeper rocky climbs are the home of chukars. If you want to go after dusky grouse, you must climb the highest ridges.
In just one day, with a good guide and a lot of stamina, you may return with pheasants, quails, grouse and partridge in your backpack. It is a great challenge and a true adrenaline rush to experience these beautiful and severe landscapes and to hunt such a huge variety of birds.
The Wild Turkey Chase — Osceola Turkey in Florida
Hunting the wild turkey is a challenge of its own. Although the turkey is considered to be not very intelligent, they are not easy to come close to or to call into the shooting range. There are five variations of the wild turkey in North America.
The Osceola turkey may be the toughest of them all. Also known as the Florida wild turkey, it is slightly smaller and darker than the Eastern wild turkey.
It is quite clever to find the cover under the dense flora of the sub-tropical swamps, not making it easy for you to take a clean shot. The palmettos, longleaf pines, live oaks, and men-eating crocodiles will give a special dimension to your hunt.
The season for Osceola turkey hunting is from late March to late April. You can choose to go to the open area, but there you may come across many other hunters. If you prefer to be less disturbed, you may hunt on some of the smaller private properties with an experienced guide.
Hunting Like in the Movies — Elk Hunt on Horseback in Montana
Even though it is not as dangerous as hunting in the swamp or on a steep mountain, the elk hunt is a unique experience for every hunter.
Passing over the landscape on horseback will make you tap into the intact wilderness. Going through some rough passages, crossing the water, to arrive at the long mountain ranges in Montana will make you live the experience of the first settlers who had been hunting the elk in the same way.
Traveling on the horse with all the gear and a rifle may make you feel a bit like being in a movie scene. But don’t let it mislead you. You need to be in shape to stay in the saddle for hours and to get over some difficult passages.
The relaxing part is building a camp in the open field with campfires and stoves and then passing the night looking at the stars and listening to the sounds of nature.
Every year in September begins the rutting season when you may observe and call in the bugling bulls. It is the most intense experience that many describe as the “adrenaline overdose.”
High in the Mountains — Dall Sheep and White Goat in Alaska
Mountain hunting in Alaska requires long and detailed preparations. The hunter needs to be in excellent physical condition, be prepared for long hiking in severe terrain, to have the stamina to endure cold and extreme efforts.
The gear must be lightweight because you will be carrying it in your backpack for miles. You need to bring all the necessary equipment such as a tent and water-repelling warm clothes, but choose with care to suffice without being a burden.
Shooting in extreme conditions, at a long-range, in low visibility requires previous training and detailed study of the ballistics. Your ammunition should be selected considering the weather conditions, period of the year, and type of the game you intend to shoot.
Both sheep and goats are found in the areas of the mountains that are very difficult to access. Usually, you come to a certain point by road or by helicopter, and then you go on a pursuit on foot for many hours.
The very steep rocks, slippery slopes, and wet ground do not work in your favor when you approach the animals.
Moreover, goats and sheep are extremely sensitive, and it is very difficult to get close without being seen. You need to have a professional hunting guide with vast experience that can assist you at any moment.
It may occur that you remain in one place even for a few days due to strong wind or fog while waiting for the weather to change.
Some of the hunters have declared after hunting in Alaska that the greatest success was coming back alive, not shooting the game.
Wyoming Plains Pronghorn —The Fastest Game
The pronghorn is one of the fastest mammals on the planet. They live in open areas, and the biggest number of pronghorns is to be found in the open plains of Wyoming.
The characteristic features of the pronghorn are the black horns and the white rumps. Another “special” feature they have is amazingly sharp eyesight at an angle of up to 320 degrees.
This means that it is hard to stalk them and come within the shooting range. You cannot expect to shoot from close range. For that reason, it is most important to have the right ammunition and rifle, knowing the distances and how fast the pronghorn can run.
When stalking pronghorns, you can come closer in a terrain car or truck and try to take a shot.
Another way is to set a camp somewhere in the area where they are passing and start your stalking from there. Hunting the pronghorn is not that difficult once you know how to approach them.
The best period of the year to hunt the pronghorns with the bow is early in the season when it is warmer, and you can take the shot from the blinds. If you are keen on hunting for the trophy, the best time is the rutting season in September and October.
Muskox —The Giant of Canada’s Tundra
The muskox is the giant cousin of the Dall sheep, very similar to the prehistoric bison.
It inhabits the tundra in the high Arctic, perfectly adapted to hard weather. Inuit people have shared the grounds with them for centuries.
When hunting muskox, you will want to have a licensed guide, preferably an Inuit. Expect to spend a couple of days out in the open, so be sure to bring a warm tent and plenty of food.
To experience more welcoming weather conditions, consider hunting in the late summer when you will see many animals moving and the tundra changing colors.
You don’t need to stalk the muskox. It is more likely that you will come across an entire herd than find them by planned stalking. Once you have them in your range, all you need is a deer rifle, a proper cartridge, and a steady hand.
North America is rich in beautiful landscapes that cover more than 440 million acres of land. It is accessible to the hunters at all times when obtaining the right tags. However, hunting in these mesmerizing areas presents a unique challenge — the terrains are difficult and even dangerous for the unprepared hunter.
If you are looking for an extraordinary hunt, go ahead and give yourself a chance to experience extreme hunting in the beautiful landscape of North America.
