Stephen Regenold
Under a dawn sky, Jay Cassell follows a faint trail toward his deer stand. The rolling timberlands of Tara Wildlife resort--17,000 acres of Mississippi oxbow lakes and hardwood forest--spread out in all directions as Cassell settled into a perch overlooking a river. Bow and arrow resting in hand, Cassell waits for a whitetail deer...
Under a dawn sky, Jay Cassell follows a faint trail toward his deer stand. The rolling timberlands of Tara Wildlife resort--17,000 acres of Mississippi oxbow lakes and hardwood forest--spread out in all directions as Cassell settled into a perch overlooking a river. Bow and arrow resting in hand, Cassell waits for a whitetail deer...
Stephen Regenold
Under a dawn sky, Jay Cassell follows a faint trail toward his deer stand. The rolling timberlands of Tara Wildlife resort--17,000 acres ... more
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1
Stasney's Cook Ranch,
Texas
A classic hunting camp deep in the heart of Texas, Stasney's Cook Ranch is based on 25,000 acres of premium hunting habitat. Whitetail deer, Rio Grande turkey, quail, dove, chukar and wild boar are among the game types. Rooms range from $135 for basic accommodations to $825 for a suite that sleeps five with all meals included. www.stasney.com
2
Paws Up Outfitters
Montana
Paws Up is a 37,000-acre, spa-equipped luxury guest ranch in the foothills of the Garnet Mountains near Missoula, Montana. Elk and deer trophy hunts are a specialty, and horseback hunts deliver you many miles deep into the mountains. A room for four starts at $570 a night; ultra-lux private cabins that sleep eight can go for as much as $2,620. www.pawsupoutfitters.com
3
Grand Ciel Lodge
South Dakota
If you want big-sky views and unfettered pheasant hunting on the open prairie, Grand Ciel is a good place to start. The small bed-and-breakfast-type lodge is 90 miles west of Sioux Falls in prime grassy and rolling bird country. Rates start at $1,850 per person for three-day/four-night stays, which includes guided hunts and three home-cooked meals a day. www.grandciellodge.com
4
Spotted Bear Ranch
Montana
Catering to serious backcountry hunters, Spotted Bear Ranch leads elk, deer and bear expeditions into the vast and mountainous Flathead National Forest near Glacier National Park in northwest Montana. Accommodations include six rustic hunt cabins. Bowhunters looking to bag a trophy elk can sign up for a unique program at Spotted Bear: The Early Season Guided Montana Bow Hunts, which is a six-night, five-day hunt that costs $2,900, provides each hunter on the trip with their own personal guide. www.spottedbear.com
5
Battenkill Lodge
New York
This lodge in upstate New York is known for its trout fly fishing. But each autumn grouse and woodcock are hunted in woodlands managed especially for the birds, with gravel trails, clear cut areas, and plantings of wild berry shrubs. Aspen, hemlock and sumac dominate the landscape. Weekly rates start at $750 for two people in the resort's Blue Winged Olive Suite. www.battenkilllodge.com
6
Cedar Ridge Lodge
Maine
Bear and heavy-bodied bucks up to 230 pounds are hunted at this woodsy Maine resort. And if you're lucky enough to draw a lottery moose permit from the state of Maine, a Cedar Ridge Lodge guide will lead you one-on-one in an attempt to procure a trophy bull. Pricing for cabins starts at $210 a week for two people (meals and guiding extra). Plus, the resort offers several side activities like canoeing, biking, rock climbing and horseback riding for any non-hunters in your group.
7
La Fonda Ranch
Texas
Expert dog handlers at this Texan ranch can run six dogs in a field at once, according to Jay Cassell, deputy editor at Field & Stream magazine. "It was amazing to watch," he said. The resort, a working cattle and hunting ranch near San Antonio, provides arid brush country with quail, turkey, dove and whitetail deer. Hunt packages, including lodging and meals, start at $150 per person, per day. www.lafondaranch.com
8
Hidden Creek Outfitters
Wyoming
Running hunting trips deep into the wilderness around Cody, Wyo., Hidden Creek Outfitters is a unique luxury camping experience, complete with large walled canvas tents, a heated common area, hot showers and gourmet meals prepared and served in the bush. Elk, deer, antelope, mountain lion and bighorn sheep are common game to pursue in this region just southeast of Yellowstone National Park. Week-long trips start at about $4,000 per hunter. www.hiddencreekoutfitters.com
9
Pine Ridge Farms
Wisconsin
This lodge in central Wisconsin provides deep North Woods habitat for deer, wild turkey and game birds, including 850 acres of nearby prairie grassland. The lodge itself has two large gathering spaces, fireplaces and 12 guest rooms with rates starting at $85 per night. www.pineridgefarms.com
10
Tara Wildlife Resort
Mississippi
With 12 miles of Mississippi River frontage and 17,000 acres of hardwood forests, Tara Wildlife is a veritable nature preserve in itself. Each fall huge deer are harvested in this woods with bow and arrow. A record whitetail weighing 320 pounds was brought down in these river lowlands. The lodge is 5,700-square-feet large, big enough to host conferences and family gatherings. Three-day bowhunting deer trips start at $1,350. www.tarawildlife.com
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