What is the most difficult thing you have hunted?

[Steve O]

Originally posted by Etter:
I forgot Coues deer.  I had my first experience with them this year.  I think if there were no such thing as water holes, nobody would ever kill one with trad gear.

Agree absolutely 100% and I believe I am up to 17 species hunted in North America. I hunted Cours this year for the 1st time. It was amazing how much sharper the Coues deer were than the mule deer in the same area.

[Todd Cook]

For me, of the things I've hunted, it would be turkey. Deer and hogs Ive had success with most things I've hunted, but turkeys with a stickbow have thus far beat me.

[VA Elite]

Lots a variety in this thread. I appreciate everyone's replies. Turkeys, gobblers, yeh they can be so stupid, but then the ones that have been around a few years, geez, they know when to shut up....I was told by a an elk hunter once that elk were, well, in his words, dumb as a brick..I can't say that I buy that at all. Maybe with a gun, but a bow kill mature bull, from all the hunts I have read, seem to be the hardest to find. All sheep I hear are really tough because of terrain, but they lack intelligence. I don't buy that either, too many predators in their world..I am surprised to see Old Boar Hog. I would like to know more about that as to why.

[Bowwild]

Elk have always given me the slip. Hunted them three different years and have yet to release an arrow.

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

Big Aoudad rams ( free range )....

Old whitetail...

Old hogs...

[Keith Zimmerman]

Crows and yotes. Then deer and elk for me.

[Paul/KS]

Based on my zero percent success rate deer are difficult enough...

fox

[Iowabowhunter]

If you dont hunt water holes (I havent) pronghorns tough. Spot n stalk was a real pita, was lucky enough to find an aggressive one in a stalkable location and decoyed him in.

[Goose smasher]

I would have to say that for me turkeys with the bow is tough and a mature whitetail be it a buck or doe are pretty darn sharp especially in the pressured type area's that I hunt in.

  Goose smasher

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by graybarkhunter:
If a mature doe had the eyes of a turkey, and a turkey had the nose of a doe.. We'd all be starving

Amen to that statement bro....

I'd have to say Turkeys & coyotes & bobcats not necessarily in that order. But hunting turkey's in a ghillie suit with no blind was the toughest time i ever had getting to full draw.... I WILL be using a brush blind this year.

[halfseminole]

Coyote.  All mine were taken with shotgun while fighting over the dog they killed.

[ron w]

From my success rate I would have to say......everything!      :cool:

[huntmaster70]

Ron, Looking into my crystal ball I see a bear in your future with your tag on it. Start looking for a place to put the mount/rug.

[DarkTimber]

Easily the most difficult thing I've hunted would be a truly mature Mule deer buck above timberline.  I hope to be able to hunt Coues deer in the next year or two and I suspect Mulies will be bumped to #2.

[Sam McMichael]

Whitetails are the only game that I have extensively hunted. Encounters with coyote and bobcat have been by chance, not as part of a planned hunt.

[Whitetail Addict]

I've never hunted outside of NY. Of the critters we have here, A mature whitetail can be tough to get a good shot at, and so can a tom turkey once he's survived four or five years. Both can seem to have psychic powers at times. An old whitetail doe  can be pretty clever. I'll agree with coyotes too. I seem to average one black bear about every ten years, but I don't think it has as much to do with them being super wary as it does with the amount of ground they cover. Again, I don't have a lot of experience with bears, so this is just an opinion. We can't use bait here, and the few that I've killed were on years with bumper beech nut crops, and scouting played the biggest part. Good thread, thanks.

Bob

[twitchstick]

I have not hunted as many species as some here but for me it would be a mature mule deer hands down.  Followed by the coyote. I have never hunted a whitetail or a Coues deer yet. On my javelina hunt this year I did some scouting for Coues deer and I have a feeling they will be tough to get close to.

[actionjackson22]

I agree with coyote and I say pa black bear with a bow I've tried three years and have yet to see one no bait or dogs and a week long season where I hunt.

[mec lineman]

I think a good title to this thread would read "what animal is the most difficult to take year after year after year"