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Early Season Archery Whitetails – WTA Top Picks

Jason Berger
|  
Location: United States

Looking to archery hunt big whitetails? Take advantage of the early season and extend your hunting season without sacrificing quality? Early season whitetail hunting can be very rewarding and provide great opportunities to hunt trophy class bucks in their summer patterns. WTA has picked our top 5 early season destinations with dates available starting September 2020.

Kentucky

WOW, NEW FOR THE FALL 2020! This is the one you have been waiting for. Semi-guided early season velvet whitetail hunts in the bluegrass state. Our outfitter has access to approximate 50+ private farms managed for trophy deer. The guides will do all the work to set you up for success. This is one of our top picks for any archery hunter looking for an early season destination.

Nebraska

This destination offers archers a unique opportunity to hunt Muley’s and Whitetails from the same lodge! High shot opportunities and outstanding quality can be found in the Panhandle of Nebraska. Nebraska is a crossbow friendly state and this outfitter has an abundance of some of the best hunting properties in the west. September 1st is coming fast, give us a call today.

North Dakota

This long-time, small, family run operation has been hosting WTA customers for over 20 years. Consistently producing high shot opportunities on P&Y class bucks annually. 5 Star First Class Lodge and an abundance of trophy class deer make this a bucket list hunt. You will want to come back for more.

 

South Dakota

South Dakota is known for its world class pheasant hunting but did you know it’s also a sleeper state for producing monster whitetails? WTA longtime outfitter has put together a package that you can hardly resist. This is one of the best valued hunts in the Midwest. The archery season starts September 1st. Give WTA a call before these savings slip by.

Wyoming

This region of WY has one of the highest populations of whitetails in the west. Alfalfa fields literally load up with hundreds of deer daily and stands are strategically placed on travel corridors. As WY is a crossbow friendly state and leftover doe tags are usually abundant, this makes it a very attractive destination. The WY Draw Deadline is June 2nd so give our TAGS team a call today.

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Kansas – A Whitetail Hunter’s Paradise

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Kansas is at the top of the list for many whitetail enthusiasts. Why? Because big bucks are most often produced in the Midwest, and Kansas has done an excellent job of managing its whitetail herd for decades. However, tag quotas are decreasing slightly and application numbers are continuing to increase, making it more difficult to draw a whitetail tag. Non-residents can no longer apply for a tag in late April and be guaranteed to draw. In fact, with 0 points, first-time applicants can expect drawing odds to be less than 70%. Purchasing a whitetail preference point is now highly recommended.

Deadline to Apply: April 24. Draw Post Date: Mid-May. WTA TAGS Species: Whitetail Deer. Youth: Any age,…
Europe Awaits! Hosted Hunting + A European Vacation

Europe Awaits! Hosted Hunting + A European Vacation

I have been hunting Europe for a little over 10 years now, but there are so many countries and so much game that I feel like it could take another 20 years to see and do everything I want to do. That’s part of what makes Europe so exciting. It truly feels endless. Europe has become incredibly popular for several reasons. First, as an international hunting destination, it is easily accessible, with numerous flights available and no 15-hour, long-haul flights required from the U.S. and North America. Second, the hunts are almost always 100% successful because game management is top-notch and populations are extremely healthy. Third, hunts are relatively short, usually three to five days. Hunts lend themselves perfectly to adding extra vacation time, bringing non-hunters, and enjoying a truly memorable overall trip.

I’ve had the privilege of running WTA-hosted trips designed specifically for couples for the past three years, and we will continue this program well into the future, due to its overwhelming popularity. These trips are structured with a primary hunt alongside a dedicated non-hunter program for observers who prefer not to spend time in the field. Some of these activities have included spa days, shopping excursions, guided sightseeing tours, visits to olive oil operations or wineries, and more. Of course, non-hunters are always welcome to join the hunters in the field if they’d like.

On a personal level, my wife absolutely loves these trips, and I wouldn’t think of traveling to Europe without her. On several occasions when I’ve finished my hunt early, I’ve joined the non-hunters on their excursions and had an absolute blast. We also typically add a couple of days at the beginning of the trip to explore a city or region we haven’t visited before, which helps us adjust to the time change before the hunt begins.

In addition to the hunting, the scenery, the accommodations, and the food are always top-shelf.

After buying Wyoming moose preference points for years, throwing money at a dream that would probably never happen, Jeremy Ivie at WTA gave me advice that changed everything. “If you really want a chance at a Shiras moose, let’s put you in for Idaho.” The second year I applied, I drew the tag. Sometimes the best hunting advice isn’t about what unit to hunt, it’s about where to apply in the first place.

From Argentina to Idaho

My wife and I had just returned from an incredible trip to Argentina with WTA last April, and I wasn’t planning another hunt so soon. But when that Idaho draw result came through, everything changed. Now I’m planning two hunts a year, and my whole outlook has shifted. WTA doesn’t just book hunts; they help you build a hunting life.

October 1 found us in Idaho. The setup was perfect for us: a smaller, family-run operation with two cabins out back, a bathhouse between them, and the whole family was involved in the operation. Mike guided me, his father-in-law took the other hunter, and Mike’s wife and daughter helped run camp. After hunting at a bigger operation in Wyoming where I took a nice mule deer (another great recommendation from Jeremy), this intimate setting felt just right for a moose hunt.

Mountain Moose

Going in, I had no idea we’d be hunting at 5,000 feet above sea level. In my mind, moose meant swamps and willows, not mountain clear-cuts and steep terrain. But that’s where Idaho’s Shiras moose live, and Mike knew exactly how to hunt them.

Day one brought rain, cold, and long hours of glassing. We saw five moose total, including one bull that Mike immediately identified as “maybe a last-day bull, definitely not a first-day bull.” We also spotted a grizzly and some black bears. Idaho’s wild country was showing off! The terrain was brutal but beautiful, though after a full day of hiking those mountains, the word beautiful becomes relative!

Day two, Mike had a specific plan: a four-mile hike to a four-year-old clearcut he’d been watching. The timber gets so thick in Idaho that these clearcuts become magnets for moose. “We’re not going to do as much glassing today,” Mike said. “We’re going to do a lot of calling and listening.”

The Moment

Four miles in, calling and listening the whole way, we finally got an answer. Things happened fast after that. First, a cow appeared, then the bull at 250 yards. On the second morning of the hunt, I had my Idaho Shiras moose down. It was an unforgettable moment.

As most moose hunters will tell you, the real work begins after the moose is down. While we quartered and caped the moose on that steep mountainside, Mike’s wife and father-in-law were gathering horses and mules at the trailhead. The pack-out was something I’d always wanted to experience, and it lived up to all of my expectations. Idaho’s backcountry is stunning in photos, but once you’re off the trail, dealing with deadfall and near-vertical slopes while loading hundreds of pounds of moose meat onto mules, “beautiful” takes on a different meaning. I’m in good shape, and I was completely exhausted. It was fantastic.

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