Self Guided Hunts


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As the name implies, these are hunts where you are not guided one on one.  Typically, you are taken to a stand or area and then left to your own devices to hunt. In most cases, you are dealing with a part-time guide or landowner who will allow you to hunt an area at a certain fee.  No actual guiding is involved.

Generally, the hunter or hunters will be taken to an existing stand or specific area and left to hunt on their own.  The guide or landowner usually identifies areas where the hunted game has been seen and positions hunters in those areas.  In some cases, the hunter will be taken to a specific stand, while, in other cases, they may be left alone to hunt independently.

Like other forms of hunts, self guided hunts have some unique advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

  • The biggest advantage of all - the price.  Out of all the different hunting trips available, self guided hunts tend to be the least expensive.
  • Opportunity - Proprietors of self guided hunts are usually very cognizant of hunting pressure and over hunting an area.  As a result, you may have the opportunity to hunt an area that has experienced very little or no hunting pressure.

Disadvantages:

  • Depending on your level of experience, you may or may not be able to locate game. A number of factors may play into this, but experience or lack of with a particular game species could become an issue.
  • Responsibility - With self guided hunts, you will basically be doing everything yourself.  If your hunt involves any camping, game cleaning, removing game, etc., you'll probably be doing it by yourself. Some people prefer this scenario, so it may not be an issue.

Out of the three types of hunting discussed already, self guided hunts tend to be the most overlooked.  However, they can be a great opportunity if you have some experience and can apply it.  Years ago, I did a self guided plantation style quail hunt in GA where a group of us leased a portion of the property from the landowner and hunted it.  I had some experience quail hunting (as well as my own dog) so it didn't take long for us to get into birds. That turned out to be an extremely enjoyable and successful hunt at a very reasonable cost.

Throughout the years, I've done a couple of different self guided hunts and have had good experiences with each one.  I think the trick with self guided hunts is to limit your hunt to a particular game that you are familiar with.  If you have very limited experience, then a guide may be a better choice. Doing a self guided hunt from whitetail on a 10,000 acre ranch in Texas may not be the best idea if you've never hunted whitetail before.