From the Holler to the High Country: How to Set Up an Out-of-State Hunt

A few years back, a buddy of mine invited me on a boar hunt near the Florida-Georgia line. He’d booked it through an online outfit that promised big thrills at a cheap and fast rate. I thought, why not? Any hunt's a good hunt if there’s bacon at the end of it.

We were riding through the swampy backwoods when the walkie-talkie crackled.

"Dogs are on one! Big boar bayed up near the oak flat. Get movin’."

The guide and I, a fella whose blood type was probably ‘Wild Turkey’, loaded up in a rickety UTV and tore through the palmettos like we were chasing ghosts. For a minute there, I thought I was about to write my name in the hog hunting history books.

And then the guide, who I swear was two sips short of a DUI, missed a turn so hard we ended up half in a ditch and entirely out of the hunt. The dogs bayed. The boar busted loose. And I sat there thinking, “This ain’t how I go out.”

That was the moment I realized if I were going to hunt out of state again, I’d be the one doing the planning. I wanted tags I could trust, guides who could stand straight, and maps I didn’t need to read with bourbon goggles.

If you're a Kentucky hunter thinking about branching out, consider this your guide to doing it right the first time.

You’ve bagged your limit in the Bluegrass and now you’re dreaming of bigger elk in Montana, Osceola gobblers in Florida, a moose the size of a minivan up in Maine.

But how in the name of Daniel Boone do you set up a hunt in another state?

Let me break it down for you because booking a hunt out-of-state isn’t just about buying a tag and packing your rifle.

It’s a strategy, a dance, and sometimes a bureaucratic goat rope. But it's 100% worth it if you want to fill your freezer and your soul.

Step 1: Pick Your Prize Animal and State

Don’t just throw darts at a map. Consider what you’re after and where it resides. Want a swamp-struttin’ turkey? That’s Florida.

Dreaming of hearing a bugle echo through mountain mist? Get to Montana.

If you want to look a moose in the eye and question your place in the food chain, Maine’s calling.

Step 2: Learn the Laws

Each state has its unique flavor of complexity. Most have draw systems, quotas, special permits, or hoops that would make a circus act quit.

Here's where to look:

• Kentucky Elk for Non-Residents: You’ve got to enter the draw by April and buy a hunting license first. Start here: fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Elk.aspx.

• Florida Osceola Turkey: Non-resident hunting license and a turkey permit. South of Orlando is prime. More info: myfwc.com

• Maine Moose and Bear: Moose tags are lottery-only for non-residents (apply by mid-May), but bear tags are available over the counter. You’ll also need a big game license. Full rundown: maine.gov/ifw

• Montana Elk: The application window for non-resident general tags opens in mid-March. Some areas require a special permit in addition to the general tag. Details at: fwp.mt.gov

Step 3: Buy the Right Tags (and Don’t Miss the Draw)

Most states operate like Willy Wonka’s golden ticket.

You apply, you wait, and if you're lucky, you get to go. The rest of us eat leftover deer chili and dream.

Pro tip: Set calendar reminders months in advance. If you miss the draw, you’re out until next year or left chasing overpriced landowner tags.

Step 4: Line Up the Logistics

Once you’ve got your tag, here’s what you need:

• Maps & Apps: Download OnX Hunt or HuntStand. Know where public land begins and ends.

• Lodging: Book early. Especially in places like rural Montana or northern Maine. Camp if you're brave. Glamp if you're smart.

• Gear Check: Ensure your weapon is legal in the state where you are. Some states are picky about calibers, broadheads, or even magazine capacity.

• Scouting: Use Google Earth, forums, YouTube, and wildlife agencies. The more time you spend now, the less time you spend walking around lost and cussing later.

What It Takes (And Why It’s Worth It)

Setting up a hunt out of state isn’t easy. It’s like marrying into a big family, with another’s paperwork, politics, and a whole lot of explaining. But it’s also the most rewarding kind of suffering. You’ll make memories, meet good people, and see parts of America that still run on wood smoke and boot leather.

And you might tag the kind of animal that changes your hunting career forever.

Dude Wrap- Don't

• Don’t be lazy. Do your homework.

• Don’t assume anything. Every state plays by its own rules.

• Don't’t wait. Draw deadlines sneak up like a sneaky' l’ gobbler.