Always a source of controversy, hunting is nonetheless one of the most popular recreational pursuits in the world. Why anyone would want to strap on a rifle and blow a wild animal into oblivion when supermarkets and convenience stores exist on every street corner is beyond some people. For others however, hunting is a way of life or a pastime that harkens back to man’s primodial need to acquire sustenance.
A healthy niche in the tourism industry, hunting safaris and excurions run by reputable operators can provide safer alternatives to animal preservation than uncontrolled poaching. While the latter decimates entire species populations in a matter of decades and still runs rampant in many areas in the world with bigger fish to fry, controlled hunting is a brand of tourism that has proven lucrative to many governments and indigeneous populations. It takes big bucks to kill big bucks however, but for many, the opportunity to see a rustic, off-the-beaten-path part of the world and experience the wild romance of the hunt is well worth the high price of admission.
With that in mind, here are some of the best hunting grounds in the world for tourists.
A new country on the world stage, Montenegro has in actuality been around since the 15th century. With a population of less than a million and stuck in one of the most turbulent and economically-challenged areas in the world, let alone Europe, the government has sought out creative alternatives to galvanize tourism. The country, for one, is blessed with a relatively untouched landscape. As such, the mountains and lush forests that comprise much of the rugged countryside are rife with wildlife. Hunting expeditions can be arranged for a variety of bird species, from duck to quail, turtle-dove to snipe. There’s a surfeit of wild boar, rabbits and chamois to hunt as well.
Still relatively wild in stark contrast to more conventional tourism destinations, Cambodia offers some underground jungle excursions for hunters with deep pockets. Secluded sections of the country were previously unmapped and home to indigenous villages whose traditions endured for centuries without outside interference until first stumbled upon during the Vietnam War. Today the government is eager to invoke a unique brand of ecotourism with big game hunting retreats. Deep in the heart of the jungle, tourists armed to the teeth can have their pick of more than two dozen native species, from reptiles to birds to boars. Tigers, mercifully, are not on the list.
It shouldn’t come as a major shock that a country synonymous with safari tourism should also have some of the best organized hunts for foreign visitors in the world. What a setting the country offers as well, with all the romance and mythology that one expects of wild Africa. The amount of biodiversity is simply astounding, with a multitude of animal species within sight of your guide’s Land Rover. For professional game hunters, the country is ground zero for record trophy milestones. Unusual targets, such as nyala, suni, duiker, white rhino and gnu are endemic to reserves here and attract avid enthusiasts from around the world.
When hunters want the ultimate trip, they head to the Great White North. Canada presents adherents of the sport with an abundance of choices and pristine, unspoiled and magnificent destinations. From deer and waterfowl in Ontario, elk and black bear in Saskatchewan, caribou and hare in Newfoundland and pretty much whatever your heart desires everywhere else, Canada is a welcome haven for hunters. The challenge of a lifetime for the hardcore however, may be to head for the frozen north, the Yukon, upper Quebec or Nunavut for example, to accompany the Inuit on traditional seal, arctic fox or even beluga whale hunts. Despite the ignorance of a boisterous, vocal minority – sorry Brigitte Bardot – these hunts are effective controls to protect endemic habitat populations and buoy species development. If anyone understands the critical importance of controlled, sustainable hunting, it’s the native people of Canada.
No matter where your next trip to Canada takes you, we have the best hotel deals in the country.
As one of the most megadiverse nations on Earth, Argentina is a beacon for sportsmen who love to hunt. From Patagonia to the Pampas plains, to the Andes and regions in close proximity to Antarctica, Argentina is home to a vast array of birds and animals. Dove and pigeon season is incessant, with virtually no limitations on hunters. Those in search of more impressive pursuits can focus on expeditions that stalk blackbuck antelope, stags, pumas and water buffalo. All in all, tourism in Argentina that caters to hunters, or lovers of any outdoor endeavors for that matter, is among the best regulated, organized and spectacular in the world.
Visit Argentina with peace of mind as far as accommodations go.
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