By Jason Reid
Rochester, New York – -(Ammoland.com)- When we think of hunting different animals, we often think of chasing different deer, moose, elk bears or the more popular species in Africa.
Yet while walking the floors of the 2015 Safari Club International Convention, there were a variety of game species I couldn’t believe you could hunt. I learned quickly, exotic animals were not just reserved for African Safaris. There are plenty of interesting animals you can hunt in North and South America.
Walrus: Not traditionally thought of as a game animal, Walrus has been a part of the Inuit lifestyle and diet for centuries. I spoke with Canada North Outfitting ( www.canadanorthoutfitting.com ) and they told me, traditionally, walrus hunts take place by spotting them from boats as they rest on large ice packs or on rock island haul outs.
Hunts take place in the summer when long daylight hours are the norm. The meat is always given to the Inuit communities who have a tradition of giving the meat to the community dog first, and if the dog is alive the next day, then the meat is given to the oldest person in the village, and if they are not dead after one day, then the rest of the village is allowed to eat of the meat.
It should be noted, under the US Marine Mammal Protection act, you cannot bring your trophy back into the US however you can have replicas made.
Alaskan King Kider: A friend of mine from my home region sent me a message not long ago. His text read, “King Eider is in the area!” As a passionate wildlife photographer, he was a bit excited at the prospect of possibly photographing this particular duck. Passing Ramsey Russell’s GetDucks.com booth, I saw the King Eider mount and stopped to discuss hunting this duck. King Eider is the known as the pinnacle of duck hunting. Russell told me he takes to people all over the world who often say the only duck they have not taken yet, is the King Eider. This is because the King Eider is predominantly in Alaska where they breed and live in high arctic ecosystems. Russell told me they hunt them using long line decoy methods and by sitting on the shorelines during high winds and wait for the birds to fly along the shore looking for cover.
Ocellated Turkey: This bird looks more like a small Peacock than the picture of a turkey we normally think about. This vibrantly colored bird is one of the coveted species of turkeys for those hunters looking to complete the World Slam of wild turkeys. Sierra Madre Hunting ( www.sierramadrehunting.com ), an outfitter specializing in Mexican hunts, told me Occellated Turkeys only weigh about eight to ten pounds and they don’t hunt them like traditional turkeys.
From my understanding you tree the birds since they normally don’t come to calls. (Lead Image Above)
More Than Just a Meat Hunt
These exotic wild animals provide value all around the world not just to hunters but to the local communities intertwined with them. As I talked to these guides, it wasn’t just about killing, it was the experience and the chance to make life long friends which was the real mark of the adventure.
About Jason Reid:
Jason Reid is a writer and business professional from upstate New York. After deciding to pursue his dream of becoming an outdoor writer, Jason started a blog from his dorm room at Houghton College, growing it and working hard to earn opportunities. While bowhunting big game is his ultimate passion, Jason welcomes all outdoor challenges which force him to push his limits. Jason’s work can be viewed on his website Pushingthewildlimits.com