Top Hotel Hunting and Fishing Excursions

Located less than an hour away from London by car, this elegant countryside hotel is a prime spot for outdoorsmen and women of all skill levels. In partnership with the luxury concierge service Humphrey’s of Henley, Cliveden House offers a wide array of hunting and fishing expeditions: Deer stalking in the Chilterns Estate (in which Cliveden resides) is a highlight, but guests can also opt for pheasant, grouse, and pigeon shooting, as well as fishing. All excursions are lead by an expert local guide, and each guest is matched with a horse to take them on their journey. Groups can also opt to be helicoptered to and from the day’s activities.

Rooms, from $566; Bourne End Rd., Taplow; 44/1628-668561; clivedenhouse.co.uk.

This ultra-luxe coastal lodge offers a truly exclusive angling experience: heli-fishing on the uninhabited Stephenson Island, located just north of the property. After a short ride in an EC-130 chopper, guests can choose between two land-based locations to snare snapper, kahawai, and even kingfish (if you’re lucky). And if the going gets slow at one site, it’s no matter—the helicopter stays with the group the whole time, so guests can hop back in and jaunt to the other site. Back at the lodge, executive chef Barry Frith will cook up the day’s catches. Both half-day and full-day trips are available, and each can accommodate up to three guests.

Half-day tour starts at $2,145 and full-day tour starts at $3,305; 139 Tepene Tablelands Rd., Matauri Bay; 64-9/407-0010; kauricliffs.com.

The Big Easy might not be the first place that comes to mind as a luxury fishing destination, but the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans—located in the French Quarter’s historic 1908 Beaux Arts Maison Blanche—offers nightly bowfishing excursions in partnership with local adventure company After Hours Bowfishing. Under the cover of nightfall, guests of all skill levels can venture out for a guided trip on a boat with high-powered lights (to help illuminate the dark water) to try catching fish by bow and arrow. Each trip lasts between four and five hours, and hosts up to six passengers.

After-hours bowfishing, from $750 for four passengers; $125 for each additional passenger; 921 Canal St.; 504-524-1331; ritzcarlton.com.

Maine is known for its lobster and at this charming coastal inn, the lobster fishing and cooking class experience gives guests a hands-on look at how they’re sourced. First, guests embark on a two-hour excursion guided by a local lobsterman to try their hand at setting and checking traps. Back on dry land, Chris Long, executive chef of the Inn’s onsite restaurant, Natalie’s (and Maine’s Lobster Chef of the Year), leads an interactive cooking class on a variety of ways to prepare their catches. Afterward, everyone can enjoy the fruits of their labor for lunch on the Inn’s picturesque front porch, complete with wine pairings selected by the restaurant’s sommelier. The experience ends later that night with a five-course lobster tasting dinner at Natalie’s.

Package starts at $1,400 per person; 83 Bay View St.; 207-236-4200; camdenharbourinn.com.

This luxurious country house, located in the foothills of mountain Ben Nevis, offers hunting and fishing excursions in partnership with the local Achnacarry Sporting and Country Pursuits. On the 75,000-acre Achnacarry Estate, guests can try their hand at stalking deer or fishing for wild brown trout, Ferox trout, pike, and char on Loch Arkaig. The lush estate is also a prime spot for sightseeing: wild boar, Highland cattle, pine martens, foxes, otters, and rare species of butterflies are just a few of the other animals that reside there. To keep energy levels high on a longer outing, guests can arrange for an Inverlochy Castle Picnic Basket or a packed lunch.

Hunting and fishing excursions start at $382; Torlundy, Fort William; 44-13/9770-2177; inverlochycastlehotel.com.

At this intimate luxury lodge in the province of Cordoba, considered the dove hunting capital of the world, bird hunting takes center stage. With shooting guide (and lodge manager) Joaquin Dartiguelongue at the helm, groups have access to 250,000 scenic acres for exploring, including 75 shooting fields (all of which are within a short drive from the lodge). La Dorminda makes it easy to rent from their range of guns should owners choose to leave theirs at home. After an expedition (the lodge donates the doves to a local nonprofit to help feed children in the community), guests can unwind at the contemporary property with a massage or spot by the fire pit (or pool) ahead of cocktails and an Argentine dinner. The intimate escape accommodates up to 12 people at a time, so individual needs are easily met.

For shooters, from $830 per night; for non-shooters, from $450 per night; San José de La Dormida, Cordoba; 54-911/4914-8214; daviddenies.com.

If you thought Aspen was solely for skiers, think again. The St. Regis Aspen’s in-house adventure company, Aspen Outfitting, offers a full tutorial for amateur hunters, including instructional clay target practice and shooting at a local shooting range. Then, once guests feel comfortable, they’ll head out on the sprawling 28,000-acre ranch with the team’s seasoned experts and keen hunting dogs—English Pointers sniff out the birds (like pheasant and chukar partridge) and Springer Spaniels flush them out. The resort also offers winter fly-fishing excursions. No matter the time of year, guests are guaranteed an authentic outdoor adventure.

Hunting packages start at $1,250 and winter fly-fishing packages start at $325; 315 E Dean St.; 970-925-3406; stregisaspen.com.

Located in the Golden Triangle of Western trout fly-fishing, this beautifully designed cattle ranch is one of the most serene spots in Big Sky Country. After luxuriating in the resort’s rustic-chic log cabins, guests can play Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It while wading in the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, Missouri, and Clark Fork. Five miles of river cut though the Paws Up property itself, and anglers can take guided half or full-day float excursions downstream. No need to bring a canteen; a gourmet lunch complete with local craft brews is prepared riverside when you’re feeling peckish.

For guided fly-fishing, package starts at $450 for two people; 40060 Paws Up Rd.; 406-244-5200; pawsup.com.

At Brush Creek Ranch, guests can get a true taste of the Wild West by taking part in low-impact, fair-chase big game hunting. Experts from the ranch’s in-house outfitter lead excursions through 30,000 acres of picturesque Rocky Mountain wilderness, where guests can hunt for antelope, deer, elk, moose, mountain lion, wild grouse, upland birds, and waterfowl. The ranch also offers fly-fishing experiences and trail riding. Plus, since June 2016, guests seeking a next-level luxury experience can opt for the French Creek Sportsman’s Club, which includes private, custom excursions and exclusive access to the club itself (including private cabins and a lodge along French Creek). Note: Sportsmen and women need to apply for a license and complete a Hunters Safety Course, so be sure to plan ahead.

Package starts at $7,000; 66 Brush Creek Ranch Rd.; 307-327-5284; brushcreekranch.com.

There’s perhaps no agritourism more idyllic for an avid food lover than the five-star Castello Di Casole—A Timbers Resort in Tuscany. The grounds surrounding the restored Italian castle include acres of vineyards, 13 acres of olive groves, and an expansive trail system, as well as one of the top model game preserves in the region. Guests can participate in seasonal hunts of hare, pheasant, deer, and wild boar to control the local animal populations, which is essential for the natural health of region. The hotel also has an incredible cooking school program and an infinity pool overlooking wine country.

Price for boar hunting upon request; Località Querceto; 39-0577/961-508; castellodicasole.com.

This swoon-worthy seaside resort gives travelers many reasons to head south of the border, and its octopus catch and cook experience is a certainly one of them. After an excursion through Banderas Bay guided by expert local fishermen, guests take an interactive cooking class to learn how to prep their catch. End the day with fresh pulpo ceviche (and two-other octopus-based courses) while sipping on the resort’s tequila barrel-aged Cora Beer.

Octopus catch and cook starting at $250; Punta Mita, Bahía de Banderas; 52-329/291-6000; fourseasons.com.