MUDRUNNER Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 ...when you cut back on hunting. It's slow in this room, and this has been on mind lately so i thought we could discuss it. As sad as it is, it seems to make zero finacial sense to hunt these days. There was a time when deer hunting actually saved you money. Not that that's the point of hunting, but I'm sure there are several things I could spend the extra money on. What got me thinking about this is a trip I made to the farm I hunt last weekend. It costs me right at $30 in gas to go up and back right now. If you figure in 20 trips a year between scouting, food plots, setting stands, and hunting season that's $600 just in gas per year. Throw in tags, license, a little equipment, seed, etc., this easily jumps over the $1000 mark. As gas prices increase and the kids start getting into hunting that price could easily double in the next few years. Not that I'm thinking of giving up hunting, but with tight funds it could really be an issue in the future. Hunting is, and always has been a very important part of who I am. I could just see where the cost would force people away from the sport. Anybody else have thoughts on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 I agree! Im not going to stop hunting any time soon but the cost climbs more and more each year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 True we live on the ground we hunt, BUT we could actually live much cheaper in town near the schools our kids go to if we were to give up hunting and living in the country. Our cost factor the way I see it is pretty darned high, and it would take some time to elaborate on all that factors in from property maintenance to property taxes to other factors, I will try to come back later on and explain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clint Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 I know that where I live in GA, we are seeing 3.80 now. And we live in little town that is got plenty of station to choose from. But, when we where use to 3.35 and now in a week or two 3.80 that bull crap!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gzilla45 Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 For me there isn't or at least I haven't come close to that number yet. I need the 3-4 months of hunting season to relax and spend time with friends/family. It's hard to put a monetary value on that time. I'm somewhat blessed in that the land I hunt has been in my family for 60 years and I don't have to pay anything for it. Gas, food, and licenses are really what I have to buy every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted March 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 Well, no matter what the costs I will hunt the rest of my life. I'm also with you in that it is my time to spend with...well family, friends, and the outdoors LOL, and you can't put a price on that. I am however, comtemplating on cutting back next year. Maybee if the weather isn't perfect or the wind isn't just right I should stay at home. We all know that you can't kill them from the couch, but our odds definately go up at certain times. You know...early November, light north wind, temps in the 30's and 40's. I never have killed a deer in early October, but every year I make the trek up there every chance I get regardless of conditions. My wife is not a hunter, so to her what I do is a hobby. I guess I feel guilty that I spend $1000-$1500 a year on a "hobby", and we don't have the funds for her to spend an equal amount on things that she likes. She is great about it though, and knows what hunting means to me. Any time we start getting behind on bills, we sit down and try to figure out how to adjust our budget. Never once has she said that if I give up hunting for two years we get cought back up in no time, but it has crossed my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrown Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 I agree, you also have to add in processing or taxidermy. We're pretty lucky here in OK. I bought my life time hunting license when I was 15, $300! No turkey tags, deer tags, state waterfowl stamps, fur licenses, it's all covered under our lifetime license. Of course you figure CO elk hunting, KS deer hunting, and archery exipment. Although you can re-use your arrows. Always have to find an excuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 For some its golf, boating, tournament fishing, or just blowing it another way. We'll all be 6 ft under in the near future, I try to get out and enjoy nature and some time with my kids and not dwell on the cost factor, even though I spend 30 bucks every time I drive to the camp in fuel alone. Focus on the reasons you do what you do and try not to involve the calculator. Costs are rising for everything and hunting certainly is not exempt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkcamogirl13 Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 About 4 years ago, my husband and I decided to move froma very metropolitan area to CentralSouth Dakota. We chose to do that because of our love of hunting and fishing.It was the best decision we ever made. Yes..costs are rising, but I will hunt and fish as long as I live. From the joy of checking game cameras to seewhat deer we have available to harvest to having fresh backstraps for supper…inmy option..there is no price you can put on that. I will never forget that moment when I shotmy first deer and seeing the pride in my dad’s eyes or when I seen thewhitetail for the first time that now is on my wall, or the rush I got when Icame over a bluff this fall and seen my first mule deer’s horns in the sun orthe joy my dog has when she brings me a pheasant that I just shot. Tags, equipment, and gas are expensive…memoriesare priceless!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowboy778 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I don't think about the cost I think of the time in the woods to reflect or just spend time with family and friends. I think of it as going back to a simpler time and time to get away from the everyday stresses. I can not put a price on happiness. My wife understands she actually tells me to spend money on the better quality because it lasts longer. Got to love her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhunter97 Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 (edited) that is the exact reason i've been having to hunt around the house. We havent been able to take trips to go out n geton the big bucks. We're about 3.90 over here its absolutly terrible. The gas companies are robbing us and now we cant go out and have fun. Hopefully the economy comes back in a few years and we can afford it. By the time i can drive i hope we will have an economy. This is horrible. And the "out of state" licenses are 300 bucks now! Edited March 4, 2012 by bowhunter97 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterfowler Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Yes hunting does cost a lot of money and it keeps gettin more expensive every year. If i gave up hunting to save money the world would go to an end. Without hunting/fishing i would be such a grumpy person that its not even funny. If i dont get my peace in the outdoors its hard tellin what id do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 (edited) Dont cost much for me..I hunt right out my door..biggest cost is the gas for the wheeler..oh ya and LP for Ashleys tower blind..she keeps it like 80 in there Edited March 5, 2012 by Mathews XT Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hunting doesn't cost me very much. My camp is about 60 miles from here, I take a week off in rifle season so I only have to drive there and back once. Then ripping around between the camp and farm all week, might burn a full tank of gas. Only other expenses are camp fees, groceries and ammo. Pretty cheap for a week of fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 I live 20 mins from my parent's farm and i hunt at home too. I don't spend as much as i could, but i still spend a lot. i look at it as i'm spending the money toward an interest/hobby of mine and i don't hunt to put food on the table. it's just an added bonus to bring home backstraps from it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn8157 Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 Yes, hunting anymore cost alot of money. However, having two boys(6 and 9) that hunt and being able to spend time with them in the woods is priceless to me. We are lucky enough to have access to some good hunting land, so this helps with cost. But being there when both of my boys took their first deer.....can you really but a price on that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 I don't look at it as a financial thing, I look at it as a therapeutic thing. I tell my wife that I need a heavy dose of therapy from Oct to Jan... I also use it as an opportunity to spend time with my kids, getting them more and more involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted March 6, 2012 Report Share Posted March 6, 2012 I like hunting......but there's only so much I'm willing to spend to keep doing it. Same with fishing. These are hobbies.....not neccesities. I can walk out the back door and into the woods......sit by a tree and just watch the wildlife to get my quiet time. I don't have to be hunting or fishing. However, right now, I'm not close to that certain amount of $ to stop either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swohiodave Posted March 10, 2012 Report Share Posted March 10, 2012 Deer hunting is a part of life for me. I love being outdoors in a treestand right at sun up. I enjoy harvesting a deer but I do not have to harvest one to be happy. I will hunt until I can no longer physically do it anymore. That being said, I hunt on my friend's uncle's farm, which does have a moderate amount of guys hunting on it. I have a state park within 20 minutes i could hunt if i had to but hunting public land is expensive. The only way i would ever stop hunting because of financial reasons would be that we are going broke because of it and i pray that day would never happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted March 11, 2012 Report Share Posted March 11, 2012 I would estimate around 2500 per year is what I spend on hunting. I've never really calculated it and honestly the number could be 10k and I wouldn't stop hunting. It's truly my passion and I can't put a price tag on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted March 11, 2012 Report Share Posted March 11, 2012 Hunting has become a way of life for me. It is interwoven into almost every day of my life. There is a satisfaction that comes with quality meat control that one can't get at the market. I select the meat (in the field), harvest it, butcher it, prepare it, and eat it. Mounts decorate my house, hunting videos frequently fill my house with sounds and images of the outdoors, and I spend a lot of time talking hunting with friends and family. So hunting is no longer an option for me, it is who I am. If finances get tough I may hunt less, but I will always find a way to get into a tree stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 I don't look at it as a financial thing, I look at it as a therapeutic thing. Sort of the same thing here. It's a part of who I am and how I enjoy life. Other people have their own interest. I know my son's 2 season tickets for pro football games total ~$3,700/year. That doesn't include the cost of gas to make the 5 hour drive to the games either. That's 8 home games & a couple of preseason games. 10 weekends of hunting is a lot cheaper than that! Think about what it cost people who are into going to sports events like NASCAR, basketball, baseball, etc. Everyone has interest in some sort of activity that cost them $. If I couldn't afford the necessities of being able to live I'd have to cut back to pay those bills but that's not a concern for me...hope it never is! I can tell you this though...if it came to paying for montly cell phone service or giving up hunting, the cell phone would go 1st! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger-Hunter Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 The cost is atrocious. Jeff Foxworthy did a funny bit in one of the realtree videos where he was justifying the cost of hunting to his wife. He added all the costs: 4-wheeler, guns, license, mounts, gas, etc. Then he said, "see honey, you have beef for $2.50 per pound or Venison for $20/ pound.. LOL. It's true, it doesn't save you money unless you have land close to home, butcher them yourself, ground and wrap the meat yourself. But you don't create friends, lasting memories, relationships and certainly your kids will never remember spending time with their parents by going to the grocery store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger-Hunter Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 Just read my previous post and wanted to comment on how brilliant it was. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad dryden Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 It does get expensive. But there is always ways to cut the cost down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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