Can We Afford to Hunt

Thats why I use alot of the same equipment for many years,, it still gets the job done!

 

It's only out of hand expensive for those who have more money than brains.

 

agree...there are plenty of ways to hunt locally for very little...but the out-of-state game is crazy for certain species. And I still cannot believe the #'s of guys that flock to IL and pay $500+ for whitetail...
...but I guess like most things in life...if you want it bad enough...you Can make it happen.

 

There'll always be that ultra elite class of gear that 99% of us can't afford or don't desire. There will also always be stuff that fits the middle of the road working man's budget.

Honestly, I don't see anyone complaining about shotguns that cost $30K and they certainly haven't displaced the old reliable 870.

 

I upgrade my arrows each year and buy some broadheads. I drive my truck out to hunt on land I do not have to pay for to use. To me, hunting is cheap compared to a lot of other things.

 

I am a compound bow hunter Dan..you arent one of those guys that have the elitist type attitude I was referring to .... most guys on this site dont either... recurve and lb guys impress the crap outta me and HAVE to be more dedicated at their craft than us wheel bow guys ... bottom line...alot of compound guys do not hold xbow users in their same category...the gap is about the same between a stick n string and a compound ....maybe greater..

 

Oops....I should have thrown one of these in there......

 

I hunt by myself so my gear only reflects what i feel is most efficient to me as far as killing deer not impressing someone with how high $ i paid for it.
Also starting bs on who the real men are... ie. re-curve longbow compound is for school kids. Hope we are better then this.



During this time of economic depression bow manufacturer's are going nuts with there profit margins and (bling) programs and some will fall to the way side over it. and i guess the profit margins is why you see so many new bow company's these days.Once there were five company's barely making payroll and now there are twenty company's out there, all making the best and fastest and lightest mind you....and if they are selling more power to them, but as bowhunter's we know the resale value of such items is a fools game at best,and it's great for guys buying a 1-2 year old bow that barely got out of a case and sold for half of what they paid for it.we all know we lose are tails on this stuff.
I guess some guys are calling there bow tools and writing all of it off there taxes if they video tape there hunt and try to sell it as hunting footage,seen a guy spending big bucks at the shop the other day doing this, Just get some sticker for your truck and call yourself a pro, write the truck off,fuel,"tools" hunting lease, this list could go on and on.

but i am talking about the bowhunting working class guy here not the guys trying to pay for there hunting buy shooting some videos.

Times are real hard around my place.There is no work, I am in construction and have cut way back.Most of the shop in my area sell to us construction guys and with most of us out of work most shops may not make it as well and with no-one to buy the bows it will have a trickle up effect and the last ones to understand it will be the bow manufacturer

But it looks like the marketing guys at bow companys have got even the owner's fooled at what the market can bear. Hell just make a bow with diamonds on it and price it at 10 grand and someone will buy it (bling)
If we hunter's stop buying the bling maybe the archery companys will come back to selling what the consumer wants and maybe it is BLING that guys want but i will bet your going to see a lot of leftover product in the next few years as companys go lean and green.


My local shop sent a lot of bow's back that they could not sell at the end of the year,and only a few guys are buying based on a few days i spent at the shop last week, my guess is they wont make it either.
tuff times a head i think.

sorry for the rant, I respect you guys and this is a great site,

thanks roger.

 

I like this.


I still hunt with this.......

 

I have got an orig treebark suit to go with that paint on that bow..

 

Me too!

 

LMAO at that Dan!!

I'm not sure where it will all stop or if it will John.

Last Sight I bought for a personal bow it cost me more (dealer cost) than my first compound bow cost me (retail) It is kind of scary!

Dan

 

Hunting has really been a case study for me in socioeconomics, marketing, and human behavior.

Long story short, if we'd collectively boycott overpriced merchandise, the prices would check down to a palatable profit margin. Obviously, shrewd marketing can trump economic sense, and most men would spend their families into oblivion just to trot out a $40,000 pickup rig on opening day, with a $10,000 atv trailered behind it. These are people whose priorities are so maligned, that I can't even think of a way to put it into words.

On one hand, I absolutely detest the companies taking advantage of the mentally feeble through what I'd call "Little Man Syndrome" marketing, but on the other hand, I can't blame them. There's an idiot born every five minutes.

It just so happens that the general populous of deer hunters contain an inordinate proportion of the latter.


I do my part. I don't buy anything I don't need. I hunt out of a 30 mpg gas saver, wearing a trunkload of Cabela's Bargain Cave camo that doesn't match, and toting a bow that's 5 years old.

That said, I've seen the writing on the wall - that hunting is becoming a game of Haves vs. Have-Nots. I snagged a nice piece of hunting property, and I find solice in the fact that I'll always have a place to go.

 

GREAT post .....

 

Same here. It is really fun.

 

There is nothing wrong with being Frugal. If you need to be or want to be, doesn't matter. Cheap is very, very many times like lighting a match to your money though.

Case in point I used to always buy cheap clothing, and it was amazing how fast this stuff would wear out and/or fade out. I bought a set of Gray Wolf Woolens (Wolfskin) and this stuff is amazing at the condition it is in after 8 to 10 seasons. I spent more but saved money.

I bought a dozen CX Aramid Kevlar shafts I think 3 seasons ago and my arrow box is still Full. I'd Love to try a new arrow but those darn things shoot so good and have been so durable I don't need to. There again I have saved money over some of my previous options.

The Sight I mentioned earlier has been on at least 6 bows and I don't see it ever wearing out. I have a drawer of used sights that have fell apart. Money wasted!

The Out of State tag thing is crazy, that coupled with traveling expense, gas, etc there really are No cheap hunts anymore.

I was once told everyone has their vices, for some it's cigarettes, booze, drugs, jewelry, cars, houses, clothes, women, collectibles, etc., and Yes for some it's Archery

"If you want Good Clean Oats you have to pay a fair Market Price, but if you are satisfied with Oats After they have been through the Horse then there are a Lot of Bargains out there"

Dan

 

I've seen you say that many times. I just don't get why you continue to say that all the time like you are god's gift to the world.

 

I agree with animal tags and liscences...but equipment...not so sure...i know stuff is getting really expensive and we all opt into it all..but when i first started hunting i had arrows that were 3 bucks a peice i had 6 my bow cost 150 brand new and i had 30 dollar coveralls and a 55 dollar stand and i was set....shot my first deer when i was 10

 

Because it's true.

It's always been my observation that the composition of the general populous of hunters consists of an abnormally high number of losers, ingrates, criminals, lowlifes, cheaters, poachers and scumbags.

Obviously, there are some great folks out there sharing the deerwoods, but the general consensus is that the stereotypes (sadly) are true.

Get mad if you want, that's just my view from the cheap seats.

 

Back to the original post, get your new hunter a "ready-to-go" bow at ****'s and get camo at Wal-Mart. If the camo isn't warm enough, get some thicker long underwear. I agree w/ GMMAT. You should really be able to totally oufit someone for less than $500. The thrill that they get in the woods will be exactly the same. Bowhunting is cheapest outdoor sport I've goten into. If you really want to blow some money, get knee deep into fishing. $500 is your monthly bass boat payment. Ha!