Just out of curiosity (and I know this has been done before), what do you usually spend (or plan to spend) a year on hunting related items (bows, general equipment, travel expenses, clothing, licenses, etc)? I feel like the older I get (I'm 25...that's old to me:D), obviously the better I become financially compared to what it was like as a college student. Yet, I seem to spend less on hunting items now than I did when I was a teen (I spent a lot of my paycheck on hunting related items back then). Not sure if it's life's other priorities, or I'm just becoming cheap:p I would say between licenses, driving (1.5 miles to my hunting spot), my bow last spring, arrows, various tuning gear, I spent a little over $850 last year. To me, that's pretty minimal. Take away the bow, and it would be down to $350. So, I'm curious as to what you guys spend (I'm not trying to be nosy...honestly):D
My greatest fear is that I will die before my wife.......and she'll sell all of my hunting gear - for what she THINKS I have in it. Gotta go......here she comes.
If you count just what I spend for hunting then it is probably less than you but if you include what I spend on archery, archery stuff to test, archery tools, etc. then it is a whole lot more LOL
I have socks older than you. I don't dare add up all that K and I spend on hunting and bowfishing. We spend more on bowfishing than hunting... and we spend plenty on hunting. Suffice it to say... it's a lot. (on the other hand, we don't do much else.. no going to movies, fancy restaurants, other vacations.)
just getting into bow hunting last year i used an old bow and a buddies stands and basically just spend the bare minimum on scent sprays, detergents, broad heads, arrows, release, rangefinder, vest style harness, and misc. id say i spent an easy $500 by the time i put gas in the truck for the hour drive. for this year its already started with new bow w/ package (700), and in the near future dozen arrows (70), broad heads (50+), new clothing (150+), couple hang-ons w/ sticks (70 each), and any misc things. and id really like to get a decoy for my field stands (150+) and an adjustable sight for the bow (80+). and im guessing 100-150 for the commute. i mite have to make a decision between my grad school and hunting because it aint cheap but it worth it in my opinion because it was the most fun ive ever had hunting. and hopefully after this year itll get cheaper becuase i will have everything i need for the most part.
My Illinois tags alone cost me over $750, and that doesn't even begin to count my gas most every weekend year round for the 80 mile round trip to my farm. And the food plots, seed, fert, roundup, etc., etc. Propane for the heat, gas for the generator, food. I really don't want to know what I spend every year. But like Christine said, I don't do a lot of other stuff, so it's my choice. I just have to make sure I have enough left for College tuition for my daughter. So far so good!
Last year I spent nearly 2 grand between a bow, food plots, and some addtional camo. I also picked up a few more hang ons and a new climber. I'd shutter to think what I spend on an yearly basis, as would my wife. I totally agree with Jeff's quote. It's not the bigs stuff, its all the 20 here, 10 there, that really adds up too. I don't really want to know the real number.
I am usually cheap and was this past year as well. Bought a like new Allegiance for $450(didn't like any new models) and my other highest expense was gasoline......don't even wanna add that up. 2010 may be different as I am thinking bear hunt or elk hunt if I can get the days off.
i could hunt with a good outfitter yearly, with chances at 150+ deer on the amount i spend... it gets up there when you travel to a few states. Is any fun sport cheap?
I'm with you Jeff. So the next question is, are you hunting when you're supposed to be picking up food for the cat? Someone once asked me, "How do you get away with so much hunting every year?" He said, "Everytime I want to go hunting I have to clean the garage, or paint the house , etc. How do you do it?" I let him in on my secret. I told him, "I never tell my wife I'm going hunting until around 3:00am the day of the hunt. I roll over and poke her with my elbow. At the same time I ask, what's it going to be sex or hunting." Her normal reply is, "Pack plenty of warm socks." I blow out the door like greased lightning! I guess she knows how much hunting I like to do! I would say I average around $6000 every year.
My spending as a student goes as follows: Bills Food Hunting Equipment Clothes In that order. I did add another trail camera to my arsenal this week though :D
well im gonna say first that i gave up one dream to do another. Most people dont know this but i played semi pro paintball and last year we on three out of 5 national events in the U.S. and we got are pro slot but i didnt want to do it because it would mean barely any hunting for me so i said id rather hunt. thats about all i do anymore other then worrying about my girlfriend which im working up the guts to ask to marry. So hunting is my life my dream and the thing i love the most. but id say i make about 40 to 45 k a year fulltime union work and i usually blow about 1/5 of every paycheck on new hunting stuff and i still dont have every thing i want. heres a rundown on some of the stuff i pay for every year. 1. new bow- reason i want the best stuff i can get for the best chance at a deer and for the reason i want a quick kill and i figure every year they come out with something giving me a better chance at doing that. 2. pay land owners to lease property 3. scent stuff 4. gas and licenses 5. all my archery tackle such as release tools arrows broadheads 6. bought a new camera to video with this year stuff i still need to get -new safety harness -new range finder - couple more stands and a blind or two -deff need new camo havnt had new stuff for the last three years -a complete setup of everything for my girlfriend so she can hunt with me next year
