Are you really saving money by hunting? How much? (Not an attack thread)

[ZeroJunk]

A man could easily save money around here if he set out to do it.

You could buy a single shot 12 gauge and a box of buck shot and kill all the deer you could eat for several years. I don't even need a license on my own property which has too many deer anyway.

But, who wants to do that.

 

[countertop]

Incline,

where abouts in Virginia are you?

T.R.,

I almost purchased a PA non resident deer license (I've purchased small game licenses before to grouse hunt). Friend invited me to come up and hunt his farm in Lancaster. But I was shocked to find out I could only take one deer. Would much rather get a Maryland license for about the same price and take 10 (plus have access to fantastic waterfowling).

 

[CraigC]

How many of us are hunting because we have to, rather than because we want to??? Probably not many, if any. If you lived on land that you inherited (still pay property taxes) and with a rifle you also inherited, fired one shot for each dead critter, processed your own critters and used every part possible, I could see saving some money.

Look at the steaks next time you're in Wal Mart.

That is some freaky looking stuff!

It's like driving a Ferrari full of Hi-test to Whole Foods for an organic sushi sampler and wiping your mouth with 100 dollar bills.

That's a good analogy!

 

[silicosys4]

I get up early, pick up the gun I already own, jack in a few shells I already own, and ride the bike that I already own, to nearby public land that is free to access. I realize not everybody can be so thrifty, but come on....you don't need that $6k ATV, that $20k truck, that $2k weatherby, and that $800 worth of "gear". If you are going to take a vacation and go hunting, you are taking a vacation, and hunting is what you are doing for your vacation. If you are going hunting, you get the rifle you most likely own, pay for the tags, and go.
Whats a tag and 3 shells cost? Thats what I spend. Some years I have not gone hunting, but had the gun, gas, and shells anyways. Having that stuff around is part of being a gun enthusiast so I don't count it in the cost of going "hunting".

 

[627PCFan]

I consider myself more a target shooter that hunts just to fill my freezer and meat for friends on occcasion. It takes 6 medium to small deer to fill my freezer. Costs me 46c per bullet, plus 1/2c per primer and 24c for powder, free brass Liscence $80?? 6 rounds = $84.23 for six deer. I dont count my rifles and scopes since I have them for target practice anyway and gas since I would be driving there for fun
That being said my household doesnt buy meat except for when we have visitors. We are a venison and goose family year long.

 

[inclinebench]

Countertop, I am in the Blacksburg area.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

when it comes to hunting for me, I got a 1,000 acre lease I share with 2 friends. last year, one guy showed up one full weekend, the other showed up 1 day, the rest of the time I had it to myself. thousands of hogs, lots of deer, game all over. I love being alone out there. cant wait for this coming hunting season....so good.

 

[MCgunner]

Not in Texas where leases are ever escalating. I own my own land, but hell, I have to pay ever escalating taxes on it. Like most, I really don't do it just for the meat. The meat is a nice bonus.

My hog trap is my friend. Corn for bait is a lot cheaper than pork and with the density of the population now days, don't take a few days to trap one anymore.

 

[BBQLS1]

I don't save money. I really hunt for other reasons as much as anything.

If I wanted to strip it down and hunt as cheap as possible, I could save a bunch of money.

 

[MCgunner]

This is just like the question of whether or not reloading saves money.

I don't cast and handload specifically to save on HUNTING ammo. I shoot BETTER ammo in my rifles, for sure. However, reloading doesn't really save me any money. It does, however, allow me to shoot a lot more for the same amount of money.

 

[JohnKSa]

Right. And most people don't hunt specifically to save on meat. They hunt for other reasons, just as you don't reload specifically to save on ammo, you reload for other reasons.

People COULD hunt to save on meat, just as they COULD reload to save on ammo, but they would have to start out with that goal in mind and it would limit their options in many ways.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Lets see...

My wife has decided to hunt this year (1st time for her)

boots....$120
insulated bibs...$140
coat...$140
rifle (270)...$400
scope...$200

A few years back my oldest son got big enough to hunt...

boots...$150
coveralls...$100
gun...$750
scope...$200

In a few more years...my youngest son will be ready to go...the following is adjustred for the going rate of inflation, LOL.

boots...$400
insulated bibs...$500
gun...$1,500
scope...$600

And then there is me....I have bought the following in the last 2 weeks, ordered it all while I was ordering the stuff for my wife.

new boots...$220
new bibs...$140
new coat...$140


Then there is the $1,900 I have spent building my rifle...and a few hundred $$$ on brass, bullets, and powder.


So NO...I'm not saving any $$$ by hunting and I do hunt private land within 15 minutes of home.

All that said...its $$$ well spent...the happy thoughts of the time I spend in the woods are the ONLY thing that gets me through the rest of the year with my sanity (thats a true fact)