MCgunner
Member
Well, that was the line when I was a kid. I do understand they've sold a bit of it off over the years. Heck, combine the Kenedy next door and it's STILL bigger.
How Much Would You Pay for a Trophy Buck?
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Well, that was the line when I was a kid. I do understand they've sold a bit of it off over the years. Heck, combine the Kenedy next door and it's STILL bigger.
To answer your question, I would pay maybe three grand to go on a "guided" deer hunt. Not nessessarily a trophy hunt.
There are a number of reasons why I would pay to hunt like that:
First of all, I live in a place where big game tags are drawn in a lottery. Often times you don't get drawn and don't get to hunt big game at all. Furthermore, I use one of my vacation picks at work just in case I get drawn. Then if I don't get drawn, I wasted the vacation pick that I could have used for some other adventure.
Second: I don't live in a place where big game hunting is easy to do. If I get drawn I have to drive 5-6 hours to get to the hunting area my tag allows me to hunt. Then I have to camp there since it is usually far from civilization. After all the work, vacation time, and expense involved in this, it would be nice to have confidence that you are going to have a good chance to harvest an animal. Of course you can greatly increase your odds by scouting the area ahead of time. However, scouting the area requires the same hassles as hunting the area: taking time (at least a couple whole days and nights with the drive), camping there etc. FWIW: the older I get, the less I enjoy camping. I have done a lot of it over the years and now consider it more of a PITA (or back) than fun.
Third: I am not a trophy hunter per se', but like most hunters, I would like to someday bag a bragging size buck. Random chance hasn't worked for me so far.
Fourth: if I was to hunt other states, I have no idea what I am doing. Where can I hunt, local places to eat or stay, where could I camp............. This all involves research and planning which takes time and effort.
Long story even longer, I sometimes think it would be a nice thing to just hop on a plane, or jump in the car and arrive somewhere with the only concern is hunting and not all the logistics of the trip.
I did this on a fishing trip a few years ago. I used to fish in Canada with a group of guys. We would plan the trip on our own. Find float plane pilots or conoe rentals, put all our gear together, fly with all the gear................. Then the guys I was going with got too old for all this and asked if I would be interested in paying a lot more money to go on a trip with a lodge, guides, cooks, etc. I gave it a try and really enjoyed myself. It as probably the best trip I ever went on. Doing the same thing for a hunting trip would probably turn out the same way.
There are a number of reasons why I would pay to hunt like that:
First of all, I live in a place where big game tags are drawn in a lottery. Often times you don't get drawn and don't get to hunt big game at all. Furthermore, I use one of my vacation picks at work just in case I get drawn. Then if I don't get drawn, I wasted the vacation pick that I could have used for some other adventure.
Second: I don't live in a place where big game hunting is easy to do. If I get drawn I have to drive 5-6 hours to get to the hunting area my tag allows me to hunt. Then I have to camp there since it is usually far from civilization. After all the work, vacation time, and expense involved in this, it would be nice to have confidence that you are going to have a good chance to harvest an animal. Of course you can greatly increase your odds by scouting the area ahead of time. However, scouting the area requires the same hassles as hunting the area: taking time (at least a couple whole days and nights with the drive), camping there etc. FWIW: the older I get, the less I enjoy camping. I have done a lot of it over the years and now consider it more of a PITA (or back) than fun.
Third: I am not a trophy hunter per se', but like most hunters, I would like to someday bag a bragging size buck. Random chance hasn't worked for me so far.
Fourth: if I was to hunt other states, I have no idea what I am doing. Where can I hunt, local places to eat or stay, where could I camp............. This all involves research and planning which takes time and effort.
Long story even longer, I sometimes think it would be a nice thing to just hop on a plane, or jump in the car and arrive somewhere with the only concern is hunting and not all the logistics of the trip.
I did this on a fishing trip a few years ago. I used to fish in Canada with a group of guys. We would plan the trip on our own. Find float plane pilots or conoe rentals, put all our gear together, fly with all the gear................. Then the guys I was going with got too old for all this and asked if I would be interested in paying a lot more money to go on a trip with a lodge, guides, cooks, etc. I gave it a try and really enjoyed myself. It as probably the best trip I ever went on. Doing the same thing for a hunting trip would probably turn out the same way.
444 brings up a really good point. While I would not pay big money to go on a trophy deer hunt. The reason I don't have to. Its nice to own land and live on a farm but not all of us do. Folks that live in the city will have limited access to huntable land. Also having the physical means to pack in your gear and pack out a deer. In N.E Kansas not a big deal. Go hunt in CO, WY, UT it is a huge deal. It doesn't matter if you take a trophy animal or not. I am personally more of a meat hunter. Being able to get your kill taken care of and cooled and to your vehicle is worth alot.
Guns and more
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Nothing.
Killing a beautiful animal is not for me.
I'm not opposed to hunting. I don't think I could do it again.
But that's what freedom is all about.
Killing a beautiful animal is not for me.
I'm not opposed to hunting. I don't think I could do it again.
But that's what freedom is all about.
scythefwd
Member
umm.... about 200 - 300 in licensing fees (IL non resident deer tags). Family owns (well step mom, but she likes me) owns a 170 acre corn farm. Big bucks every year, and we know exactly where they bed down. I just have to pack up my Muzzle loader and sit in a tree/blind and wait from them to move. Saw a big 8 pointer chasing does last time I was there (1st week of November).
seuss
Member
Hunting license, and a box of ammo, the only reason i hunt is to put meat in the freezer.
TehK1w1
Member
Total size of Rhode Island, including inland waterways-1212 Square miles, including 157 square miles of water.
Total Size of King Ranch-1289 square miles.
But whose counting?
Back on topic, the trouble with trophy bucks is that the really nice Texas ranch ones often end up costing as much as an african plains game hunt...
Total Size of King Ranch-1289 square miles.
But whose counting?
Back on topic, the trouble with trophy bucks is that the really nice Texas ranch ones often end up costing as much as an african plains game hunt...
Dallas Jack
Member
I have no interest in buying heads. The only reason I started hunting again was a buddy invited me to help him take some doe off his property. He did let me shoot a buck this year but I still have to go back and shoot a couple of doe. His doe to buck ratio is over 20 to 1. Since the buck filled my freezer the doe will be donated to charity or given away.
Dallas Jack
Dallas Jack
alsaqr
Member
I would pay nothing for a trophy buck. In the 1960s I killed three typical deer that score from 176-196. Am well aware that it is unlikely that there will be another one like those. Besides I'd rather shoot a doe or a mediocre hog than any buck deer.
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