Ok, I'm quoting Van on this one from an earlier post! Frugal archers would like to know! With the higher fuel, food, and general expenses I have cut back quite a bit on buying new toys so to speak. So what are some of your ideas for repairing shafts, and equipment to be a little frugal and save a dollar by making your gear go the furthest? I'm looking for any good tips here involving our sport!
Use repairos on woodies foot your carbons to make them tougher, put on bright fletching to make them easier to find. I put paste wax on my bows to make them last, eat a lot of wild game to save on the food bill so I can spend the money shooting more food :thumbsup: I'm using free wool for string silencers reuse everything I can for practice and stumping so I can save the good stuff for hunting.
I use reparrows too-look for opportunities to buy the best shafting you can get in large quantities-100, or so. And sell what you don't use in quantities of 12. Learn to do easy stuff like arrows and strings-some leatherwork too, as long as it is not too difficult.
Get informed-find out: Does Scentlock really work? Does Gore Tex really work? For my style or type of hunting.
Buy good stuff that lasts, and don't allow your body to change shape so fast that you need new stuff all the time! :banghead:
If I have cracks in the end of carbons, I super glue with gel, then use to stump shoot instead of great arrows. Eat at home more, eat out less, use the game in your freezer so it doesnt freezer burn. Buy arrow shafts that are cosmetic seconds, ie misprints, smeared ink etc. The game wont know the difference and they shoot the same! Instead of buying new ground blinds, I have been building them in the woods and dozer piles by deer trails, got a full size pickup bundle of 8 foot cedar slabs from a local sawmill for $25. made 4 blinds, sawed the rest up for firewood kindling and sold for $20! Think people!
Went to Black Diamond broadheads years ago. Easy to sharpen and re-use and re-use and re-use. Talked our son into using them about 5 years ago. Would sure like to know how much has has saved by not buying the razor bladed heads.
Buy all of our camo at yard sales. Hunt the wind and you don't need that expensive, not made in the US, scent blocking stuff.
We don't retire our arrows after shooting game. If they are straight they are re-used. One year our son shot a turkey, deer and a bear with the same arrow and head.
I'm actually considering spending more on better equipment that will be tougher and need less replacing. ie. Arrow dynamics carbons.
I have been wanting to try wool to hunt in but have trouble justifying the cost when I already have so much hunting clothes. Add the higher cost of things these days and buying new wool is out of the question. I went to a thrift shop like some here have suggested and got 100% wool suit coats for .50 cents a piece all in greys and browns. I got six of them in case I find some one else that could use one. My souvenior(sp) from Michigan was a plaid Pendlton shirt and sweater off the clearance rack. I intend to look for wool pants next.
Oh yea! I bought the highest quality beaver fur on very poor quality hide. Since a set of silencers are $5, and I have taken about a doz. sets out of it so far, I have saved about fifty bucks and have only used about 1/2 of it. It cost me less than $10 for the hide.
if you buy something that is not for you or a bow that you dont shoot anymore trade it for new stuff