So I was thinkin' the other day, which is scary enough in and of itself. Trad hunting, and hunting in general can be EXPENSIVE! At least, it seems that way compared to other sports I participate in. It's no reason not to love it though!
So here's the question:
How much do you spend each year on our common hobby of trad hunting?
Of course, if you money is a private matter to you, you are welcome to weigh in in other ways!
For me...including tags and gear...maybe $200 bucks or so, though this year will likely be more as I am getting more into hunting.
too much!
never really thought of it. I try to get stuff I need (ie new camo or stuff like that) for my birthday, anniversery and xmas. So i mostly just get tags ($25), maybe some new arrows and or broadheads. But this year I joined the lease my dad has been in for a while so that was $400.
Not counting gas, at least 4-5 thousand, probably more this year and last with two trips (Texas and Quebec). I worry that I'm my own little "stimulus package!" :D
yeah, Curveman I forgot about gas, and food etc.
I don't want to know, my wife hunts with and without me so it's probably double what some spend. I can't put a price on having a wife that enjoy's hunting as much as I do though.
good grief....I dont even want to think about it, LOL
Are we including postage?
Almost every extra dime i have and i mean that. I save my change for gear and hunting plus i spend alot more when i have a good paycheck.
Probably more than I should :rolleyes: But not as much as I used to.
Hopefully things will get back to where they're supposed to when I get this danged house paid off. :readit: :biglaugh:
$275 for an out of state Tn license, $45 for one in Bama, $1.50 for a bow(made it myself),nothing for arrows(traded lots of turkey feathers) $25 or so for broadheads and at least 1K for diesel fuel to get to my hunting spots.
....prefer not to think about it, i priced out how much i spent the last few years and than think about my student loans that i should be paying off instead of money that has went into this sport, but than again everything i have bought i plan to use for at least 5 years...a few things my lifetime, so i figure getting good stuff from the start for me is probably worth the little extra i have to pay back.
Lets just say if my wife found out I would be in the dog house forever.
Not to make this an economy topic but I took a 30% pay cut this year (funny, they didn't cut the amount of work required), but I'm glad to have my job. This translates into an at least 30% reduction in hunting expenses. $30 something for in-state license and no camping excursions. I figure if I spend $250 I'll cry over it. Washington can say what they want, there ain't no stimulus coming my way.
As little as possible, as always a new pair of boots that's my biggest purchase other than fuel! Mike
I keep my hunting hobby expenditures under 1 percent of my gross. Includes tags, hunt fees, bows, arrows, clothes, and travel expenses. Doesn't count horse feed, and associated costs of having horses, thats a different hobby.
I never add it up although I would guess maybe $500 a year. Definetely less the last two years as I haven't bought any new treestands or blinds.
Maybe I should keep track this year...or maybe not!
My wife used to complain how expensive it was until I told her how much some friends spend on golf...expensive clubs and something like 40 bucks every weekend for tee times.
I don't drink but I have friends and co-workers that probably spend more every year just on booze!!
More than I probably should, but way less than what I would like. Trad hunting and all the related activities are my main focus in life, and as such consume a relatively healthy chunk of the budget. But it does stay within reason and what I can afford.
This is my first year of trad hunting...so far this year I'm a little under 2k.
2k at least
More than my wife could ever imagine!!
Allan
Do we count time. I work at a ladies house for the right to hunt her land. I put in about 40 hours a month, so lets call that $500 and I work form months april to sept, that is 5 months. so there you have $2500. Plus another 200 for tags. This year it could be more as my brother worked with me but he will be looking down on me now and laughing as I am spreading that mulch all by myself this year. So it will at least double. I will miss him in many ways
$900 for my first longbow. $150 in new arrows. $100 in maps and aerial photos of several hunting areas. $1,000 for fuel, food, and camping expenses. $150 for license, cougar, bear, deer, and elk tag. $40 for small game license. This is only the archery costs. I won't add in the bird hunting costs. Doule the licensing fees since the wife hunts too. Oh and $1,000 for her new compound, and equipment, and $850 for he first longbow. This years is settin cost records. I am with the prior post. There is no price to high to have a wife that hunts. Her next big goal is hunting in Africa. So expense account is going get real big and then hit zero in record time.
About 5-6k. and no I ain't rich... Just a bowaholic. If I ain't got one on order then I'm ordering all the trapping to go with it.
I spend more than I should and really can't figure a total, I bought three new bows this year. A day in the woods is priceless, the bow is just a prop. I shoot every day and love to make arrows. How much, doesn't matter it keeps me out of trouble.
With 3 kids that hunt with me and 2 or 3 out of state trips / year, gas, food, fuel, hunting supplies. Easily over $10k.
Most years including everything from airfare/guides ect. between 6-10K or more.. That usually pays for three 7 to 12 day bowtrips a year. One to canada then two in the lower 48. I've had to cut way back because this economy is really hurting my bowhunting this year.. LOL
I've found that you really can do alot without spending multiple thousands... This year I've already looked across the Rio into Mexico chasing Javelina and will go chase black bears close to home on public ground.. This year come Sept. 15th I am chasing whitetail in a serious manner.
John III
Whew... I don't feel too crazy! It's nice to be in company like you guys!
It sure is worth the expense though.
Say, when is it out of control? When do we need to attend Trad Hunter's Annonymous?
No idea but just scouting, gear, actual hunting - trail cameras I mean the whole gamet?? 2 thousand easy prolly more.
Deer meat averages out to about 40 dollars a pound.
J
I would kind of hate to have my wife see this but I think she has a pretty good idea anyway. The last few years I've been chasing my dreams and trying to fulfill them while I'm still able.
10,000-15,000 I would guess on average. Although this year I only have one major hunt planned so far so I shouldn't be spending quite as much.
Broadheads - $25.
Dozen arrows $50.
New Kwyk Styk with flares & saddles $970.
The look on my Wife's face when that long box arrives from UPS, "PRICELESS" :goldtooth:
Since going totally trad a few years back, I spend far less than i used too!! maybe 500. to 700. a year, for tags,fuel, maybe arrows if needed! I can't really count my new bow as I quit smoking to by that! maybe replacing worn out gear,here and there!
The bows I currently use, cost $225.00....for all three. I'm content mostly to use the good old vintage bows that someone has already broken-in. One of my bows I made myself twenty years ago. My broadheads are the same as when I started, Bear Razorheads, which I usually garner for little cost...at flea markets, etc. Even had a Tradganger send me some for nothing. A really Big guy 8^). My biggest cost this year will be the two dozen arrows I invested in, so I'm in pretty good shape. Spending is a personal choice, so what you spend is what you chose to spend.
I'd say about $500 a year unless we sneak in a hog hunt then it jumps to $900 but that is some of the most happy times in my life and worth every dime.
Closer to Jack's number than others I see. It is EXPENSIVE for quality hunting up here in Alaska even as a resident.
I do get out of AK a bit too so that also adds some on the total and I try and make hunting season be about 9-10 months per year instead of one like many hunters.
Since im new to traditional archery i have gone a little crazy with spending.
A@H ACS 1,300.00
Lynn Harrelson Recurve 750.00
Morrison ILF Recurve 1,762.00
Bear Paws Recurve 950.00
Elk Bow 750.00
4 dozen arrows 500.00
Eagle Flight Quiver 95.00
3 vintage Bear Bows 800.00
Dywer side guiver 65.00
2 arm guards 160.00
Texas hunt 1,500.00
Ohio hunt 1,500.00
The look on my face if my wife finds out.
((((PRICELESS))))
Come on now. Listen if you shoot wheels you practically buy a new one every year because the new one is 3 FPS faster. So thats what a grand after it's all decked out. A Top quality recurve /longbow is about a grand but if your not a bow buying basket case like some of us here. .It could last you until your grandchild shoots it. By the way I have owned and shot bows from 200 to 1000 dollars . Some of the lower price bows shoot as well as the high end bows. You have to do the homework. Expensive? Everything in this tuff economy is expensive. You have to kick back and enjoy once in a while,no?
No complaints about how expensive it is. Just musing is all.
Some of you guys have some kahones. I wouldn't dare keep that much $$ from my wife ;-) !!
I'm not married, but in no way am I gonna fess up to how much I actually spend.....it could be used against me in the future. :biglaugh:
probable between 250 and 300. But this year was a bit more expensive as I decided to experiment with different arrows. Now that I have some hickories I'll stock up and cut some of my cost.
Some things are better left as a mistery! :rolleyes: :clapper:
ALOT! One trip to Canada, 3 hog hunting trips, 2 trips to Africa, (currently planning a 3rd). I really don't want to know what I have spent on all of this. Other than I'm sure I could be pretty close to paying off the remainder of my mortgage! I don't make alot of money either. It's just about priorites. My dad does nothing but work every day. The longest vacation he has ever taken in his life was 10 days. That's just how he is. Not me. I try to LIVE life as much as possible. I'm still young, and I'm just about to get married so I anticipate that some of these hunting trips are going to get more difficult to do in the future. So I say DO IT NOW! Worry about the money later. You're always going to have bills, but memories can last forever.
I never really thought about it, but come to think, way too much. I think that's why I got into trad in the first place, so much of it you can do yourself with stuff laying around - at least in theory - I'll let you know when I build a self bow and learn how to knapp stone.
Well said jonsimoneau :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by NorthernCaliforniaHunter:
I think that's why I got into trad in the first place, so much of it you can do yourself with stuff laying around - at least in theory -
x2
I've spent quite a bit this year,but alot of it is on things that will help save money in the future or things that will last me for a while.Trad archery is so much easier to be a cheapskate with than wheel archery.You won't never see no wheel shooter putting 38spl casing over their carbons,running around with a belt quiver they made or moulding their own vanes to fletch. ;)
QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
More than I probably should, but way less than what I would like.
:notworthy: thats me
About 5 years ago I bought a lifetime sportsmans license from NY state and a lifetime bowhuntin license so i don't have to spend money each year on them. I do a hog hunt in Florida with friends every year which comes to around $1,000 with everything and then I try to do another out of state hunt if I can swing it. For many years I didn't and sure regret that now. With this killer economy I wanted to do an inexpensive hunt so i booked a hog hunt with Ray. Next year I plan to hunt turkeys in Nebraska with Fred Eichler and maybe antelope.
Well since i started traditional archery 2 years ago i have probably spent close to 5-6K But i also gave up riding bmx and haven't had a girlfriend for a long time to spend money on. I figure another 2-3k and ill have every thing i need for a good good while.
not much at all. my dad bought me lifetime liscences for fish and hunt, so i aint got to buy that. my grandpa and i build stands, i was given my bow and arrows, tradeing for a quiver, i think i may end up spending about 30 bucks on broadheads. :D
Every dime I can find. I've never added it up and I'm not gonna. I run 3 companies just to keep up.
Some things are invaluable, bowhunting to me is one of them.
I would say around $1000 a year for me.
A lot more than my wife knows about.....stabow
My husband is kinda a handy guy to have around. He bought me a used Ben Pearson recurve about 5 years ago. Made a pretty little self bow for me since. He has made my quiver, arm guards and arrows. I pay for tips and fletchings and my hunting license and we hunt in state to save money so we can go all around the midwest to the shoots!
It is an inexpensive way to have quality time with family and good friends. I would blow the money on all other kinds of nonsense if I didn't do this.
QuoteOriginally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
Every dime I can find. I've never added it up and I'm not gonna. I run 3 companies just to keep up.
Some things are invaluable, bowhunting to me is one of them.
Me to.
I just got into it and half of my fortune is already gone or promised away :goldtooth: