It comes to hunting season? let's try something.....
Please tell how you save money on equipment..do you make your own? buy "second-hand"? shoot vintage bows?
When you go on hunts...do you camp? in tents? or a pull-behind camper? do you "car-pool" with hunting buddies? do you eat out or cook what you kill?
This may seem long but your experiences or "cheap" habits may inspire others who are just starting out PLUS it may also open my eyes as well;
In all honesty, I am gathering information and trying to put together a SMALL booklet on how to hunt on a shoestring budget; I trully would love some new ideas as I run into more and more hunters who love to hunt but are trying to go as cheap as possible because of money being so tight;
Any "traditional" help would be of great blessings; BTW the booklet will be free of charge; I really want to help others who may be struggling; thanks to all who contribute...... :campfire:
I am using a backpack daypack (Lowe Alpine) I already had that I converted into a hunting pack by sewing a camo cover. Saved 150.00.
Use a compass instead of a gps. 12.00 vs 300.00 for the one I'd like.
Made my own grunt tube from materials on hand.
Borrowed a bivy shelter instead of buying one. Ditto water filter.
Bought an old, but nice, JanSport frame pack with a bomber hip belt system and made it into a freighter frame for packing out quarters. Cost 15.00 at a thrift store.
Using knives I had on hand from years past, ditto clothing. I only bought one item and the pants where on sale from 150.00 down to 25.00.
Didn't skimp on boots- 250.00
You get the idea. I did spend some money on arrows, broadheads, maps and a mess kit and some game bags. About 175.00 total.
Shooting a 1972 Howatt Hunter that I got for 225.00
Joshua
Used bows, old jeans dyed brown, old plaid shirts, a tent I've had for 18 years and I make my own leather stuff ( Quiver, arm guard ,etc.) Put your money on boots, arrows and a good sleeping bag.
I look all year for deals on things. I buy all I can - like a dozen broadheads at a time; 100 fletch at a time ( chop my own);nocks by the 100.
I buy wood shafts and straighten them and paint them in the cheapest way - with a spray can.
My yearly purchase before the season always includes a new mill bastard file; which I use just before the season and through the season.
By scrimping; I think I have only spent about $2000 on hunting stuff this year.
plus upkeep on trucks; horse trailer; pack animals (hay etc) gas for trips bear baiting; tags; oh and $39,000 for a bionic knee......
Come to think of it- I save the most by having had paid off my mortgage ..... someday I will have indoor plumbing.... but after the elk season..
Hope this helped :archer2:
Shoestring budget is me in a nutshell. I make my own strings & wool puff balls. I buy raw aluminum shafts fletch them and install the insert instead of buying ready made arrows.
I hunt wma's instead of paying for a lease. When I go to a wma I hunt one that has free camping. I use to tent camp but after wanting a truck camper for 20 years I bought one after I retired from the Air Force. A big ticket item but I figure I earned some extra comfort.
I generally stay at the free campground at the free wma and hunt between 3-7 days. While I'm camping I eat food that I brought from home. After 3-7 days I'm ready to come home for a few days.
Hunting clothes come from thrift stores for the most part. I buy my long johns new. Not going to pinch pennys on that. You can buy sweaters there for a very low price. Layer them in different sizes and you will not get cold.
Best way I have saved money is buy visiting TG. Here I learned how to make a bowstring & puff balls. I also learned about the thrift stores here. As a newbie I learned how to choose the correct arrow set up and shoot properly. Saved me time, effort and headaches.
On the other hand TG has cost me money because I have to try things other people use. As an example I use a 2 blade head for deer. After reading about wensel woodsmen heads I had to try them. Earlier this week I bought some instead of sticking to what I usually use.
I don't want to even get into how I went from owning 1 bow to around 10.
Pretty much everything I hunt with I either made or got in trade for things I made, generally selfbows or bow wood. The exceptions this year are some field points and broadheads, the first I've bought in 10 years.
My biggest and generally only expenses are gas and vehicle upkeep. My truck needs work now so I am pondering how to stuff a deer into my Toyota Corolla microcar. I think the glove box on the 76 Mercury Marquis I once owned was bigger than the Toyota's trunk :)
I am a lifetime license holder so I don't buy licenses or tags. I pay to camp every once in a while.
Find somehting you love to do and that has some value for others and use that to barter and fund your fun.
Move to a place that has every animal you want to hunt.Priceless.
I go without many comforts. If I dont need it, I dont buy it. Often if I have something that still "works" it doesn't get replaced no matter how tattered, rusty or beat up.
Thrift stores, Garage sales, flea markets and auctions will give you most everything you need.
Cook your own food with camp pots and pans. If you are hiking Aluminum foil is a great multi-purpose tool for cooking, survival and much more.
Cook food at home and just warm it up to be able to hunt more instead of cooking.
I often think of hunters from years past and what little they had, and did just fine. If you make a list and separate the luxuries from the essentials you will find 1/2 of the things you have aren't necessary. With that being said: I agree dont skimp on foot wear (including socks.
Everything I hunt with has been gifted, hand me downs or second hand purchases. You would be surprised what people practically give away.
NOT AT ALL. I OWE- I OWE, ITS OFF TO WORK I GO>
I shop here on the classifieds where I routinely find tremendous bargains, other than that its no holds barred. This is my passion and I dont assign a budget to it within reason.
i go to the thrift store and buy brown plaid shirts and brown pants.i don't buy expensive camo.usually thrift stores have a half off day.i get my shirts an pants for 2 to four dollars.good luck this season,steve
I have just started in the art of making arrows, and can make them for just under $3 including field points. Broadheads are what ever I have laying around, as long as they are sharp. I buy every 2 blade head I can find at trad shoots and garage sales. If I was to make arrows from 2nd's shafts, the price would be less than $2. This price does not include the crester, just the raw material to make the finished arrow.
I have an ARMY back pack and frame from when I was in that they never asked for back. New, to me, longbow that I traded an old Bear longbow for, or can shoot my Hill bow too.
I will not skimp on boots. If my feet feel good, the rest of the trip is a breeze. I use the same clothes I have been wearing for the past 10 years. The onlything I buy new each year is a new flannel jacket. Hunting knives are ones that I have from the service, or that my grandpa handed down to me. They all keep a great edge, and if it ain't broke, why waste money on more junk that is probably made in China now, not the good old stuff made in the great U S of A.
Carpool when I can, but usually I go at it solo. This year will be a different story. I have been invited to two new hunting camps (which I am trully honored to be accepted into them) I have always been fond of MRE's $6-8 a piece (if anyone has a place to get a better deal, please let me know). If I do cook at camp, I eat like a king: Stuffed chops, up the butt chicken, Island potatoes (my own creation from duck camp), Shish-Ka-Bobs, I have even had our chef at work make up some chile for a fantastic feast. My Mom works at the local meat market, so I find out as soon as there is an awesome deal that can't be passed up.
I have hunted from many different accomidations from tents, pop up campers, travel trailers, cabins and cottages and even an Island house in the middle of lake St. Clair 5 miles from the nearest launch where all you have to do is wake up and step outside to duck and goose hunt. I have made some great connections by offering up, and following thru on my end of the bargain by trading my carpentry/maintenance services for a place to stay, and hunting opportunities on their land. It always helps when your able to bring something to camp for all to share instead of a bow, arrows and your appetite. PLEASE GO BACK AND READ THAT LAST SENTENCE AGAIN. Doing so will almost deffinatly insure a repeat offer to come back. And always be courtious and don't dominate the conversation.
I don't hunt from trees anymore(only took me one fall and a broken ankle 1/2 mile from my truck to learn that), so I save on not buying treestands.
I have been described as being cheaper than American money, and in some aspects, that is true, but I must repeat, DO NOT skimp on your footwear.
John you can do it I got two full deer at one time into a Toyota solara. break the legs and maybe the neck. Ty
I'm as cheap as they get. I havn't bought any arrows in four years. Since going to carbons they just seem to last forever. I'm also a lifetime license holder in indiana (best $365 I ever spent in 1987)
I don't suffer from bow fever but did spurge on a new one in 2005.
Most of my hunts are day trips. I can hunt IL or IN within ten minutes drive. When I do go farther I take my 1990 model pop up camper.
As far as camp food goes it's usually simple and whats on hand in the freezer.
My big expenses anually are, IL residend licenses ($100 for everything), 3-d shoot costs, and a couple new strings per year.
As far as clothing I havn"t bought any new in forever and won't unless I put on weight!
I prefer to hunt in tennis shoes or rubber boots depending on the conditions. so there's not much spent there either!
Oh and John, Dad and I once stuffed 2 200 pound bucks in a little geo metro so you should be fine! literally had antler on the dashboard and hooves on the rear glass that day!
I make my own arrow shafts and arrows, process wild turkey feathers, made my arrow cresting lathe, make my wooden bows, buy nocks in bulk at bargain price, buy points the same way.
I usually hunted on my own property when I lived in Maine (move to Kentucky in May) and plan to do the same here.
Don't waste my money on expensive turkey permits when $30-$35 will buy so much turkey at the store.
Almost forgot! I repair broken arrows with Reparrows!
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Ironwood/woodbows.html
Make my quivers and arm guards and strings too. Spent nothing this year except license fees.
Yard sales are great.Flea markets,not so great.I find yard sales people just want to get rid of stuff,flea market people are there every week and thier prices are higher.Second hand stores have not worked for me ever since the Antique Roadshow came on ,now everybodys junk is worth a million bucks :knothead: .
I keep an eye on the local sportinggoods stores for clearance sales.I just bought a pair of Rocky Whitetail Extreme boots ,regular $200.00 I got them $150 taxes in.I also like local buy N sell websites
If anyone here hunts cheaper than I do or in a more ragamuffin condition I'll be truly amazed. I think I've spent approx. $200 a year and most of that goes to Fish and Game for the license and tags!
Just today on my way home from the range, I saw a sign in my neighborhood for an estate sale. First thing I asked was for Archery equipment. I wasnt fast enough case he sold two old recurves for $5 each. He didnt even know anything about them other than they were made by Bear! Ouch. I gotta start waking earlier. I did walk out with a pair of LL Bean Main hunting boots in excellent shape and my size for $3. Cant beat that as I was about to order a set on line in a few months. Look around. The deals are out there.
I look for the best deals I can get and I don't buy stuff until I need to. Like if I know a jacket or pants or anything else for that matter is on it's final season I'll wait until the end of season clearance sale to buy new. Now if something gets damaged or lost mid season then that's a different story. I'll buy what I need to replace it if I don't have another.
I once saw a guy who has plenty of money cutting feathers off of broken arrows on the range and said he resues them.
He also uses broken bungee cords ( inside rubber bands ) for cat whiskers .
Same guy built a bow that he killed over 100 animals on 3 continets with , he said he had $80.00 in it..
Myself I chop 2-4" feathers from full length- get 2 for the price of one .
I don't buy much beef anymore, I cook with hog meat and deer meat .
Buy all my wool off tradgang or @Bay.
Don't skimp on boots either .
BUY USED EVERYTHING !
Jack
Well, I hate to admit it but I'm not frugal when it comes to archery and hunting in general. I do hate to lose arrows though - I'll spend hours looking for one some times and even return to the spot to look again ..and again -- I found one last night that had been MIA for more than a week!
I spend too much on equipment and am a sucker for super-duper camoflauge (but not Scent Lok.
However, I have hunted 10 states and Canada (over a very long time) and have never hired a guide or outfitter (I hunted Canada for blackies in 84 and 85 before guides were required). Frankly, in some cases hunting with a guide or at least an outfitter in a remote location would have been frugal because of the time saved.
I am somewhat frugal when hunting since I live only 10 minutes away from my hunting property (I don't hunt out of state). I am well fixed for equipment, clothes, etc. and have been for several seasons. My hunting rig is well established and quite stable.
My downfall is going to 3D shoots. I go to several out of state and stay in a motel. Plus I tend to have a weakness for buying bows, whether I need them or not. Buy a bow, buy some arrows...buy another bow, buy some more arrows. You get the picture.
My camp consists of one or two surplus military double wall canvas tents. Best investment ever! I camp in them in the harshest weather Iowa can offer up in December. Built a sectional wooden platform floor for comfort since I can drive right up to my camp site, that little bit of work ensures my wife is happy with sleeping in a tent in December. By my estimation this saves me close to $2000.00 a year that would just pay the hotel owner.
Bring what food I can from home and keep the grocery list simple for local shopping. Dont take this wrong I love to cook and I cook to please when in camp but compared to buying in restaurants this is a bargain. I figure I save at least $10.00 a day per person in camp versus driving to town and eating out.
I always buy used when possible, used not used up is the key. I know my skills and what I am able to repair easily at home. Also I maintain this equipment very carefully, no point in buying an expensive canvas tent only to let it mold and deteriorate in a couple of years due to lack of proper care. I cant put a price on how much this saves me but it would not surpise me to say I easily save hundreds if not thousands.
This may seem odd but I bought a truck to save money. I have an F250 Super Duty Super Crew 4x4 with a Triton V10 but it isnt very cost effective to drive 4 hours to go hunting in this rig. I bought a used F150 2 wheel drive standard cab with a V6 that practically sips fuel. I estimate I save $75.00 per trip to my property by doing this (doesnt take that many trips to justify the $2000.00 initial purchase).
I build what gear I can, built a few selfbows now and I can get pretty creative with some ideas. You might be surprised at what you can re-purpose that you already own with little or no modification. For instance if you already own pruning shears why by that camo set at the sporting goods store? Try to buy things that have more than one use, large plastic totes with covers come to mind here as I use them for storage taking gear to camp, they act as stands to hold hold stuff when Im set up in camp, wash tubs when I empty them, long term storage after season, etc. One price + multiple use = big savings.
I dont fall for the latest and greatest gadget out there, if it aint broke dont fix it. My old camo is still working even if its faded and Ive sewn up several tears in it. I can pass on the new camo pattern guaranteed to fool more deer. I also pass my old gear down to my boys if possible (they are all out growing the old man). If I spent my hunting funds on every new gadget that caught my eye I wouldnt have much of a budget left.
Also I practice my cheap behavior all year long... this is important! I find after season sales, I watch for things that I can use during season all year long. The other day found 100' of 3/8" rope in a bargain bin for $3.99 I bought 3 for what 1 would have normally cost me. I hit auctions and yard sales and flea markets anyhow so why not keep my hunting in mind while Im there it doesnt cost my a dime extra to keep an eye out for something useful at a bargain price.
One area Im not good at but others might be is sharing. I own every piece of gear required for me to enjoy my hunting season. Not just survive it but enjoy it comfortably, no one can get mad and say well "I own half of that tent and blah blah blah...". Split costs when ever you can but dont leave yourself vulnerable in my opinion. Fuel and food are great areas to split costs, taking your truck this time and your buddies next time works great.
Quality can be a deceiving factor in your purchases but one worth paying attention to. Those $200.00 boots might seem expensive compared to the $40.00 ones but if the $200.00 boots last 10 years compared to 1 season for the $40.00 ones well you get the picture. If you do plan to buy a big ticket item make sure its exactly what you want and that you plan to keep it for a long time to get the most value out of your investment. Try it before you buy it if possible, ask friends if they have that item and like it and would recommend it. Do your research before you invest and you wont suffer buyers remorse or discover you paid a fortune for a brand name tag.
Its pretty easy for me to justify my hunting costs when I weigh it against the number of days/hours I spend enjoying myself in the field. Think long and hard before you invest big bucks into gear you will only use 2-4 weekends a year, it takes a long time to justify if you arent using it. A hotel stay for the weekend might be a bargain compared to owning and maintaining a camper if you only plan to use it a couple times a year.
Doe/cow tags are a fraction of buck/bull tags.
The meat's better, and you can go every year for a $1000 or less, while waiting on the lottery tag.
If everything works out right, I will spend no new money through trades and sales.
:pray:
I fully support the lone traditional archery shop in west Michigan by buying retail.
Well it's hard to compete with all of this, but here goes. Since I work for mass transit here in the Soviet state of NJ. I'll try my best to just clip the dear with the train rather than splatter it all over the place, and since it's the states diesel fuel or electricity this comes out to zero cost, and I'm getting paid to do it.
Since I hit some black ice on the so called Garden State Pkwy. a couple of years ago and went into the woods at 55 mph. ( all traffic reports said the roads were all good with no ice ) I put one of those tree killer bumpers on the truck (you know, like the heavy duty ones you smart guys and gals use down South and out West). It also comes in handy for hunting when the deer
decide to step in front while I'm running up the road, cost, zero as we get paid extra for going to different train yards.
Does any of this count ?
If not how about this, my hunting property is about 10 minutes from my house, I sleep at home and eat all my meals at home unless I brown bag it and take in lunch and make it a full day in the so called woods. I have some of the best climbing stands available, I have cheap fixed stands because, this is Jersey they steal here. Early season I can and do wear shorts and a light T-shirt with the 3-D netting over it. I use Dove unscented soap (for me it works great) I only buy something if it's on sale which includes camo cloths with and without scent-lok and all my other hunting clothes and hunting related things.
Two years ago when I got back into Trad. I bought an old Bear Kmag. off of E-bay, and so I splurged for Leon Stewart 3 pc. R/D at ETAR, only I got lucky and got it off the blanket sale for 1/3 the price it went for new, and it's a beaut.
Now if I can only figure out how to get or make arrows cheaply like Grapes does I'll really be in business.
Ken
P.S. I was only kidding about hitting the deer with the train and the truck. I actually go through great lengths to avoid it and am happy to say I have only hit a few in 14 years and that was only with the train.
Ken