I've heard lots of folks changing their plans because of gas prices this year. Will it change your hunting plans? How many miles will you be driving to get to your hunts?
I am blessed with land to hunt within ten minutes of me pretty much in any direction I point the truck, by I know lots of others aren't so fortunate.
So is the price of fuel going to put a damper on your season?
1-1.5 hours is all for me. Nice and close to home.
I wish I could say that I was driving further(like Illinois, Montana, I could go on and on) but most of my hunting is less than 5 minutes from my house. This is really great, but I am really itching to go on a trip somewhere.
Mark
About 245 miles, or 4 hours each way. It costs me about $125 just in gas each time I go. So I'm currently wrestling with whether to go one more time. If you include the scouting trip, I've already spent about or almost $400 in gas alone for deer hunting this year. If I go once more, that figure will top $500. Boy, that's sobering. :eek:
I will likely put in for a tag in the same place next year, because it is a darned good spot. But it is apparent that I need to start saving extra money now to cover that cost next year.
Fuel isn't the issue for me (despite 13 mpg with the truck), it is the sleep factor. I have a number of prospects within 1 1/2 hours within state and 3 hours to Ohio. I consider farther only if a place to bunk is available - Ohio would be one of those. I really don't like the wake & drive to hunt part, and try to do over-nighters.
Outside of that, I am looking at a possible drive to Tx for hogs. Family has some options down there, and a trip may be in order. Probably doesn't count as there is a visit involved.
BobW
I only gotta go out my back door. I'm a coupla hundred yards from a ~4000 acre SWA. :D
well I'll go to the praries which is around 3000K from here in Ontario. Takes around 3 days with rest and 33 hours if going straight. It takes 24 hours alone to get to the Manitoba border from here. Could shave off a few hours by going through the States but what the heck!!!
It's .95 cents a litre here now. It's cheaper here than in Alberta and I'm not sure why???
I drive an average of 15 minutes to 3 different spots here at home. But I'm leaving for Newfoundland on tuesday and driving 2400 miles each way. At 12 mpg, let's see that's...
I try not to think about such things. It's a small price to pay to go hunting.
0, I just walk out my back door in less than a minute I'm in the woods, then it's up to me a 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile 1-2miles were ever I want, it's beautiful, just brings a tear to my eye.
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE ON THE UP COMING SEASONS.
John
Driving from western Pennsylvania to Montana in a few weeks. My place in Ohio is about an hour away. I try not to fret over the cost of hunting, it's really the only hobby I have. I don't smoke or patronize bars or anything else like that so a few more dollars for gas won't slow my hunting down. Now time...that's another story...
-Brian
www.bowyersjournal.com (http://www.bowyersjournal.com)
Well the gas prices really did not keep me home this year I just decided to hunt in my own state this year. I am blessed just like Dank, I walk out the back slidder and I am hunting. However in the middle of October a bunch of us Michigan and surrounding states Trad Gangers are holding a bow camp in the northern part of lower Michigan and that is about a 3 1/2 hour drive for me.
Mostly between 5 minutes and a half hour. Occassionally go to a spot about 3 1/2 hours away once or twice during the season. One six hour drive to the Adirondak Attack and one four and a half hour drive to another NY hunt this year.
40 miles each way the farthest.
Anywhere from 0 to 1,280. The long one is first, 1,280 one way to New Mexico in 3 weeks. Zero is when I walk out the back door and hunt whitetails behind the house, mostly before work in the mornings. And on quite a few weekends during the fall I will head to our cabin, which is 160 miles one way.
Lots of road miles coming up real soon - I don't like buying the gas, but I sure do like where it gets me :cool:
Five hours to my son's house. And then another five or six hours from there to Southern IL. The gas comes out of pocket from home to his house and back. We split the gas costs from his house to IL and back. It costs more per mile from his house to IL and back because he has a lead foot! I don't share ticket costs with him!! :eek: :biglaugh:
Bill
I'll be making a trip to Colorado in a couple of weeks. That'll be around 3000 miles split 3 ways for gas. Deer season in Michigan, my hunting place is less than 2 hours from home. I'll do that as many weekends between 10/1 and 1/1 as I can.
Howard
As the crow flies about 55 miles, but not being a crow it's about 75 one way. When I go there I try and stay for a couple of days at a time. I may have a chance to hunt a spot a couple of miles from where I live which would make it handier and cheaper during the week.
You are fortunate despite the increasing gas prices. I have to go abroad to hunt with the bow. We are working on getting it allowed here as well, but changing the law takes time...
Anyhow - next Monday I head for Quebeq, Canada to hunt caribou :-D
Wyoming antelope was 1736 miles last week. Labor Day will bring a trip through Creede Colorado and another 2096 miles, followed by a trip to the Bighorns 1744 miles , each of these trips pulling a loaded gooseneck horse trailer, plus several trips for whitetails to southern Iowa and Northern Missouri at 60-95 miles each way that could easily exceed another 1500 miles. I suspect I will log over 7000 miles behind the windshield this fall.
I have 3 main spots I'm fortunate enough to hunt...A friends vacant farmland()5 minutes, my Uncles swamp/woodlot (30 minutes), and then Shrewhaven(10 hours)...the funny is, so far, the biggest deer have come from the 5 minute away spot!
Already drove to Quebec, around 1200 all told. Most trips within 30 miles one way from here, maybe one 300 to NH. Can't take it with you.
I hunt about 3 hours (200 miles) away on my lease and I drive a V10 F250 Super Crew cab!!!! It gets 13 MPG on a good day with a tail wind going down hill but no I wont be changing my hunting plans. Money is just money but hunting time now thats a different story....mine is priceless.
50 yards out the back door max, and I'm hunting :D But then there will be some road trip this year. I'm thinking Vermont for one about 775 miles one way. The Texas in Feb, have not computed that one yet :D
Brent
I have one place that is on my way home from work in the AM, so nothing extra spent there. The other place is 35 miles away, but @ 60MPG who's complaining.
I drive about 14 hrs.north every year to moose hunt.Everything else is 20-60 min.
About a 40 mile drive from my house to hunt a public forest area. I will be traveling to Nova Scotia to hunt this fall with my father, that's about 1100 miles. Once there tough it's only a couple hundred yard walk from the house to the stand.
Really never thought about the cost of fuel, it's pretty much a 45 minute to 2 hour drive for me to do anything, trout fishing, shooting at the club, and hunting. So it's either pay the price for fuel or don't go at all.
Bushman, I hope you find yourself just a hair downwind of a huge herd, which decides to munch and rest a bit during its migration. :thumbsup:
I will be going to the same old place that I have gone for over twenty years. It is an old friend, even in the lean years. It used to be four hours away, but they have flattened mountains and put in a superslab for city fatcats, and it only takes three and a half, now. I guess eventually, West Virginia will be pretty much like everywhere else. I miss the loneliness of the byways, and the way that the long and difficult trek kept most of the slobs and easy-streeters out.
Killdeer
I can walk out the back door and hunt but gas prices will not deter me from traveling to hunt new grounds and meet new and old friends. Hunting is a passion of mine...
I may get to go to west Texas for mulies...if I'm lucky.
iwill be driving to colorado myself ths year 1475 miles each way but I may help a guy ge back from there this year for elk
15 min. from house to stand most of the season and 2 or 3 times will drive 80 mi. one way gas shared with friend
Leaving for Montana on the 1st, probably two trips from Georgia to Kansas, my lease in s. Florida is 7.5 hours each way and I'll go there every other weekend until next may when it starts getting too hot.
I work allot of hours all year to be able to hunt allot in the fall and winter and spring. I don't care what gas costs.........
QuoteOriginally posted by Bushman:
You are fortunate despite the increasing gas prices. I have to go abroad to hunt with the bow. We are working on getting it allowed here as well, but changing the law takes time...
Anyhow - next Monday I head for Quebeq, Canada to hunt caribou :-D
That really puts it in perspective. I'm thankful now that I only drive 4 hours. Good luck on your caribou hunt!
Just got back in July -drove from Georgia to LaTuq, Quebec. Last fall drove with Biggie to uppermost Maine...I drive 4 1/2 hours each way to hunt pigs once a month...I drive when I get drawn out west for elk, mule deer, etc.
I leave Tuesday for Hudsons Bay with some friends..driving all the way to Radisson, Quebec.
I went for a drive looking for camels earlier this year, and by the time we got back home a week later, we'd clocked up 6000 kilometres in the ute.
Early next year, I hope to do a 5000 kilometre round-trip for goats, followed by a 4000 kilometre round-trip for camels, horses, donkeys, and dogs.
I drive with Ray and we drive each other crazy. So count that all up and we agree with Biggie " I don't care what gas costs........."
Just hunt and enjoy it.
As far as needed..............
Lets see, I am flying over 7,000 miles to Texas then will drive all over Texas to hunt. I too, do not care what gas costs.
Danny
Mostly 10 to 15 minutes minutes,add to this a 14 hours one way (631 miles)moose hunt in northern Ontario.After this trip,all local.
Serge
I don't care how much gas costs, either, but I do care about how much I consume, which is why I've always chosen to buy fuel efficient vehicles and to live close to where I work and recreate.
Brian Stewart
500 miles round trip for free public land. 1200 miles round trip for free family land :biglaugh: :biglaugh: ....Van
Diesel fuel cost at less than $3.oo will not cause me to change any of my hunting habits.
I can and do hunt within walking distance of my back door. 45 miles to my "honeyhole" for deer. I drew a Kansas tag this year so another trip west appx. 330 miles one way. The Kansas deer are worth $5 a gallon.. LOL
JDS III
first it's off to southern CO, then to NM, then it's off to ID. that'll do till Oct. 2. then...who knows? too bad i'll be filming and not hunting. poor me.
Bushman,I hope you guys get the law changed over there. :thumbsup:
Killdeer,
Quotebut they have flattened mountains and put in a superslab for city fatcats, and it only takes three and a half, now. I guess eventually, West Virginia will be pretty much like everywhere else.
That'll be a sad day indeed. Makes me sad just to think about it. I can only imagine how much it must affect you. :(
I have aready driven over a hundred miles on scouting trips.
I intend on a 4 mile round trip on opening morning; and a 12 mile round trip in the evening.
Last year I shot my deer on my property; and maybe I will walk to my elk.
But yeah- gas prices are affecting my scouting and hunting plans. we are at $2.95 a gallon here.
I remember saying if gas ever went up to .50 a gallon I wouldn't buy anymore. Then I ammended it to $1.00 a gallon.
I live in an area with a lot of sight seers and fishermen and hunters; and rafters- and even before the fires closed everything down- the amount of visitors was low.
During the early season, I have left my house driven to the farm, walked to stand, climbed it,didn't have time to cool off and put on hat; but had a deer down in sight, looked at my watch and 30 min.had elapsed from leaving home.....WHEW! :bigsmyl:
I have 600 acres leased about 40 minutes NW of my home town. Pretty quick trip for me. That's going to be my regular hunting spot this year but I'll drive as far as I need to, to visit or hunt with others.
I didn't mean to say I don't care what gas costs (although that's exactly what I did say) I meant it doesn't matter what it costs, I live to bowhunt and I'm going regardless. I wish it was 30 cents a gallon again, then I wouldn't have to work so much in the off season :-)
Biggie... understood! Just the price of doing business.
1150 miles from my home in Georgia to Drummond Island,Mi. My hunting place in Ga is 75 yards from my back door. I try to hunt MI for a couple of weeks each fall.
Got me a new place this year. With the new bridge across the Rock River, it's 12 minutes!
280 miles to regular spot on lease in Ga. I go there more weekends than not between September and January. There are four of us in the lease and we try to drive together.
Flying to Colorado for elk/mule deer.
Missed all the local quota hunts except gator, which I haven't managed to fill yet.
I do have some local opportunities occassionally.
About 11 1/2 hours to Vermonsters and back. Around here it's out the back door in the evenings, an hour north to some public and friends property. Sometimes I make a trip to southern OH to another friends property. I hope to make it to WV to a cabin I have been invited to.
I'm about 20 minutes from a pretty decent WMA here in Georgia, add 10 minutes to another one, about 45 minute drive to a National Forest, that'll pretty much be my limit. Not due to gas prices, just due to time alloted for hunting. I'll take a few days here and there during the week, then the rest of it will be on the weekends. I am lucky enough to have an "Archery Only" W.M.A. close to home. It gets hit good during the early bow season, but when gun comes in, well, that's where I'll be ;)
I have never been on an "out of state hunt", heck I'm doing good just affording the local stuff LOL!!
Jerald
4,000 miles to northern Quebec
1600 miles to western Kansas
2,000 miles (250 miles roundtrips, 8 trips) to my Mom and Dad's ......
7600 miles
I`m lucky, I have hunting within minutes of home.
However, the price of gas is still affecting me.
I know it is affecting others as well. Maybe it wouldn`t be so bad if it was just gas that was higher.
AL to IL in November. Little over 600 miles I guess.
The first out of state hunt will be a tad over 4500 MILES :scared: :scared:
Thanks SOOOOOOOO much fer bringin this up "HERMOAM" :readit:
In 2 weeks I'll be heading to Idaho from California. One way it will be over 900 miles of driving, about 13 hours. It's all worth it.
I got a new hunting rig, it's a turbo diesel that gets 50 mpg on the highway.
My hunting in State is a shorter drive, about 300 miles one way and 6 hours of driving.
90% of mine is either out the backdoor or drive/walk 1 1/2 miles up to my great aunts old place. I will be going to Pike county (about 6 hours) for my St. Judes hunt and I am trying to find the time to go scout it. Also thinking about floating down into a wilderness area sometime before gun season. For the most part I am pretty much a homebody.
99% of my hunting is within 15 minutes of my house and less than 5 minutes form my work. If I had to drive a ways(2-3hours) I would still huint as much as possible. Gas prices would be the least of my worries. I would be worrying more about an excuse to the boss on why I was leaving every Thursday at 12 and not coming back until late Monday morning! :bigsmyl: :jumper: :jumper: Shawn
I hunt one ridiculously overcrowded public area thats about 15 miles one way. And then on weekends I drive 90-120 miles each way to hunt public land. Usually 2 or 3 of us go and we split the gas so its not quite as bad. I envy the guys who can walk out the back door. But I am also thankful for the opportunities I have.
I think the round trip is about 4700 miles. :eek: Going to Newfoundland. There are four of us driving, does that mean I need to cut my miles down to 1200? :D :archer:
Its a tough 10. min. walk out the back door.