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.

 

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