How Much of Your Yearly Earnings to Spend on Hunting?

[Multi-SpeciesHunter]

I realize this varies HUGELY per hunter. But how much would be max to spend on hunting. Like my dad for instance wouldn't spend half of what I consider the minimum. But he is still an avid hunter. With a family? Single, but full-time career? If a guy, say makes 75K a year. Would it be dumb to justify spending 7-10k on hunting alone? When single? Just thought this topic would provoke some varying opinions.

 

[packmule]

I think it depends on the person's lifestyle. I've known folks who made a million a yr and are too broke to hunt and I've known folks who make <$100k who can spend $20k on hunts every year b/c they live like they don't have a dime to their name. Last yr with no Western tag purchased our expenses were 4.5% of our net household income....and that would be spent whether we actually hunted or not.

 

[Shooter]

I'm single and I spend about 10% of my gross income on apply for tags and going on a couple out of state hunts.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I'm retired and I don't spend any of my normal income on hunting. I am a disabled vet and receive a monthly benefit. I use it and some income on some royalties I receive for mineral rights my Dad kept when He sold some property many years ago. I can spend up to 12K yearly without using any of my normal retirement income. I usually don't spend it all, unless I go on an outfitted hunt. Saving a little of it for a Canadian or Alaskan hunt in the next few years.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I use Side Work money for vacations and hunting. On average I would say I spend about $8k on family vacations and about $4k on hunting depending on if and where I hunt. If I don't have tags I try to save it for the next year to add to the side money I make to do more spending for the hunts.

 

[ivorytip]

same with ikic. side jobs for hunting money. i dont hunt out of state so my bill is way less gas money alone killed me last year though. had to dip in to fam funds and wife didnt think that was fun......

 

[hardstalk]

Anything over my normal 40 hours goes into a separate account. And all acquired cc points are used. Funded the new kuiu pack with cc points. Too impatient to build enough for a kifaru.

 

[Old Hunter]

About $150 including the tag fees.

 

[ivorytip]

amen old hunter. between 150 and 350 is my average. nice thing bout living where you can hunt just bout any north american game animal. most being general hunts. last year i hit the 3k mark driving to hell and back and had invested the rest of my extra money towards house. looks like gas this fall will be higher than last year.

 

[BossBrott]

Hunting is an expenditure yes, but I have 2 kids competitively trapshooting also. Here's my daughter and her bff. I believe I'm close to 20%, although I haven't done the math......





And I will never do the math, I have no intention of quitting.

 

[clacklin009]

General season tags for elk and deer = $90
Gas = $150
Food = $70
Other supplies = $200-400

 

[Joe Hulburt]

Not a good idea to post this info where my wife might see it. I spend enough to feed the family.....and we eat well.

 

[Old Hunter]

I never count food, because i'd still be eating if I wasn't hunting.

 

[muleywannabe]

I spend a lot on hunts. I would say at least 10% a year of my gross wages but I dont mind one bit as long as I enjoy it and my wife doesnt find out!! haha

 

[Old Hunter]

She doesn't notice you're gone?

 

[packmule]

If my wife wouldn't notice she'd never see me...there's always something that needs shootin'

 

[Timberstalker]

I probably spend 3-5% of my net income on hunting, most of that expense is fuel.

 

[Multi-SpeciesHunter]

Wow some good responses. I have always thought it'd be wise to move to say east MT or somewhere in CO. Can find nice whitetails and all the western game! But for a while i'll be buying out of state. I plan on spending 6-10% or more depending on the year. And by the looks of it, that's not that crazy. A guy could do an outfitted Iowa hunt for a whitetail and probably 1 or 2 DIY hunts. That's insane!(god willing he has the time off)

 

[packmule]

Here it's all about weighing costs of leases and what you want to do in terms of management. For years I was on a lease than ran $900 & with that your family got the following:

-18k acres
-6 deer (3 bucks, 3 does...or any combination as long as you didn't go over 3 bucks)
-unlimited hogs (lots of them)
-1 alligator tag
-600ac cypress swamp to fish or duck hunt
-12 100+ acre oxbow lakes to duck hunt/fish
-14 miles of river frontage w/ private ramps 20 miles from closest public ramp
-full use of lodges, conference hall, screened in pavilion w/ vented grills
-walk-in cooler, skinning & processing facility
-5 month long deer season, but year-round access
-water/elect for private camper hook-up
-private 500yd shooting range


Then you'd probably spend another $900 on feed, seed, fertilizer & tractor fuel

 

[Old Hunter]

Everything except elk.