Hunting on a budget

[tdcour]

Never thought about oatmeal. That makes sense, but how do you cook it? Do you just let it soak for a while to get it soft? I'm thinking that we will be trying to go early season this year. Normally we hunt out of a cabin at a state park for $30 a night which is pretty cheap since there are beds, heat and air, electricity, and even showers if you go before it gets too cold, but if it comes down to it, I'll get a tent put somewhere so I can go hunting. I'd rather tent and hunt than have a nice warm bed at home.

Does everyone just save throughout the year for hunting season or do you just claim the extra money (if any) during hunting season? We are doing a "hunting savings" where we put some money in every month or couple of months and if I have any extra cash from odd jobs I stick it in there. Every little bit counts...

 

[NE69]

I used to have $50 weekly taken out of my check and used that for my hunting fund. Now that I'm self employed I try to set aside a little cash from each check. Even $10 weekly adds up if you don't touch it.

 

[tdub24]

I too have a "play account" that I put money in each month.

 

[Musket Man]

Hunting seasons start right after harvest here so I generally have a little extra money around that time but I still go as cheap as I can. I usually have to save up more for app season then the actual hunt its self.

 

[win264]

Utah is a good state to apply for points only, if you time it right one license fee allows you to buy points only for 2 years

Wyoming also has a point only ending in Sept to get points while you save for the hunt, and going into this year for elk,deer and antelope max points is only 8

Arizona went to a 365 day license this year and that should allow you to build points there also for 2 years on the same license fee if you time it right like Utah and they have OTC archery deer hunts and javelina hunts that are reasonable that fit your time frame.

New Mexico has OTC deer hunts early and late seasons

Arkansas has very cheap OTC tags for deer and a lot of deer as well, bear, turkey, hogs,

Oklahoma as well.

Check out some the Rez hunts for lion, bear, turkey, cow elk, javelina, small game, duck, and fishing, some of these are 1st come,1st serve others have leftover tags after their draws.

Hope this gives you some ideas. Good Luck! It's not the harvest, it's the hunt that counts!

 

[tdcour]

Thanks win! I just finished my Utah application last week and was able to use the same license. That was a big help. I'll have to check into some of the reservations, but I know if you want to shoot a male of any kind it gets pricey.

 

[HuskyMusky]

I don't sweat it... Why worry after all?

I see a few things in my future...

1. make more money...?
2. find your priorities, if hunting is one of them, you'll have to sacrifice in other areas...
3. don't sweat it, things should work out...

 

[bowhiker]

The central part of Idaho offers some fine elk hunting in the early season. The tags are around $500 I believe for an OTC. I camped around an area central to several drainages so I didn't have to bounce around by vehicle, which saved on gas. I did have to do a lot of foot travel up and down the drainages, but it was worth it. I didn't see a lot of mule deer but did see quite a few moose. Had a cow and calf 30 yards outside our tent one morning.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

Arizona went to a 365 day license this year and that should allow you to build points there also for 2 years on the same license fee if you time it right like Utah

Not if you are building points for deer and elk. The app periods are too far apart in AZ. Elk/Antelope in Feb. and Deer/Sheep in June. Your license would expire before the deer/sheep app period the second year causing you to have to get another one. But, if you are just building points and not hunting, you could get away without buying the license the third year with the 365 license structure. Need to be careful though and know when your license expires incase you draw a tag. Don't want to be hunting in Sept. with a license that expired in June.

 

[weigand]

Fuel is a killer these days. I tried taking my car on a sept hunt once when money was tight because 39 mpg is alot better the 18 in my powerstroke, but I will never do that again because I couldnt get to some areas I really wanted to get to. Im was a ML tag I drew 2nd choice and kind of a scouting trip but still regret not taking the truck.

I do this pretty often but like you said it limits where you can hunt. I have put multiple deer in my honda accord with only minor lingering smells. I look for hwy access areas so no matter what time of year I can hunt it. Although I might be limited it makes me be more creative and put more effort into researching where I go. Plus I think I hunt more with the car. Huntin from the HONDA!

 

[HiMtnHnter]

Don't buy the high dollar high tech clothing that everyone says you need. Stick to reasonably affordable undergarments and straight up wool. $500 for a pair of pants or a coat? Give me a break!

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Don't buy the high dollar high tech clothing that everyone says you need. Stick to reasonably affordable undergarments and straight up wool. $500 for a pair of pants or a coat? Give me a break!

I hear that. I get my gear on the clearance rack. For years it was some thermal underwear and Carhart pants the same boots I worked in and whatever camo shirt and jacket I could scrounge up. Sure it's heavy but I was never cold. It worked for me at that time and for many years.

 

[Timberstalker]

I agree on the gear, yeah the expensive stuff is lighter and more comfortable but not entirely necessary. I try to improve my gear a little at a time, for me to spend $500 dollars on hunting gear in one year is a BIG investment. That includes weapon, my newest rifle is 16 years old, I still wear the same fleese pants I bought over 10 years ago, I think I paid about $40 for them. For me by far the biggest expense is fuel, now that I am applying for out of state hunts, tags and app fees are adding up quick! Family comes first, if heavy uncomfortable gear, well that's what I have.

 

[Musket Man]

I dont have any expensive clothing either. I have army issue rain gear. I used to use the army thermal underwear until I got some under armor cold gear a couple years ago. Polar tech makes some pretty good and inexpensive stuff thats warm and lite and I have 1 of their jackets and vests that I use alot. I have a Cabelas dry plus top and bottom and 1200 gram boots I have had for about 10 years that I use if its really cold.

 

[MileHigh]

I dont have any expensive clothing either. I have army issue rain gear. I used to use the army thermal underwear until I got some under armor cold gear a couple years ago. Polar tech makes some pretty good and inexpensive stuff thats warm and lite and I have 1 of their jackets and vests that I use alot. I have a Cabelas dry plus top and bottom and 1200 gram boots I have had for about 10 years that I use if its really cold.

I still use my military issued poly pros and polar tech base layer plus an assortment of military gear you can find at any surplus store. It saves a lot of money.

 

[marcusvdk]

I normally pick up hunting gear right after the season well its on clearance and the stores are trying to get rid of it. You can save 50 to 60 percent most of the time for good gear.

 

[Musket Man]

I still use my military issued poly pros and polar tech base layer plus an assortment of military gear you can find at any surplus store. It saves a lot of money.

You can get setup pretty good for not alot of money at a good army surplus store! Its not the lightest or greatest but it will work just fine. I use an Army pack and my army boots alot too. One thing I wont skimp on is socks. My feet tend to sweat alot and if Im walking alot cheap socks just dont cut it.

 

[JMBC]

Get a rich friend, about your size. They always think they need to upgrade and give me clothes and stuff! Swallow the pride and go hunt ha!

Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Tapatalk

 

[RUTTIN]

I try and get a lot of my clothing from www.camofire.com every once in a while they have some great deals on clothing and gear, which can save you a ton of money.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I noticed in you first posts you have your game processed. Do it yourself and save a couple of hundred $$$ and you'll get better quality meat! I take a 5 cu ft freezer with me on deer and antelope hunts, a 10 cu ft when we expect to get 3 or 4 animals or a couple of elk. Run it with a small generator. Usually on a weeklong hunt I can run the thing on less than 5 gallons of fuel.

Butchering is not very difficult, I've been doing my own meat since I was about 20.