Real deer hunting cost

[Hunting4fun]

Not if you already own Them

Own what? What are you getting at?

[Jcjohnson]

Stands, gear, huntin license, processing equipment. Stuff
Like that buddy

[doublearrow]

It's hard to keep a place with everything going without passion.

Seem self inflicted. Make it simple. Why fill 18 feeders? If no one is helping no sense in having them a place to hunt. Set yourself up a couple of set ups and go on. And to make it even less do spot and stalk hunting. No feeders to fill, blinds to maintain, lanes to clear ect. Just spend your time out there enjoying it and not slaving away on stuff thats not neccesarily needed.


I did 2 separate 10 day out of state hunts this year. 10 days in alaska hunting caribou and 10 days in colorado hunting elk. It cost me 3k for both trips combined. 20 days of hunting in awesome places with buddies.
In 2 weeks i will get to take my son on a texas youth hunt. 48 dollar public land permit and fuel to san angelo.

[Black Ice]

Finding a decent lease for under $10 per acre is not common.



And most people don't add in deer corn, protein, attractants like blocks, trail cameras, feeders, batteries, deer blinds. where or what they stay in, electricity, water, what they use to get around the ranch (that comes with all sorts of costs), .... This list could go on forever..like panels to keep hogs or cows away from feeders, fixing the camper or house.



I left out hunting supplies and work/labor on purpose. Some people like the work and you'll need the hunting supplies if you lease, hunt public, or do a day hunt.

I’m very fortunate that I don’t pay for a lease and hunt my dads properties but It’s still a big expense.

This year is the first year I will get off cheap because I am building a house.

3 years ago
8k new AC and camp expansion
2k dozer work
2500 deer blind
2k feed
2k fuel, feeders and general hunting supplies
850 mount and processing

2 years ago
3k deer blind
2k dozer work
2k feed
2k fuel, and general hunting supplies
I also spent 9k on one rifle, mounts and glass
850 mount and processing

Last year
700 new feeder and new motor
2k dozer work
2k feed
2k fuel, and general hunting supplies
I also spent 4K on rifle as glass
2018 Polaris ranger 1000
1500 mount and processing

This year
2k dozer work
2k feed
2k fuel and general hunting supplies
Another 5k on new rifle and glass

That doesn’t count the 75k I spent on a truck to get me back and forth to the ranch in 2017 along with the maintenance driving 9k to 10k per year for the truck.

That’s just deer hunting not including the duck hunting.



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[Nelson]

Mine comes close to 14k if you caculate trip cost. Last year with improvements to to the housing it was doubled. $30,000

I am cool with just a road feeder and a truck. It's only me and two friends on a rather large place in the hill country. Bring on other people would help cut that cost.

I will never buy hunting land. My brother did that and I have witnessed every penny being dumped into it. He should be reteired a long time ago. Like 10 years ago.

[Nelson]

Btw I have no mortgage payment no truck payment no children to pay for collage ECT. I was furtunt to pay cash for everything and work my *** off to make a good income.

I can't afford it.. Sounds impossible but the numbers don't lie. Told a couple friends yesterday and they didn't believe me.

[WItoTX]

I did 2 separate 10 day out of state hunts this year. 10 days in alaska hunting caribou and 10 days in colorado hunting elk. It cost me 3k for both trips combined. 20 days of hunting in awesome places with buddies.
In 2 weeks i will get to take my son on a texas youth hunt. 48 dollar public land permit and fuel to san angelo.

Dude don't tell people that. You are going to ruin my hunting.

Seriously I would rather hunt a week in Colorado than an entire deer season in Texas. Climbing out of a tent in the dark, walking the mountains, seeing the sun rise through a pass, hearing or watching elk scream their face off, less than 100 yards from a screaming bull, it doesn't get much better than that. And all it costs is fuel, some one time purchases, a lot of desk scouting, and then lots of sweat and energy.

[flywise]

It’s not a cheap hobby and it’s not for everybody. I do think what has become considered as “must haves” for Texas hunting is pretty ridiculous.

Yes sir.

If people.actually wanted to hunt the hunting would be the cost of the lease and a good comfortable portable chair.

People make it much more expensive than it has to be. Year round feed is 100% waste of money, lease transportation if funny as well.
But, the folks that spend 10k or more a year probably are not the folks complaining about the cost.

[RR 314]

Sounds like you need to trade hunting and filling feeders for something less expensive. May I suggest hookers and blow? :-)

[TENRMORE]

Every hobby is expensive, My dad gave up hunting a few years ago for different reasons but he bought a Harley and rides it from state to state. He said its no cheaper once you figure in the cost of the bike, Hotels, and food. Do what you enjoy...if you don't enjoy it go do something else.

[solocam_aggie]

I never did the math, but I gave up leasing for the last two years and only hunt a pair of local properties for free. All I have is a minimal corn bill, and a short commute. Man have I saved the money over these two years lol!! Plus, one of my properties produced my biggest WT to date.

With that said, I do miss the lease life very much. The camaraderie around camp, the excitement shared when a hoss is brought into camp. Plus, I want to raise my kids on a lease just as I did, and see their excitement grow for hunting.

[UrbanBuck]

Doesn't have to be so complicated . Downsize, heck no help? That's pretty ****ty. no help no hunt in my book.

[skinsfan]

I’m very fortunate that I don’t pay for a lease and hunt my dads properties but It’s still a big expense.

This year is the first year I will get off cheap because I am building a house.

3 years ago
8k new AC and camp expansion
2k dozer work
2500 deer blind
2k feed
2k fuel, feeders and general hunting supplies
850 mount and processing

2 years ago
3k deer blind
2k dozer work
2k feed
2k fuel, and general hunting supplies
I also spent 9k on one rifle, mounts and glass
850 mount and processing

Last year
700 new feeder and new motor
2k dozer work
2k feed
2k fuel, and general hunting supplies
I also spent 4K on rifle as glass
2018 Polaris ranger 1000
1500 mount and processing

This year
2k dozer work
2k feed
2k fuel and general hunting supplies
Another 5k on new rifle and glass

That doesn’t count the 75k I spent on a truck to get me back and forth to the ranch in 2017 along with the maintenance driving 9k to 10k per year for the truck.

That’s just deer hunting not including the duck hunting.



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The reality is that you don’t HAVE do you have any of the above, every individual has a choice! I don’t like to see people walk away from hunting because of the cost associated with it when the vast majority of the cost can be avoided! I’m not by any means bashing what you spend your money on, I’m just saying that the average Joe cannot afford the above it doesn’t have to be discouraged!

[SmTx]

The deer hunting is my cheapest expense.

It's all the beer that gets drank that makes my wallet cry

[sharpstick35]

mine totals out at about $15k/yr but since I own the land I actually spend $7k on travel/feed/food and $8-15k on the land because I make extra payments. but even then its less than 10% of my income