You could go on and on when it comes to hunting gear and the amount of items one hunter needs for a good hunt! It took a long time and many money fights for Chad and me to finally gain ground on a "hunting budget". There are a few unwritten rules in our household when it comes to buying hunting equipment. First and foremost - when Chad comes up with something else he has to have - I don't say "no". As long and the word N-O is not in the discussion it goes so much smoother. Second, whatever it is we pay cash! Now, wait... let me explain a little.
We struggled our way through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace. It took us over 5 years to pay off an enormous amount of debt. Along the way we still bought bows, guns, deer feeders, and even a boat. We paid cash, but it slowed down our debt reduction. I know some of the things Dave would say to us and some of the names he would call us for making many of these purchases while still fighting our way out of debt! However, each couple has to establish their own way of dealing with financial situations and ours was a compromise. Chad did the best he could to find used equipment, or find great deals, and used discretion when buying hunting gear . I just didn't say "no". I learned to set aside a certain amount of money in our budget for unexpected hunting expenses. There was only a certain amount of funds to work with and we would have to make decisions on which items to buy. This included an astronomical amount of money for gas as we traveled back and forth between Texas and Oklahoma. Chad and I work quite a bit of overtime during the months of February through August saving for hunting season. We work hard so we can play harder!
Is it really necessary to have all that gear to enjoy hunting? Hunting has been a means of survival since Adam and Eve. Did they have the high optic scopes, or the thermal insulated underwear, or the scent free technology that has become a "must have" in hunting society? There are a slew of good products out there that make the hunting experience more comfortable and empower the hunter to manage their property and their deer population. The common property owner is now able to track the deer population with game cameras, provide the minerals for antler growth, and study the deer movements and habitats using Iphone apps!
However, there are ways to manage your deer population without breaking the bank. Here are a few of the tips Chad and I have learned over the years.
1) The best scent free technology is nature itself. Just two drops of skunk urine on a cotton ball next to you in the stand is the best scent defense out there. It costs about $19.99 a bottle and beats spending $100s on the scent free suit! The big buck that comes out without any knowledge of your whereabouts is worth the smell.
2) Game cameras are one of the greatest inventions created in the hunting industry. We found a brand of game camera called Wildview Digital Scouting Camera with Infrared on Amazon for less than $60.00. They have lasted us for three seasons through extreme weather conditions. It includes a date and time stamp and provides a clear 2 Mp picture.
3) Building a brush shelter far out ways those expensive pop up blinds or high dollar pre-fabricated blinds.
4) Chad spends a lot of time on the Texas Hunting Forum and the Texas Fishing Forum looking for good deals on hunting and fishing equipment. We have bought all of our bows and many of our guns used. You can also find some great deals at pawn shops. Pawn shops are a horrible way to sell your hunting gear, but they can be a great resource if you know what you are looking for and do your research on the items you are buying.
5) We always save a little of our hunting budget to spend at the after season sales. We found hunting shirts for the whole family for 0.88 cents a piece at Academy after this past hunting season. Deer stands, feeders, camo, arrows, and broadheads were just some of the things we found at rock bottom prices at the end of the season.
Our hunting purchases and financial plan are not necessarily Dave Ramsey approved! However, it has worked for us and has allowed us to pursue our passion without incurring debt or spending our last penny. There are ways to be a great hunter without spending a lot of money. The hunting industry is a huge money maker and we contribute a fair share of our income to the industry. But, spending that one trip out in the woods truly is priceless. Watching your son take his first deer is a life changing experience. I wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world!
Are there ways you have found to save money on hunting gear?
No comments:
Post a Comment