Hunting Expenses This Fall

[wedgy]

I drew a Wyoming cow tag and a Colorado bull tag and am doing a granite counter top job to pay for gas which is $6.30 at the cheap station in So Cal right now. I hate doing granite because it is heavy and the polishing is tedious but I have the tools from when I did my house rather than have somebody do it. Last year I painted the neighbors house for $5K including replacing some rotten wood and panels that pretty much paid for all my hunting trips. His two bids where $11.7K and $13.2K and I did a much better job prepping the wood as I am meticulous about it. I have a pretty cush field office job but was in construction during college and have the skill set for electrical, plumbing, welding, tile, concrete, etc. so I feel fortunate to be able to supplement my income when needed but I'm glad I don't have to do the physical labor all the time. So in my case I will do what I have to do to make my hunts happen.

 

[Mauser06]

I'm still planning on my rutcation. But I don't have newr the drive. Under 1000 miles for my trip in total if I drive 500 miles while I'm there.

If hotel or air bNb prices are astronomical, I'll rough it in the truck seat a night or 2 to save some...

 

[moorepower]

I just did over 2000 miles to shoot grass rats. Painful, but the trip was planned since last November. FYI to all, the congress did not shut down 24% of our production, for our own good.

 

[Pyscodog]

Leave the 22 foot camper home and use a tent. Camp in a camp ground that has showers Cook your meals over a campfire. It will be more fun that way. My buddy says he going camping. He drags a 35 ft 5th wheel to the lake, parks it on a concrete pad, hooks up to water, then he throws his dish out in the front of the camper and has cable TV. That's not camping. May as well stayed home IMO.

 

[rayporter]

heck, shower at a truck stop if you sleep in your truck.

 

[jpx2rk]

I too just returned from a 5600 mile round trip to SE Oregon for my first sage rat shoot. Wife and I did a sight seeing trip on the way out west, (Rt 66 and Grand Canyon were the main points), and then rat shooting for 3 days. One CC bill came in at $1100, and that was just the gas going out there, and a few minor expenses. No motel or meals on that one. Used other CC's for the motels and meals, and those bills are still straggling in as they cycle up. Gas ranged from $3.99 up to $5.20 in OR. Meals and motels are up considerably as well IMO.

I had 2nd thoughts about going, but the talking heads on the news say things are only going to get worse, so we went. Just this morning I saw where gas was staring at $10/gal out in CA, and just this past weekend the news showed gas at $8.05/gal in CA . Gas jumped $.30/gal here overnight on Saturday to Sunday. I hope it is better in 2023 as I want to go back to Oregon for another rat shoot, but at these gas prices, I doubt I will. I still have enough ammo loaded for the varmint rifles, but getting there is problem now.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Maybe them hippies have it figured out? True pioneers, trendsetters. See them all over in Mercedes vans, camping at the city park, Walmart parking lots, forest service campground, blm campgrounds, looking like a homeless person brushing their teeth on the sidewalk by the outhouse, bathing in the trout pond, leaving butt wipe everywhere, doing their morning yoga with a man bun before a hearty granola breakfast.

#vanlife

Maybe that’s what a guys gotta do to offset the costs of energy/lodging. Sounds crazy but, well because it’s crazy.

I’m going camping this weekend. Loading all the dirt bikes up, toy hauler, headed up the mountain. My now, rarely driven diesel with an empty 48 gallon tank, I’ll need to run my card 4 times. But the fam will eat me alive if I don’t get them up there soon. So I understand, y’all better go hunting while you can. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Make more money later I guess. If you quit having fun they win. They meaning the people that voted for this.

 

[338 dude]

I put in for Wyoming back in February. Now there's a large part of me hoping I'm not drawn on the 16th. My wife is encouraging me to still travel out to hunt if drawn but gas prices are wild and I know the money could be better spent...

Go if you can that’s my opinion yes it’s more difficult and it shouldn’t be but just remember one thing you cannot get back is time and none of us is guaranteed tomorrow

 

[Juppe12]

Interesting to read how hunting is there in US. For me it is relatively cheap and easy. I am member in two hunting clubs and I have license for state hunting grounds. club memberships are 35€ and other 55€ per year. State license is most expensive, 130€/year, but with that you get best hunting grounds for small game. And all that about 50000 ha are in circle 70km around my home. In basic I can start hunting when i just walk outside my home.

edit: and you have to have also yearly paid insurance/hunting card, it is 40€ if I remember correct.

 

[ballisticdaddy]

I usually travel from Texas to several Rocky Mountain states each fall for elk and mule deer. This year, I just bought preference points due to the price of gasoline and food.

On hunts last fall to Colorado and Montana, I spent $1400 on fuel and food on the road. That's not counting camp food and generator fuel. Dragging my 22' cargo trailer with my Tundra doesn't help.

There's no doubt my expenses would balloon much higher this fall for gas and food. It also seems the F&G keep adding on fees here and there before you can get around to buying your tags. Nonresident
prices are high, but that's the price we pay to hunt that beautiful country.

Hopefully the November elections will begin to bring 2020 fuel prices back and 2024 will stabilize them.

This will be the first time I have not made it to the high country, just wondering how many are not going due to this current cluster.

So the cost for out of state elk tag is $700.98 and mule deer is $420.23 but the current cost of fuel is what is making you think twice? I have to laugh when they say how great the hunting in Texas is but I see more TX plates here in CO than any other state in the union. Couldn't you hunt twice as much game for half the cost by staying in your home state?

 

[sw282]

Had to cancel my PDS shoot to NM this May due to fires(thanks USFS):-(
I have a $650 credit from American for a cancelled flight. 12 Months to use it they say.
The way fuel/airline ticket prices are RISING l doubt that ''AA'' credit will get me past Atlanta in 2023

 

[Hudge76]

Living in Alaska is great, but driving 6 plus hours to get to some hunting areas is not.
With that being said I am caribou hunting this year and taking the first legal one I see. Then I’m moose hunting a lot closer to home and will hopefully get a moose as well. Beef prices are up considerably as well as gas prices. I’ve quit buying reloading components as I think I’m good for now, so I’ll save money there, unless RL23 or 26 show up here. Anyways, due to gas prices, I am not taking the RV up for caribou to save Mo why there, and moose was tent camping anyways as we are 10-14 miles in so tent is the only option. I’d love to see gas prices go down, but I don’t think we will see it this year.

 

[Davidheart]

Interesting to read how hunting is there in US. For me it is relatively cheap and easy. I am member in two hunting clubs and I have license for state hunting grounds. club memberships are 35€ and other 55€ per year. State license is most expensive, 130€/year, but with that you get best hunting grounds for small game. And all that about 50000 ha are in circle 70km around my home. In basic I can start hunting when i just walk outside my home.

edit: and you have to have also yearly paid insurance/hunting card, it is 40€ if I remember correct.

You're misunderstanding. We are talking about special hunts, not hunts out our back door. For less than $100 I could (legally) kill several deer, black bear, a couple turkey, and as much small game and birds as I care for on my property. Literally from the window of my house. Driving 1800 miles or 2900 km to the west (from the east coast) to hunt antelope, elk, or mule deer is the difficulty we're talking about.

I also have a lifetime license in another state so I could hunt for free there the rest of my life too.

 

[SecondsCount]

We try to make an annual trek to Raton, NM every year to shoot at the Whittington Center.

Last year I pulled the travel trailer with the Dodge Cummins. This year we took the minivan, which averaged 24 MPG, and split a large airbnb with friends.

The Whittington Center was really quiet. Most of the time we had the ranges to ourselves.

 

[Charles]

Canceled the PD trip to S Dakota from Maryland,always look forward to this trip

 

[6fatrat]

Iam actually glad i didn't draw my WYO. elk tag this year.
From northern Mi. round trip would be $1600 for fuel, we hit $5.20 yesterday for regular.
Steve Bair

I did put in for my Mi. Bear tag and will hunt Deer, waterfowl and Grouse this fall.

 

[markT]

You gotta go. If you wait gas will be more expensive next year. We are at $5.29 / gallon. This will be the norm going forward.

 

[timeout]

You gotta go. If you wait gas will be more expensive next year. We are at $5.29 / gallon. This will be the norm going forward.

I disagree. Trump 2024.

 

[Downeast]

Fortunate to own enough land here at our house to hunt and shoot on. Deer, turkey, duck, dove. And we have a cottage "downeast" in NC which turns into my duck camp during the season. So if I can get there (157 miles one way) it's like living at home.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

So the cost for out of state elk tag is $700.98 and mule deer is $420.23 but the current cost of fuel is what is making you think twice? I have to laugh when they say how great the hunting in Texas is but I see more TX plates here in CO than any other state in the union. Couldn't you hunt twice as much game for half the cost by staying in your home state?

Last time I looked there was no Rocky Mountains or elk here in Texas.