7 Ways to Make Hunting More Affordable This Year

Do you really need a new gun or the latest gear? If money is tight, try to stick with what you already have. Photo by Realtree Media.

Food is expensive. Fuel isn’t cheap. Vehicle prices are unreal. The list could go on. And despite inflated living costs, many of us have not seen pay increases. Sometimes, just getting by feels increasingly burdensome.

Hunting isn’t free, either. If you’re feeling the weight of hunting’s costs but aren’t about to give it up, consider where you might cut some expenses. Something on this list might make a measurable difference in your hunting budget.

1. DROP THE LEASE, OR SPLIT IT WITH A BUDDY

Do you lease hunting land? If so, are you getting enough results to justify the leasing fees? Even a bottom-dollar lease usually costs more than a thousand bucks, and if you’re due for new vehicle tires or a new lawnmower but don’t know where the money will come from, I’d say it’s time to drop the lease, at least for now. If you’re unwilling to give up the gate keys, consider softening the blow by splitting the costs with a buddy or two.

DON’T MISS: Trivia Time: Do You Know These 5 Misconceptions About Whitetails?

2. UPGRADE TO A BUDGET BOW, CROSSBOW, OR GUN

If your weapon of choice is tired or unreliable, and you’re in dire need of an upgrade but don’t have a lot of money, don’t fret. There are plenty of ultra-reliable bows, crossbows, and firearms at unbelievable prices. So, if the $1,200 bows and $2,000 crossbows and rifles have you perplexed about how you’ll afford to upgrade, go down the ladder into the budget category. Today’s budget equipment blows away some of the high-end gear of yesteryear, and the affordability and performance will floor you.

3. DO AN OUT-OF-STATE HUNT EVERY OTHER YEAR

Have you been hitting up a another state or two beyond your home ground? Are the associated fees — such as fuel, food, and lodging — beginning to affect you? As difficult as it might be, consider taking a year off and saving up to swing it with no problem next year.

4. USE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE

Countless fancy hunting gadgets promise to make us better hunters. Between flashy marketing and peer pressure, it’s easy to be lured into buying items we’ve done without for years, even if the money to do it doesn’t exist. An expensive apparel system, cell cameras, or a tree-saddle system would be nice, but if you’re hurting financially, forgo the new purchases, and stick with what you already have.

DON’T MISS: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Denies Petition to Pause Wolf Reintroduction

Hunters wearing outdated camo or flannel shirts and shooting old relic weapons have stacked up many big bucks and bulls. In other words, a bunch of new bells and whistles won’t necessarily make you a better hunter. If money is tight, save it, and put more effort into improving your woodsmanship.

5. SKIP THE TAXIDERMIST AND MOUNT IT YOURSELF

Shoulder mounts are expensive. Antler plaques and European mounts aren’t free, either. There are plenty of DIY guides online for mounting your own antlers or creating a Euro mount. If taxidermy will be a big bill to swallow, consider the DIY angle, and save some money. I’ve been doing my own Euro mounts for years, and it’s a little work, but it saves me hundreds of dollars annually.

6. PROCESS YOUR OWN VENISON

In central Wisconsin, where I live, the going rate for basic deer butchering — skinning, de-boning, grinding, packaging, and freezing — is about $170. If you shoot three deer to keep your family in venison all year, that’s $510. Save the money and do it yourself. Even if you buy an electric meat grinder, it will pay for itself after you process about two deer with it. Then, your only other costs are time and freezer paper.

Check Out Our Latest Camo Pattern: Realtree APX

7. GET A SIDE HUSTLE

If you’re unwilling to budge on the previous tips but feel their financial weight, consider a second income to feed your hunting lifestyle. Maybe mowing lawns won’t get you far, but becoming a Door Dasher or an Uber driver a few nights a week could make a financial difference.

CONCLUSION

Hunting can be expensive. But in its simplest form, it doesn’t have to be. As we’ve discussed, there are ways to cut costs and make it more affordable. If your finances have been suffering because life just keeps coming at you from every angle, make some changes, and work out a hunting budget that makes some sacrifices while allowing you to continue chasing your dreams.