Buying hunting equipment is kinda like buying a car. You can spend just about as much or little as you want. If you have to have the newest, fastest, bestest watchamacallit on the market all the time, you'll spend LOTS of money. If you decide what you want/need way before hand and shop (retail stores, forums, online) you will be surprised how much money you can save. It doesn't have to be the newest, fastest, etc, etc, to be good, capable piece of equipment...all that being said, I've spent thousands on my junk, too.