Like most of the replies already in, I have spent thousands (many) over my 45 years of hunting. You don't HAVE to spend so much. My good friend and longtime hunting companion bought his rifle, shotgun and bow many years ago and still uses the same equipment. He has just as much fun as I do. It really is an issue of how much you have to spend, how gullible you are to hunting equipment ads, and what your priorities are. When I was growing up my dad bought a hunting license and a box of shells every season. That was it! Now that's hunting on the cheap and I bet there are plenty of people who still do it that way.

Good luck.