RE: cheapest way to start hunting.
you could get a NEF 12ga. for $98 at my local walmart and grab a box of 00 buck or rifled slugs for another $3-5 and your at about $100(not counting taxes) that leaves $75 for gear and at walmart they usually have some cheap hunting boots for about $20 and you could get some cheap camo sweats and you would make budget and maby have some money left for lunch. Sure you wont be the most hightech hunter out there and you wont be picking off deer at 300yds. but it`ll do the job.