SB,
I'd much rather have 5 hunts than 6 years of working up towards one hunt. Seems like an awful inefficient use of energy and resources. But I understand for some people the struggle and payoff is what they enjoy. There's a thread on another website Bob and I post on that has a guy who has dedicated a good portion of his life to raising llama's so that he can do just what you suggest. He likes hunting his way and being self sufficient, he makes a lot of his own equipment (he's also a doctor). That works for him but personally I couldn't do all that stuff and still have quality time with my family. Hunting isn't my god. I don't offer up the largest chunk of my time in order to do what I do. I spend a lot of time hunting and preparing to hunt but I know what's important in my life and I try to maintain personal balance. I can make the money needed to do all that stuff much faster than I can learn all of it and buy all that I need and then maintain all that equipment and animals during the off-season. But I also am trying to build my own bow so I see the appeal to both sides.