Its all about choices, of course job and salary make some of the choices easier.

You need to decide, in your own situation, is the choice and whatever sacrifice that entails, worth making for the hunt in question. Having a wife/kids complicates this, but it also may just push it out a bit further.

Find a way to save $10/week. Bring lunch rather than buy lunch, don't go out to eat as often, don't hit dunkin donuts in the morning. Take the $10/week and stuff it in the bank. It's only $520/year, but after several years you have the money for the trip. If you can find a way to save more than the $10/week, the time period comes in closer.

I have a friend who occassionally makes comments about "must be nice to afford an elk hunt" and it pisses me off. Why? Well he usually makes them while we are driving to go salmon fishing in his $35K truck, towing his $25K boat. I don't have either. It's all about how you choose to spend your money.

It may take time, even years, but its achievable. Tax returns? Stuff them in the bank rather than spending them. there's usually all kinds of way to make small steps saving money, the more small steps you make the easier the hunt price becomes.

And yes, some jobs/education make it easier than others.