You say you just want to "be out there" but when them deer make you fell like a complete idiot, it will become personal and you'll want more than a reason to be out there, you'll want to take one, bad. Then when you get close but no cigar you'll get very serious. It's ok, that's when the real therapy begins.

Well you need the ammo to practice, that isn't cheap these days and a place to do it, many join a club (more cost). Usually a distance away (more cost). Targets? (more cost) and your just shooting targets. You'll want a sling and probably soon a scope and will buy what you think you can afford only to find out what you bought is great on a sunny day but terrible in low light and bad weather causing you to upgrade (cost upon cost). You can't see the deer before they see you so you'll read that other hunters always use bino's (me) and you'll be a little more savvy since buying the scope that didn't work out and maybe buy a bino that's water and fog proof (maybe and more cost)

It goes on to the point where you stop counting the cost and start making being successful the priority. Your a little smarter now, but still buy things that aren't what they claim with many claiming to make things possible, and they can, if you also change the things they work with.

The end isn't even whatever it takes for you to put a tag on a deer since the deer must be processed and stored meaning at the least another freezer.

Year after year the price per pound gets better because you need less year after year to make it happen. Unless you get into it and start hunting out of state, then there's travel expenses and NR tags and tips and presents for those at home...