How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

I notice that a lot of you hunt leases, and generally that involves some sort of travel, so I was wondering with the ever rising gas prices and the price of crude in general, how this has or will effect your hunting/scouting trips. If it hasn't really effected you, how HIGH will it take for you to start to change your traveling? For me, I drive a fairly effiecient truck (about 19-21mpg now in the warmer temps), and commute 30 miles round trip to work a day, and often another 150 miles round trip to Wilkes-Barre every other weekend, so I do feel it a bit, but I'm not sure what would take for me to change my habits...I'm already somewhat not as open to driving to random trout spots after work for a quick fishing trip like I used to in high school.

If you're wondering what spawned this question, take a look at the what crude hit today[&:]

http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/15/mark...ion=2008041515

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

I'm trying not to let it influence my bowhunting. I'm headed to NC Thursday, I know the most expensive thing about the trip will be the gas.

The rest will be priceless.

I hunted the same as I always did this past fall. I do know gas prices are hitting a hole in my pocket. Turkey season will be more expensive than last year, I can only pray something breaks in the cost of oil. It's ridiculous and it's America fleecing Americans.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

I hear ya Rob, it really comes down to what you can prioritize, and you certainly can't sit around at home doing nothing. I try to take that approach when I'm debating whether to drive somewhere whether it's to fish, up to my cabin, to see my fiance, etc. I do, however, try to cut back on extra/unecessary trips/

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Not TOO much. It is either out my back door, or a mile down the road, which is nice. Montana every year, I go with pops and 2 other guys in our motor home, I don't think what I can chip in would amount to much[&o]

However, out of state lic. effect me the most.

And if all works out for next year, plane tickets[>:]

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Matt, I am lucky as I don't have to drive for my work, I work out of the U.S. and the company flies me so i use my trucks for personal use only. I haven't slowed down a bit yet, I hunt about 4 hours from my house and go every other month for a week or so. I will be leaving this Thursday to go try to get a couple hogs or exotics.
I also work in the oilfield, so I can't really complain too much but I got home last Friday and diesel is $4.00 a gallon here, i will say this I have been driving my 74 scout a bunch as gasoline is quite a bit cheaper than the diesel.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

It hasn't affected my decision to hunt yet, but it has affected my decision on vehicle though. I'd love to have a full size truck and would have probably had one by now...........but for now the Suby will have to do. It's kind of hard to give up AWD and 30mpg with gas prices these days.

4 hours each way to my camp ends up costing me roughly $55 right now (have to use 93 octane), but it wouldcost me nearly 2x as much in a full size truck. You can do the math if your traveling 4x a month (during season)........it does add up and does get expensive but I guess it's still cheaper than a lot of other hobbies.

It does affect the time I spend there during the offseason. I'd love to go to my campthis weekend to work on plots and get some firewood cut for the upcoming bonfire/camping season, but just can't justify the $$$ to drive there.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Well it did not effect my hunting yet but what it did do is put a hamper on me shooting with a good freind I met on here(Rob) I wish I could afford to make the trip up north more on Sundays to shoot its just so damn tight right now! Ben I dont want to leave you out either your a hell of a guy and I love coming up to shoot! :D

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Gas effects my hunting = natta~~~
The ole' joke...
I would crawl naked over broken glass for 2 miles to sit in her shadow!
Same thing for huntin'<>

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

It makes my Cabelas Visa bill bigger every month.

But hey, that means more points!!:D

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

The gas price has pushed me to the point that next weekend I will be loading my bow and necassary gear on the back on my motorcycle so that I can go back to KS. to hunt turkeys for three days. I'll be able to do the whole trip for about $100., compared to taking my truck at nearly $300.
I'll be sure to take some pics. My buddy that I will be hunting with will have the blinds, decoys, etc. All I have to haul is my bow and arrows, a call or two, and cloths, and shave kit.:)

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Yep, my Cabelas card is my gas card as well...there is one positive to this gas price thing I suppose[8D]


Also, I should note, that it hasn't affected my hunting one bit, but that's because I hunt right on the land I live on. My cabin is also only 15 minutes away, but I was curious how it affected those of you like Matt who have a fairly long trip to their hunting grounds. So far, my theory on gas prices holds true: Although the prices may be high, we'll keep on moving no matter how high it goes. Although it's starting to show some signs in the automotive industry. Nissan will no longer be making the Titan come 2011 I believe due to low sales figures I believe...not sure if it's directly related to gas, or what, but I have a feeling it is.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Well it is officially cheaper for me to pay the shipping cost average of around $7.50 and buy off the internet than it is to drive to the closest shop. The closest one is 25 miles one way.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Not at all!!!

hatchet Jack

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

It used to before I started taking bicarbonate of soda!

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

I dont let gas affect my hunting or trapping. I budget myself and try to save gas where i can by running errands after work or by relaxing at home during the off season. Plus, now that my girlfriend has a new car, we can take it on our trips instead of my truck.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

I am lucky, both my deer spots are within 20 minutes of the house. One is 10 minutes from work as well. The Duck, Pheasant and Goose area is an hour and a half but we usually carpool in a group of 2-4 when we go. We are also working on another bowhunting spot that is 20 minutes from the house so I will be good.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

It's 3.50 per gallon here and I don't see it declining soon, it's probably going to incline on up to around 4. There are going to be new 5 dollar bills soon that will say on them "Good for one free gallon of gas". How many times have the senators supposedly drilled them about the prices never to be heard about again? I am no conspiratist but you have to start wondering what is the overall goal that "they" are trying to accomplish?

No, I won't let it influence my hunting. [:@]

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Shouldn't influence me too much I live close to most of my spots.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

The gas is literally sucking the life out of me but then again if I can't get to the woods why work?

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Let's see, here's some of the plans for the summer.

Go to Rend Lake this weekend. 450 miles round trip. Truck gets 11 mpg pulling the boat plusgas for the boat and generator.

Go to St Louis week after. 370 miles round trip. Pulling the boat again.

Go to KY lake the next weekend. 650 miles round trip. Again with the boat.

Go to Chicagoland weekend after that. 320 miles. Boat maybe. (I get about 9 mpg in the city)

Blah, blah, blah. Lots more driving all summer. Even headed to Chesapeake Bay to shoot stingrays... pulling the boat. Blah, blah, expensive, blah, blah.

I'm going to go broke, but I'll have lots of fish to eat. [:-][:-][:-]

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

If I eat a burrito on the days hunt it will affect me tremendously.:D

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Andat least you will have a lot of fun in the process.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

I just filled my truck up for $85....good god. I know it has affected me alot recently. I haven't done as much scouting, fishing because of the gas prices. It will cost me around $10 of gas just head down the lake to fish...that is ridiculous.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

Not at all. When gas digs in to my pocket, i give up other things long before hunting. Take the girlfriend out less, etc.;)

I mow and make alot of dough for someone my age though, so it hasn't really effected me at all really. I dont see how my friend drives, after only making 5.60 after taxes. He works like 30+ hours a week too.[:'(]

I work MAYBE 15 hours a week on average, work for myself on my own schedule, will keep the money part to myself, and conveniently have no job during the fall and winter months, which coinsides perfectly with hunting seasons. It does really cut into my afternoon turkey hunts tho, such as today.[:@]

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

I am blessed to drive a company truck with company gas included. I also put fewer miles on my truck than most (it's a 2003).....and most of my hunting is done walking out my back door.

The cost of gas won't affect my hunting one bit.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

I'm making a 12 hour drive to New Mexico tomorrow to chase Merriams. It is making me pay more attention. For the last 3 years I have hunted within 1/2 an hour from home. I got 2 new places to hunt, one is 1/2 an hour one is 4 hours. As Murphy's Law would have it the better property is the 4 hour drive. I may not spend as many days in the woods so I'll have to spend smarter days in the woods.

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

It will definitely affect my summer boating,but not my hunting. If you think you cringe when filling up your full-size truck try filling up an 85 gallon tank at .50 over whatever it is on land.:(:(

RE: How much does gas effect your hobby?
 

It effects me allot!! I own a trucking out fit and the diesel prices have limited my funds way to much!! My hunting out of state is at a stand still untill this diesel price can mellow out. It sucks!!!!!![:@]