Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

Many parts of the country have noticeddeclines in new hunters (so I've been told). I attribute this partly to my generation (the ipod, xbox, impatient) generation some, but thecost of bowhuntingisn't cheap.

Land leases, tree stands, clothes, bow, rangefinders, binos, deer tags, getting to the hunting location, taxi work, feedersetc..

I know some of this stuff can be done without, but this isn't a cheap sport. I believe cost is a big factor that keeps many would be hunters sitting on the sidelines. Of course, I could be way off base. :)

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I have been saying it for years... this used to be a blue collar sport and it has become more of a "gentleman's sport" recently. You know, one where we start to bicker over weapon choice, bow manufacturer, broadhead choice, etc;)Put something on TVand it is amazing how fast it becomes the "popular" thing to do.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I don't believe that you are that far off base on some things.

It CAN be a very expensive hobby/sport/passtime, but it doesn't have to be.

you can have just as good a time with a used bow and stand, camo, etc. But in the time of "waiting in line for the new iphone" a lot of folks in our generation HAVE to HAVE the latest and greatest RIGHT NOW, or F*** it.

its sad really.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

How much is an ipod?

Xbox?

It CAN be expensive.....sure.

But I think I paid around $100 for the first bow I bought my son.....and it was a pretty good shooter (PSE Nova?).

We spent +/- $100 on arrows and setup......and he was basically ready to hunt (he had a cheap climber he'd gotten from an uncle....but I've seen them at flea markets, pretty cheap).

A license in NC is $40 (I think)....and as a youth he hunted free on mine (or he would have....he has a lifetime license).

Can't speak for other states.....but if a kid (or adult)wanted to bowhunt around my house....he could find some land.....private, at that. Public land is always an option...but it's a PITA to get to around here (even if one wanted to). But I think the price is right on those tracts.;)

I'd hate to add up everything I've spent on bowhunting......but it could be done a LOT cheaper than the routes I've chosen. Biggest obstacle I see to some getting into it is "other interests"....which have their own inherent costs associated.

Does it cost to "keep up with the Drury's" of the world? I'm sure it does.

Don't understand what's so sad about it. Who's to say what's right or wrong for a man to spend HIS money on? Never understood this line of thinking.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

It itsn't cheap, that's true. But if you didn't like hunting, you would spend your money on something else.

People pour their time, energy, attention,and moneyinto the things they love.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

It is big business, that's for sure. In Texas the land leases are absolutely rediculous if you want to hunt where the big deer are, and just higher than **** if you want substandard ground.
Bows are crazy, thats why I shot the same one's for 6-8 years, I upgraded this year...Ouch!!!! And I bought them used.
Hell, just look at all the talk of fuel affecting hunting this year on this forum. It all costs more than it should but we as hunters will do what it takes to stay in the game.
I would definately agree that the cost keeps a lot of people from hunting!!!

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I agree. Why should you force yourself to own something that is "less than quality" if there is no need to? I understand if you have billsto pay, but if you've got the means, why not spend it?

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

All I know is - I'm a PoMoFo - and I manage to get it done. You can still hunt deer on the cheap - you've just gotta play the hand you're dealt, and play it well.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

You can pay as much as you want, or be as economical as you want and still participate and have fun.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

What is was gettin at is that...

it is sad that ALOT of people feel that they have to have the latest,greatest, advertised best items or you cant' get into hunting or the animal will laugh at you, or whatever. that's what i meant by "its sad really".

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

gotcha;)

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I think it's a Poorman's sport....get it?;)

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

Hunting as a whole in most of the country today is not cheap at all.

Take a look at civilizations/countries a couple hundred years older than ours.... France, Germany, England (to a lesser extent). Hunting and fishing are priviledges for the gentry and well-to-do. Its a look forward folks... history repeats itself... although I think we do have a fighting chance moreso than any other country ever has to keep hunting at least semi-affordable.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

You don't need to be richto hunt inMN...we have like 4-5 million acres of public hunting ground.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

What's sad is that is most pronounced only around here. At the shop, there isn't nearly as much of that going on. Folks are getting what they like, and want, not what is "popular" on an internet forum.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. What goes on here in the world on HNI isn't always a good representation of "real world." The folks around here are generally fanatics, and extremely passionate about what they do, how they do it, and with what. And that's not a bad thing either. In fact, it's quite the opposite. ;)

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

HA HA....AHHH haaaa ha..ha ha..ahhhhhh.......It certainly in in PA....:D

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

Very true!

I don't care what anyone says though bowhunting and hunting in general is getting down right expensive!

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

True...I seem to spend more money on hunting stuff every season.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I agree with some others - it CAN be an expensive sport, but it doesn't have to be. Yeah, if you want the latest gear and all the high-tech marvels, you're going to pay for it. On the other hand, if you just want to get out in the woods, have fun, and hopefully harvest a deer once in awhile, it doesn't have to be that expensive.

For example, in Ohio here could be a rough breakdown of costs:

Each Year:
-Hunting license = $30 or so per year
-Deer tag = $25 per year

Initial, or "Start-up Costs":
-Bow (low-end or used model) = $120 - $150
-Arrows, broadheads = $40 - $60
-Clip-on stand with spikes or ladder to climb = $60 - $100

So basically, you're looking at a $60 or so per-year cost, plus a "start-up" cost of $220 - $310. The "start-up" costs can be a bit high, but if you look at how many years you get out of your hunting setup, it's very reasonable. That's well within reach of most people nowadays. I left out things that people say are necessary, but I disagree. For example, camo - I've gotten more than 1 deer up in a treestand wearing my old brown winter coat - no camo. I thought the point of a treestand was so that deer wouldn't look up and see you.

Bow/Firearm/Hunting companies spend a LOT of money trying to convince us that we need to spend more and more money in order to be successful at hunting. Nothing could be further from the truth...

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

Remember what happened to fly fishing some years back after the movie "A River Runs Through It" came out? Fly fishing was suddenly the fashionable thing to do. High income yuppies came in with their gobs of disposable income and ran the prices up on everything from fly tying thread to chest waders. A good fly rod went from about a hundred bucks to about 500 bucks.

When they got bored with fly fishing, seems a lot of 'em took up bowhunting.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

Certainly a lot of hunting, especially trophy hunting is becoming less available to us "average Joe" type of guys. If fuel prices keep CLIMBING, out-of-state hunting will be hosted by Robin Leach, because only the RICH & FAMOUS will be able to afford a LOT of it.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I agree with several folks here who have said it doesn't necessarily have to cost a lot to participate in bow hunting,you can equip your self well without spending a fortune and depending upon where you live or choose to hunt the land you hunt on doesn't have to cost you any thing.
You can get a very good used bow cheaply,you can get a lot of things dirt cheap on ebay and other like sources.You don't have to buy in to the marketing of the must havestuff.Bows are a good example,my six year old bow (Hoyt Ultratec) is quiet,fast,virtually vibration or hand shock free.There is nothing within the last six years that has come out that has made my bow obsolete and I love it and will keep using it.
I doubt this year including my license that I will spend over $100 on new bowhunting items.If I do it will because I chose to buy new arrows and some new broadheads neither of which do I need.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

You can buy cheap used equipment and hunt on public land for very little money. It is just like anything else, you can spend as much or as little as you want.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I don't know if you can call it a rich man's sport,but it really is getting expensive,exspeacilly for someone just getting into itand wanting the 'latest' in gear,could really be expensive,but like someone else said people will spend their money on what they choose to be the most important to them and to me it is hunting,to others it may be cars or whatever you get my point.Now with that said if you don't have private land to hunt,or public for that matter a club or lease can be costly,you just have to ask yourself if you want to spend 3000.00 or more per year to have a decent place to hunt or take your chances on public land that is avaliable.Luckily I don't have to make that decesion because I can hunt private land.Now if you want to kill the kind of bucks that we all see killed on tv and you don't have the land to hunt that produces those kind of deer then yea it could be a rich mans sport because the hunts to kill a trophy can easiely cost up to ten thousand dollares per deer.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I agree this doesn't have to be a rich man's sport, only if you want it to be!! If you want trophy class animals that are seen on tv your gonna have to pay big time for it!! But if a trophy to you is the adventure , thrill of the hunt, plus just plain old getting an animal down, then it doesn't have to be expensive... I've done hunts on the cheap from hogs to caribou.. it can be done, I may not have record racks but i have record memories to last my life and thats good enought for me.. Meat in the freezer!!there are places to hunt that aren't thoushnds of dollars to be had just do the leg work example Tred Barta did a elk hunt in CO over the counter leftover tags got maps to public land right next to big name ranches on the cheap!!

MY point being if you are thrifty enough I don't mean cheap you can find 2 years ago eqipment on the cheap will work and kill animals and not get hooked on trophy animal shows as that is what you want to kill or have to kill and just enjoy what you have in your area or travel to new areas but look for left over tags or get 4-5 buddies to pool resources and go to alaska and bow hunt caribou spilt cost of camper, gas, and food 4 of us did this 4 years ago in AK cost of everything including tickets for airfare $1600/ person just takes time andeffort........but camo after season be thrifty cabaleshas a bargain basement put things on the cheap including bows...

just my .02

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

come down here where i live and its still the blue collar sport;)

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

yep, same thing here, and almost everyone i know who hunts dosnt use the good stuff, i dont either, i was lucky to get my bear for a b-day present but everything else i buy my self, i work 4 days a week and i have bought all my hunting stuff plus a truck. IF you want to do it it can be done, even if your poor. in my opinion alot of the people who want to hunt dont know about the tradition they just want to kill something, not everyone is like that, but from the kids i talk to that is what it seems like.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I would say cost is NOT an issue...just my opinion.....I think with handme downs and such...guys and girls can get in the woods if theywant too....

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

People pay money for alot things that over the course of the year dwarf the costs of bowhunting. Gym memberships, movies, dates, eating out, etc....its all about priorities. If you want to hunt, then cost is not really an issue as long as you prioritize.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

it can be expensive and in my area there are lots of bow hunters. I haven't seen much change, the guys that get to old to go bowhunting are replaced by someone else. And I have seenmore trucks along the road sides during bowseason last year that ever before. so I would say after this season I will be able to give a better answer to the question.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

I do believe you're a little off base. I believe it is LAND ACCESS or lack of that is the biggest factor preventing many folks from enjoyingthis sport and not the actual cost of hunting gear. You can hunt deer with a single stick & string but you MUST have a place to hunt them first.

RE: Bowhunting a rich man's sport?
 

It can be an expensive sport if you want it to, but all of the people that buy the newest and best equipment every other year have to get ride of there "old stuff", that is where I come in. The only new item I have is a climber tree stand, and that was a going out of style bargain cavesale at cabela's, and there is a lot of public state game land to hunt here in PA, so I have been able to keep the cost of bowhunting inexpensive.