How do you guys go on these cool hunts?

[Trapperkid]

I need some help and I don’t know who better to ask than the guys doing it so here goes. How do you guys achieve the time freedom and the financial freedom to go on these cool hunts. I’m in Arkansas working at a factory I have no kids but I have a wife and a mortgage and I pretty much only get to hunt what’s local to me like whitetail and ducks. I’m looking for adventure.

 

[MallardSX2]

Get a better job, divorce your wife, and throw your financial reservations to the wind.

It’s literally almost that simple.

You should go check out that thread about taking a reverse mortgage on your house to go sheep hunting. Lots of stupidity on display there. Lol

 

[Trapperkid]

Get a better job, divorce your wife, and throw your financial reservations to the wind.

It’s literally almost that simple.

You should go check out that thread about taking a reverse mortgage on your house to go sheep hunting. Lots of stupidity on display there. Lol

Yea see that’s the thing I’d like to do this without divorcing my wife and being dumb with my money. You could be on to something about the better job part.

 

[MallardSX2]

You’ll find that deep down most guys who go on a lot of guided hunts are either very selfish or very wealthy.

Sometimes both.

I used to wonder how several people on a few forums were able to go on so many hunts. It was like every time I turned around it was a grizzly hunt or a dall sheep hunt or Africa or New Mexico elk.

Then, one day I discovered that they were dentists and doctors.

True story.

Manage your expectations friend. Don’t try to keep up with the Jones’s cause you can’t afford it and your wife will likely leave you if you try. OOS hunting trips are super expensive.

 

[swavescatter]

It's called a K-shaped economy. The rich are doing better than ever, everyone else is hungrier than ever. Don't try to measure yourself against people that get paid to hunt exotic places for a living, or those who don't have to worry about making ends meet.

Hunt your own hunt and make sure you family is loved.

 

[Nicaburns]

Having a solid family is a better legacy than any wall full of trophies. But stay after it, get a side hustle, elevate your skills, and be patient. I am in the ministry and had to wait until I was in my 50s to get to do some Western hunting and taught myself to make knives for “hunt money.” Don’t stress that sometimes hunting goals are long-term with no instant gratification.

 

[7RemMag]

There are lots of inexpensive but exciting hunts to be had in the United States. Perhaps not as glamorous as what you see on the magazine covers, but still quite doable. Here’s a few ideas..

Antelope hunting is not what it used to be, but last fall I befriended and helped a couple good ole boys from Virginia/Kentucky (one of whom is a member here) arrange an antelope hunt here in WY. I’d bet they did it for around a grand a guy, maybe less. We had a great time and they both filled tags on bucks.

Bear tags in many western states can be had relatively cheaply, and are a pretty accessible hunt for the average joe.

There are a number of great states for small game and upland bird hunting as well. Many of those licenses are particularly cheap and don’t require applying for points or draws.

Granted, you’re going to tie up a little bit of money on trips like these, but they should all still be achievable with some planning and patience. It’s also important to note that adventure could be had even within your own state. Go hunt some public land you’ve never tried before. Arkansas is a neat state with a fair bit to offer.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

Aside from everything else that’s been said…. Don’t lose sight of the fact that thousands pay thousands every year to hunt Arkansas greenheads as well.

 

[mwoolsey5]

A lot of it’s just where you are in life too. As a lot of guys get into their late 30’s and 40’s+ they have a lot more disposable income. Dropping 5-10k on a hunt is a lot different for them than if they were in their 20’a still climbing the career ladder.

Is it selfish? Maybe, but at the same time my wife knows it makes me happy and likes to do things for me and I would do the same thing for her talents/hobby’s/interests. Do your homework, talk to your spouse, set a goal, and start setting some money aside each month until it becomes a reality.

 

[RME]

Yea see that’s the thing I’d like to do this without divorcing my wife and being dumb with my money. You could be on to something about the better job part.

I know this is a boring answer but starting with a budget and taking a hard look at the finances and priorities together with your wife is a critical first step to making changes. If you already have that nailed down, start looking for ways to increase income. I've been doing lawn and landscape work on the side for almost 35 years. It's never been easier to set up some kind of a side job for extra money.

The other half of the equation is expectations. I'm going on a camping "adventure" next week with my mountain bike. Guess where I'm going? Arkansas It's not British Columbia but as a single dad with two teenagers in private school that's what I can responsibly afford to do for this trip and I'm going to have a hell of a time doing it whether anybody on FB cares or not

 

[Trapperkid]

There are lots of inexpensive but exciting hunts to be had in the United States. Perhaps not as glamorous as what you see on the magazine covers, but still quite doable. Here’s a few ideas..

Antelope hunting is not what it used to be, but last fall I befriended and helped a couple good ole boys from Virginia/Kentucky (one of whom is a member here) arrange an antelope hunt here in WY. I’d bet they did it for around a grand a guy, maybe less. We had a great time and they both filled tags on bucks.

Bear tags in many western states can be had relatively cheaply, and are a pretty accessible hunt for the average joe.

There are a number of great states for small game and upland bird hunting as well. Many of those licenses are particularly cheap and don’t require applying for points or draws.

Granted, you’re going to tie up a little bit of money on trips like these, but they should all still be achievable with some planning and patience. It’s also important to note that adventure could be had even within your own state. Go hunt some public land you’ve never tried before. Arkansas is a neat state with a fair bit to offer.

Yes I actually have a good year planned last year I did snow geese last year and I’m gonna try to do bear this year and I may try my first out of state bear hunt this year or try it here this year and out of state the next. Thank you for the public land statement I decided to go try to get my first hog very soon.

 

[Trapperkid]

Aside from everything else that’s been said…. Don’t lose sight of the fact that thousands pay thousands every year to hunt Arkansas greenheads as well.

I’ve had some great duck hunts and got to do snow geese last year which was cool although the duck hunting over the last several years has waned terribly.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

While what has been said about guided hunts is true, a little budgeting could have you going on some kind of adventure every few years. I'm a school teacher, married, with 3 kids and have never been on a guided hunt. But my wife loves fishing, so we've made it a point to save about $5,000 each year for the last 2 years so that we can go fish in Alaska for a few days at a self-guided fishing lodge- includes food, fish processing, boat rental, and airfare for both of us.

If my wife didn't enjoy going on these kind of adventures, and I could only save $2000 per year, every 3 or 4 years I would still be able to go on a pretty awesome adventure. Some on my list if I ever quit taking my wife fishing are - DIY caribou hunt, head south to shoot hogs (go hunt out west if I lived in Arkansas), go shoot a few critters in Africa, Canada black bear, Argentina red stag.

I live in the heart of elk and mule deer country, and still struggle to put in the time and effort, with work and family, to tag out on a mature specimen of either species, and am still a little too excited to punch a tag on whatever is legal (but I'm getting better haha). But if I ever get to the point where I'm regularly taking a trophy elk or deer and that gets boring, I just might start on that list instead of fishing... I'll let you know in a decade or two...

 

[Tod osier]

I need some help and I don’t know who better to ask than the guys doing it so here goes. How do you guys achieve the time freedom and the financial freedom to go on these cool hunts. I’m in Arkansas working at a factory I have no kids but I have a wife and a mortgage and I pretty much only get to hunt what’s local to me like whitetail and ducks. I’m looking for adventure.

Good question and good time to be asking the question of what you want your life to look like.

Other than being born rich, you gotta work hard and take risks - that is the consistent trend I see among guys who are living the life. Work hard and earn a lot of money or work hard to earn a lot of time. You can also go the ski bum type route, but I see that biting you in a ass in the long term with you want to retire and don't have a funded retirement and that would get old for a lot of wives. I don't want to denigrate your work and you are probably working hard, but this is a different kind of thing - start a business, have a very specialized trade, be in a position where you can make money beyond the 9-5 grind.

Personally, I worked ******* hard for years at low pay to build my career and in the end was one of the best at what I did AND decided to leverage that effort and compromise my earning potential somewhat to have more free time. I make good money and have a LOT of free time. I was lucky how it all turned out, but I think there is a lot to making your own luck. Just asking the question is positioning yourself to take the next step.

 

[cnelk]

You’re probably wealthier than you realize

 

[Tod osier]

Then, one day I discovered that they were dentists and doctors.

Viable model though... right? Work hard and have a well paying career. Specialized trade or white collar professional job is one of the proven ways to get it done. Owning a successful business seems to be another way. All these take a lot of work.

 

[Ratamahatta]

Imagine driving over 20 hours to go on an out of state hunt, just to find out that the guys you are hunting with are alcoholics and just want to get trashed. I could have done that at the house. One and done for me and I make good money, I could hunt a lot of places. I have a wife and dogs and that's it. Priorities and importance are what's key.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

Start a side hustle. Lots of money to be made out there. If there's a want, there's a way. I wish my crew started doing OOS hunts years ago but now we are in our early 40's and have been to CO twice. I would also push the public land, diy hunts. We aren't shooting monsters but damn its rewarding and not all that expensive. Also, doing a trip with your buddies does help split some of the hunt costs.

 

[Pookie]

I hate the cold but it doesn't stop me, hot balm on my chest and i dress for the occasion and i enjoy the hunt.

 

[tx_shooter]

A lot of it’s just where you are in life too. As a lot of guys get into their late 30’s and 40’s+ they have a lot more disposable income. Dropping 5-10k on a hunt is a lot different for them than if they were in their 20’a still climbing the career ladder.

Is it selfish? Maybe, but at the same time my wife knows it makes me happy and likes to do things for me and I would do the same thing for her talents/hobby’s/interests. Do your homework, talk to your spouse, set a goal, and start setting some money aside each month until it becomes a reality.

A lot of this! Different phases in life where the career is starting to pay off better and the home life is settled in with less surprise expenses. I do things now that I would have only dreamed of 20 years ago. That said; the balance is still budgeting. I have driven a 2001 4Runner for almost 10 years now and a 2006 Tacoma before that. My wife and I spend our money with intent; not trying to impress people.