How do you guys go on these cool hunts?

[fngTony]

If you have even a decent local economy go find a way to make money while you can. It’s almost covid slow economy around me right now so very little opportunities. That way if a recession hits your area you have the means and time to go hunt.

 

[Rokbar]

Make your on cool hunt in Arkansas! I have been fortunate to go deer hunting to Montana and Wyoming. But I enjoy the rut in NC more than anywhere else.

 

[Mr. October]

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.

Smart choice. Throwing financial responsibility aside to pursue hunting is a world class dumb decision. People see what Lee Lakosky did and think it was a good decision. 99% of the time that isn't working out.

I've done a few hunts over the years. Like anything else, you just have to find a way to scrimp and save here and there. And then shop around. Don't just go with the cheapest deal on the cheapest trip. You will almost certainly be disappointed. And don't plan on running out every year.

 

[loganwayne]

Me personally I stuck my head down and built my career. Im 34 now have a position that I make good money and enough freedom to go if I want, also means I have to say no to some trips to keep things running. Married, house and a 1 year old.

Biggest difference in me and my piers that are in similar positions, they have 750-million dollar houses and drive new vechicles every year. We live in a 1300sf farm house that was left to us and I gutted and redid for 150k. My wifes car is paid for and mine will be this year. Both are 2019s. We are living well below the level we could be but also dont have ourself leveraged to the max.

 

[Rich M]

Yeah, I didn't mean to come off as angry. Better to have the money than not.

My wife has her own health concerns that can prevent her from tagging along even on scouting and shed hunting hikes. She might come out mushrooming with me this spring and I'd be happy to have her along.

You came across fine - was something I could relate to, 100%.

It is always better when the wives come along.

 

[Kernal1985]

Me personally I stuck my head down and built my career. Im 34 now have a position that I make good money and enough freedom to go if I want, also means I have to say no to some trips to keep things running. Married, house and a 1 year old.

Biggest difference in me and my piers that are in similar positions, they have 750-million dollar houses and drive new vechicles every year. We live in a 1300sf farm house that was left to us and I gutted and redid for 150k. My wifes car is paid for and mine will be this year. Both are 2019s. We are living well below the level we could be but also dont have ourself leveraged to the max.

This is the way, lots of people get wants and needs confused. Live within your means and make it a priority to set aside some money. If you still find yourself coming up short find a way to make more money whether it’s a job change or a side hustle, make a plan and stick to it. And don’t forget to involve your spouse and kids in the planning. I’d love to use every second of my vacation to be hunting out of state but I’d be divorced, lol.

 

[Dos Perros]

I'm gonna keep her.

So what I do is...when I want to do something and my wife doesn't want me to do it...I ask myself "is she willing to leave me over this?" and if the answer is no then I do it anyway. This is how you build trust to do the things she doesn't want you to do.

 

[S.Clancy]

So what I do is...when I want to do something and my wife doesn't want me to do it...I ask myself "is she willing to leave me over this?" and if the answer is no then I do it anyway. This is how you build trust to do the things she doesn't want you to do.

This is the way. I'm always shocked at the number of men that let their wives completely rule their life.

If you are legitimately putting in work in the off season and not a degenerate drinker/smoker/gambler/womanizer there should be no reason you can't get after some cool hunting/wilderness opportunities in the fall.

For those saying "my wife doesn't want me going solo", to me that sounds like you don't want to go solo and you are using your wife as an excuse. Get an InReach and some skills and get after it.

 

[White Falcon]

Keep this in mind for next year. " The Javelina Hunt." Youcan bring your wife if you want, lots of woman go. https://thejavelinahunt.com/
Great hunt for $300.00

 

[justinspicher]

Live in a place with better opportunities. I live where I hunt, that really helps. Being able to get out all year makes a huge difference. Resident fees vs NR fees are huge.

Hunting is like life, it’s what you make of it. If all you do is compare your situation to everyone else you’ll just be miserable. Figure out what you want and get after it.

 

[Mr. October]

Me personally I stuck my head down and built my career. Im 34 now have a position that I make good money and enough freedom to go if I want, also means I have to say no to some trips to keep things running. Married, house and a 1 year old.

Biggest difference in me and my piers that are in similar positions, they have 750-million dollar houses and drive new vechicles every year. We live in a 1300sf farm house that was left to us and I gutted and redid for 150k. My wifes car is paid for and mine will be this year. Both are 2019s. We are living well below the level we could be but also dont have ourself leveraged to the max.

That's how to do it. You'll be in much better shape than your peers if the bottom falls out of things like 2008.

 

[Dos Perros]

For those saying "my wife doesn't want me going solo", to me that sounds like you don't want to go solo and you are using your wife as an excuse. Get an InReach and some skills and get after it.

You can start small! Take a summer fishing trip. Fly to Bozeman and rent a car and piddle around fishing on your own. Learn to navigate and exist without a Winn Dixie across the street. Layer in some hike-in stuff. When you come home with some pictures and a smile and lessons learned you demonstrate your ability to not die (which, to my knowledge, we have all demonstrated to this point).

 

[Duckhunterbrad]

I wish the OP would give us a little more background on what he currently does and his abilities to branch out into other lines of work. In today's world, a young man with a great work ethic is a highly desired commodity in the workplace! However, I do recognize that it's easy to get down on yourself and lose sight of what is out there for opportunities. Take a moment and honestly reflect on your abilities and identify what you do best, exploit those abilities! I would caution against going the youtube route right away, to do it at any level takes a tremendous amount of time and equipment that you most likely don't have the money for now. For quick money, use that strong back!

 

[loganwayne]

This is the way, lots of people get wants and needs confused. Live within your means and make it a priority to set aside some money. If you still find yourself coming up short find a way to make more money whether it’s a job change or a side hustle, make a plan and stick to it. And don’t forget to involve your spouse and kids in the planning. I’d love to use every second of my vacation to be hunting out of state but I’d be divorced, lol.

Oh I still have my wants. But instead of going and buying a new 125000 boat I went and bought an older one. I still have toys they just aren't brand new

 

[IDVortex]

Oh yea self employment.. All the free time in the world that way

I had better time off (paid time off) working for a local public road department then I do working for myself. With less stress.


OP. Want a job with a better chance of PTO? Look into goverment jobs, firefighting or LE. Or even become a nurse.

The other thing ive started to do, is it might not be able to afford to do some hunts, and im waiting to draw my OIL tag for some species, I do some volunteer work for the RMGA so I can still chase the animals, and be in the country they are in. Even if I dont get to kill one.

As many and I mean many have said.

Comparison is theft of joy.

Move to AK if you want a better opportunity to hunt exotics. Thats what I would do right now, but I dont want a divorce so im choosing my wife over Goats and Sheep. And moose.

 

[AZDC]

Oh I still have my wants. But instead of going and buying a new 125000 boat I went and bought an older one. I still have toys they just aren't brand new

This is how I am now. Classifieds scavenger, it almost feels wrong to buy anything that’s not on sale or used. Shoot I even pick out the discount stickered eggs lol.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I had better time off (paid time off) working for a local public road department then I do working for myself. With less stress.

It has its own rewards. But just locking the door for a month or so...Thats a hard thing to do

 

[IDVortex]

It has its own rewards. But just locking the door for a month or so...Thats a hard thing to do

As a single employee of my business, the complete max i could do is 2 weeks. But goal is to try to hire 2 guys this year, if I can pull that off, ill be messing more with sales and admin to where I could go longer.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'm in the same boat. I take one week off to hunt/screw off. And then try to skip out for a day every few months

 

[Shadowbuck]

There are actually a surprising number of hunts you can go on that aren’t crazy expensive. I’ve been lucky enough to hunt most of the western states and Alaska multiple times—but they’ve all been DIY hunts. At this point, that’s honestly how I prefer to do it.
It really comes down to priorities. I can’t tell you how many times people have asked me how I afford out-of-state tags… and then I see they’re driving a brand-new $80k+ truck with $1,000-a-month payments. Drive an older truck. Don’t buy the biggest house on the block. It’s all trade-offs.
I’d also recommend everyone have some kind of side hustle. It’s really not that hard to make an extra $3–5k a year. That’s your western hunt right there—or save for a couple years and go on a big trip. The best part? You’re not putting financial pressure on your family for your hunting. I look at my side hustles like a game I get to play instead of sitting around watching TV.
Now, sure—if you really want to save money, not having kids definitely helps. But my kids are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, so I wouldn’t change that for anything. And honestly, nothing beats sharing the outdoors with them.
For most people, these bigger trips don’t happen until later in life. You might be surprised what you can afford in your 40s and 50s if you plan well and stay consistent.
It also helps to choose a career that gives you time off and flexibility—nurse, doctor, pilot, firefighter, aircraft mechanic, etc. There are a lot of solid paths out there that make adventure more doable.
And sometimes you can experience incredible hunts without paying full price. I helped out on a Dall sheep hunt in Alaska a couple years ago, and it was an amazing experience. It also made me realize it’s not something I personally need to spend $40k on—even though I’m at a point in life where I technically could.
Work hard. Be patient. Make deliberate choices about what matters to you. I don’t think it’s selfish to have passions. In fact, I think a lot of people end up unhappy because they never chase their dreams—whatever those dreams are. That kind of regret can turn into resentment over time.
You can provide for your family and still live a life you’re excited about. It just takes intention.
I also personally refuse to live somewhere I don't love, life is to short.