I work in a market of construction that caters to extremely wealthy people. Most pay cash. So it is somewhat insulated from things like 2008 happening again, not that it cant. But we are also very close to a point where if it happens I could go work at Walmart and make ends meet. Wouldn't be doing what we do now but could easily survive.
This industry has gotten very expensive and door knocking has fewer and fewer results due to leasing agencies. It's officially a pay-to-play world now unless you have access to some good public land. I've hunted some amazing public land in Ohio with views and experiences that you would pay a lot of money for if guided.
Yep, until this year when the prices got jacked up, I could buy a combo elk-deer-bear-cougar for $96. Now I think it's about $138. Still pretty cheap. All OTC with some limitations, spike elk only on the east side and 3 point min on mule deer. All cool hunts to me with my buddies.
Dirt cheap compared to out of state. I'll spend more than that on fuel just to get to the Mississippi.
Yes, I realized a few years ago I could buy all my permits here in WA, plus 3 in Mo and 1 in WI for less than 1 deer tag in MT. I don't hunt in MT anymore.
I feel like that will always be a lot of money to me. I am 8 years almost nine into business. I have a friend/mentor that is 23 years into business in the same industry. He makes enough that it isn't a lot of money to him any more. He still remembers when he didn't have any money. The first truck I bought for business was $5k. I asked him if I was stupid to not just buy a truck with a warranty and make payments. I could afford it. He said to me, "Do you know the best kind of truck?" I said, "I'm not sure I do." He said, "Paid for."
You beat me to it. People that have no morals or ethics have no business being married. A lot of those people work construction. If you run a construction company based on morals and ethics and the premise of underpromising and over delivering you can do pretty well. I'm not very smart, or hardworking, but I manage to get it done. Also, I have been with the same woman for nearly 20 years and our relationship is solid. It is downright disheartening to see people speak about women in the tone of the poster above.
We moved and retired. Like you, I could not fathom taking off two weeks, going across the country to hunt, nevermind pay for a guide. So at age 54 we said screw it, Massachusetts blows, the people there blow and the hunting and fishing blows. Life is too short, we are getting old and only have so many years left where our bodies will be able take the physical abuse.
Peterk123 makes a good point I forgot. Makes it a lot easier when the spouse is hunting and fishing with ya all year.We moved and retired. Like you, I could not fathom taking off two weeks, going across the country to hunt, nevermind pay for a guide. So at age 54 we said screw it, Massachusetts blows, the people there blow and the hunting and fishing blows. Life is too short, we are getting old and only have so many years left where our bodies will be able take the physical abuse.
Best decision of our lives. Even our kids came out here. I have lived a lifetime during the past five years. And it's practically free. I had a spectacular year this past season. Beautiful bull elk on bow opener. My first antelope buck. My first bear. I could drop dead tomorrow and have zero regrets
We are also in the best health of our lives. We are much happier together. Ya, we earn much less, but we also require much less. You need to get to a certain point in life to make a major change but the tradeoffs are worth it. Well being trumps everything. And for us hunting is a huge part of that. I'm actually amazed at what a huge part of our lives it is today. We are not hard core backcountry, it's gotta hurt, trophy hunters. We are meat hunters so it's become part of our daily life. We now hunt year round. Just got a rabbit the other night. I will be chasing coyote tonight.
Funny thing. My wife never hunted. Then wanted to try it three years ago. She had been shooting for years though. First time out she was hooked. This year she came on every single hunt, except archery. She got the largest deer this household has ever seen this year!
Appreciate you saying it.
I doubt ill ever have the funds to go on a super expensive hunt. Mainly due to im the primary bread winner. But with that said, id take the life that my wife and I have over anything. Even with all of our very very dark low spots we've dealt with, id rather have this then a 50k Sheep hunt.
