Loaning out equipment.

Maki35

WKR
Joined
Aug 21, 2020
Messages
410
I've stop lending stuff out... too many times, I had to ask for my stuff back or received it back damaged.
I don't know about where he lives but most LGS around here carry most hunting cartridges, it's just that he'll be paying top $$ for it. Maybe next time he'll plan ahead.
 

CorbLand

WKR
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Messages
7,961
I would to close friends and family if they needed it.

I would never lend out a gun.

There are two things you don't lend out in this world, your gun or your wife. Its in that order because you have a better chance of getting your wife back.
 

Traveler

WKR
Joined
Dec 20, 2020
Messages
386
Do you guys loan out hunting equipment to people? I have a friend whose family has 6 deer tags, (dad and two boys). I asked if they have enough ammo and their answer was, "Enough if I don't sight in the gun." I have enough hunting rifles that I could borrow them one and ammo so they could hunt and know that they are going to hit where they aim. They obviously did not plan ahead of time and buy ammo, they have always been the type to just buy a couple boxes from Walmart before season start.

Does anyone have experience with loaning out equipment to their friends? I imagine there are plenty of horror stories of things turning sideways.
Did they actually ask to borrow anything? If they didn’t ask this is a super easy decision.
 

BuzzH

WKR
Joined
May 27, 2017
Messages
2,228
Location
Wyoming
I loan stuff out quite often, its just stuff.

Stuff breaks, could be me that breaks it, could be the person I loan it to. It happens and its not a big deal.

I loaned my truck to a guy and his dad that I ran into deer hunting a number of years ago. I just got to the parking spot to hike in, where I planned to stay backpack into, and they were there with a truck with a dead battery. They asked if I would drive them back to town for a new battery...no way was I doing that, I only had 4-5 days to hunt and wasn't wasting time playing taxi.

So, I gave the guy my keys, said go to town get your battery, take your Dad home and when you get back just leave the keys under this rock right here where I can find them.

He said how do you know I'm not going to steal your truck? I said, well are you? He said, of course not. So I said what's the problem?

I got back 3-4 days later, with one of my best mule deer bucks and of course my truck was right there, the keys were under the rock, gas tank was obviously filled and the guy left a $20 on the seat (which was nice but not necessary).

Its just stuff...worse case scenario something gets broken...big deal.
 

ODB

WKR
Joined
Mar 24, 2016
Messages
4,027
Location
N.F.D.
I loan stuff out quite often, its just stuff.

Stuff breaks, could be me that breaks it, could be the person I loan it to. It happens and its not a big deal.

I loaned my truck to a guy and his dad that I ran into deer hunting a number of years ago. I just got to the parking spot to hike in, where I planned to stay backpack into, and they were there with a truck with a dead battery. They asked if I would drive them back to town for a new battery...no way was I doing that, I only had 4-5 days to hunt and wasn't wasting time playing taxi.

So, I gave the guy my keys, said go to town get your battery, take your Dad home and when you get back just leave the keys under this rock right here where I can find them.

He said how do you know I'm not going to steal your truck? I said, well are you? He said, of course not. So I said what's the problem?

I got back 3-4 days later, with one of my best mule deer bucks and of course my truck was right there, the keys were under the rock, gas tank was obviously filled and the guy left a $20 on the seat (which was nice but not necessary).

Its just stuff...worse case scenario something gets broken...big deal.

Funny - reminds me of a story of a couple friends who were driving through rural texas. tHey stopped in at a small cafe out in the middle of nowhere to get something to eat - they had just closed and the owner was walking out the door - they chatted for a bit. The owner went back in the restaurant, grabbed a few things, heated it up and made up some plates. The owner told them when they were done to please wash the dishes and put them in the rack, and also lock the door and put the keys in the mailbox. Owner left and went home, and my friends did as he said.

true story.
 
Last edited:

mlgc20

WKR
Joined
Oct 29, 2018
Messages
1,192
Location
DFW, TX
I loan out my hunting, camping, and golf equipment all the time. (Pretty much everything I own falls into one of those categories.) Granted, it they just ask for a tent, I’m more likely to give them a random Marmot or REI tent, than my Zpacks Triplex. But if a friend actually knows what a Triplex is and asks to borrow it, they are welcome to it. We have loaned our vehicles out countless times to overseas missionaries from our church who happen to be back in the States for something.

The one thing I don’t loan out is money. If a friend or family member needs help, I will do what I can financially. But, it’s going to be in the form of a gift instead of a loan. I’ve just seen too many examples of folks losing relationships over money.
 

Button

WKR
Joined
Oct 14, 2020
Messages
391
Location
Tx
Depends.
My best few friends and brothers I would let them borrow something. They all treat equipment well and have the means/integrity to replace if it’s broken or lost. Not many situations they would need to borrow a gun seeing how they have plenty.

One of them has a few of my surf fishing rods right now that I let him borrow. Since they are backups rods I’m not in a rush to get them back.
 

Rich M

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2017
Messages
5,596
Location
Orlando
We used to loan stuff back and forth with some folks we knew well.

ive had things go missing and don’t loan stuff much any more.

min your case I’d give em some ammo and let em roll w that.
 

Reburn

Mayhem Contributor
Joined
Feb 10, 2019
Messages
3,467
Location
Central Texas
Ive loaned stuff out. Try to not do it too much anymore. Loaned my range finder out one year bout a decade ago. Had to been to one of my brothers. 3 guys say they didnt borrow it.

I will still loan stuff out but they got to be pretty good friends and we have the talk first. You break it or scratch it you own it. Here is what it costs. Do you still want to borrow it?
 

aaronmn

FNG
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
27
I don't do too much. I try not to borrow other's gear, as I hate being on the hook if I break or ruin the item.

Sent from my SM-N960U1 using Tapatalk
 
Joined
May 6, 2018
Messages
9,759
Location
Shenandoah Valley
I loaned a gun to a guy last year for an out of state hunt. One thing he asked me was if he needed to cover the scope in the rain. I told him you better not need to.

Fast forward to second day of his hunt, pouring rain and the scope takes on moisture. I think he was pretty panicked. I didn't know about it for a few days, I wished he had told me as soon as it happened. I know that he wasn't doing anything to it that I wouldn't have done. Once I got the gun back I pulled the scope and he paid the postage for it to go to manufacturer, I didn't feel like he needed to do that, but he felt like it was least he could do.

Two weeks later I got a brand new scope. Nothing about the scenario bothered me, he is a good friend. I asked him this year about borrowing it and he said Hell No!!


I don't lend stuff to everyone, but a lot of stuff. I get most of it back. Normally starts with little stuff, work your way up to the bigger items.
Glad someone gets to use it, that's what it's for.



No, it wasn't a Vortex.
 

Phaseolus

WKR
Joined
Feb 25, 2018
Messages
1,384
I loaned two tree stands to a young Man who had worked (and done a good job) for me two years ago. I’ve asked for them back several times without luck.
 

lak2004

WKR
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Messages
1,836
Location
SW CO
Do you guys loan out hunting equipment to people? I have a friend whose family has 6 deer tags, (dad and two boys). I asked if they have enough ammo and their answer was, "Enough if I don't sight in the gun." I have enough hunting rifles that I could borrow them one and ammo so they could hunt and know that they are going to hit where they aim. They obviously did not plan ahead of time and buy ammo, they have always been the type to just buy a couple boxes from Walmart before season start.

Does anyone have experience with loaning out equipment to their friends? I imagine there are plenty of horror stories of things turning sideways.
I loaned my pack, an old pair of boots, bugle tube, and various other stuff to a friend who just started hunting. He killed a nice bull solo with a 4 mile pack out. He was very thankful to have my exo pack.....I just said, take care of this stuff please or you'll have to buy me brand new stuff. He did. All good. If they seem trustworthy, go for it. If they are shady, nah.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
 

OMB

WKR
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
Messages
348
I'm sort of at the point where if it's under say, $100, I'll either just give a piece of gear to somebody asking to borrow it or buy it for them if they're a close friend or family member that I hunt with. I've found that if it's something I'm looking to do with more people, it helps to motivate them to get more involved. For example, a couple of my friends have wanted to start to plan hunts out of state, so I bought them Huntin Fool subscriptions to start reading up on different draw processes and what's available in each state. Now we're working on planning our second and third hunts together.

I also have been lucky to have a family member that's done everything twice and will send new pieces of gear or lend me various things to both assist him in evaluation and help myself figure out what I like and dial my system for some upcoming adventure hunts. I'd like to think in 20 or 30 years, I'll be doing the same for a few young guys.
 

thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
Joined
Jul 2, 2016
Messages
11,275
Location
Alaska
It really sort of chaps my ass when people who I know can easily afford the gear want to borrow it from me. I have a solid gear stash and some of my coworkers know it. Guys asking for snowshoes, backpacks, tents…go buy your own.
 

OMB

WKR
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
Messages
348
It really sort of chaps my ass when people who I know can easily afford the gear want to borrow it from me. I have a solid gear stash and some of my coworkers know it. Guys asking for snowshoes, backpacks, tents…go buy your own.
Even worse is the hunting dog-less friend that has a lapdog breed and suggests "we should go pheasant next weekend with your dog." Better be a really great friend to ask me that one.
 
Top