Rich Man's Sport

[Cowbell]

Guys,

I'm really struggling with where hunting is going. Western Hunting, in particular, is quickly becoming a rich man's game. Do you know that in the state of Texas - you can almost not afford to hunt if you are a low income household. Between the lack of public land, cost of private land, and insane lease prices - it's absolutely a rich man's sport. And im not talking about for places to kill giants. Where I live, 5K/gun will get you a lease where you are allowed one whitetail that will score 135-150. As tag prices across states with public land quickly rise, I fear for my kids opportunities. They shouldn't have to move to a western state to be able to afford to hunt.

Where have gone the days of hunting with brothers and fathers and not having to spend a life savings to do so. Is that not getting ridiculous. To harvest food that is God-given to our society to cherish as nutrition yet is it carries the price tag of a Kings table fare. What are we going to do to slow this madness? What are possible solutions?

 

[jofes]

You believe you have a right to the game animals in another state at an affordable rate?

 

[ddd-shooter]

Are you in Texas? Look up 4progeny. Buying land to turn it public. Habitat loss is the single biggest issue hunters face. Second is the push for more hunters, which is insane to me.

 

[FLATHEAD]

I agree, and find myself fishing more.
Hunting Access is becoming harder and harder to find.
And much more $$$$

 

[Billy Goat]

a lease where you are allowed one whitetail that will score 135-150.

Where I'm at, that's considered a giant by most.


Access is, has, and will always be an issue. It at least puts a value on open space tho, there's value to having the opportunity to hunt. I get pissed at the guys who will a spend several hundred on clothes, a grand for some mobile hunting setup, and multiple thousands on their ( insert weapon "system"), then bitch about farmers not just letting them hunt. You clearly think there's a value to it, but you don't think the land where you hunt has value, or you just want to look cool.



I'm biased of course, but I hear all kinds of grumbling from people who clearly don't understand what goes into owning ground, and also don't seem to respect it.



Overcrowding, it's hurt all kinds of things. And in reality the overcrowding of public lands is the least of the problems, it's resources in general.

 

[Warmsy]

Giving extra value to open land is a really good point. Never thought about it that way before.

 

[Wrench]

There's many reasons to live in a particular state. Some of us do it for different reasons. I hate my state's politics, but we still have decent hunting and fishing. I pay a grand and some change to hunt Idaho and a couple hundred to hunt my home state.

People always ask me why I pay for Idaho. The truth is that I like to hunt. If I break it down to hours per dollar, Idaho beats my home state.

If I break it down to animals per dollar.....it's a bust.

All about perspective.

If you want to make more money, do it. If you want to hunt more, do it. I made very little money for the beginning of my hunting career and still did very well. I slept in a tent, drove very little and saved everywhere I could.

Today I still have never purchased a new vehicle, own everything outright and hunt at least 90 days a year.

You gotta celebrate your successes not compare them to others and if you are not finding the success you want.....fix it.

Comparing situations with some of the gear whores on this site will make you feel pretty poor. Really all you need is a single weapon and proficiency with it. Make time to use it and get it done.

 

[Reburn]

Guys,

I'm really struggling with where hunting is going. Western Hunting, in particular, is quickly becoming a rich man's game. Do you know that in the state of Texas - you can almost not afford to hunt if you are a low income household. Between the lack of public land, cost of private land, and insane lease prices - it's absolutely a rich man's sport. And im not talking about for places to kill giants. Where I live, 5K/gun will get you a lease where you are allowed one whitetail that will score 135-150. As tag prices across states with public land quickly rise, I fear for my kids opportunities. They shouldn't have to move to a western state to be able to afford to hunt.

Where have gone the days of hunting with brothers and fathers and not having to spend a life savings to do so. Is that not getting ridiculous. To harvest food that is God-given to our society to cherish as nutrition yet is it carries the price tag of a Kings table fare. What are we going to do to slow this madness? What are possible solutions?

In the US food was subsidized specifically to be cheap to the masses.

If you think it’s expensive now wait until all the subsidies are gone and y’all have to pay for food what it costs to produce.
A whole lot of people better get comfortable eating trash panda, rabbits and rodent.

Hunting food was not meant to subsidize the population as a whole nor is it a right.

I can't blame a rancher trying to make his property make money so he can afford to live. Since the commodity markets are fixed because of the above reasons it leaves him less opputunities to make a living.

 

[Brillo]

I do believe I have a right to hunt public land in another state at a reasonable rate. Is that more unreasonable than those states with public land (esp US land) raping out of state hunters? The end of that game may well be a new federal approach to land management. Why not? We have nationalized education, healthcare and many other activities that used to be the sole responsibility of the states.

 

[Reburn]

I do believe I have a right to hunt public land in another state at a reasonable rate. Is that more unreasonable than those states with public land (esp US land) raping out of state hunters? The end of that game may well be a new federal approach to land management. Why not? We have nationalized education, healthcare and many other activities that used to be the sole responsibility of the states.

Its super simple.
You can do what you want on the land within regulations.
The state owns the animals and can do what they want with them. (outside any animals govenered by the ESA)
You dont have the right to the animals on the land. full stop.

 

[Wrench]

I do believe I have a right to hunt public land in another state at a reasonable rate. Is that more unreasonable than those states with public land (esp US land) raping out of state hunters? The end of that game may well be a new federal approach to land management. Why not? We have nationalized education, healthcare and many other activities that used to be the sole responsibility of the states.

This has been hashed out in court already.

I have a hard time with Wyoming requiring a guide in wilderness areas....I get states managing animals, but land access is not acceptable in my perspective. Public is public.

 

[Billy Goat]

I do believe I have a right to hunt public land in another state at a reasonable rate. Is that more unreasonable than those states with public land (esp US land) raping out of state hunters? The end of that game may well be a new federal approach to land management. Why not? We have nationalized education, healthcare and many other activities that used to be the sole responsibility of the states.

I more or less agree, without the land, there's no animals. It's complicated tho, then there's also court decisions which have already decided it. So, at this point it's what it is.

 

[dirtytough]

Its super simple.
You can do what you want on the land within regulations.
The state owns the animals and can do what they want with them.
You dont have the right to the animals on the land. full stop.

Look what’s been happening in Alaska. The feds are setting rules on who and how.

 

[MuleyFever]

Left WI 12 years ago because the access to hunting land was just getting so hard. Moved out west to hunt more and have access to public land. Its been great but its starting to get to where access to tags is now the main issue I see. Draw odds are getting long. A general deer tag here in UT is not a yearly thing anymore. Im waiting to draw my goat tag then it may be time to start looking at moving again for more hunting opportunity.

 

[bsnedeker]

I do believe I have a right to hunt public land in another state at a reasonable rate. Is that more unreasonable than those states with public land (esp US land) raping out of state hunters? The end of that game may well be a new federal approach to land management. Why not? We have nationalized education, healthcare and many other activities that used to be the sole responsibility of the states.

You can believe whatever you want, but that doesn't change reality. You can mention all of the horrible things our federal government has done to education and healthcare and say you want them to do the same horrible things to managing animals...lol, I can't even respond to that! Hope you only enjoy hunting every 4 to 8 years when Republicans are in office!

And, my dude, you absolutely can come out to any western state and hunt for reasonable prices. You can hunt cows and does and small game and birds and have yourself a wonderful time and go home with plenty of meat for the freezer.... but let me guess: that isn't good enough for you, is it? You want antlers and you want them cheap. That's what this always boils down to.... it's ridiculous.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk

 

[wyosteve]

You may not be able to do the hunts you want to do, but that doesn't mean you can't find small game, birds, etc. where you live. I can't afford a Ferrari, but I can still drive a Chevy. Life is not equal for everyone.

 

[Sam Colt]

$40 gets me hunting access to over a million acres of public land in Texas. Are there rules? Yes. Is it easy to hunt? Not always. Can I take my sons and create memories? You bet.

So, then, Is it worth it? Heck yeah!

 

[Reburn]

Look what’s been happening in Alaska. The feds are setting rules on who and how.

I know its been changing. I dont know where it will end up. I'm not informed enough to know where I stand on it.

 

[Reburn]

You want antlers and you want them cheap. That's what this always boils down to.... it's ridiculous.

There are ranches that have MLD permits that have to shoot does every year. My buddies place they have to shoot 43 does this year. You cant hardly get anybody down there to clean their does for their meat. People really dont want the meat. Almost all of it ends up going to churches and food banks.

 

[Brillo]

I reviewed my prior post and see no no judgement as to weather or not I think federal regulation of state lands is a good or bad idea. Just that I consider it a right to hunt at reasonable prices. If the western states are not careful about their policies they may well find politically strong states taking a look at what is happening and thinking about it. I also recall that the US Department of Education was initiated under Ronal Regan of all people. The atmosphere around DC is far more socialist today than during the 80s.