Blue Collar Hunter

[sheffie76]

Hey guys I am new to the forum. I wanted to ask a question. How is a hard working blue collar worker supposed to be able to afford to pay $3000 to go mule deer hunting in Montana or $5000 to bear hunt in Alaska? I am an avid outdoorsman and love to hunt but it is getting so expensive to go any where. I would love to be able to mule deer hunt in Colorado but it is outrageous to think a blue collar hunter could afford it. For the last 5 years I have been hunting exotics in Texas and every year the price has gone up. As much as I hate to say this, the outfitters are pricing things so high that they are pricing the blue collar hunter out of the market.

[Tim Andrus]

Sheffie
I dont want to pay that either or i wont . Anyway , thats how my hobby of DIY hunts started . I do seminars on what states are big buck states, public or private land , tags and so on . Its like a challenge to me to go to Montana , pay a trespass fee , scout , hunt and try and kill a good deer in a week. Sometimes you do ...sometimes you dont I think Im at 35 diy hunts across the USA in the past years . Sure Ive eaten some tags but Ive killed some good bucks as well . You need to start planning at xmas time for next year and it turns into a year long process. If you like pm me and we'll talk and see if I can get you started.
tim

[HOYTnMUZZYboy]

First off welcome to the forum! Secondly, Tim is a great guy and he wont lead you in the wrong direction. He has alot of great advice. As far as your post goes dont even get me started haha.

[stevebeilgard]

welcome to the forums. tim gave you some great advice. also, check the states out with lots of public land. wyoming & colorado should be on the top of your list. good hunting, reasonable prices, and no guides required.

[GWSmith]

Welcome to the forums!
I remembered seeing this while watching the Eastmans Hunting Journal TV Show. They have a special section in thier magazine that comes out periodically they call the Members Research Supplement.
If I remember correctly they have a section of it where they reccomend the best areas for DIY/Public Land hunts and also information on Tags for different areas.
I found this on thier website:
http://www.eastmans.com/mrs.php

[ildrhntr]

Welcome to the forum. I think most of us who are "Blue Collar" understand where you are coming from.

[dbHunterNY]

I'm in a position where I can't regardless of the money. I have a new job and simply can't take time off yet. I've got to wait a year. You were talking about cheaper guided hunts too. A brown bear hunt in Alaska is more like $18K. DIYs are possible and I'm sure you'll have more than enough info to get you started after talking with Tim.

Good luck,

Dan

[BusterBoy]

Welcome

I'll add one more , I don't see how most folks can pay $900.00 for a bow . I had to tell my wife that my new PSE Whitetail Extreme for $299.00 would be my birthday and Christmas present . Matthews and Hoyt was out of the question .

[Michiganbowhunter_SQ2]

To me, a DIY would be the only way to go. You may not fill your tag every time. But get you and a few friends and/or family members and set up camp somewhere for a week or so sounds like a good time. To me deer camp is a tradition I'll never forget, not just because of the hunts, but the memories that are made every year. To be able to carry that feeling and the good times over to a DIY hunt in a state we have never hunted for an animal we have never hunted would be a great experience without the feeling of HAVING to fill a tag because of the price you paid for it.

[Flintlock1776]

you don't. Unless you save for a once in a life time deal.

[birdhunter39]

welcome to the forums , i hunt public land , my uncles farms , and a hunt club for my pheasants ( pen raised ) , this past spring i did a pheasant hunt , i bought 60 birds for a 4 hour hunt for half the price of a wild pheasant hunt in SD . i still love wild pheasant hunting but it's getting harder to find wild birds , even at the farms i hunt ( I'm the only one who hunts there ) . he also has woods and 3 ponds on the hunt club where i hunt for wild deer , rabbit , waterfowl , doves . or what you can do is talk to a member here get to know them to see if you can hunt with them . good luck and as always happy hunting .

[Adjam5]

I think most of us who are "Blue Collar" understand where you are coming from.

Welcome to the forums Sheffie.

I agree, I bust my butt and get dirty for my check everyday. But When you save up for something, it kind of makes a bit more special. I hope to hunt Alaska one day. But I guess thats what makes those hunts once in a lifetime hunts.

[wyohunter]

first, welcome to the forums...... the do it yourself hunt is the only way you can do those hunts on a budget... did you know that around 40% of wyoming is public land... thats right, just do some home work on what you want to hunt, where you would like to draw a tag, and apply.... good luck

dan

[crazylegz70]

Here is an example for ya. I went on the Antelope hunt this year in Wy. It cost me a month's income, but I talked to a guy at the local sporting good store and now I have a place to pheasant hunt in South Dakota. I also got an invite to mule deer hunt in Wyoming. You just have to know people. its alot like business. Its all networking with other people...