Making the Current Economy Work for Your Hunting
Feature Story by CHESTER MOORE
LISTEN: (5 min, 27 sec)
HUNTING AIN’T CHEAP. This is especially true in Texas where 97 percent of the land is privately owned and instead of getting a public hunting permit or special tag to hunt, you have to pay for a season lease, day lease or an outfitter to take you hunting.
There’s nothing wrong with those things but once again-it ain’t cheap.
Here are some ways to make for good hunts even when your next decision probably won’t be which stock portfolio best suits your needs.
TARGET SMALL GAME: Hunting rabbits and squirrels almost seems like a lost art in Texas.
We’re so deer-centric that it’s easy to lose sight of what probably started us hunting to begin with. Public lands throughout Texas have ample, high-quality small game opportunities and they can not only be fun but can help you score good meat for the table.
Also, it’s a lot more likely you will talk the landowner next door into allowing you to come over with your daughter and your shotgun to bag some rabbits than asking if you can shoot the big buck you’ve been seeing in their field.
TRADE OUTS: Several of our points will involve the use of social media and it begins here. Maybe you have a brush-clearing business. Post on some hunting groups on social media or even simply on your profile you would be willing to trade work for hunting opportunities.
I know someone who has done some interior work and got to hunt deer in several states because of it.
And maybe you have access to a private fishing lake for example. Trade out a chance to fish with you there for a deer hunt, a duck hunt or a turkey hunt.
SOCIAL MEDIA SALES: Join as many hunting groups as you can, and you will see many “flash” sales for hunting opportunities.
One Texas hunter got to bag a 1,200 pound bison for $900 because the rancher was trying to get rid of them due to conflicts with other animals. You will often see cancellations of hunts where an outfitter might be stuck in a situation where you can save bucks.
Free-ranging aoudad, axis and other abundant exotics may be an alternative to overpriced deer hunts. Hunters could also consider bartering work on exotic ranches for a chance to hunt some of these animals.
(Photos: Adobe)
There are quite a few exotic hunting opportunities that come from this situation where people for example might have an issue with aoudad tearing up their deer feeders and they decide they’re not worth messing with anymore. If you keep your eyes out for deals, many of them will be exotic hunting.
HUNT POOLS: We’re all familiar with the idea of carpooling. Hunt pooling is a thing as well.
Sometimes ranches offer great package deals for a group of four and a group of three can’t find a reliable person to step in. This could be you!
You can also look for deals for group discounts and put together hunting pools for your dream hunt.
HUNTING RANCH WORK: There are a surprising amount of hunters who only use outfitters that never clean their game.
If you live near a hunting ranch, you could strike a deal with an outfitter or rancher to come in and skin and clean game for the opportunity to hunt.
You might also find yourself doing some assistant guiding which would likely give you even more opportunities. A well-run outfitting service or hunting ranch needs lots of help and you could be the one that provides that. You just need to be bold and ask around.
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Also, you need to be specific in terms of what you want in return and it is helplful to put it on paper if you can. It’s not like some of these folks haven’t been unethical over the years. Most are great but more than a few are squirrely.
If you run into one who promises the moon, move on.
CAMP INSTEAD OF LODGING: Rather than staying in hotels or cabins, consider camping at your hunting location. Many public lands and parks offer low-cost or even free camping options. If you already own camping gear, this can be a great way to save on lodging. Plus, camping immerses you in the hunting environment and gives you a more rugged, authentic experience.
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USE AFFORDABLE GEAR: Hunting gear can be expensive, but you can save by buying second-hand or borrowing from friends and family. Prioritize essential items like a good rifle or bow and look for deals or discounts online or at local sporting goods stores. Maintaining your equipment well can also reduce long-term costs by preventing the need for frequent replacements.
LAST MINUTE DEALS: As deer and waterfowl seasons come to a close you can find last minute deals.
Sometimes guides don’t meet their quotas or ranches haven’t taken enough deer for their management programs and if you keep an eye on social media groups or subscribe to ranch/outfitter newsletters you might find some great deals in the last days of the season.
You just need to be ready to move fast.
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As you can see there are plenty of ways to make the economy work for you when it comes to hunting.
Hunters just need to realize they need to keep their focus on the goals and aspirations at focus for them and their families and not compare themselves to social media stars, many of whom are quite fake.
Go hunting for the enjoyment and perhaps to bag some delicious meat for your family.
Keep that in focus and use these tips to help make it work no matter the financial situation.
—story by Chester Moore
