and that's what irritates me

entitlements, whiners, complainers ...

I still see the op being as much about new blood as anything.

Land and bullets and license is the only reoccurring expense, access is the major. It's a huge fight up north right now that and predation management.

When I was stuck in traffic and got the text that the deposit was in and I realized my brother had booked an axis hunt for the same price I booked a week in a country half way around the world I thought it was odd so I posted because I was bored. I had no idea I was gonna wrinkle so many tampons and be called a whiner with sense of entitlement that beats dead horses, that escalated quickly. I've been on this forum for 12 years but not near as much as I used to and I remember now why. I'm not putting down what anybody is doing, go pay $1000 to hunt park ducks I don't care I just thought traveling the world should not cost the same as a single axis deer two hours from home but what do I know.

No opinion on this but does sound like some kind of season better get here soon! Some short fuses with this summer heat. I look at the expense of hunting and know I might get in some kind of hunting (dove for sure) then notice I'm spending the funds on new metal roof on house. I'm a wait and see type person when seasons get here.

An axis hunt has to be one of the most inflated price hunts there is. I do not blame anyone for charging what the market will bear, but they're coming outa the woodwork around here.

All economics. That deer 2 hours from home is now a limited resource. Used to be things as native Texans we took for granted were cheap and everywhere for the taking. Now days not so much. Everybody wants a piece of the Texas pie so, hunting is also hugely popular. Just look at our population growth. International plane travel used to be a rarity now its fairly common so prices are cheap. I may be wrong but I bet people from Thailand probably dream of the economy and quality of life we have in Texas.

Alaska maybe the last frontier but Texas is one of the last great resource full, inhabitable places on earth that has not been entirely developed. We should all feel lucky to enjoy what wild is left for now... even at the cost it is now at least it's available.

All about what your priorities are in life.

Everyone today feels entitled to drive a Ferrari. Even though most aren't willing to do what it takes to own one.

Nah, most know they can't afford one. You are just jaded.

I look at my lease fees as a bargain. Few grand to have year around access to 10k acres that I can't afford and will probably never be able to afford.

To use your analogy, I pay a small percentage to drive your Ferrari and don't have to pay for the upkeep. I am perfectly happy with that

Think the majority of the people that commented missed the point entirely. Yes, it is expensive, and i find it silly what some will pay but that's their prerogative. Recently had two out of state guys ask me about deer hunting in Texas. My response was I hope you have money if you're serious about killing deer

I do not own a hunting ranch, I also do not get upset with what anyone says on the internet. Trust me, nothing you said upset me in the slightest. I do however think hunting isn't cheap, and you wouldn't like it cheap. I also think a trip to Thailand isn't cheap. I don't really care wither way, also I don't complain about what it costs to hunt. When I was making 24k a year I also did not complain about what it cost to hunt. Probably meant more when I wasn't making much money either, also probably hunted more too. I did my research and found ways to make it happen. People can do the same today if they want, instead some just chose to spend their time complaining about something outside of their control instead of taking control and putting in some effort.

I don't think a new guy would be discouraged with the cost? You are putting your own interpretation on it. When you first went hunting did you care if it were a buck or a doe? I didn't. So if I were to spend 350 bucks to shoot a doe, and spend the night out in the outdoors - well that sounds like a pretty good bargain. Heck I would spend that taking the wife to a hotel in san Antonio one night, going to a movie, and having dinner at a nice place. I borrow my buddies gun, spend 20 bucks on bullets and shoot a doe. I have food for 20 meals and it almost nets out to the 350 I spent. So how is that a bad deal? Once the guy gets hooked at that point he can choose to spend more if he wants to. But saying "it cost too much......period" is kind of a dumb statement. Haha not trying to be mean, it's just that "dumb statement" is the only way I can think of describing it.

I don't ever critique what someone spends or does not spend to go on their first hunt or any hunt there after. Just as I would expect them to not critique what I wanted to spend to go on any hunt or any lease of my choice. There are hunts/leases to fit anyone's budget if you take the time to research or ask the right questions. I always get more from a hunt than what I put into it even back when I was just happy to see a deer, dove, quail or hog much less kill one. I could never put a value on any of those hunts or hunting seasons. I can say it has been that way since I started hunting 50 yrs ago. It has always been my choice of what I spend or not spend and not anyone else's. I looked forward to every season with great anticipation back then and even more today.

you're right , all about perspective

I took my boat offshore to catch red snappers, b liners, groupers, kings ... dropped $5000 in fuel
and never compared that to hunting costs or ever considered that to be expensive, just priority.

Guess if I didn't go offshore I could afford one nice guided trophy Axis hunt

That perspective is going to vary from individual to individual tremendously. I am single and hunted since I was in grade school, but can't even begin to compare what I will or will not spend on hunting vs. a young/married new hunter or a new hunter with family and young kids at home or new hunter with kids involved in sports/school/etc or a new hunter with kids in college or etc. I do not know what drives them or what are their priorities. They might have the same as or more than me or differ tremendously. What I might spend on hunting, someone else might prefer to spend on things that are non-hunting related because that is what they are passionate about. I can honestly say that I have had more available time and money to spend on hunting vs my friend who were married and had a family over the years when many of them had considerably more income than I had. Priorities were as different as the income level.

LOL ... great points stx!!! also have to take into consideration the priorities of the wife & kids ... my wife's passion is the water, boating & skiing, so for me to get my fair share of hunting time in during fall & winter, I get to spend quality time on the water during the non-hunting months (warm) on the lake with her. But that isn't cheap either factoring in a boat, but again, it's about priorities.

"Alaska maybe the last frontier but Texas is one of the last great resource full, inhabitable places on earth that has not been entirely developed. We should all feel lucky to enjoy what wild is left for now... even at the cost it is now at least it's available."

This ^

GOD BLESS TEXAS!

Either it was a bad analogy, or you're a poor interpreter. Or a combination of both.

I wasn't talking about owning land. I was talking about doing what it takes to hunt to a level that is comfortable within your budget.

IMO people that whine about cost are the ones I described. Obviously not you or I.

I don't know about too much, that's a relative term but leases are getting more expensive each year. Hard to convince people that they should try their hand at white tailed deer hunting when you start laying out the cost.

Not sure what the fishing trip in Thailand has to do with it but I think I agree with your post otherwise

Drawn hunts for me. Killed a few rabbits on public land but saw more hunters than dove on opening day...

I used to have pretty decent dove hunts around new Braunfels. Just as good as private land in most cases

I can see both sides of it, but if you want to hunt, it's not too hard. I bowhunt public land around San Angelo. I have friends that let me shoot doe on their farms.

The Annual Hunting Permit is $50 and gets you access to many state parks.

It has become more expensive. But I think it's relative to where you are in life.

At this point in mine, it has become less expensive because I make alot more money than I did when I started hunting in my late teens on my own. It seemed very expensive then even though much cheaper than today.

You can hunt today for about the same cost relative to inflation as I did then, being that I hunted public, day lease, paper mill, National Forest etc...