Challenge accepted. I have taken 25 elk, 19 pronghorn, 3 black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, 2 alligators and well over 100 deer (mulies, blacktails, whitetails) and a lot of hogs. I have never hired a guide or paid any huge fees other than licenses.

You just got proved wrong.

Money and health can provide opportunities. That’s been the case since day one on pretty much anything.


What these threads are usually about is someone who is dissatisfied with their achievements/accomplishments and are looking for an excuse as to why they were not able to meet goals/desires.

Try this. Tag was $800. Guide was $1400 for 2 days. Then DIY


https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...xico-public-land-elk-success#Post9126890

That's awesome buddy! Good for you. Let me ask you a few questions? How many years did you hunt doing all this? And do you think it could be done again if someone were to start today? Would it cost more? Are tags as easy to draw for as they were when you started? Could it be done fasted with more money spent?

That's not it for me. I've got plenty of heads on the wall. I own land. I'm not envious of what others have. I'm pretty happy and content with what I have.

So how did you come to the conclusion that hunting success is all about money?


The world is constantly evolving and the hunting world is no different.

The are barriers to entry that money can overcome in many instances but that does not mean there are not alternatives available if one does not have the financial means.

Buddy of mine drew a desert bighorn tag in Utah and he killed a book sheep. He did hire an outfitter who knew the area and was successful

One could circumnavigate that by spending $35-$50k and go to Mexico to kill one and do it in less time however ( time meaning as not having to wait years or decades to draw the tag)

Both opportunities exist for people however.


It’s hard to believe it because of the situation we have in Texas but there are plenty of quality public hunting opportunities in most states and trophy animals are taken every year by Joe Bluecollar.

This may change in the future, as mentioned before things are always changing and evolving

Thar be more trueth ta the tittle of thread than some will
admit.
And tis in the right section of Forum. Open Discussion.
In past, been lots of discussion about HF/LF, people hunting border fences,
Trophy deer, (often see pic's of bucks, with poster asking is it shootable).
& the give it another year.
Most of the rules, (13" & bigger) were set in motion by people with big buck$.
Place lived, went ta 13". Seen more bucks, but 13" rule stopped from taking them.
Racks just got thicker beams, taller, but very seldom the 13" & wider. The mature bucks would be bordering.
Fact lease hunters are the upper pay grade hunters. Seen many hunters loose thar lease cause some one had more money. They put time, effort & hard earned money into it.
People hunted on leases with were more about putting on the .
& the threads got locked down because some one got thar feelings hurt.
The prices of leases is a very good example.
Have seen people say, hunting HF tis more difficult than Open range. Yet the take pictures of these deer
& post on Photo section.
Several times have had (big rack) deer survive because they jumped fence.
Success tis an individual thing.

I stick to this early response of mine and partly backs Op's contention.

Actually a person can shoot a B&C elk on public land in Wyoming for the cost of the license, 500" no but that is not a free range elk anyway.

Once again, you are proven to be wrong.

Poor guy has same opportunity and can do the exact same thing… it’s simply where does his priorities lie, where will he spend his money. If cotton mesa is the experience that you want knock yourself out.

The only way you never hunt sheep is never apply, only way you never hunt B&C bulls is to never apply or buy an OTC tag . Only way you never hunt Pronghorn is to never apply or buy a tag.

Does money open doors yes, but every non rich hunter that has a huge trophy room , there is a rich guy that was working his [censored] into the ground not hunting so he could hunt later, why the other guy wasnt worried about wealth and was hunting, priorities are just different. End results similar


The “wannabe hunter RICH guy” statement is pretty telling of your perception, that’s like saying every non wealthy person is a slap [censored] that didnt work hard and blew all their money, on frivolous keeping up with jones spending, and failed out of school because they where to lazy to go…

Try this: Tag was about $450 and this was taken on a 1 day hunt on public ground in Southeastern CO. Drew the tag with a couple of points, drove up from Amarillo (2 hr drive) hunted the day and was back in Amarillo before suppertime.


Or this: This bear was taken on a $100 non-res tag (admittedly a limited draw tag) on public land in CO. Drove up from Amarillo, got the bear and was back in Amarillo before the sun set.


But hey, I guess that can't happen to the regular guy unless he spends lots of $$$ right? The total combined cost for both those hunts would not go above $800 including licenses and the fuel to get there and both hunts were done in the last 3 years!

The more I think about my response on page 1: "It is a component, but paying a lot of $ for the right to hunt where there are great deer doesn't guarantee success. You still need knowledge, competency with your rifle, commitment of time, etc.........
All about money, no. Partly about $, yes.", the more I believe it.

I do believe the more $ you spend, the better the odds for someone that is willing to do what I mention. I have a Polaris Ranger, couldn't hunt my place without it and it wasn't cheap. It costs $150.00 in fuel every trip there and back home. I'm talking to a few guys now that are candidates for my lease. I had one tell me that the investment in a vehicle, lodging if he wanted it and a stand was too much $. I lease hunted 50 years and at one time was paying $900.00 a year to share 1,000 acres with 7 others. All I could afford at the time long ago. I pay 6x that now and it's worth every dollar to have 16,000 acres shared by 8 of us. 1/2 of us killed good deer this year. We all worked very hard to do it.

txtrophy85,
Here's my thoughts on it.

Hunting- If I'm hunting for something let's say deer. I'd like to at least see what I'm hunting. And eventually harvesting one is part of it, otherwise you're just watching

Success- There's a range involved to Success for me. It starts with just being able to go hunting. It's better if I saw whatever I was after. And even better if I actually harvested what I was after.

Money- I can get a license, public land permit, safety vest, break barrel 12 gauge with some slugs and hunt the LBJ grasslands this year starting at around $500. I could just pick a place on a map and show up opening morning and hunt. I can increase my odds for success by going on scouting trips before season starts. Putting out a few cameras would help. Maybe a bolt action rifle? Scope? All cost money. Then you show up to hunt public and like so many cases there's already 4 trucks in the parking area at 4am. This lessens the success factor. LBJ has antler restrictions, and limited if any doe harvest. I can shoot two does on a private land day hunt for $500. Next thing you know I'm looking for a $3000 a year Deer Lease. My spot on the lease is better with a corn feeder and I can hunt longer and more comfortably in a blind. It goes on and on point is I'm seeing more deer now and harvesting more. The enjoyment of the experience is higher- more successful imo.

DQ, I agree with this

Would you give up hunting from 5-50 years old, to be a multimillionaire that just stated hunting at 50?

Poll each of those that have responded and ask if they currently pay a lease fee, have paid an outfitter within the last 3 years, paid a trophy fee based on score, bought their own land, inherited their own land or are currently looking for a lease that they will pay to be a part of. I think the point will be obvious and that is, $ isn't all that is required to be successful, but it does make it easier. Most of us, if not all that have responded will fit into one of the categories I mentioned.

I'm 50 and no I wouldn't. I've met some awesome people and had some great times hunting over the years.
Now if the question was at 50 would I give up hunting for the rest of my life to be a multimillionaire I would have to think really hard on it. I just don't have the same drive I did when I was younger. I somewhat feel I've accomplished almost everything I set out to.

I fit in 2. I do own some property but not for hunting and I'd like to find a local spot to hunt does on. The only time in my entire life that I have paid for a guide was when it was required by law. If you want to hunt Canada and Africa (and I did) then you are going to be required to pay for a guide in Canada and a PH in Africa. That is part of the game if you want to hunt there. Hell I even hunted bighorn sheep and mountain goat without a guide and I took both of them on solo backpacking hunts. It can be done if you are willing to make the effort to do it.

Far enough, I wouldnt take neither. But at same stand point I wouldn’t be a full time guide. I have friends that are guides so that they literally can hunt 300 plus a year. Now I would guide a few very specific hunts just because I want that specific adventure, and could careless about the being behind the trigger

In the past 5 years I’ve bought hunting property, paid for a lease, and bought outfitted hunts. In one instance it was a pay by the inch place.

I like to hunt and one of the arrows in the quiver is money. I will pay for access or to hunt a place I can’t get to via a more traditional avenue like drawing a tag ( hunting Canada or Argentina for instance). When I shot my mule deer I could have drawn a tag but it might take years, so I bought an outfitter tag so I could hunt the unit that year.

I still put in for tags for DIY hunts.

Money will factor in at some point regardless if you wanna break it down step by step. But is it required to be successful? No. Is it required to kill trophy animals? Not really, if you are putting in for hunts aside from basic license and travel costs. If you want to hunt where you can consistently kill trophy animals year in and year out without going thru a draw process or hunt other countries, then yes, it’s gonna be a factor.

I want to know what the OP is really trying to figure out or what he’s getting at?

Everything better than the next in life costs money….better food costs more, better vehicles cost more, better guns cost more, better clothes, etc.

Even fishing is the same way. I could go out in my John boat on the local lake with an Zebco 33 and it’s possible to catch a 10lb bass. I could also hitch up the bass boat with the lockers filled with shimano bait casters, trolling motor and live scope and head to Fork or Falcon and catch one. Does it up my odds? Yes it does. But it doesent mean there isn’t an alternative

Most of us started the john boat and zebco route and graduated up as we were able.

85..pretty well hit it, but you and bobo have to admit you’re not the norm. It is so hard to see/recognize because wealth is not something a person like to brag about. Many of us are blessed; but we’re not the norm. Going to Africa and shooting 15 animals, over 25 times , having an elephant, giraffe, zebra mount cost money. How they got the “money” makes little difference. You got it. The guy that takes off and gets all he posted is not the average; he’s a one in a bunch. But, overall you’re right.

I will repeat once again - we are ALL a result of our own decisions - if your decisions led you to living a financially successful life then good for you - if your decisions led you to have to be frugal then it is what it is - outside of inheriting $$ we are all a result of our own decisions period

And what a person chooses to do with whatever money they have then that is totally their decision and choice and should not have people attempting to shame them for how they choose to spend their money

Hunting NA is one of the few things that while money helps, but it isn’t a must. One just has to have a focus that prioritizes it. There are more than a few on this forum that can prove it.

I will admit, I am envious of a few Gov tag buyers, specially the ones you get a whole year to hunt for the one animal.

The NM RMBHS auction last year, I was very jealous. But not because of what he killed. It was because more importantly he got to hunt ALL year with no unit limits. ALL year ALL units

If I ever draw the raffle tag, it’s on, I will have the opportunity to literally work through 100’s of animals to find the one. I may not have any friends left from burning them out helping though.

For a 3rd, maybe 4th time, hunting success is not all $$$ driven, providing more/better kill opportunities on average, by having $$$$$, 100%, yes. Especially relating to private land hunting. I didn't personally feel offended or threatened by poster's comments, just don't agree with its entirety but some derivative of it. Lots of thin skinned folks on THF if overly offended by it, IMO.