Pretty sure Colt is emblematic of the incorrectness of the initial post in this thread.

I didn't read all of the comments on this thread but I'd assume the OP meant shooting record book animals is all about money. To that I'd say yes and no. Chuck Adams has shot a ton of record book animals (some are world records) and many if not most of them were shot on public land. However, he can also afford to spend most if not all of the season out there hunting whereas we Po Folk have limited vacation days to use. And of course, even with all of that free time, I know it takes a lot of skill to consistently put the animals on the ground that he does.

I grew up a hunter but actual hunting opportunities were sporadic. Dad loved to hunt but was mainly a bird hunter and his deer hunting was done on friends places or invites to a lease. Stepdad would hunt but he wasn’t really motivated or willing to go out of his way to learn or secure a spot, both places we eventually got on were offered to him, he didn’t hunt them down. He refused to go to the National Forest which was about 45 min from our house. Our lease was typical of East Texas at the time…4 or 5 guys hunting about 100 acres staying in an old construction trailer. We moved and I didn’t hunt much saved for one or two weekends a year for a few years. What hunting I did do was on public land for birds around San Antonio or New Braunfels.

Things worked in my favor and I got access to family property after the lease hunting was restructured but I was only allowed to shoot does and culls. I didn’t shoot a decent deer until I was 25. I had no knowledge of public hunting in western states and had I known, there is a high likelihood I would have traded some time in south Texas for western hunting. I didn’t become aware of that until I was almost 30 years old. At the time, as far as I understood it, going to another state to hunt was like preparing to go to the moon. First trip I took cost me about $1000…$650 for the tag then a split food and fuel.

I’m now fortunate to have some discretionary income ( they say the Lord gives you the desires of your heart, and man he sure did in my case) but it’s also my only passion so I am willing to take steps that a lot of folks are not willing to take. For what most of my western hunts cost, it’s cheaper than a decent deer lease here in Texas. The opportunity is out there for most any income, you just gotta be willing to grab it. We have a lot of public land in the eastern part of the state as well.

You look into the guys that can “afford” to hunt all the time and it’s because they are not married, don’t have children and live on shoestring budgets to be able to have the time and money to hunt like they do.

There is a definite sacrifice on their end, it’s not all play and no sacrifice.

Chuck Adams is not a rich guy. He has parlayed his talent into some awesome opportunities but it’s not due to his business success

Many business men barely have time to take a long lunch break

Yelp “priorities”

A very hard core poacher that was caught on our ranch drove a Honda Accord that he slept in and lived with his parents when not sleeping in his car. He didn't mind hiking miles at night, hunted during the day, hiked out at night. Pretty bare bones operation that a legal hunter could learn from. You see this guy going down the road and you'd think he was a video gamer/stoner. Everything he needed to hunt with was in a backpack in the trunk. Lesson is, we have a lot of "stuff" that isn't absolutely necessary that we spend a ton of coin on.

Eat`n Ain`t Cheap.

There is a show called “The hunting public” where these young 20 something guys go all over the Midwest hunting public land. They have killed some nice bucks and they are traveling around in beater cars, with minimal terminal gear and usually off the shelf bass pro package bows. Really doing it bare bones. Funny to see them ratchet strap a buck to the hood of a Kia sedan.

Great example of how you can hunt successfully with basic ( for today’s time ) equipment.

Of course, I don’t believe they had jobs and/or girlfriends and dang sure no kids, but you get the point.

Killed some great bulls also, keep hope one will draw a sheep tag. They put out a great product

Calf rope boys! I've been "shown different" I'm a big fan of The Hunting Public and Randy Newbergs shows.

Yessir, great channel. I've been watching them since their early days.

I haven't watched a "Hunting" show since I don't know when until I stumbled onto these guys. It's real, and real good. I remember how excited one of them was when he got a truck, kind of a bone stock F-150. Big step up from the small sedan he had been driving. They're humble, hard hunters.

I think of all the western ones they have produced only one of the elk hunts was a LE/high pp tag, and they where very upfront about it. Rest are all easy draw or OTC. Great content. Kind of like Born and Raised use to be back in the early days, when BRO were still loggers and hunting when ever they could. Hopefully THP stays true although I do hope the make some coin.

South African perspective:

We have relatively few public land opportunities and those that we have are not much cheaper than private land opportunities.

We have plenty of private land opportunities for various species at a broad range of prices.

Many South Africans can no longer afford to hunt on commercial farms due to the cost. Money certainly provides more opportunities to hunt to those that have disposable income and are willing to spend it on hunting. Same for most things you would buy with disposable income.

If a successful hunt is measured against how much venison you go home with or how many animals you shoot or how long the horns are then, again, money can buy that.

If a successful hunt is measured against the overall experience rather than the quantity of game or the length of the tape then money is only important to the extent that there will still be costs that need to be covered. But the mindset is that an animal or two/three/four is a great bonus in addition to various other factors such as the sunsets, the sunrises, the campfires, the solitude, the vistas, the beauty of the landscape, the sounds, the smells, the exhilaration of the stalks, the close calls, the humility of being outplayed by the quarry, etc etc. My own opinion is that the most successful and memorable hunts I have had were those where I worked the hardest and had great experiences and not necessarily those where I spent the most money.

Does money buy opportunity - yes. Is hunting all about money - no.

It all depends.

I own my own 133 acre place. Had it for over 40 years and I bought it dirt cheap even back then. Heavily wooded with deer tracks everywhere. According to cams, I’m butt in deer.

Kids bow hunted early season and killed a couple of whoppers.

Then regular rifle season came and the old guy saw one lousy doe in about a dozen hunts.

Either bad luck or clean living doesn’t pay off.

Much prefer the lease experience. Go any time I want. Hunt, fish, shoot, ride, chill, observe, tinker, etc. Better than a paid hunt & you're done.

could be a simple thing as a change in pattern.
Different time of season, food source.
Around here & in archery season starts earlier,
Once guns start going off, animals will change thar habits,
Go nocturnal, a lot more cautious.

In Texas…..money equals access.

Without access…..you cannot be successful.

I agree. Been on many guided and self guided hunts over the years but still prefer the lease. It is a year round place to go along with making great friendships.

I think most people (myself included) prefer the lease/ownership aspect of hunting when available.


But, its not possible for every species or area. I want to kill a Bear, I either have to draw a tag or pay for a hunt. Want to kill a Zebra or Kudu, got to pay for the hunt. Same goes for many other species.


Package-type outfitted Whitetail/Exotic hunts in Texas work well for people with limited time due to family/work constraints. I know alot of guys who pay for season leases that only get to come down 1 or 2 weekends a year. In that case they would be money ahead going on a 4 day package hunt.

I like doing it all, everything that will affect the outcome. I like fully owning the results. I'm scouting now, working on equipment now, looking at neighboring agricultural fields, shooting my rifles from my stand at steel targets all the way out to 500 yards...........hunt hogs and varmints all year long.

You know multiple 170 plus deer get killed on TX public every year right?

If get that, When I’m with my kids I prefer the lease, although this year my oldest daughter has a high probability of hunting something out west with me(pronghorn, elk, mule deer, aoudad, oryx.) if she doesn’t draw any then we are hunting bears for sure, on top of whitetails.

I prefer DIY , but no issue using semi-guided or guided to increase tag draw odds. With that said out off 80 plus days out west in last three year I think 10 have been guided and 4 semi guided. Not counting days I helped others. Whitetails I actually prefer close to home public.

You do know that 93% of Texas is privately owned….right?

That means private land….equals the most potential for success(depending on your definition)

So $$$$ means access which means success.

I can guarantee you if I had the spare change to afford a $20,000/yr lease that my “success” would increase slightly