Extra Money

[bwcatripper]

So I'm one of those adult onset hunters, have about 90% of the gear I need, and pretty much am down to getting binos and I should be set. Got the rifle, shotgun, good boots, camo, fishing gear, and canoe. Got the time, the public lands, and the desire. But how do you guys budget your outdoor activities? Do you use your regular money or do you put in OT or sell stuff or work side jobs? I'm a veteran, a student, and a tree trimmer. I have skills, and skills that can make me money(mostly tree trimming), but I'm trying to find ways to make some extra cash to get that nice pair of 'nocs without stealing from my regular income.

 

[TimeOnTarget]

My regular income pays for my hunting stuff. i just figure a few hundred each month will be spent on something hunting related.

 

[rjlefty3]

Depends how expensive the item is. I have just about everything I need, but if something is over $100-200, I'll budget for it (unless I need it right away).

I still sell my old gear if I upgrade anything to help offset the costs.

I do OT, but use it to boost my retirement and finance my hunting trips!

 

[JohnCushman]

I started selling meth and doing porn :hump:

I keed I keed

For binos look into the Theron line from Predator Optics. Excellent glass for 1/3 of the price. Schmalts is a member here and it's his site.

You can also look into Bass Pro Shop. They do a 6 pay program where they ship your gear and split the cost up into 6 monthly payments.

 

[Gunner46]

I went out to my parents shed and cleaned out "all that old crap". They're tickled to to death with having a nice clean shed, and I eBayed the hell out of their "Old Crap". Amazing what some people will pay!

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Definitely played the ebay game as well... entirely financed my stone glacier bag off heavily used sports gear. It's amazing that people will actually buy 10 year old beat to death skis.

 

[el unit]

eBay funded my new Hoyt Defiant this month. And last year's Bear mount.

 

[Addicting]

I started selling meth and doing porn :hump:.

John, it's a good thing your a veteran and get the VA to cover the STD treatments. The cost for the swabs is out of control. It would really cut into your Meth profits. Personally, I find it better to just stick with selling all of my VA meds to old people after Obama care started up. A lot less risk and they always have money when they cash their Social Security check.

 

[7mm08mo]

I mow four lawns from April to October to help with extra expenses.

 

[JohnCushman]

John, it's a good thing your a veteran and get the VA to cover the STD treatments. The cost for the swabs is out of control. It would really cut into your Meth profits. Personally, I find it better to just stick with selling all of my VA meds to old people after Obama care started up. A lot less risk and they always have money when they cash their Social Security check.

LOL!!!! That's friggin AWESOME!!!! Totally made my day!

 

[TheJason]

I use overtime and some side work to fund my larger purchases, such as guns and out of state tags/licenses. For smaller stuff like boots, clothes, etc it just comes out of the monthly check.

 

[Flatland Crusoe]

Since you are a student, go to school for something that will pay for your hunting expenses without overtime in the future.

Generally I like to accumulate gear in the offseason when deals are out there on last year's stuff, then prioritize my gear gaps once the tags are drawn and meter out purchases. I try to minimize the rush purchasing leading up to a trip, but in a way its inevitable early on as are the larger gear expenses until you are just replacing worn out/lost/broken gear. My regular income pays for my hunting gear/trips. I've saved a lot of money on nice gear by knowing what I want and buying in when its on sale rather than when I need it. As others have said selling unused gear on ebay or classifieds really helps and the sooner you do it the better.

 

[Firedude]

I go to Biolife twice a week. If you don't get in the habit of spending the money it adds up pretty fast. If you go pretty religiously you'll have a few thousand dollars by hunting season. I also trap/fur hunt in the winter and sell furs. Some years that's good and some years not. I live pretty close to good trapping/coyote hunting areas. If you have to drive very far it can cut into your profits badly. I trap around a guy who catches nothing but mink and muskrats. He swears by low value but high quantity animals for making money catching fur. Other than that it's OT. I would like to add there is nothing wrong with used gear if it was taken care of. Just know what you need and keep your eyes out for stuff. My pack is second hand. It's a $400 pack found on a cheating bastards stuff he left behind when he ran sale... Got it REALLY cheap. Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman selling stuff to make a point.

 

[----]

My wife's income is our living expenses, my income is our hunting budget.

 

[MN Public Hunter]

I just whip out the credit card and get what I want You only live once....but seriously...I don't spend $1200-2000 on binos when a pair for $300 will do. I don't do anything extra, I just spend the money and complain about it later. (Just ask Cushman ). I don't know where you live, but for every out west hunt it is a minimum of $1000 for me to go from MN and the tags and points are only going up.

 

[MJE2083]

Since I'm out of work at the moment money is pretty tight. I did just buy a new vortex viper with some birthday gift money I got. I used to work a part-time job in addition to my full timer so I guess that bought some stuff. I used to sell stuff on ebay a good bit, but haven't in a long time. I've sold a few things on craigslist recently. My wife was telling me about some kind of computer thing, user testing or something, where you can get paid for testing out website designs for companies. It sounded like a simple way to make extra cash without donating my body to science. I've always been sort of an impulse buyer, but my wife is more of a budgeter/saver type(which is probably good for me). We are currently saving for my first nice O/U shotgun. It would go a lot quicker if I could find work

 

[JohnCushman]

There's been an article floating around Facebook about donating a testicle for $35K

 

[Firedude]

^^^ Brings a whole new meaning to "That next hunt is in the bag!"

 

[chadv]

I hunt more than any of my local friends and spend quite a bit less than many of them if you don't include the dogs. A 10 yr old rifle/shotgun outshoots many a new one, Walmart camo hides you as well as sitka and surplus sleeping bags sleep as well as.......
I like the new stuff too and can actually afford some now so spend whats comfortable but don't not go because your low on funds. Is it Randy who says "you'll run out of health before you run out of money".

 

[Idahoarcheryhunter]

I go to Biolife twice a week. If you don't get in the habit of spending the money it adds up pretty fast. If you go pretty religiously you'll have a few thousand dollars by hunting season. I also trap/fur hunt in the winter and sell furs. Some years that's good and some years not. I live pretty close to good trapping/coyote hunting areas. If you have to drive very far it can cut into your profits badly. I trap around a guy who catches nothing but mink and muskrats. He swears by low value but high quantity animals for making money catching fur. Other than that it's OT. I would like to add there is nothing wrong with used gear if it was taken care of. Just know what you need and keep your eyes out for stuff. My pack is second hand. It's a $400 pack found on a cheating bastards stuff he left behind when he ran sale... Got it REALLY cheap. Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman selling stuff to make a point.

How much does biolife pay? I've heard of people doing it, figured it might be some easy money for tags, gas etc.