You can do this! How to afford your dream hunt (2024)

– by Sports Afield
It just takes some planning.

You’ve been dreaming about doing a big hunt–a trip to Alaska, your first African safari–but pesky necessities like mortgage payments and utility bills keep getting in the way. Despite the rising cost of guided hunts today, determined hunters of modest means need not despair of participating in a far-flung adventure. Here are a few ways to start working toward that dream hunt:

  • Plan and prioritize. Just like anything else worth doing, affording a great hunt requires coming up with a plan to set the money aside and deciding that doing the trip is going to be a priority. Especially when it comes to physical hunts such as those for sheep and mountain goats, you’ll have a better experience if you prioritize saving for the trip in your younger years, rather than “waiting until you can afford it.”
  • Set up an automatic savings account that will set a designated amount aside each month to earn interest in your “hunting account.”
  • Cut out small expenses, such as that daily trip to Starbucks, and make sure that money goes into your hunting account.
  • Sell some of your old hunting gear or guns to help pay for your trip. E-Bay, Craig’s List, and other online emporiums make it easy.
  • Accumulate frequent-flyer miles with a miles credit card. Don’t run up your credit card just to get miles, of course, but if you use a credit card anyway you might as well be racking up airline miles. By the time you’re ready to book your trip, you might even have enough miles for a free ticket.
  • Apply for tags. Some premium elk and deer areas (and even sheep hunts) in Western states are open to do-it-yourself or semi-guided hunters, but it may take years to draw a tag. In states that offer preference points, it pays to start early and apply every year. In the meantime, gain valuable hunting experience and learn the country by purchasing over-the-counter cow and doe tags for public land where they are available.
  • Get on e-mail lists and mailing lists of outfitters and booking agents who offer “cancellation hunts.” You’ll have to be flexible enough to take such hunts on short notice, but the prices can be attractive.

You can do this! How to afford your dream hunt (1)

You can do this! How to afford your dream hunt (2024)

FAQs

How do people afford to hunt? ›

Set up an automatic savings account that will set a designated amount aside each month to earn interest in your “hunting account.” Cut out small expenses, such as that daily trip to Starbucks, and make sure that money goes into your hunting account. Sell some of your old hunting gear or guns to help pay for your trip.

How much money can you make hunting? ›

How much does a Professional Hunter make? As of May 29, 2024, the average annual pay for a Professional Hunter in the United States is $72,839 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $35.02 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,400/week or $6,069/month.

What is the dream hunt? ›

The Dream Hunt (Na'vi name: Uniltaron) is a rite of passage, in which Na'vi seek their spirit animal. This highly spiritual ceremony is practiced by the Omatikaya clan, although it is unknown if other clans practice it.

Can you make a living as a hunter? ›

Some professional hunters work with Wildlife Services or sell game meat, hides or furs. Others organize hunting trips and may promote specific brands of hunting gear to supplement their income. You may also work or volunteer as a hunting instructor.

How much money do hunters spend? ›

Hunters spent $45.2 billion in pursuit of game animals in 2022. A new report released on Oct. 12 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows that 14.4 million hunters aged 16 and over contributed $45.2 billion to the economy in 2022.

Do people get paid to hunt? ›

Even though most people hunt for fun rather than profit, some make their living at it with predator hunting jobs or hunting guide jobs, while others find profitable, short-term hunting income to subsidize future hunting opportunities.

Is hunting an expensive hobby? ›

It can cost tens of thousands of dollars for the thrill of hunting lions, elephants and other big-game animals. And some hunting expeditions can cost up to $70,000, according to USA Today.

Is hunting better than farming? ›

Hunting as a more sustainable option

Hunting meat is undoubtedly more sustainable than factory farming. There's none of the land and water pollution that comes with farming practices, and the meat is usually healthier too as the animals haven't been pumped with antibiotics and hormones.

Can you be a hunter as a job? ›

Hunters and trappers sell the wild animals they catch, for either food, fur, or decorative purposes. A formal educational credential is not required for one to become fishing or hunting worker. However, fishers may improve their chances of getting a job by enrolling in a 2-year vocationaltechnical program.

Did Neytiri have a sister? ›

As second-born, the responsibility to become tsahìk in training or tsakarem fell upon Neytiri's older sister, Sylwanin.

What is the metkayina iknimaya? ›

Within the Metkayina clan, the term iknimaya is an umbrella term for a number of coming-of-age rituals. These include taming a skimwing and various tests with the members' tulkun spirit brother/sister.

Does the government hire hunters? ›

Federal and States agencies

The federal Wildlife Services alone has a staff of around 750 professional hunters. It works on around 565 airports around the United States to identify and reduce threats posed by bird strikes.

How old is the average hunter? ›

The average hunter's age was 42.3 years (males=42 and females=38). Males were 97 percent of the sample. The average age of males when they first hunted was 12, while the average age for females was 17.

What is the life expectancy of hunters? ›

This places the life expectancy between 21 and 37 years. They further estimate that 70% of deaths are due to diseases of some kind, 20% of deaths come from violence or accidents and 10% are due to degenerative diseases.

Is it expensive to get into hunting? ›

The good news is that you can actually start hunting for pretty cheap in terms of the absolute bare minimum. The quickest and cheapest way to get started hunting is with a weapon and a license and/or tag.

What state is the cheapest to hunt in? ›

The Southern region, particularly Oklahoma and Texas, stands out for its affordability in hunting land. Price per Acre: Both Oklahoma and Texas offer some of the lowest prices per acre in the country, making them highly attractive for budget-conscious buyers.

Do you have to pay to hunt in America? ›

Hunting licenses can generally be purchased at any retail outlet that deals in hunting and fishing equipment, such as sporting goods stores. If you're hunting on a national wildlife refuge, some also require their own permits and/or user fees.

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