Hunting for health, economy, and the ecology... [View all]

[Eleanors38]

Over the last 2 generations, hunting has lost its "alure" of back country self-sufficiency, and gained the burden of a rich man's divertisment. Unfortunately, there is truth in this as ranching becomes increasingly unsustainable, and pay-to-play trophy deer hunting becomes dominant. This new practice has saved many ranches and improved the ecology, but they squeeze out the option of an economical, self-sustaining survival strategy.

Still, the sprawling ex-middle class can lower costs by taking to the woods, even in Texas where public lands are few and private spreads wrote the book on trophy hunting. The following is a breakdown of costs should you slip through the new system's cracks and find "free land" on which to hunt:

Texas resident hunting license $26.00
Gasoline (my average) 35.00
2 Range fee sessions 30.00
Rifle/bow/shotgun (initial cost divided
by number of seasons) 40.00
Ammunition 50.00
Food/drink 25.00
Clothing (abundant used avail.) 20.00

TOTAL of $226.00 divided by 70 lbs usable meat = $3.21/lb. of all-natural meat

The news gets better. Should you hunt again in a given season, and are successful, the costs per pound drop sharply, since range fees, license, weapon, ammo, and clothing are already figured in; your next deer will cost only the additional costs of fuel and food. Most seasons I get 2 deer, and the per-pound costs fall below $2.00. Further, costs for hunting small game/birds (always more expensive per pound) are reduced for the same reasons. If you live north of Texas, the deer are larger, and you will probably have reduced costs per pound. The degree to which you pay others to process your meat (I do most of my own) will bring up costs to some degree.

Now, the "bad" news: You'll have to talk it up big when you express an interest in hunting. Troll, in other words, and get past the stares, until you find someone who shares your interest and says: "Come on down, buddy, no costs but your share of food." Outside of Texas you may not have to do this as there are many more public lands whose user fees are low or none.

Hunting won't be for everyone, and the environment wouldn't sustain it even if it were. But there is sustainable opportunity (if not an outright need) for hunting in this country. Fishing might be another means -- does anyone have a break-out of data they would like to share? The same goes for gardening and even gathering.