The Blue Collar Hunter

[Swede]

A "blue collar-hunter" (BC)? What is that? Well, I am glad you asked. Let me start by declaring that I am that blue-collar elk hunter.

1. A BC elk hunter is purpose driven, few frills, person. They have good equipment but few gadgets and/or other things that are not integral to the hunt. Their equipment is solid but not fancy.
An example are my broadheads. I have bought a lot of them at Walmart on clearance. They are name brand equipment that I got at less than $10 for a three pack. I try to make every dollar stretch so I can get the most for my money. I have picked up some great buys at Good Will including Merino wool sweaters. I stretch my dolllllar as far as possible.

2. The BC hunter could go on a guided hunt and try for a P&Y trophy but cannot do that very often.
I choose to scout and hunt on my own. I get more bang for my dollar that way. I can hunt every year and get to know my territory pretty well. Is it better that someone else's unit? Probably not. In fact, I would guess many of you are hunting better spots than I do. Hunting good spots does not mean you are not a BC hunter. Paying big bucks to frequently hunt one on a reservation or with a guide probably does.

3. The BC hunter does not hunt out of State very often. It is too expensive and often no more productive than the place they already know quite well. Does this mean that a Florida based elk hunter is not BC? Yes. It does not mean they are not dedicated and even very good at it.

4. This one is a big one to me. The BC hunter goes for the meat. It would be great to kill a 350 P&Y bull, but they are not holding out for a 250 P&Y bull.
I get tired of eating chicken all year waiting for another chance to get an elk. Do you have any idea how many ways a woman can find to fix chicken? I am not complaining as that was the best my wife could do since I did not get an elk last season. All I am saying here is that as a BC hunter red meat on the table is more important than antlers hanging on the wall.

5. The BC elk hunter does not have the luxury of depending on someone else. They have no back-up plan.
My tenacity is like a bull dog's. I will hunt long and hard to get an elk before I go home. As a BC hunter it is not just a good time away from home. Sure, I enjoy myself most of the time, but sometimes it is miserable out in the forest and cold in the tent. Your sleeping bag looks like heaven. Non-BC hunters often pack up and go home then. I get up in the dark and come in near or after dark. I do not get easily discouraged. The elk I can show up the next day. I expect to be out in the elk woods to give him a proper greeting.

Are you a blue-collar hunter and can you add to my ideas on what one is?

[Lefty]

blue-collar elk hunter could be a little brouder sweep So I made some adjustments

1. A BC elk hunter is purpose driven, fewer frills, person.
They have good equipment but few gadgets and/or other things that are not integral to the hunt. Their equipment is solid but not fancy.
An example are my broadheads. I have bought a lot of them at Walmart on clearance. They are name brand equipment that I got at less than $10 for a three pack. I try to make every dollar stretch so I can get the most for my money. I have picked up some great buys at Good Will including Merino wool sweaters. I stretch my dolllllar as far as possible.Maybe eventually they may progress to spending more on valued items I was cheap and frugal for too long,, which isnt always a good choice.

2. The BC hunter could go on a guided hunt and try for a P&Y trophy but cannot do that very often. Guided Pand Y hunt is still out of my game
I choose to scout and hunt on my own. I get more bang for my dollar that way. I can hunt every year and get to know my territory pretty well. Is it better that someone else's unit? Probably not. In fact, I would guess many of you are hunting better spots than I do. Hunting good spots does not mean you are not a BC hunter. Paying big bucks to frequently hunt one on a reservation an Arizona reservation will and can only be a dream or with a guide probably does.

3. The BC hunter does not hunt out of State very often. It is too expensive That may be true for some game,,, but not all hunting has to be expensive Im referring to the BC hunter,,, not big game hunter 6 of us use to pile in Tomes 1963 red Belair and pay the $12.00 early teal season fee and often no more productive than the place they already know quite well.or it could be the change in environment the excitement of a different adventure Does this mean that a Florida based elk hunter is not BC? Yes. It does not mean they are not dedicated and even very good at it.
. This one is a big one to me. for me it is much more about being there, he meat is a bonus The BC hunter goes for the meat. It would be great to kill a 350 P&Y bull, but they are not holding out for a 250 P&Y bull.
I get tired of eating chicken all year waiting for another chance to get an elk. Do you have any idea how many ways a woman can find to fix chicken? I am not complaining as that was the best my wife could do since I did not get an elk last season. All I am saying here is that as a BC hunter red meat on the table is more important than antlers hanging on the wall.

5. The BC elk hunter does not have the luxury of depending on someone else.Refer back to 6 of us piling into the 63 red Belair splitting the cost of gas to drive 140 miles to shoot teal They have no back-up plan.Whhhooo there Nellie,, always possible backup plan or possible ideas.. On fishing trips and the fish dont bite,,, the fish batter was made into biscuits
My tenacity is like a bull dog's. I will hunt long and hard to get an elk before I go home.I may not need to hunt long and hard , kill an elk to go home,, sometimes the hunt is enough As a BC hunter it is not just a good time away from home. Sure, I enjoy myself most of the time, but sometimes it is miserable out in the forest and cold in the tent. Your sleeping bag looks like heaven. been in on that more than a few times Non-BC hunters often pack up and go home then. I get up in the dark and come in near or after dark.Use to be,,, I hunted friday nights and Saturday for big game every possible minutes,,, not any more, Rain,, stay in camp(or glass) tired,,, take a nap I do not get easily discouraged.Everyday I wake up,,, Im never discouraged The elk I can show up the next day. I expect to be out in the elk woods to give him a proper greeting. Its still a good day[b] Today up and setting goose decoys at 5:30 AM,,,, I moved some other gtoup was setting up 1/2 mile away,..and hour before shooting anoither group set up where I had decided to move. and somewhat close to me. I never took a shot but still a great day [/b]

Are you a blue-collar hunter and can you add to my ideas on what one is?[/quote]

Ive bought used quality gear... for all of my outdoor adventures, My fist bow when I was 13 years old,, my neighbor who had been on the Olympic archery team got me a deal from Herters $35 bow wisted for 115,
Next set upin 2007, used everything for about 40% of list,,, then this years archery set up less than 25% of list My point is buying used nearly everything Now I did buy a Cannon cooler, new on pro staff prices and a buch of Sitka clothing but I wear clothes till it is thread bare,,

[RanchoSueno]

I spend $100/3pk of broadheads but I've been able to replace and resharpen them for reuse. I definitely can not afford any form of drop camp or guided hunt I hunt out of state because I will likely never draw a michigan elk tag but I spend bare minimum tag, fuel, food and maybe one night at a hotel to shower for morale. All of my hunts have been paid for by selling my nubian goat kids each spring. I only kid out a few does and am lucky to have 6-8 hit the ground

[Swede]

It is really alright to hunt when, where and how you like. I am judging no legal hunter. Use the equipment you have confidence in.
That said, I cannot remember ever having a broadhead fail me. I have used some titanium three blade broadheads. The blades could come off in the animal but that happened after the arrow quit moving ahead. The working of the muscles could push the back of the blade off the shaft, but the arrow had already done its deadly job. I confess to using replaceable blade broadheads because I am not very good at sharpening dull ones.
A place I have experimented is with calls. Some work better for me than others. I think we believe elk are attracted to the ones we believe sound most elk like. That is not the case, but I want to make a fairly consistent sound. Even the Hoochie Mama was good, but it was not to be used a cheap musical instrument. Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze ........

[Lefty]

Even the Hoochie Mama was good, but it was not to be used a cheap musical instrument. Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze ........

Over the past 17 elk seasons Ive made lots of changes some have to do with technology.. But Im still using my even at that time$79 Bushnell range finder, My warranted Leopold binos bought in 1991 or 92 ( GI Joes: Portland ) Still shoot Ted Nugent Gold tip arrows, until this yea.
Slept in the cab or back of the pick up or tent for my first 41 years Mostly those Deseret industries $3,00 or $5.00 tents ( or cleaning out scout tent each trip) I was telling a buddy Ive spent more money on my outdoor pursuits since my retirement the past 8 years than the rest of my life. We were just way to frugal, cheap, self sacrificing.

But like much of my goose hunting gear and elk hunting gear,, purchased used or on sale/

Anyway back to calls ,,, I just cant make a bugle tube and diaphragm work for me.
My daughter and grand daughter are effective enough with a Hoochie Momma when needed . And we really do get the best out of our Primos Blue reed calls ( bugles) Ive lost, worn out, chewed up, stretched the latex on every dipham call Ive ever had,,, and in desperation I was able to find the only diaphragm calls within 80 miles as the sales gal was unpacking the only elk calls left in Billings .

[>>>---WW---->]

Blue collar, White collar???? I guess I'm probably a NO collar! My equipment consists of a 21 year old bow and my backup bow is close to 25 years old. Both bows have put a lot of meat on the table. (Elk, whitetail deer, mule deer, bear, pronghorn, hogs, and small game. My hunting clothes are usually a long sleeve camo T-shirt And if it gets cold, maybe a hoodie sweatshirt. For pants I usually wear a pair of old faded blue jeans and once in a while you may find me in some old surplus woodland BDUs. All cotton and I haven't died of hypothermia yet.

Oh ya, I almost forgot! Lefty, that Hoochie Mama makes a pretty good squirrel call! LOL!!!! Park yourself under a hickory nut tree and start chattering on that thing and you'll have every squirrel in the country come running!

[Lefty]

B

Oh ya, I almost forgot! Lefty, that Hoochie Mama makes a pretty good squirrel call! LOL!!!! Park yourself under a hickory nut tree and start chattering on that thing and you'll have every squirrel in the country come running!

Never knew that...

I had some sort of squirrel call way back in my youth in MN,,, Not many Hickorys,,,,