Elk Hunting Economy

by **toasty tiger** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 1]

Does anyone think that the economy will play a role in the number of people hunting for elk this year? I know even a lot of guys that live out west still have to travel hours to get to their spots of choice. With gas at $3.50 a gallon do you think it is going to lower the number of hunters?

by **twinkieman** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 2]

It might stop the guys " on the fence" about whether or not to go. I don't see the guys on here having it affect them, we are all "elknuts" :lol:

, and fuel over $5.00 didn't stop us several years ago. We travel 715 miles, and look out bulls, Sept. 13 here we come!

by **Fridaythe13th** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 3]

Did not stop us. just took away some of the comforts. We used to travel 2 to a truck load up the back seat with gear. Now 3 or 4 to a truck and pack lighter or maybe a trailer. It does suck but what do you do, 21 hour to hunting spot, 2 trucks instead of 3. Save money for Camofire.

by **Miller1** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 4]

my buddy and I are traveling 1300 miles one way to Colorado to try to get an elk, having fun is expensive.

by **Lefty** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 5]

While gas prices might impact many and in the past changed the way I hunted.
I drove the Camry on three hunts for fuel savings over my pickup one year. Last year I drove under 65mph to keep gas costs down, the past few years I have scouted less, or I should say traveled to the area I hunt fewer times.
I ended up with a 24% pay cut, as a teacher that really hurt My wife went from teaching at a University 32 weeks a year 40 hours a week to 17 hours for 24 weeks plus the loss of out insurance.

Maybe the biggest impact Im not hunting Montana, but that is a budget issue that isnt gas related

by **Swede** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 6]

I would expect fewer weekend hunters. Many will stay home rather than pay for just a weekend outing. Also many will hunt closer to home. Since I don't know where home is for you, it is impossible to say what changes for that you might anticipate.

by **Indian Summer** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 7]

Diesel $4.09 here. Wyo elk tag $1171. The only thing that might stop me is a broken leg! lol

by **8upbowhunter** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 8]

Diesel is $3.65 here and we are driving a little over 3,000 miles round trip weather it is $3.65 or $5.65.

by **WapitiTalk1** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 9]

Yah, the gas prices suck pond water through an unfiltered straw

but I think most serious hunters will find a way to go come hell, high water, rising creeks, and ridiculous gas prices. Like Friday and Lefty mentioned, you manufacturer work arounds to try and save wherever and however you can. If it gets too bad, I'll just hook a very small gear trailer on my DRZ-400 and head across the mountains, farm lands of E Washington, and on to ID or MT. A guy's gotta hunt.

by **Texasdan** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 10]

3280 miles round trip!

by **under H2O hunter** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 11]

I don't think it stops guys from going hunting but I bet that it stops guys from scouting more.

by **luvelkhunt** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 12]

3474 miles round trip. a couple extra overtime shifts at work = gas money to elk hunt. no boots on the ground scouting for me!

by **ST52V** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 13]

If someone in the group has a smart phone use the gas buddy app. You can even use it before you leave and check prices. Figure out how many miles you can get out of a tank then use map quest to check distance to cities along your route. You will figure out what states, or area to avoid filling up at. It works. Last year my father in law took our gas money and applied
it to his Cabelas bill before we left. We will use the rewards for gear and you don't have too pre pay at the station. Worked like a champ!!

by **zpd307** » 07 16, 2014 • [Post 14]

yikes! about 2500 miles round trip for me.... still going for me!

by **Indian Summer** » 07 17, 2014 • [Post 15]

3700 miles round trip here. Diesel: $1517!

by **8upbowhunter** » 07 17, 2014 • [Post 16]

Indian Summer wrote:3700 miles round trip here. Diesel: $1517!

Wow, last year on the same trip of around 3200 miles our diesel bill was $800. You must be towing a heavy load.

by **ElkNut1** » 07 17, 2014 • [Post 17]

I seriously doubt it! Gas has been an issue for quite a few years now & I believe most hunters just add it to the expense of the hunt! Heck, you have lots of guys out there spending 300.00-400.00 on just a name brand camo shirt these days, I doubt they will allow gas prices to effect their going or not going on their elk hunts! Many save up year around just for this special time!

ElkNut1

by **jmez** » 07 17, 2014 • [Post 18]

Won't make a difference IMO. People will give up a lot of things prior to having to give up their hobbies.

by **elk-n-walleye** » 07 17, 2014 • [Post 19]

jmez wrote:Won't make a difference IMO. People will give up a lot of things prior to having to give up their hobbies.

Absolutely!

Economics would really only effect the true "meat hunter" because a meat hunter is going to know what the break even point is and if costs go beyond that then they should, by their definition, stay home because there are less expensive ways to fill a freezer. But how many of us are really meat hunters only?

by **ishy** » 07 17, 2014 • [Post 20]

I know that an elk will fit in a camry from a tight $ year. Granted it was a cow, but she was a big one.

by **elk.addict** » 07 17, 2014 • [Post 21]

Only 48 miles round trip for me to the trailhead, but this time a year I hit it twice a week or so. Even that adds up with cost of diesel, so I started riding the dirt bike back and forth. It gets about 60 mpg

by **Rangerz** » 07 17, 2014 • [Post 22]

Probably won't effect the guys that are going, but might effect how often they go. I know we are planning a single trip to combine scouting and hunting.

by **wawhitey** » 07 18, 2014 • [Post 23]

I have maybe a 5 mile ride to get to my elk spots. No truck needed just ride the quad right out of the shop. Not too concerned about fuel costs for my hunt.

by **dotman** » 07 18, 2014 • [Post 24]

Didn't seem to matter last year, prices were about the same, actually even the year before was about the same if not more.

by **Screaming_btf** » 07 21, 2014 • [Post 25]

I would think the effects will be very small if any.

by **Mikeha33** » 07 21, 2014 • [Post 26]

It might affect my overall decision a little bit. I was planning on a hunting partner to split fuel with, but he bailed a few days ago. I've got 2 young kids, and a pile of hobbies, so my funds are pretty tight. Doubling the fuel costs are probably doable, but really aren't in my budget. I've got another opportunity with another partner now, where I can split fuel, but it's not my plan. SO, it's not entirely the economy, as we had planned on the trip, but swinging it by myself would be a lot tougher. If fuel was $1/gal, it wouldn't even cross my mind.

by **IdahoD** » 07 21, 2014 • [Post 27]

Me and ol' buglecrazy bucked the high gas prices by hunting in his 2 door Pontiac Sunfire. 30+ mpg and we had it down to a science on how to squeeze everything in there. Plenty of great hunts and memories and we could go hunt for $10 each in gas. The smell will never come out of that car :lol:

by **Indian Summer** » 07 22, 2014 • [Post 28]

8upbowhunter wrote:
Indian Summer wrote:3700 miles round trip here. Diesel: $1517!

Wow, last year on the same trip of around 3200 miles our diesel bill was $800. You must be towing a heavy load.

Nope. 3700 miles at 10 mpg in the 7.3 Power Stroke is 370 gallons at about $4.09/gallon. Actually the bill will be more because when I get there I pick up 4 horses and a 16 foot bumper pull stock trailer. this year though will be the first ever that I'm splitting the bill with a partner. I'm loving that.

But who here thinks of all that when there's a bull in the rig on the way home????

by **8upbowhunter** » 07 22, 2014 • [Post 29]

Indian Summer wrote:
8upbowhunter wrote:
Indian Summer wrote:3700 miles round trip here. Diesel: $1517!

Wow, last year on the same trip of around 3200 miles our diesel bill was $800. You must be towing a heavy load.

Nope. 3700 miles at 10 mpg in the 7.3 Power Stroke is 370 gallons at about $4.09/gallon. Actually the bill will be more because when I get there I pick up 4 horses and a 16 foot bumper pull stock trailer. this year though will be the first ever that I'm splitting the bill with a partner. I'm loving that.

But who here thinks of all that when there's a bull in the rig on the way home????

I understand brother, I had a 2001 with a 7.3 before I bought the new one with the 6.7L PSD. It didn't get the best fuel econemy but it was bullet proof. I got 16.5 mpg's @ 70-75 mph last year pulling a 16' utility trailer with a 4 wheeler and ice chests so I can't complain. We will be testing my son's F150 with the Eco Boost this year, time to put some mileage on his vehicle for a change lol.

by **BrentLaBere** » 07 23, 2014 • [Post 30]

Mikeha33 wrote:It might affect my overall decision a little bit. I was planning on a hunting partner to split fuel with, but he bailed a few days ago. I've got 2 young kids, and a pile of hobbies, so my funds are pretty tight. Doubling the fuel costs are probably doable, but really aren't in my budget. I've got another opportunity with another partner now, where I can split fuel, but it's not my plan. SO, it's not entirely the economy, as we had planned on the trip, but swinging it by myself would be a lot tougher. If fuel was $1/gal, it wouldn't even cross my mind.

^^^^ I think this is where I was until I drew a line and decided what was more important to me. No more fishing tournaments, running around on the river, golfing ect......
Things I used to do all the time instead of those things, which is hard to say no to friends and family, is practice and prep for September. Not going to lie, its not easy and I catch a lot of grief for it. But come ELKtember its all worth it!
When I look at gas money for a 1200-1300 mile round trip in my truck VS running around the lake for a walleye tournament I come out ahead.....just an example.

by RP » 07 23, 2014 • [Post 31]

Fortunately there is two of us to split gas costs on our 2800 mile round trip. This year got lucky, sorta, we had a cemetery down the road that was wanting to have there fence painted. We jumped on it, took a couple weeks evry evening and a few saturdasy, but we managed to make enough to pay for our permits. Was hoping for gas money but come out better than imagined. So fuel cost wont be as bad. Now if we pick up another side project we would be even better off.

by **razorback** » 07 29, 2014 • [Post 32]

2300 miles for me. Probably average about 15 mile per gallon in the old chevy.

by **toasty tiger** » 07 29, 2014 • [Post 33]

I appreciate all the responses - It just confirms that I came to the right place to get schooled on elk. I am a firm believer in having your priorities straight.