I’ll jump in on this topic and give my views from a different angle. When I started deer hunting I worked extra jobs to pay for my hunting because it was the only thing I really enjoyed. Time went by and my closest hunting friends became drs and I started a business but they were making lots more than me at the time but I worked extra hard to save extra money for our leases because it was important to me and never once did I deprive my wife or daughters anything to support my habit. Time went on and I took over one of our leases by myself so I could take a customer from time to time without drama or feeling like I was imposing on my friends. Their sons got older and they ran out of room so my move to go on my own worked out. Fast forward 10 years and I decided I was tired of driving to Arkansas every other weekend to duck hunt and a place came up for sale in Scottsboro and I bought it that same week. It produced good return on investment so a started adding to it as stuff came up that had agricultural land I could get a return on. The typical guy hunting with probably his son will not pay as much to hunt because they have to bass fish, have ski boat and side by sides and have to go to the beach a couple times and probably go deep sea fishing at least once and have no time to do work at a hunting club except maybe planting day and constantly complain about how expensive hunting is. Y’all are right about this inflation situation affecting clubs and leases because hunting money is disposable income for most people but I made it a priority that I had a good place to hunt and didn’t go on beach trips and vacations and piss money away on fancy things I didn’t need. I’m thankful I’m not 25 anymore though and had to start over. Sorry for the rant.

^^^^ same here. I do side work that doesn't interfere with living expenses just to fuel my hunting dues and I don't cry a bit to cut a check for it. Also my hunting clothes are old as dirt and most are not even camo. My hunting equipment is not fancy at all. One club member said I looked like the poorest hunter in the club, I just smiled.

Hunting will be just another payment for those already living WAY beyond their means.... It'll likely never get cheaper or easier to find land

Glad I've never had to pay for hunting land...I'd probably just fish and book a hunt or 2 if I had to pay for a club or lease

I’m seriously considering just booking a yearly trip to Texas or some other state and just hunt close to home maybe public land. The cost of a quality lease way to painful these days,

All this season change bs, along with the popularity of the traveling hunters these days, Texas itself is a harder nut to crack than you think. When you do find a quality place (there’s plenty that will take your money and they are t quality) the price is getting higher every and higher.

Evidently, a lot of folks are using this train of thought. I hunted Kansas 5 consecutive years until about 3 years ago. It was almost a foregone conclusion you'd get drawn. I talked to the outfitter about a month ago and 25% of his booked hunters failed to draw. He is changing his business. He is booking fewer hunters, repeat only, and is staggering them every other year. One group will hunt this year while the second group buys preference points. The second group will hunt next year while the first group buys points. Paying for and preparing leases then losing the hunters hurt him pretty bad.

Ive always done side work to pay for hunting. That wont change. Turned 50 last Sunday and still wont use my "real money" for it. Just wont do it, its expendable and until we are empty nesters and the girls are out of college and married i will do it the same way. Its the way we do vacations as well.

I think you can plant the right rotation of food, and cut your costs. For instance. If you plant some form of clover, you basically have food year round. Then in the fall, plant cereals and brassica's, and some annual clovers. The cereals will decompose in the spring and feed your clover, and the clover fixes nitrogen which helps your creals and brassicas.

It may take a couple years to get there, but you shouldn't have to fertilize as much, and if you lime and get your PH right, its even easier. I started switching to clover 2 years ago, and really hit it hard last fall, and have really good stands established. The deer wear it out too.