Curious to get the opinions of those meat hunters who think it's economical compared to buying beef. I would like to see the cost break down.
Bowhunter 1188
Unfortunately, the term "meat hunter" is often used as a slight for hunters who shoot every deer they see.
Personally, I see no issue with meat hunting. We shoot between 3 and 4 deer per season then quit once we have enough to last until next season.
Deer hunting is the most expensive way to get a free dinner.
Personally, I see no issue with meat hunting. We shoot between 3 and 4 deer per season then quit once we have enough to last until next season.
Deer hunting is the most expensive way to get a free dinner.
one year i kept track of everything i bought during deer season. coffee, gas, meals, ammo, license, processing, snacks. everything.
the price per lb of venison was right around $7.00 a pound.
its not really cheaper but it is better meat.
the price per lb of venison was right around $7.00 a pound.
its not really cheaper but it is better meat.
I have a lot of equipment. I usually don't have to purchase much. I don't count the cost anymore at all. We like venison and eat a lot of it. Between my son and I we usually kill 4-8 a year on average. This year we have 14 tags between us including DMP, plus my future daughter in law will be hunting with us this year. We will fill as many tags as we possibly can, we eat venison, chicken and a little pork. I rarely buy beef anymore. It helps that we process our own. We do so many we considered starting a small operation.
I am a meat hunter. And proud of it. I’ll shoot the first decent buck I can - and then gladly go and hunt does. I love doe hunting in rifle season.
Depending on the circumstances around any deer that I take, they may go to a processor or I may do them myself. Either way, cost is irrelevant to me. I get to pursue a passion that I have in hunting as well as feed my family.
Regardless of what I might pay at the grocery store, I get no enjoyment or satisfaction from doing that like I do when I hunt.
Depending on the circumstances around any deer that I take, they may go to a processor or I may do them myself. Either way, cost is irrelevant to me. I get to pursue a passion that I have in hunting as well as feed my family.
Regardless of what I might pay at the grocery store, I get no enjoyment or satisfaction from doing that like I do when I hunt.
If I added up everything I bought over the past 40+ years,it wouldn't be economical.I don't buy much anymore and process everything myself so if I just go year to year,it's way less than beef.I usually raise a beef every year but didn't this year because the cost of live calves was too high.I just bought a half last week and it was 3.5lb hanging weight and about 1/lb to have processed.
I hunt to fill the freezer and I don't shoot every deer I see. Every deer I shoot is trophy, the ones that walk are a story. I don't kid myself to think that I am saving any money. It would take lots and lots of deerever to recoup the costs of my guns alone, then add archery equipment, stands, clothing, etc. etc and I could buy a few cows and food for them for what I spent. There is a sense accomplishment for hunting that no tray of meat in a grocery store will ever match. My wife enjoys the meat more knowing that it is the most organic food you can eat. She didn't eat meat when we met and started when she was pregnant with our son because she needed the protein and veggies weren't enough. When she started the fact I hunted it and it ate acorns and wasn't loaded with antibiotics helped her with the drastic swing in her beliefs. She just started pheasant and turkey hunting this year so she has gone full swing in the other direction.
your cost difference is doing to be different for everyone be elaborate on what your wanting to list with your costs are you talking clothes ever year new guns/ bow that kind of stuff the cost doesn't compare to beef the guy that's out with a hand me down gun, the guy in paps old woolrich who's cost comes in tags and ammo does his own butchering his cost can be by far cheaper
I don't buy any fancy special clothes or equipment to hunt deer with. I like guns and would own many rifles and ammo even if I didn't hunt.My biggest expense to hunt is probably gas,unless I'm hunting behind my house ,but you have to use gas to go the store and buy beef.a buck is free with a purchase of a license. So if I shoot a doe and process it myself all it costs is the price of an antlerless tag
Way cheaper than any meat if done with a purpose. Vacume bags aren't cheap. Canning jars have decades of use. Reloads are reasonable. 7 tags and many ag tags to fill. Some hunt while others gather meat.
I'm not hunting to save money, not worried about meat prices. I'm hunting because I really like to get out every day. I usually keep two deer every season. Wait until December, when conditions allow me to let them hang for ten days. Wife and I will give away/ donate 10- 12 deer a year. If they go to someone I know, I skin and quarter them, HSTH deer are unskinned.
Most of the moose I kill , I'll leave with the locals in Newfoundland. There's no shortage of folks there who need the meat.
Most of the moose I kill , I'll leave with the locals in Newfoundland. There's no shortage of folks there who need the meat.
not sure if i should even mention this but for some reason the term "moose meat" reminded me of this 100% true story
decades ago when i first started my career as a correctional officer we had an inmate from somewhere in Canada that wasnt all there mentally, really strange dude and kept getting into trouble at meal time because he kept demanding Moose meat.
he didnt consider himself a man if he couldnt get moose meat. all i know is that moose meat must be super powerful.
this man was eventually given a state sentence and realized he wasnt going to get moose meat for a very long time. shortly after his transfer to a state prison we got word that he cut off his manhood as he no longer considered himself a man for not being able to get moose meat
decades ago when i first started my career as a correctional officer we had an inmate from somewhere in Canada that wasnt all there mentally, really strange dude and kept getting into trouble at meal time because he kept demanding Moose meat.
he didnt consider himself a man if he couldnt get moose meat. all i know is that moose meat must be super powerful.
this man was eventually given a state sentence and realized he wasnt going to get moose meat for a very long time. shortly after his transfer to a state prison we got word that he cut off his manhood as he no longer considered himself a man for not being able to get moose meat
Like to donate JERKY to all my friends and relatives and whoever helped with the processing smoker usually fires up middle of October thru February and is a favorite gathering spot during meat season.. Do all the smoking for neighbors and friends so it’s pretty busy for months..Con Yeager should be my sponsor for my HILLBILLY DELIGHTS….
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I haven’t run the numbers in a while, but felt inspired by this thread.
I spread the cost of my gear over years of ownership to find the current year’s “cost” of the investment, and added in things I’d spend above the same days home… we bring food to camp, maybe eat out 1 night every other trip, which is normal for home, so I didn’t count food.
I don’t own fancy hunting clothes. No scentblocker, no camo, just my muck boots, well worn jeans, layered old shirts and sweatshirts, and a Remington parka I’ve had since I was 18.
I calculated the cost per shot fired for the guns, and cost per vacuum bag for processing (I do my own, always have, always will), spices, cure, casings, and pork belly for the portion of yield that I make into jerky, sausages and pastrami. My price per pound (obviously) goes down the more deer I bring home each year. I used a 40lb yield for simplicity’s sake.
I spread the cost of my gear over years of ownership to find the current year’s “cost” of the investment, and added in things I’d spend above the same days home… we bring food to camp, maybe eat out 1 night every other trip, which is normal for home, so I didn’t count food.
I don’t own fancy hunting clothes. No scentblocker, no camo, just my muck boots, well worn jeans, layered old shirts and sweatshirts, and a Remington parka I’ve had since I was 18.
I calculated the cost per shot fired for the guns, and cost per vacuum bag for processing (I do my own, always have, always will), spices, cure, casings, and pork belly for the portion of yield that I make into jerky, sausages and pastrami. My price per pound (obviously) goes down the more deer I bring home each year. I used a 40lb yield for simplicity’s sake.
| Deer count | Pounds | Price per |
| 1 | 40 | 3.259860357 |
| 2 | 80 | 1.667430178 |
| 3 | 120 | 1.136620119 |
| 4 | 160 | 0.8712150892 |
| 5 | 200 | 0.7119720714 |
| 6 | 240 | 0.6058100595 |
We spend a lot more money today getting our venison than hunters of yesterday did, even with increase due to inflation. Take the photo below, all those hunters were farmers, loggers or blue collar workers. Majority only owned 3 guns, a deer/ bear rifle, shotgun, and a 22, maybe a couple had revolvers usually a double action 38. The clothing they had on they also wore most days in the winter, with maybe the exception of the boots. Those 6 deer would be done up with the help of most if not all, and the meat divided among all. Except for the cost of license and shells there was very little expense.
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