Have you ever....

[Bear Heart]

Have you ever sold something you really liked to fund a hunt?  I am selling my favorite gun to pay for the deposit on a moose hunt with my dad.  Feeling a little bummed out but I had to put my big boy pants on and do what is right for my family instead of robbing our emergency fund.

[Stumpkiller]

Nope.  Never paid for a hunt.


But I did sell a sailboat to buy a house with 20 acres.    

[Bear Heart]

If I could hunt moose another way I would.

[cahaba]

I have done it. I always ask myself "do I really need this item or can I sell it and not miss it".
I also have made it a point to never dip into the emergency fund to pay for archery related stuff or anything else. If I don't have something that I can sell I just keep saving. Maybe do some extra work etc.

[Walt Francis]

Sold an elk rack once to finance a mule deer/elk hunt in Idaho (not guided).  Didn't get either critter but would do it again in a second.  I'd much rather be making the new memories then dwelling on the past.

[Izzy]

Yes, yearly.

[Guru]

Time spent on a hunt with your dad is priceless, don't hesitate!!!!


This is a general statement not meant for anyone in particular....

I've never understood how some folks will complain about never getting to go away on a hunt, but they own 30 bows....and they don't shoot the majority of them!  

While I'm at it....I really don't understand why guys make it seem like there's something wrong with paying for a hunt!

[Tom]

My experience is before something new comes in something old hits the road. Would not hesitate selling something to hunt with my dad-if he was still with us. The memories you will make on the hunt far outweigh any weapon and once made can't be sold. Won't hit family funds to buy anything, just my priority.

[Dave Pagel]

I have sold many things to finance hunts.  In my book it is all about the adventure and the adventure is more important to me than the things.  In my early 30s I sold a number of firearms and took out a loan to go on a grizzly hunt with my brother.  One of the best things I ever did.  We created memories we talk about 25 years later.

I am selling a bunch of bows and firearms right now to help finance a piece of property that will be the hunting camp for my family & friends.  I am doing it gladly.  Many memories will be made there.

D.P.

[onewhohasfun]

Originally posted by Guru:
Time spent on a hunt with your dad is priceless, don't hesitate!!!!


This is a general statement not meant for anyone in particular....

I've never understood how some folks will complain about never getting to go away on a hunt, but they own 30 bows....and they don't shoot the majority of them!  

While I'm at it....I really don't understand why guys make it seem like there's something wrong with paying for a hunt!

X2 well said.

[IndianaBowman]

Yep!  Stuff is stuff and stays here on earth. Memories are the only thing you can take with you when you die.

Hunts cost money and it doesn't necessarily mean it's a fully guided hunt. I've been to Alaska on DIY hunts many times and trust me they cost money.

[Kevin Dill]

Walt Francis...Dave Pagel...IndianaBowman...

Absolutely! Memories don't need tangible objects. The 'doing' is far more important than the 'done'. My finest weapons are simply tools and I've never allowed myself to value an inanimate object more than another memory made.

[damascusdave]

Tim,one thing I learned long ago is to focus on what I have left...I had 17 guns at one time and am now down to about a half dozen...my favourite is one my dad, who now has dementia, stocked for me

DDave

[Ibow]

Yeah, kind of. When I was a teenager I sold a Marlin 30-30 lever action rifle. I don't remember what model it was but it was a pretty fancy gun. I bought it with press route & lawn cutting money and I was really proud of it. I sold it to buy my first Black Widow recurve and while I haven't gun hunted in more than 30 years, I kind of wish I had kept that gun.

I've bought and sold a ton of bows since that time but never regretted any of those transactions. It's probably not so much the gun - probably because it was one of the first things I worked really hard for to buy and I was so proud of it.

[Bowwild]

Yep, last January I sold several items to pay the deposit for my first (and only?) moose hunt. The hunt was supposed to happen the first week of October (2013) but a cancer set-back for my hunting buddy post-poned the trip until same time (God willing), 2014.

I don't miss the stuff I sold but a couple were very nice recurves. One was a 1 of 4 ever made Bear Custom Kodiak TD.

Oh, and if a near-miracle occurs and I draw a MT Bighorn sheep tag in May I'll be selling a half-dozen more bows. I only "need" 2.

[tracker12]

I would never hesitate to sell something if that is what it took for a new adventure. Especially one that involved family or good friends.  When I look back at the great hunts I had it not about what gun or bow I was using but rather who I shared the experience with.  I drew a Unit 2 Colorado archery Elk tag two years ago that took me 21 years to draw.  My buddy could not make it so I went alone for 14 days.  Was lucky to kill a 377" bull and the trip was very good.  But to be honest I will never go on a solo trip again. 4 days to CO 14 days hunting and 4 days back.  A long time and no one to share the memories.  That trip taught me a lot.

[gregg dudley]

I'm bad about keeping stuff I don't need, but I'm working on getting better at it.  I look at these people who are a part of the small house movement (like less than 150 square feet!) and I am envious.  I'm working hard on the buying less end of the spectrum.  I just need to work on the getting rid of stuff side.

I would sell a bunch of stuff to fund an epic hunt though.  Time is as scarce as money though in making those big hunts happen.  I have a hard time getting extended time off during most seasons.

[GreyGoose]

No, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't.  I have done it to pay for a family vacation when our kids were younger.

[Bear Heart]

Well, I hope it sells fast.  Rip the Band-Aid off kind of deal.

[Sam McMichael]

No. Every time I sell off something, I later regret it. I save up until I can afford what I want.