How cheap do you go?....

[benderofwood]

When you go on a hunt that is away from home, how do you cut corners to save money? do you use a tent? candles? just trying to pick up some ideals from other fellow bowhunters; thanks

[vermonster13]

The generosity of friends. This is a great place to make friends around the country and share hunts with each other.

[AkDan]

a lot depends on the hunt, the conditions expected, your wants and your needs.  What do you HAVE to have and what do you WANT to have (cush items).

[Gordy]

Super 8 ... motel 6 is just way too sleazy  

[Killdeer]

The best tent I can afford, plus lots of propane. I go to town to do laundry and shower, minimal grocery shopping, and fill up the truck's gas tank. Been using the same sleeping bags for twenty years, and a lot of my clothing for nearly as long.

Home, sweet home!

 

Killdeer

[Bonebuster]

You will sleep best in a tent. (I know too much about motels, My Basset hounds bed is cleaner)
Like AkDan said, what you want and what you need ain`t always the same thing.

Personally, I try to save money where I can. My wife and I have three kids, and there is NEVER enough money.

[MI_Bowhunter]

First differentiate between what you "need" (i.e. Bow, arrow, broadhead, knife, compass, etc) and what you "want" (scent loc, scent killer spray, cover scent, gadgets, etc.).

Never skimp on true "need" items, improvise as you will on the rest.

[jbb]

Pass up the motels and spend the money on a good tent (make sure you check a bunch of reviews), the very best sleeping bag you can afford and a good sleeping pad.  I have tried cutting corners on those three items many times and do not recommend it.  Nothing worse than a cold miserable wet night with leaky gear.

[Beau]

I outfitted the back of my truck with a wooden platform bed so I can still stow gear under it. It's way more comfortable than the ground and a lot easier to move campsites.

[Rick McGowan]

I do all three, tent, truck and motel if necessary. I use a Coleman stove and lantern, Waaaaayyyyy cheaper than propane. Solar shower(heat water on stove if necessary), I do laundry in camp and hang on the line. I DO use candles, I have a little backpacking candle lantern that is great for inside a small tent and is the only flame I would use in a nylon one. A good tent and sleeping bag will last forever if you take care of them. I have a tent that my dad bought over 50 years ago and my down bag is about 25 years old and looks new.

[John Nail]

Well, I used to tent camp a lot, but getting soft in my old age. I have a 2000 dodge work van with one of those 12vdc coolers, a Mr.Buddy heater and an Army cot. Mosquito net over the cot, so I can leave the doors open in warm weather. Nice, thick air matress. Throw in a 7 cu ft freezer to put clothes and junk in on the way out, and meat coming back if I'm lucky. You can plug that in overnight in a campground, and the meat is rock hard when you get home.
If I'm going way off someplace, I pull my 19' camper with crapper and shower....8^)

[Roadkill]

I have the camper kit in my truck.  Simp;e carpeted p;atfform abov e the wheel wells. All my stuff is under the p;latform in milk crates from kmart.  I put my lantern in it before I put out the fire and roll into my bag-kill the light.  Wake up, turn on the lantern while I push the sleep out of my eyes, and get dressed. Lantern, with some veentilation makes a truck plenty warm in about 15 minutes.   My cousin from Mo spent an week with me in the NV mountains-below 0 at night and we were fine.
i have used tents and much prefer the back of the truck.

[MW]

Frequent flyer miles!

[ChuckC]

I try to "barnstorm"  my term for researching the area(s) before I go and try something new...on my own.  I have nothing against guides...but I have only so much cash and I choose to not afford a guide.  Having contacts in various areas that are willing to share the knowledge and the fun is priceless.  This site and the people on it are worth more than all the gold in Fort Knox (is there still gold there ?).  Ok.... maybe not that much..... But you guys are worth a bunch.  Most other places are too full of competition to actually share info.
ChuckC

[C Kerley]

I go to Colorado every year from Missouri.  My dad goes too, so with splitting gas, food, camping in tents (with one trip to town for a shower), and even adding the cost of my cow tag ($254)....the last two years have been almost exactly $530.  That's including two motel nights (dad don't like to drive straight through) and whatever gadgets I buy on the road.  Not bad for an eight day trip.

[C Kerley]

This is home for the $530 week.

[Jacko]

I sleep in either a tent or swag depending on the season ,camp under a tarpolin , use a alcohol stove and a Hurricane light , and if driving more than 10 hours or so pull over to sleep on the side of the road . Pack easily prepared food & drink for the drive and plan to buy whatever cheap seasonal tucker from roadside stalls instead of the supermarket. Unfortunatly I save fuel costs with as small 4 cylinder car , love to blow all the dollars I scrooge with 4X4 ute . Lastly save a fortune by making or recycling much my hunting gear . regards Perry

[Van/TX]

I'm cheap.  Cut corners wherever they can be cut    :D  

 

 

 

[Roger Norris]

Camping is free, so I tent it whenever possible. I hunted turkeys last spring for a week, I think I spent $50 in gas (maybe), and about $50 on food for my son and I.

[iacornfed]

I use my teardrop camper that my son and I built. I sometimes use a tent. But since we went from 4 kids down to 1 left at home We pull the seats out of the mini van. Put in a platform and sleep on it. We put up our sreen tent over the van so we can open the doors and windows.  We cook on a dutch oven, coleman stove or svea alcahol stove if backpacking in. Always use air matresses or foam pads. And sleeping bags. Stop at truck stops to shower when traveling. Wife likes flyingJ. I Dont like hotels! Seen to many shows about the rooms cleanliness! You dont know who or what has been done in the bed.