" THE COST OF HUNTING "
As a young boy I can remember my father stuffing newspaper into his leather boots getting ready to take his 30/30 lever action, open site rifle on a cold December buck hunt behind the house.He was a young new father just trying to make ends meet.When I became old enough and completed my hunter safety education we would hunt every weekend together.Whether it was for birds,rabbits or deer we hunted from October to mid Jan. every year.I'm sure he worked many hours of overtime so he could buy me my first shotgun and rifle.Although he never said so or mentioned it.I never saw him buy a new rifle for himself and I'm sure he had to budget his money so he would have gas money to take me hunting every weekend.Over the years he taught me every thing I know about hunting.Although I have hunted with some very knowledgeable hunters, they pretty much just reinforced what he had taught me.He also taught me to respect and follow the rules no matter how dumb I thought they where.Not to bend them or look for loopholes(Hello, Mr. Facilitator).He also taught me to respect the wildlife and the land we hunted.To make a quick,clean,ethical kill(not a 60 yard bow shot because its a big buck and the last day).Not to poach animals because we didn't have much money and needed the meat.He taught me a love for all wildlife and the outdoors.Those weeekends we did take quite a few birds,rabbits and a few nice Bucks but none that would make B&C.We didn't have noney to mount them,just some racks on the wall in the garage.I enjoyed those hunts just as much if not more than any hunt I've every been on.
Sixteen years ago I went on my 1st Colorado hunt.I bought a $110.00 deer tag and could hunt just about anywhere in the state.Did that for a few years which resulted in a few doe and small bucks, which was fine with me because I didn't know anything about taking a measuring tape to a rack.If it was bigger than the last it was a trophy.Did the same for elk with a $250.00 bull tag for a few years with the same results.Over the years I thought $250 was too much for "Me" to pay for an OTC bull tag.But I became Addicted to elk hunting.Over the years I also read more articles of propaganda how success was determined by the size of the head gear and how a couple more inches meant you where a better hunter.So,I started to put out even more money for license fees,bonus point,prefernce points etc......Now I'm aware these fees help with the preservation and management of wildlife for hunters and nonhunters present and future,which is one reason I don't mind spending the money.So,when does the cost become too much?? Is it when I'm buying a govenors tag for 10s of thousands of dollars and flying around the wilderness in a helicopter looking for a deer with 200" of bone on his head so I can mount it and brag how I killed this majestic creature(killing is not that difficult).or is it when I spend six figures on a bighorn sheep hunt,so I can brag I did the Grand Slam(ego trip). Now for me to say anything against these practices would surely be hipocritical.Although my tag may only cost me hundreds this year.My entire elk trip is going to cost me a small fortune.Much more than most of my blue collar friends can afford.They must surely think I'm an idiot!!!
So, I think. Has the COST OF HUNTING made me forget the values my father taught me on those weekends when I was a boy??? Have I lost all respect for the wildlife I hunt by helping commercialize hunting? Has the cost become too much??
