Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire A OIAL hunt on a very tight budget

.... and someone hands you $100 to improve your chances. What would you spend it on?

Let's say you're going on a guided hunt after something on the larger size - (moose or bigger/meaner). You've got the same 30-06 Ruger you've hunted with very successfully with for many years. You plan to use the same ammo; green and yellow or Super X stuff you've always used. The scope, a 4X, is okay and has never failed. Basically the whole outfit is comfortable (well used, including what you wear); you've been saving for this hunt. You've got your bases covered but, barely. Now you got an extra bit of cash. What will you spend it on? (Remember what is always said about making a successful kill.)

Will you try to trade up for a "better" rifle, buy new boots, get a better scope or mounts, buy better bullets, a new stock, a trigger job..........how would you spend it? IOW, what is the best value improvement that can be made to the entire hunting outfit?

That is a good one -- but if I've hunted successfully with the rifle for years, I will have to assume it has a good stock & trigger, and shoots well with an appropriate bullet.

The tricky part is that it's only $100, which rules out most optics and footwear. Trading up for footwear is a low-percentage activity...

If it's once-in-a-lifetime, I would say:

1. Bullets (but see above)
2. Film & processing

Good boots by your set up!

Fun question! I say "tidbits". A good knife, or sharpning outfit. Maybe good lightweight raingear. Maybe a cheap "backup" binoc or spotting scope. Shooting sticks. Superduper rifle sling.

Garmin eTrex

Mike

New boots = sore feet, the gun and scope and everything is dependable. I'd hand the $100 to the guide.

New boots = sore feet, the gun and scope and everything is dependable. I'd hand the $100 to the guide.


This one gets my vote. "Found money" should change someones life, even if just a little. I remember every one of the few money tips that I ever got...

Combo

Best way I know of to improve your chances would be to buy another day of hunting if that hundred would buy it.


BCR

I would not dick with a broken in tried and true outfit provided it was up to the task at hand. I'd tuck that $100.00 in my pocket for the un-forseen little thing you might want after you get there.

I think John Fraser had an excellent suggestion: buy good quality film, assuming you have a good camera. Buy slide film, as the slides last forever. You can always make prints.

Dinner and drinks for the biggest buck here in Wis. In Minn. it's a good bottle of whiskey with steaks. Money is nice, but memories of time spent hunting with friends and family is priceless (as the ad says). I still remember my sons first buck like it was yesterday. He can't hunt with us this year as he is out to sea in a nuclear sub. I'd gladly give $1000.00 to spend opening day hunting with him.

And here I thought that sub MOA accuracy was really necessary for success! What? No trigger job or bedding work? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

(Is being able to hunt really more important than shooting itty bitty groups?) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Let's see...an extra night in Anchorage? No, not enough money. How about an extra hour of bush plane time? No, not enough. Maybe a nice keep sake from a native artist...No, not enough money. O.K. , how about some really good raingear? $100 won't cover that either. Better spend it on phone calls to the quide and some real straight talk about what not to do once you get there.