Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Hunting Tuition

How many of you have spent money in bad ways for hunting gear or guides, or anything to do with hunting? Yeah that's what I thought everyone of you!

Years ago I decided to refer to my losses as tuition. It's part of my learning curve for what works and what does not. No different then tuition paid to any school for lessons learned.

I know I have spent a small fortune on crap, or bad ideas.This is depressing at times when I dwell on it. I have since refocused my thoughts on the incredible education I have earned. Some of those lessons were more educational( ie expensive) then others.

This kind of forum is really valuable to learn from. Kinda like Hunters "Cliff notes". Many of the guys here have a lot of credibility and vast experience which cuts to the chase on things we want to do or try. I know I have read posts from people and said wow glad I did not waste any money on that.

I think for younger guys who may not have had a father who hunted this is like a "big brother" program for them. Lots of guys may have had a dad that bird hunted but not big game. Where do you go for help or guidance? 10 years ago you would buy a Jack Oconner book or ask a guy at the gun shop. Now you boot up the internet and you have hundreds of opinions at your fingertips.

Some of the information may not be good. just as with teachers some have opinions that may not reflect your ideas or best interests. It's good to hang out for a while and see who's ideas and credibility stand out and carry some educated value. Many of the best guys come to my mind right now. The Internet for hunting or any other personal interest has provided me with a huge amount of entertainment during the year. It's nice to talk and visit with people about hunting and shooting all year round that I would not otherwise know. I have made several friends from these sites and countless hunting clients both in Alaska and especially in Africa.

I'm glad to have had this technology evolve in my lifetime. I find it's a bit addictive at times, but it's usually still educational.

JJ- Thanks for that! I've used these forums to learn more about rifles and hunting things other than whitetails! It's been great and you're right it is addictive.

Now, what are some of the 'classes' you guys have taken?

Me, I've learned that cheap optics are a waste of money (even though I can't afford good ones yet). I've looked through some Swaros (thanks Moosie) and Leicas (thanks Flinch) in the field and they make a world of difference compared to my 7-45X50 Bushnells.

Yes. "Tuition". I groan when I think about it. At least here, after finding out who seems to know what they are doing, I get some good, well tested ideas. It has made a difference. A big difference.
I find one, big drawback. I get too many expensive ideas here. Groan ! E

On the crediblity side, I find that a lot of folks think that every word has to be gospel that takes into account all possible scenarios, which isn't true. What works for some folks in one part of the country or globe, won't necessarily work for you in your particular situation. That doesn't mean that individual who offered the advice doesn't know what he/she is talking about. Everyone has to sort through the chaff and take out what will work for them and discard the rest. Some hunters have 40 +yrs experience in the field, some only two. Each end of the spectrum can offer some sound advice. When you come to the point that you don't think anybody can teach you anything, and you know everything, usually you can't and don't.

As for my tuition, it's been spent on bad horses or mules, tack that doesn't hold up,trucks that won't pull, nylon tents that collapse, sleeping bags and boots that don't keep you warm. But for guns an optics, I have used the gamut of them and except for one Weatherby that wouldn't shoot, I can't remember any that didn't get the job done, maybe not as well as I liked, but animals fell over dead. I have used the old Bushnell banner scopes for $27 and Leupolds for $400. They both worked.

One of the newest things I have , that I learned from this forum is the small LED head lamps. But I don't have GPS or range finder. My mule knows where we are at, and with my old eyes, if I can't see it plainly, it's to far to shoot at.

Thanks for reminding me just how expensive "education" can be JJ. I look at my college education as a drop in the bucket compared to my "hunting" education. My dad hunted a lot, but used the same gun, same bullet, same everything year after year. He and I were successful, but now I look back and think, "That stupid item cost me a big buck! That bullet really sucked for elk. Those crummy boots hurt my feet...etc." Anywho, I have learned a ton from the folks on here. Not just by reading what they say, but by actually getting to know them, meeting them and learning what works for them. This forum has also educated me on picking out "trolls," "dip wads," and people who like to hear themselves talk but have very LITTLE actual knowledge of anything (arm chair blow hards).

It pains me to think of the money I have wasted on crap ie; Gortex (single layer), fanny packs that hurt my waist, crummy rifle slings, see through scope covers, junk scope mounts, junk Bushnell products (any of their products), junk binos (Bushnell again), junk rifle stocks, junk brass and loading products that don't live up to their claims. Oh, and lazy outfitters that don't know crap about anything....especially big game. Oh well, I am sure my Ph.D. education in buying crap is not over yet <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Flinch

Great post, all I can add is AMEN!

I also admit to saving a ton of time and money from the information I have been able to glean on this and other sites from people who have way more experience than I do.

I'm just wondering, does your tuition definition go so far as to include all the other stupid things we do to learn- such as, falling down mountains, stepping on a twig at the wrong time, using velcro on our hunting packs and other items, or answering the call of mother nature on a poison oak bush? If so, I must be the smartest SOB that ever hunted in these parts! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />- Sheister

Yep, great post. Gave me a chuckle as well as some reflection on my tuition. It takes the sting out of bad purchases and bad decsions to think of them as tuition to gain real, life practical education. JJ the philosopher...

Which reminds me, I suggested once that we run a thread of hunting mistakes we have made on game, for the learning value. Nobody responded. Some of my most valuable game lessons came from animals that I did not get. One bull moose that I called in every evening for several days taught me more about moose calling than all the tapes, books, and other bulls I called and killed combined. Backtracking or figuring out how an animal beat you may be the key to harvesting many of his kind in the future. Maybe our mistakes are too embarrassing to admit, or too often, we don't learn from them. Tuition money has its own built in lesson.

JJHack
I wish I could have had all this information years ago when I first started. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> It would have saved me a lot of time and money. Stupid things I have tried....making aluminum muzzle brakes has to be at the top of my list <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />.....Maybe we should start a thread on that topic......naw, cause after I posted all mine there wouldnt be any room let for anyone else...
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Charlie

Good point. Most of us have probably learned more from animals that we didn't kill, than from those we did.

You bet. I have spooked and lost lots of turkey. And I learned a lesson or two from each mistake. That's all part of paying your dues.

The hardest lesson to learn is to let the little bucks pass. You can't shoot a big buck if you are field dressing a little one. And you will never know what might be following a little buck if you shoot him. Though you can some times tell by watching the little buck's behavior that something is following him. I think that's the most common mistake we make. And the most difficult one to correct.

JJ, I would think that since you are in this as your livelyhood all your "educational" expensses should be tax deductable. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I have to say THANK YOU to all here at the campfire for all i've learned here. I can't begin to tell you have usefull and entertaining this site has been. For a little backround i'm 15 y/o and for at last 5 years i've known I wanted to hunt, but my dad doesn't hunt at all so I never got to learn much of anything about it. Then I started using the internet, out of the many sites I lurk at this is by far my favorite. But to the point I would know nothing about hunting and guns if it wasn't for you guys. Thanks, now i'm doomed to spend thousands of $'s on fancy custom rifles <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

JH, glad you can be here. This IS by far the most useful sight. I lurk around on a few others and get completely pissed at the lack of "in field" knowledge and total B.S. that a lot of guys blow forth. Most don't know crap about anything, but read it somewere. This sight is full of VERY knowledgable hunters, guids and outdoor writers. If someone blows smoke on this forum, their bluff is quickly called and they get run off. Just stay clear of Big Stick, prom dresses, chloroform, Cuban cigars, blue bullets, McMillan stocks and custom rifles. You will be just fine <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Flinch

Jim,

Probably my worst hunting related mistake, was taking way too much gear on a fly-in sheep hunt.

I know I've mentioned it here before. But it bears repeating.

My hunting partner and I booked a C185 to fly us from Cordova up to Wrangle/St. Elias National Preserve. For whatever reason, we didn't get toghter beforehand and plan out which gear we needed, or who would bring it.

We ended up with twice as much stuff, and food, than we needed, and it cost us on the flight out. The runway (that's being generous to the somewhat rock free strip we landed at) at the hunting site was too short for the C185 to carry all our gear, plus us, back to civilization. So the pilot made two trips, taking or gear first, then coming back for us.

As you may have guessed, the extra flight was not free. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Driving a Jeep Cherokee through a creek too fast,I hydrauliced the motor,breaking a rod.That was a $4,500 mistake and a week stranded 60km in.What hurt even more,that was a fresh engine.