Budget Hunting

By Gunnar Sullivan, Kansas Coordinator

Budget Hunting Options

When first taking up hunting, there can be a lot of hurdles to jump through. Some of the most common barriers to entry are access, hunting knowledge, and equipment costs. There are programs that help with access, and mentoring programs to help educate novice hunters, but there is still the unfortunate cost associated with hunting. To help alleviate the cost concerns, I have compiled some tips and suggestions to get more young people and novice hunters outdoors.

The weapon of choice is one of the most significant costs associated with hunting. A shotgun can be a very versatile option for a new hunter. With one shotgun, you can hunt nearly everything offered in Kansas while only making ammunition changes. You can hunt dove, waterfowl, turkeys, squirrel, as well as coyotes and deer by simply changing chokes and ammunition. With that, there are plenty of budget-friendly options on shotguns that a beginner should consider. Tri-Star has Cobra III Field options that can be found new for under $250; for a few hundred more dollars, you can get your hands on the ever-popular Remington 870. You can find a shotgun that fits your budget. I urge new shooters to save money on the shotgun and use that money they would have spent towards lessons from a professional.

Waterfowl Hunting

Waterfowl hunting has emerged as a popular choice amongst youth and novice hunters. It is also one of the most cost-prohibitive types of hunting. Here are my Equipment suggestions:

Decoys

Scour Facebook marketplace, and secondhand options for decoys. If the paint is faded, that is fine. It isn't a beauty contest, and it will get you afield. You can take the oldest decoys on marketplace, and spray paint them black (coot), or black and white with great success.

Waders

My suggestion, which I personally use as well, is to buy a cheap wader that is uninsulated and a size larger. By doing this, I can layer it according to the weather. I can hunt from early September through January by just wearing ski pants underneath and heavy socks.

Ideal Hunt for a beginner

New hunters should try, and locate areas that waterfowl frequent, set their decoys, and create a blind out of local vegetation. This could be as simple as burying yourself in grass on a bank, or setting back in the cattails and waiting on the waterfowl to arrive. There is no need to mess with calls until you've learned how to prevent them from being a conservation tool.

Upland Hunting

Upland Hunting is an excellent option for a novice hunter trying to get out and learn. It is a style of hunting that is rewarded for miles walked and effort exerted.

Gear

You can easily go upland hunting in a pair of beat-up jeans, and tennis shoes. It is nice to have a vest that you can carry your successful harvest in, as well as an orange cap. There are always options available for under $25 that will suffice.

Ideal Hunt for a beginner

If you are just starting out upland hunting, you will be rewarded for researching habitat types and food sources that are preferred. It is as simple as locating those areas, and "stomping grass". You can walk to your heart's content and be learning along the way, with nearly no cost involved.

Deer Hunting

Deer hunting is an excellent option for a beginner. It once again requires very little gear to get involved at the entry level. Like upland hunting, you will do yourself a massive favor by researching habitats and locations that deer prefer.

Gear

If all you have is a shotgun, you can hunt with slugs during the rifle seasons in Kansas. You can also purchase a dedicated rifle for those seasons to buy yourself more range. Savage has multiple affordable options that will work perfectly. If you can purchase a compound bow, or crossbow you can expand your season to nearly four months in Kansas. That is a huge advantage to a beginner.

Ideal Hunt for a beginner

The October Antlerless season in Kansas is an excellent opportunity for a new hunter to get out. There is typically less pressure on public hunting areas, and the weather is also typically fair. Sitting over a feed source or along a travel corridor can yield great results for a patient hunter.

Key Takeaways

With some creativity, you can hunt most species in Kansas at a limited cost. Do not buy comfort items; only buy necessities to get afield if money is tight. It costs nothing to research and put yourself in a position to be successful. Join conservation groups, learn from your peers, and tag along on hunts. No amount of money can buy you the experience you are missing by sitting at home until you can afford a $1000 shotgun.