Are Economic Woes Hitting The Sportsman’s Life?

September 17, 2008
Current Outdoor Issues
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Let’s be honest here. If you’re like me these days there seems to be a little less money taking up space in your pocket. Thankfully I’m not hurting financially like many families seem to be across this nation, but I would be less than truthful if I didn’t admit to the necessity of some budget tightening in my family. Fact is, if you want to get depressed simply turn on the news. Lately you’d be hard-pressed to find much of anything positive going on in our world right now — particularly in financial quarters.

In talking to my circle of friends it also seems there’s a little less spending going on when it comes to this fall’s hunting plans. Several friends have scaled back their Western hunts. Some have even cancelled altogether. Problem is when you have a group of guys planning a hunting adventure together all it takes is one or two dropping out and the proverbial “domino effect” begins to take place.

It’s really hard to justify spending the equivalent of a month’s mortgage payment toward hunting expenses when some families are not even certain they can scrape up the money to stay current with their bills. Moreover, financial woes are not a topic everyone likes to share openly with others. It can be deeply personal, and frustratingly aggravating to talk about money worries among your sportsman peers.

Again this fall I’m not planning any extravagant hunt out-of-state. My reasoning, however, is more career-related rather than money saving. In the fall I just don’t have the time to get away hunting for a full week. Weekend forays into the outdoors is about all I can afford at this point in my career.

I’ve also noticed that some of my sportsman friends seem to be re-acquainting themselves with hunting closer to home this fall. Due, I’m sure in large part, to cutting back on costs. Mind you that’s not a bad thing, but merely a subtle sign of the tougher financial times many households currently are experiencing.

I did find it interesting to note recently that there is some news that’s contrarian to the bleak picture I have thus far painted here. Gun sales are reportedly brisk all around the country in advance of the election where the threat of a Democrat residing in the White House is a distinct possibility. This action is mostly in anticipation of the likely reinstatement of some form of Assault Weapons Ban thanks to a probable Democratically controlled Legislature and Executive Branch.

Okay, so I’m just curious…how has the past 18 months or so of paying higher fuel costs, food costs, etc. affected the way you intend to recreate outdoors this fall? Are you cutting back? Or is it just a momentary bump in the road for which you’re not really changing anything? I’d like to hear from you. [hit the comment link below]