When does this happen? Every time I see one of these sales advertised the flyer always says "excludes ammunition, firearms and gift cards".
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Im fairlyy similar when it comes to hunting stuff (although I still tend to find myself eying up new pocket knives when I really dont need another one). Im always on the lookout for more ammo though.
Now fishing stuff, thats another story. Big box fishing stores are the bane of my wallets existence.
Good thread! All you really need to be successful (especially when it comes to turkey/deer/grouse) is your gun or bow, a good knife, warm clothes that can be bought at a surplus or second-hand store rather than a big box store, a day pack, some ammo and your licence/tags. A call or two if you're turkey hunting and perhaps some binoculars. The vast amount of everything else is nothing but frills and gimmicks to attempt to "buy success" as Welsh put it.
Hopefully the newer hunters are paying attention here and will see that you don't "need" a lot of new gear for success. Buy some quality used stuff when starting out rather than new junk. You don't need trail cams, ATV's, scent control products, 400 fps crossbows, magnum calibres, $500 scopes, 15 different turkey calls, designer turkey decoys, name-brand ground blinds or tree stands, the latest GPS, $300 boots, most "camo" in general (although sometimes it's all that good rain gear comes in), 3.5" shells, the list goes on and on.
Think of what our ancestors used back in the old days. They had no trouble killing turkey, deer or moose and they didn't have any of this new stuff. It's nice to have some of it and nice to be in a position to buy what you want, but not very much of it is necessary.
One of the best guns I have bought, a Wingmaster 870, picked it up at Gun Mart on consignment for $125...heck a a good deal !!
Don't mix up buying cheap and buying crap....I own a whack of top of the line hunting gear...and it was all purchased thru eBay, estate auctions, Gun shows etc. I don't remember the last time I bought something retail. I've rarely been in any of the box stores, usually only go there when a buddy is buying something. On-line shopping thru Amazon is far better than going into Bass Pro.
....never spent more than $4,500 on any of my 4x4 trucks, the last 3 I've owned amortized out to about $1K per year. The ones I'm in now (97 Sierra) I picked up 2 years ago at an estate auction for $3500..so far no problems. Singly the worst investment and the biggest waste of money a guy can make, spending $20+k on a truck....for the 'look of success' :)
I am a grear junkie too & always seem to have 2 crossbows on hand when I really only need one.
However like most of you I am @ a good point in my life being in my mid 40's & the big ticket purchases are all over for me. Now I just buy small items like arrows,broadheads & a few fishing lures here & there. I just hope Excalibur doesn't come out with a bow that's better than the Micro becuase I will convince myself that I need it!! LOL
Jeff
I spent the last 35 consuming the “next thing”; it seems as I get older I just want to get back to the simple life. Next purchase is not the Honda foreman 500 I just looked at this week, but a 1993 Suzuki King Quad 300 for $1600.00. Don’t need to go fast, or new. Paid up front, no interest or payments. If it breaks, not making payments on stuff I can’t use. I am starting to get sick of the “buy into the system” of mortgages, interest, student loans, and quite frankly tired of it. If I had my choice in the woods, off the grid on 100 acres, farming and hunting as much of needs a s possible.