Start Hunting With Less: What You Actually Need (and What You Don’t)

We All Like Stuff

It’s human nature to collect stuff. Just look in the back seat of your car, your backyard, or the back corner of your garage. Chances are you have something that you held onto “just in case.” I am guilty of this too, I have to move my racing bike in my gear closet just to get to my car tools. Hunting is no different and its easy to think that in order to be like “that guy” I have to have all the stuff too. But maybe this is blocking your ability to get started. You need an attitude of hunting with less. It’s not flashy but it works. It won’t make you money, but it will cost you less. And you can start now instead of putting it off. There are just a few things you need to get started – game to hunt, proper licensing, a legal weapon, and some clothing and transportation basics. It’s one thing to think about something but its another to turn that thought into action so begin your next hunting adventure today with a few practical steps.

• Legal game to hunt
• A hunting license (and hunter education)
• A legal weapon
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• A way to get there and get home

The Hunt

The very first decision is what you are going to hunt. Depending on your personality you will have more fun – and therefore better luck – with different kinds of hunting. Are you willing to sit still and enjoy the silence or does that sound like hell? Do you want to eat what you hunt and eventually kill? Are you looking to challenge yourself with a solo hunt or would you rather have a few buddies along and finish the day at the local burger joint? Depending on how you answer these you know what you want to hunt. While any hunting can be enjoyed with friends, upland bird is very popular because you get to walk fields together for pheasant, quail, or dove – and you can talk as much as you want. A deer hunt on the other hand may be more of a solo hunt challenge or if you are happier not seeing another human being for several hours. If you really aren’t sure yet, try small game or varmints.

Speaking of varmints, hunting coyotes in the Midwest can be one of the most budget friendly hunts you can take, and of course budget is crucial in determining what you are going to hunt. Hunting is less fun if you are worried about paying off a credit card or scratching a fancy new shotgun you know you really can’t afford. Hunting coyotes in most states is the cost of a hunting license in your state and a legal weapon. Depending on your state, the season is usually most (or all) of the year, and many farmers would love to have you shoot some coyotes; which can be a great way to get your foot in the door on access to private property. Be sure to follow your state’s hunting laws regarding access to private property and hunting coyotes.

Photo Credit: Tim Umphreys via Unsplash

Hunting Licenses and Legal Requirements

One hunting cost you cannot afford is to go to jail for violating hunting laws. This means it’s essential that you buy a hunting license and permits if needed. But don’t worry, everything you need to know is on your state’s fish and game website and if you have questions you can contact your state department, or leave a comment below. Since licensing is an unavoidable cost, below I have provided examples of hunting license costs in several Midwestern states.

State	Coyote	Deer	Upland Bird	Waterfowl
Iowa	$22	$55	$22	$58
Kansas	$27.50	$70	$27.50	$60
Missouri	$50	$69.50	$61.50	$82.50
Texas	$25	$25	$32	$57
Wisconsin	$18	$42	$18	$60.50

In addition to the hunting license requirements, your state most likely requires you to take a hunter education course. This (often free) course will help you learn the essentials of your state’s hunting laws and set you up for success as ethical, legal hunter.

Choosing a Legal, Affordable Hunting Weapon

Once you know what you are hunting, it is time to choose a weapon to hunt with. This is where it can start to get overwhelming for the new hunter because there are so many options. There is plenty of good content online about what weapon to choose but the best place to start is legal and affordable. If you aren’t sure what you are going to hunt and want to be able to cover as many of your options as possible, I suggest starting with a shotgun. There are plenty of good shotguns out there for less than $300. A big advantage with a shotgun is that you can load slugs to shoot deer, or bird shot for upland bird, waterfowl, small game, and turkey. Check your state regulations before buying to ensure your weapon of choice will be permitted for your hunt.

 Looking the Part - What to Wear Hunting 

If there is anything that makes a hunter look complete, it is a full set of matching camo clothing. I used to think this was essential but I am beginning to realize the deer don’t care. Hunting gets cold so you should have warm clothes, but chances are you already have some options that will work. Check your closet for greys, browns, and dark greens that will keep you warm for your hunt and won’t tear easily. Before I had built up a decent pile of camo, I would buy only the outermost layer in camo and wear anything I had underneath. This gave me a full camo outside while keeping my cash free for the rest of my hunting needs. If you do need to buy something, try Good Will or your local thrift store first. I once spent $100 on new camo coveralls and the next week my buddy bought an almost identical and almost new set at Good Will for $10. While this is not my best moment, it goes to show that equipping yourself with decent hunting clothes doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you are willing to hunt with less. 

What About a Truck? 

Nearly every hunting video I see about hunting involves a truck so let me put your mind at rest. You do not need a truck. The first deer I shot was hauled from the field to the meat locker on the back of my ’99 Honda Accord. I don’t recommend this because it probably was not the best hunter image I could give to the community, but the point stands that not having a truck should not discourage you from hunting. However, if you are using a car or SUV, I would recommend quartering your kill if its large or using a trash bag and a bag of ice in a plastic tote if its smaller. There are helpful videos online about how to do this successfully and someday I may tell the story about my first attempt that was far from good. If you really won’t take your car hunting, go with a buddy who already has a truck or even rent a truck just for the days you will be hunting. If not having a truck is keeping you from hunting you can find a way around it and it is worth it. 

Gear Up

Gear doesn’t make a hunter. More stuff doesn’t make successful hunting. If stuff is holding you back from hunting more, you need less stuff. But hopefully you can take what you learned today and start acting towards preparing for your next (or first) hunt. Engage your mind – make a gear list of all the things you think you need to start hunting and write the alternative that you already own. Sign up for hunter education if you haven’t yet because you will need it to hunt. If you have any questions leave a comment below. Take a drive to an area you think would be good hunting because in two weeks I am going to break down all about where you can find good land to hunt on without needing hundreds of acres of forest or food plots.