tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post4737421914132238912..comments2023-11-18T08:27:39.567-08:00Comments on From Feathers to Fur: The cost of a little funFeathers to Furhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16061738725660703659noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post-15336791737174933042011-09-14T20:00:05.523-07:002011-09-14T20:00:05.523-07:00Interesting post.
I actually, for Holly's blo...Interesting post.<br /><br />I actually, for Holly's blog to be honest, figured out the cost. I included all guns, tags, processing,and ammunition for hunting and practice but not gas. That is a factor but I'm assuming I would be spending for some outdoor or family travel. I came up with $4.35, but that was before a deer this week, which I've yet to cut and wrap to weigh it. I'll do it myself this year to save money. <br /><br />It's an interesting exercise, but to be honest the recreational value is worth more that most things I have ever done, even without the meat. In the thousands of dollars (well spent I think) I put into snowboarding or windsurfing I never came home with food. I have to assume I'd be doing something other than watching TV, if I had one. So whatever the price, there is a satisfaction that goes beyond the net cost. Do I factor the cost of my San Francisco back yard into the cost of homegrown potatoes? They're pretty expensive.<br /><br />Neil HAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post-57005693628667835022011-08-25T09:37:39.484-07:002011-08-25T09:37:39.484-07:00Well, there's one more REALLY important respon...Well, there's one more REALLY important responsibility: raising children. But I can tell you exactly what it would be like: You'd sing, dance, tell stories, make art and rest. You would not need anti-depressants, high blood pressure medication, insulin, etc. The glories of civilization are myths we've told ourselves forever to convince ourselves we did the right thing, leaving that life behind.Holly Heyserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03134909592916671876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post-41537502659859725122011-08-25T09:28:40.258-07:002011-08-25T09:28:40.258-07:00Wouldn't it be awesome if our only responsibil...Wouldn't it be awesome if our only responsibility in life was to hunt and gather food? I guess if it was, it wouldn't be leisure, and we'd get sick of it just like anything thing else. <br /><br />I'm glad that I have hunting and fishing for my leisure time. Try to imagine what you would be doing for leisure if you didn't hunt and fish. What do you think it might be?Feathers to Furhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16061738725660703659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post-36358111346137562922011-08-24T19:43:35.666-07:002011-08-24T19:43:35.666-07:00One thing I try to keep in mind is this: If all we...One thing I try to keep in mind is this: If all we did was hunt and gather for our food, we'd all have 2-3x as much leisure time. Hunter-gatherers spend about 17 hours a week on food acquisition.<br /><br />The problem for us is that we can do that if we try, but doing it in addition to the labor we must to to pay the bills is tough.<br /><br />So yeah, hunting is our leisure time, with a little bit of sweat thrown in when we get lucky.Holly Heyserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03134909592916671876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post-67681967614172582552011-08-24T18:13:22.938-07:002011-08-24T18:13:22.938-07:00Jules, You're very right about there being so ...Jules, You're very right about there being so many cost factors to consider. Where do we draw the line? I believe that expenses that would have been made anyway without a hunting trip are ones that should probably be excluded in the final cost analysis. <br /><br />And I'm honestly with the both of you when it boils down to it. I love the outdoors, and I love hunting. The fact of the matter is that no matter the out of pocket expense, if I can't afford it, then I won't be able to do it at all anyway. My motive for this challenge is mostly out of curiosity. I hope it ends up being a rewarding challenge rather than one that ends up steering me away from the sport. <br /><br />Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Jules!Feathers to Furhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16061738725660703659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post-25239670525111660142011-08-24T16:47:35.237-07:002011-08-24T16:47:35.237-07:00We've considered the cost too, but there are s...We've considered the cost too, but there are so many factors. How do you count the money you would otherwise have spent against some different recreation? I doubt that I'd still have my rig if I didn't hunt, but I didn't buy it for that; do I count that? And our trailer, which does get used for other things... on and on it goes.<br /><br />It's not about the cost to us either, which is a good thing, as I've spent a lot of money in my life on a grand total of three bucks. My husband comes out a lot cheaper, as he kills more deer. And I probably won't take any game for us at all with the dogs for years. But I'm willing to spend money on a passion.Juleshttp://www.cowgirljules.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post-18791734545409620372011-08-24T14:53:40.848-07:002011-08-24T14:53:40.848-07:00Amortizing a gun, now there's words you don...Amortizing a gun, now there's words you don't hear together very often. haa! <br /><br />I agree with you about the license, tags, stamps, ammo, and gas, but I'm going to have to agree with Hank about the time. I'd be doing something with my time, regardless. So why put a dollar figure on that? I know the whole "time is money" thing, but if I kept a taxi meter running around my neck keeping track of how much every minute is costing me, I'd go crazy. <br /><br />I'm not planning on making this the main focus of this blog, but I am totally planning on having it be somewhat of a running theme. I think organic green guy in me will love the fact that I'm keeping tract of this.<br /><br />Thank you so much for the comment, Holly!Feathers to Furhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16061738725660703659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724614981933202741.post-57807496401720627882011-08-24T09:28:43.647-07:002011-08-24T09:28:43.647-07:00I have deliberately chosen NOT to count how much m...I have deliberately chosen NOT to count how much money I spend on waterfowl ammo because I know it's a lot.<br /><br />But if I were counting? I think you need to calculate annual costs of hunting and fishing compared with the pounds of flesh you get from it. License, tags, stamps, ammo, gas.<br /><br />I have no idea how to amortize a gun.<br /><br />And Hank and I disagree on one point: whether to factor in time. I think if you want to determine how much wild game costs us, you have to include time. <br /><br />But frankly, I don't care what the cost is. I do it, period. It's like going to the store and getting beer or milk - I never know what the price is, because I'm going to buy it anyway.Holly Heyserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03134909592916671876noreply@blogger.com