Are you an avid hunter? Regardless of whether you're one, I'm sure you'll agree that hunting is a rather expensive hobby. Especially with all that purchasing of hunting knives, rifles scopes, rifles, accessories etc. And not to mention, those self financed safaris. But before you cast away your passion for hunting, here are some alternatives you can use to circumvent the situation.
(1) Opt For Used Rifles Besides Brand New Ones
Among some of the greater ways to bring down the cost of hunting as a hobby is to get, used rifles. If you're doing this the right way, trust me, it can add up to the savings quickly. A brand new rifle can cut you back by at least a couple of hundreds and naturally, branded ones can be more expensive.
To bring down this cost expenditure, you'll need to find a dealer that distributes used rifles. Doublecheck on the seller's reputation to make sure that the rifle was legally used before being resold. And yeah, always insist on an inspection. Some used rifles look good in the picture but when handled, are pretty worthless.
There are a few things to take note of during the inspection. First, make sure there's no corrosion around the firing pin area. If there is, the rifle you're looking at, probably wasn't well taken care of by its previous owner.
Secondly, see if the bolt's working. You can give this a test by pulling the bolt backwards and let it slam forward. If it's a usable rifle, the firing pin is still intact. Last but not least, make sure that the barrel's grooves has no rust and the rifle's bore is clean too.
For those of you thinking of buying such rifles over the web, you may want to give it a second thought. Such purchase is heavily regulated and weapons bought over the web has to be sent to a Federal Firearms License holder for a detailed examination before it's releaseto you. This may delay the entire purchasing cycle. The savings from the purchase may also be eroded by service fees charged by the FFL holder.
(2) Shop For Rifle Scopes & Other Hunting Accessories Online
Getting accessories such as rifle scopes, hunting knives via the internet is very different from getting guns online. For a start, it's pretty hassle free. You may also get good discounts getting them via renowned online stores. Since such stores have lower operational costs, their savings are usually transferred back to the customer, hence making their prices much more attractive than your local stores.
A Nikon Monarch Matte BDC 2.5-10x42, for instance can be 30% cheaper online than what you'll probably get from your neighbourhood store! For better bargains, check out what some of the sellers are offering on eBay. Don't be surprised to find some great auctions at $0.01! Trust me, you'll definitely save more than 30%!
(3) Join Group Safaris
We all know how expensive a solo hunting expedition can cost. Several thousands of dollars. Maybe even tens of thousands. Pooling resources with your hunting mates can help you save a bundle on guide fees, lodging and other travelling expenses! In fact, there are many agencies that provide special group safaris at lower prices.
Doing away with the expense of a guide can help you save more, especially if you're a seasoned hunter and are pretty familiar with the remote surroundings. But for the hunting newbies, getting a guide may actually be better for you! As it can save you a lot of time & hassle!
No matter what, always conduct your own research and be discreet. Remember, whatever works for others may not necessary work for you. But I'm sure there's no harm just hunting around. For bargains I mean.
