Thanks for your service.

I guess if someone is happy with what they have then the cost really shouldn't matter. In both scenarios it sounds like you were having fun doing what you love.

Grew up here in a little area called Palmyra (Montgomery/Stewart county area. Joined the military after high school, fought in a couple of wars, saw the world...

Hunting then-
Killed my first deer at 12 years old, a 5 point (only had 1 horn) with a $62 KMart single shot 12 gauge (only had 1 shell, so guess it was okay. I was wearing jogging pants and a white t-shirt, laying dead center of about a 50 acre field. Afterwards, went and played in the creek (catching water moccasins with my cousins).
Pretty sure I hadn't showered in about a week. The absolute only thing I had with me was that old shotgun. We had 2 bullets, but I had to share with my little brother, so he crried one shell. If I missed, had to give him the gun so he could reload and shoot.

Hunting now-
About 11 months before deer season I set up the trail cameras. Few months later, start clearing shooting lanes, scouting,etc..I get my $500 worth of hunting clothing and launder with the scent away and put them in air-tight packages. Take my $200 snake boots, clean them up and treat them with pyrethrin because if I get near a snake or bugs, don't want to take any chances! Last week, I hauled out my $800 bow and started practicing for the season. Lost 6 arrows (about $9 a piece), but got it tuned in and shooting great now. Tomorrow, gonna take my $300 deer stand out of the shed and check the cables and straps. Have to move my $7000 ATV first...

And after all that, that half-rack 5 pointer glows brighter than any deer I've ever shot. I realize part of that is just the 'first deer' memory, but I think it was also the largest deer I've ever killed.
So if ya'll see a guy in his late 30's wearing jogging pants, a t-shirt laying in the middle of a field somwhere, please stop by and sat HI

Grew up here in a little area called Palmyra (Montgomery/Stewart county area. Joined the military after high school, fought in a couple of wars, saw the world...

Hunting then-
Killed my first deer at 12 years old, a 5 point (only had 1 horn) with a $62 KMart single shot 12 gauge (only had 1 shell, so guess it was okay. I was wearing jogging pants and a white t-shirt, laying dead center of about a 50 acre field. Afterwards, went and played in the creek (catching water moccasins with my cousins).
Pretty sure I hadn't showered in about a week. The absolute only thing I had with me was that old shotgun. We had 2 bullets, but I had to share with my little brother, so he crried one shell. If I missed, had to give him the gun so he could reload and shoot.

Hunting now-
About 11 months before deer season I set up the trail cameras. Few months later, start clearing shooting lanes, scouting,etc..I get my $500 worth of hunting clothing and launder with the scent away and put them in air-tight packages. Take my $200 snake boots, clean them up and treat them with pyrethrin because if I get near a snake or bugs, don't want to take any chances! Last week, I hauled out my $800 bow and started practicing for the season. Lost 6 arrows (about $9 a piece), but got it tuned in and shooting great now. Tomorrow, gonna take my $300 deer stand out of the shed and check the cables and straps. Have to move my $7000 ATV first...

And after all that, that half-rack 5 pointer glows brighter than any deer I've ever shot. I realize part of that is just the 'first deer' memory, but I think it was also the largest deer I've ever killed.
So if ya'll see a guy in his late 30's wearing jogging pants, a t-shirt laying in the middle of a field somwhere, please stop by and sat HI