Keep It Simple: Hunting Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

The author says his 2004 truck and some garage sale gear is all he needs for a successful hunting season. Of course, his No. 1 hunting buddy along certainly adds to a great adventure.

As deer season rolls around, the woods become filled with hunters ready to bag the big one for the wall or to fill the freezer. For all the enthusiasm you’ll find on social media, there’s also a growing sense that you need the latest and greatest equipment and gear to succeed in the field—a sentiment that couldn’t be further from the truth!

Today’s hunting landscape might be filled with flashy trucks, high-tech gadgets and thousand-dollar firearms, but I’m here to tell you that keeping it simple and on budget can work just as well, if not better. Every year, plenty of hunters still down deer with a bow that cost less than a night out and bag a gobbler with a single-shot shotgun older than you.

Take my truck, for example—a 2004 Dodge Ram Hemi with nearly 300,000 miles on the odometer. This old girl has been through the wringer: stolen right from my firehouse near Atlanta while I was on shift, wiring from an ancient CB radio zip tied under the dash, two tracking devices installed into the ignition years before I owned it and a dodgy RV dealership wiring job  that had to be redone after my brakes locked up on my way home. It’s hauled gear across state lines and been towed off more than a few highways. Some gauges only decide to work in the winter, and let’s just say the radio isn’t exactly cutting edge. But this is my truck. In an era where everyone seems to be driving shiny new Ford F350s with backup cameras and sensors galore, my old truck stands tall.

This is not just a hunting truck—it’s a memory maker for my kids. This truck has been a makeshift bed more times than I can count, from staging at the crack of dawn in remote fishing spots to waiting out thunderstorms in the middle of nowhere. They’ve curled up in the backseat with blankets and pillows, safely drifting off to sleep. We’ve hauled home their first deer in the cooler, fish fresh from the river and countless other treasures that only kids can find in the woods.

My truck is covered in small scratches, each one a badge of honor, telling the story of countless adventures in the woods and on the backroads. There’s the gouge on the bottom passenger door from squeezing through a tight stand of pines in Sylvester, Georgia chasing the perfect hunting spot before sunrise. The long scrape along the rear fender? That came from a rocky trail on a north Georgia scouting trip, where we pushed just a little farther than I should to find fresh tracks. These marks won’t be buffed out or fixed. Like tattoos etched into its metal skin, they remind me of the stories it carries with every mile.

And, of course, there’s the infamous potty bucket tucked away in the toolbox—always a lifesaver when the woods or the local stores didn’t offer a suitable restroom for my ladies. I’ve got everything we need packed away in its nooks and crannies, from duct tape and wrenches to a full medical kit with Mickey Mouse band aids for those inevitable scrapes and bumps. In this truck, my kids have learned resilience, resourcefulness and the simple joys of life.

However, every time I pull into a hunting area, I feel like I’ve stepped into a truck dealership. Rows of brand-new vehicles gleam under the morning sun, loaded up with the newest tech and gear. But when I step out of my truck, I know that my 20-year-old ride is just as capable of getting the job done. My truck may not have the flash or the fancy extras, but me and my truck have plenty of heart and experience—and that’s what counts.

I’ve always been a utilitarian hunter. I don’t wear the latest designer camo; I use whatever discount camouflage I can find on sale and have been known to score some great deals at a garage sale. I don’t shoot a tricked-out gun with a high-dollar scope. My trusty gear has always served me well because I focus on what matters most: scent control and good boots. Both are crucial; if your scent control is off, every deer in the county will know you’re there before you even step out of the truck. And snake boots? Trust me, one encounter with a copperhead will remind you not to skimp on those.

Your hand-me-down Ford Ranger will bring home that turkey just as well as a brand-new truck, and your trusty Maverick 88, the one you got for $100, will knock down just as many doves in the field as the guy with the $1,200 Benelli.

Don’t let the pressure to keep up with the Joneses ruin your hunt this season. A successful hunt isn’t measured by the gear you use but by the memories you make and the lessons you learn. Simplicity often leads to success. And it is a great feeling knowing you did it your way, without breaking the bank.

Best of luck this season and remember—there’s no shame in keeping it simple. That’s where the real adventure begins.