This has been discussed before but since

Eric:

What you should do is take a friend so as to split costs. Even better would be a friend that lives close to you so that you would not have to use much gas to go pick him up. :)
 
My drive out to the marsh is about 25 miles one way. If I start hunting at a closer spot that would cut 8 miles off the trip, but that access does not allow me to use my Black Brant 3 and I would have to switch over to the foam core or the canoe, or hitch a ride with someone. Driving an old Toyota has helped on the fuel cost a lot.

I could go into the local tide marsh around town after getting a permit, but it is walk in only and I am not in the best of shape for slogs - getting better - but still a ways to go for a mile long stroll down into the mud flats.

I imagine that the one spot near town that does not require any permits will be getting hit harder than usual. It was a "locals" only spot for many years, but the internet and word of mouth spread and now it is standing room only with an ATV freeway right up to the one spot that ducks will fall into when they come by at first and last light. The place is empty of birds during the day.

I typically only go out hunting 5 to 8 times a year due to my kid schedule. My kid is wanting to do more camping this summer especially if we can do some gold mining. She saw a 3 troy ounce nugget on a field trip to Hope, AK and has a case of gold fever right now. I am already gathering up materials to make a highbanker rocker box sluice to help her in her quest. But to use it we will have to drive about 40 miles up into the hills to a public mining site.
 
I usually take two trips each winter. One to either Mississippi/Arkansas/Louisianna for duckin and one to Florida for fishing.
This year i may make just one trip to cover both duckin and fishing. I'm looking at going to Venice,La.
Get some ducks in the morning and redfish in the afternoon.
I've never been there, but it looks great.

Jim Miller
 
WHEN it goes over $4??? Heck, I paid $4.25 yesterday. Diesel is $5.25. But, that still won't affect my trips. Gas is still cheap compared to everything else that goes with the hunt.
 
WHEN it goes over $4??? Heck, I paid $4.25 yesterday. Diesel is $5.25. But, that still won't affect my trips. Gas is still cheap compared to everything else that goes with the hunt.
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Unless you have a lake in your backyard and don't have to drive, keep those gas receipts and add them up through the season. I bet it's one of the greater expenses you'll have.
 
keep those gas receipts and add them up through the season.
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Ryan,

What the heck are you thinking????? Are you trying to ruin my entire season? No,,,,,,, if you wanted to do that, you'd also have me add up the total weight of the meat. That way I would know just how much per pound those duck breasts actually cost.

I keep telling my wife that she doesn't realize just how well I treat her,,,,, what with all those expensive duck dinners I fix. She didn't cost that much to feed when we were courting, ha!
 
I am blessed enough to be able to hunt within minutes of my house and I usually do. So I've got that going for me, which is nice. But, I usually take 2 or 3 road trips every year. Most of the time I stay in the midwest but occasionally slide into the Central Flyway. I was planning on a Manitoba trip this coming season but I may stay closer to home and hunt UP/Ontario instead. I was planning some Central Flyway trips but I may hold off. I mean, I can always spend the same money on decoys and gear and the family(of course)and watch the same sunset right!

I already skipped my spring turkey trip, one of my fall trips and I'm probably going to skip my trout trip. So, I'm banking time but the sad thing is...every trip I skip it gets easier to talk myself out of the next one.
 
Seemed like there was a lot less boat traffic in this area over the Memorial Day W/E, and only one tent on the Island. That's pretty unusual. Most years there is stuff set up by the Thurs before.
But since I can hit a golf ball to the boat landing in front of the house, I'll be out there as much as always. Maybe a few less road trips to Rochester for geese.
George
 
I notice that we're not seeing as many "It won't make a bit of difference," responses as posted in the past to this question.
The price jumps have definitely made a planner out of me.

Last year, well ahead of time, I started squirreling away cash regularly in an envelope in the gun safe. By the opener I had a pretty good "fuel fund" set aside for the hunting season, and I even remember having a few bucks left over when the season ended. Probably will average right about $50 per round trip to get to the areas of the River that I hunt, but with a bit of planning I should be able to establish a fuel budget that gets me through.

Being retired (14 days, guys !) will allow me to pick up-and-go on weekdays when conditions look favorable, and that might make for better quality on the days I pick; but, hey, any day on the water is quality time.

I figure that golfers have been blowing that kind of cash pretty regularly on green fees, etc for years. Don't golf, so I might as well spend it chasing ducks. I am still going to make that trip with the MLB in the fall as a retirement gift to myself. Besides, Lee has to bring me a case of Val-Oil. Of course, I may be doing more birds for sale come fall, so the obvious answer is that you guys should start to buy some ... that is if Hitch and Sutton let you get to any.
 
Jim, I havent noticed any change around here. Lots of huge boats on the road and last Saturday you could have walked from Gray's Point to Tappahanock (30 miles) and not gotton your feet wet. Just step from one boat to another.
 
The gas prices have already had an impact on my outdoor recreation. My boat still has the boat blind on it from last season. I haven't been striper fishing once yet. I live about 35 miles from where I hunt ( and striper fish for that matter) which is not as far as a lot of folks but with gas at 4 bucks a gallon I have to make the most of it like I'm sure many here do. I'm not going to make as many trips to the coast this summer to fish and surf which I'm not happy about as it's my favorite place and we only have so many seasons alloted to us in life. I'm hoping that cutting back now will allow me to get out on the coast to hunt at least once a week come the season. Fortunately, I can fish within 5 minutes of the house for bass in my 12' boat that I use a trolling motor with and have one hunting spot close by 30 minutes away come the season.
 
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I wonder. With gas prices up and land prices down, will this lead to a resurgence of duck hunting clubs? If the guide service operators really do tank and their land goes up for sale or lease, will will guys get together and buy a piece of land and hunt it together close to home? Also, do you think there will be more shared trip expenses? We're planning on renting a van and filling it rather than travelling in two's and three's. And we're not going to an area where it's ducks or bust. Going where there are Pheasant as well so that the probability of getting skunked is lessened.
In case anybody needs perspective, it's about 13 hours from Huntsville to Annapolis. Wife just drove out for a week to bring the dogs up and spend some quality time together. She said it's about $200 each way in the Explorer.
 

Ryan,

What the heck are you thinking????? Are you trying to ruin my entire season? No,,,,,,, if you wanted to do that, you'd also have me add up the total weight of the meat. That way I would know just how much per pound those duck breasts actually cost.

I keep telling my wife that she doesn't realize just how well I treat her,,,,, what with all those expensive duck dinners I fix. She didn't cost that much to feed when we were courting, ha!
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Naw Dave. If I wanted to do that I would also ask that you search out each pellet in the bird, divide that by the cost per shell and then add that to the cost per bird, on top of the fuel cost.
 
Thanks for all the great inputs and inshight. Sounds like high gas prices aren't going to keep you away, but will alter habits a bit and be more conservative towards taking long trip. Well, except for Huntindave who is going to get a Christmas card from Exxon and cause OPEC to develop a special strategy for supplying him fuel for his trip.
 
Well, except for Huntindave who is going to get a Christmas card from Exxon and cause OPEC to develop a special strategy for supplying him fuel for his trip.
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Just a reminder; It's not to late to donate to the "Dave McCann Alaska Spring Duck Count Fund". Give till it hurts. ;>) ;>)
 
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