smurfman wrote:Pheasants, sharptails and ruffed grouse, and woodcock on public land.
The cost of getting into waterfowling as a newbie with no family history/backing is relatively expensive. I work a retail store with a hunting section and deal with a lot of newcomers. If truly starting from scratch, the price of a gun, a dozen decoys, a bag to carry them in, cord and anchors, waders, shells, maybe a call or two can easily run over $500 for even the most frugal shopper. Then there is the cost of transportation in time and vehicle which is necessary for the vast majority these days. Few can walk a mile or so and begin hunting. For something tried on a lark with relatively few days afield and a lot fewer opportunities to shoot a duck than when I started, all the above is a large investment.
True Newcomers are not likely to scrounge up gear as they have no network from which to beg, borrow, or steal from plus they have little faith in their ability to determine what is junk and what is treasure due to having no one to turn to for advice. They are at the mercy of the salesman whom are often nearly as clueless or are bent on selling the clerk's idea of a dream set up. As a shopper I have seen this many times at the major sporting goods stores and have fought it myself at my store since I've been hired. Waterfowling is not cheap to enter for the true first timers in any measure.
So $500 is expensive? Compared to what? A deer rifle, even a good starter one and a scope is going to set you back that much. Then add shells, blaze Orange,.....
Maybe take up hockey, oh wait, skates, sticks, pads... Damon there is another 500.
Pheasant you still need a shotgun, a vest, and shells a minimum so maybe $ 350 if you are frugal so that is doable but 500 is not?