Dale Southard, owner of Tailfeathers Upland Store in Raymond, said when he first went hunting at the age of 16 he wore jeans over long underwear and borrowed a safety orange hat and vest and his father’s rifle.

“There’s a lot more to it than just grabbing a gun and going out into the woods,” said Southard, now 49. He said it doesn’t have to take a lot of bucks to fell a buck.

A single-shot shotgun can sell for as little as $130, according to Southard. He said about $5 worth of ammo is enough for a trip and the minimal two pieces of orange clothing can be purchased for less than $10.

“It depends on how much stuff you want to get,” said Southard. He said for $200 someone can get set up with a firearm, compass, knife, safety orange wear and Maine resident hunting license.

This is the bare-minimum, according to Southard. He said the sky’s the limit when people want higher quality gear. A hunting rifle can cost a few thousand dollars. Other options include tree stands, deer calls and ATVs to hall a deer out of the woods.

“It can add up pretty quick,” said Southard.

Howell Copp, who owns Howell’s Gun & Archery in Gray, said having a deer butchered can cost between $50 and $100, but not everyone has to pay.

“A lot of people do it themselves,” he said.

He said a lot of outdoor gear can last a lifetime.

“It depends on the hunter and how well that take care of things,” he said. Copp said it’s possible to last two decades with a $20 box of shells.

Other things, like gas to get to a well-stocked forest, hotel stays and groceries should be factored in when budgeting.

A lot of towns offer free hunter safety courses throughout the year.

There are a lot of groups that can get free hunting licenses from the state. These include American Indians, disabled people and some veterans of foreign wars. See the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Web site for more information.

Whatever financial choices people make before they pop open their rifle case, Southard said there is one thing anyone who wishes to hunt should have.

“You ought to have some woodsmen skills behind you before you head out,” he said. Southard said new hunters really need to be around a mentor who knows what they’re doing as well.

HuntingGear1-3: Dale Southard, owner of Tailfeathers Upland Store in Raymond, has been hunting since the 1970s. He said there is no average amount of money people spend on hunting equipment , but someone can get set up for their first year for $200 without borrowing any equipment.HuntingGear1-3: Dale Southard, owner of Tailfeathers Upland Store in Raymond, has been hunting since the 1970s. He said there is no average amount of money people spend on hunting equipment , but someone can get set up for their first year for $200 without borrowing any equipment.HuntingGear1-3: Dale Southard, owner of Tailfeathers Upland Store in Raymond, has been hunting since the 1970s. He said there is no average amount of money people spend on hunting equipment , but someone can get set up for their first year for $200 without borrowing any equipment.