Feasting on corn

I just ran across an article in the Dallas Morning News discussing a number of ways hunters, fisherman and outdoors enthusiasts can save some money and gas this year while dealing with these tough economic times…

“Fuel costs are a major issue, but so is the cost of everything else, partly due to increased shipping expenses. Ammunition has risen steeply since last hunting season. Even the cost of shelled corn has skyrocketed as hunters compete with ethanol production. I’ve heard corn prices as high as $10 for a 50-pound bag. That’s double last year’s cost.”

The author went on to recommend such money saving tips as car pooling, buying corn and other bait in bulk and loading your own cartridges.

This article’s definitely worth a read and it also corresponded very closely with another piece I just read in the recent North American Whitetail magazine, entitled “Make It Happen,” from the Antler Talk column. This article discussed the possibility that the number one threat to hunting across America could be the rising cost of our sport. Inflation has hit everything from gear, to hunting leases to licenses. The author essentially said that yes, the cost of hunting is rising, but so is everything else, so just deal with it. Examples of ways to deal with this inflation were to utilize public land and just to be plain innovative.

It really is unfortunate that so many of the costs associated with hunting are rising so quickly, but like both of these articles emphasized, we can find ways to make the best of the situation. Check out the article from the Dallas Morning News at DallasNews.com for some great tips and if you have any other money saving ideas, feel free to share them with the rest of the Wired To Hunt community.

The 3G iPhone

1. WorldWatchr: This is an application that allows you to monitor any online images transferred from a webcam or trailcam, right from your handset. It will cycle through your different cameras and update on a regular basis. I see this being really useful if you use a trail camera that automatically uploads it’s photos to a website. You can then check your trail camera photos from your iPhone, no matter where you are. Being able to check out your trail cameras from deer camp sounds like a pretty nice tool to me. Check it out here.

2. Gas Finder: This handy application will tell you where the cheapest gasoline is in relation to you. This is perfect for the road trip to deer camp or out west for a back country hunt. Not only will it tell you where the best price for gas is, but it ties into the Google Maps/GPS capabilities of the phone to give you directions straight to your gas station of choice.

3. Sunrise & Sunset and Moon phase Applications: These two applications are pretty self explanatory, but useful nonetheless. Moon phases are widely accepted as effecting deer behavior, so it can only be helpful to keep tabs on what phases are expected now and in the future. Knowing the time of sunrise or sunset is equally important when planning your hunting trip.

4. Pocket First Aid Guide: First aid is always important to keep in mind when enjoying a hunting excursion, keep this information handy with the First Aid iPhone application. It looks to be a great resource for dealing with most basic injuries or ailments. You can learn more here.

Other useful applications for outdoor use include:

• Compass
• USA Weather Maps
• The Weather Channel

Have any other useful mobile phone applications for hunters and outdoorsman? Let us know!

UPDATE 11/1/09: Here is a new article featuring 10 more great iPhone Apps for Outdoorsman!