How expensive can hunting get

[8X56MS]

Fabs,
you have touched on a sore subect of mine. Hunting, as portrayed on the outdoors channels on Cable, have about zero relevence to the real world.
Guided hunts, being placed on stands by guides, while tame deer are pushed into place, whispered conversation, camera men, etc, etc. The whole thing gives a distorted view of hunting. As you mention, special hunts, on "ranches", taking trophy animals on every show, make it seem like any average joe can participate.
They never mention what rifle they use, or the load. There is never any mention of the performance of the bullet, or how well the shot was placed. They never have to track wounded game. They never have to clean the animal.

I have stopped watching.

I have been able to hunt some pretty good Public Land in Florida. The best deer I have taken came out of Lochloosa Management Area in Alachua Florida.
I also have access to several farms, and have been lucky to get invited to hunt with some friends on their club land in Georgia. I have old family land in the Virginia mountains.