1st reported by the Spokesmen: The worst thing about the end of hunting season is that it marks the beginning of tax season. It’s the time of reckoning, especially for sportsmen as we gather receipts and face the blank spaces on the Form 1040. Sometimes I break into a sweat as I rework the books, shuffle money and dream up creative explanations for, shall I say, a little hocus-pocus with the numbers.
Don’t get me wrong. I play it straight with the IRS. No fudging there. But going to prison might not be a bad alternative to telling your wife the truth.
“Isn’t that venison delicious, honey? It cost about $100 a pound.”
Actually, I’m lying already. It’s probably closer to $200 a pound.
My wife might skin me like a bear if she sees how much I spent on hunting this year.
The tab for the Washington hunting-fishing licenses I bought in a bundle in March was $232.10. Of course, I bought the big-game permit drawing applications separately to avoid having all the costs show at once.
Neither you nor your wife wants to see all the costs at once.
And there will be no mention of the nonresident licenses for Montana. Note to hunting buddies: Keep your mouths SHUT.
I must point out that I didn’t hunt Idaho this year. Saved big money there. She’ll appreciate that.
I haven’t bought a new rifle in years, although I bought a used shotgun recently, just in case. You never know. It was a deal.
My wife loves deals.
I’m depreciating the 4×4 pickup over a number of years, but $30,000 is $30,000.
Oops: the fuel receipts. Dang it. Gas prices didn’t drop until most of the seasons were over. Add up the scouting trips, the spring turkey season, the grouse hunts – absolutely necessary for getting in shape for the rest of the seasons – elk camp, late buck season, trying to find the last pheasants in the Palouse, the 200-mile round-trip quail hunts, trying to find the last ducks to show any interest in Lincoln County … Read on….