Corn, ammo prices on the rise this year
By MATT WILLIAMS Outdoors Writer

The price of hunting just got more expensive. And it is apt to get pricier.

To wit:

Deer hunters will likely have to dig deeper into their pocketbooks when it comes time to feed their corn feeders this fall. Due to rising corn prices, it could cost as much as 15-30 percent more to fill a 55-gallon deer feeder now than it did at the same time last year.

Agriculture economists say the rise in corn prices is linked heavily to the supply and demand of corn needed to produce "ethanol," a fuel blend used in newer vehicles.

The more ethanol that is produced, the higher the demand on corn to make it. This means there could be less corn available for other uses until alternate sources of feedstock for ethanol production are developed.

Not surprisingly, the price paid for a bag of corn these days will vary depending on where you buy it. It might be a good idea to shop around when stocking up. Large volume dealers may offer the better deal in some cases, but not always.

Prices also can fluctuate according to how much corn is inside the sack. A 40- pound bag might cost a less than a 50-pound sack, but it may not be the best deal once tally the numbers.

Another factor that can affect the price of corn is whether it has been cleaned or not prior to bagging. Bagged "deer corn" that has been "recleaned" will likely wear a higher price than uncleaned corn. In many instances, however, the higher price is worth it.

Uncleaned corn may contain cob remnants and other debris. The more "trash" there is the bag, the better the odds of a feeder clogging or malfunctioning when it is supposed to be feeding the critters.

Deer corn prices have fluctuated dramatically across Texas this summer. In July, I heard reports of 50- pound bag selling for as much as $7.75 to $8 per bag. Prices had dropped considerably by mid-August, but still remain high compared to last year.

As is the case with $1.80 per gallon gasoline, some are speculating that cheap deer corn prices are probably a thing of the past.

"The days of cheap deer corn are probably gone," said Charlie Griffin, whose Uvalde-based feed mill sells about five million pounds of deer corn each year.

Griffin said he expecting the price of a 50-pound bag of deer corn to be about 20- 30 percent higher this year over last. He added that prices could jump even higher in coming years if demands to feed ethanol production continue to escalate. Factor in a drought year to stifle corn production and the price could skyrocket.

"You would really hear the deer hunters scream if that happened," he said.

Shotgunners may be screaming already. The price of shotgun shells have been on a steady rise since last September and are projected to go up even more in coming months.

Manufacturers say the increased costs of metals; primarily copper and lead, used in manufacturing ammo are the main culprits behind the price hikes. Rising fuel and shipping prices also have played a role.

"Prices are going up across the board, industry wide - there is no denying it," said Jonsie Poindexter, a consumer service representative with Remington Arms. "We have tried to keep costs down as low as possible, but raw materials, specifically copper, have been a big issue. All of the raw materials have increased quite a bit, but copper is one of the biggest culprits."

Poindexter said increased costs also could be felt by those who purchase components for reloading ammunition.

"It won't be as much, though, because you aren't talking about the whole shell," she said.