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Getting dressed for work this morning, I was suddenly struck by a thought. Admittedly, I don't get them very often, so when they do come around, I tend to pay attention and, at the very least, attempt to work them out to come sensible or logical conclusion. This particular idea involved some pretty heavy-duty math and would no doubt require a calculator, so I waited until I got to the office to arrive at a solution.

The big thought that hit me involved hunting and fishing and the oft-asked question regarding these noble pursuits -- What is the actual cost - per pound - for fish and wild game?

We all know that from a strict dollars-and-cents standpoint, attempting to put fish, birds and hoofed critters on the table to sustain your family's nutritional needs is something of a farce, right? I mean, the simple exercise of catching a few crappies for the frying pan shakes out to about $10 per pound after factoring in fuel costs to get to and from the bait shop for minnows, boat gas and cooking oil, to name just a few basic fishing expenses.

Walleye fishing is even worse. If you intend to travel to productive walleye waters such as Mille Lacs or Lake Winnibigoshish, believe me, you wouldn't scoff at the $9 per pound they get at the supermarket for walleye fillets after calculating the cost of one of those lengthy trips.

Before I forget, I should mention what I eventually figured out with that calculator at the office. If I had my way (and somebody else's money, like Bill Gates), I'd purchase small game licenses from three states. That way, I could hunt grouse here in Minnesota, as well as up near the family cottage in Arbor Vitae, Wis. Oh, and let's not forget about the fantastic pheasant hunting out in South Dakota. I was reintroduced to world-class Dakota hunting last winter and now I've developed an expensive taste for high-end lodges, five-star cuisine and guided hunts. Also, in addition to my Minnesota resident deer license, I'll need another non-resident Wisconsin deer license again this year to bow hunt my friends' property south of St. Croix Falls. Of course, I can't forget about bow hunting and the early October antlerless firearms deer hunt here in Minnesota. Whoops, I nearly overlooked my resident fishing license and non-resident Wisconsin fishing license, trout stamps and guide's license. Did I mention a fish house license?

After carefully punching in the correct numbers on my little calculator, I arrived at a cost of $557 for these various licenses. The actual amount was $531, but I added $26, assuming that I'll need a couple of bonus antlerless permits again this upcoming deer season.

So, what does this all mean? It means that to get my venison, fish and fowl in line with supermarket prices, I'll need to shoot 17 deer, 400 grouse, a couple hundred pheasants and catch approximately 1,100 pounds of fish.

Or, I could sell off all my fishing and hunting equipment and buy my meat and fish at Cub Foods. You'll have to excuse me for a moment while my fit of laughter subsides. No, I don't suppose selling my stuff is an option.

I hope I see a lot of deer and birds out there this fall.

Dan Brown's weekly outdoor column is brought to you by Frankie's Bait and Marine, in Chisago City, and St. Croix Outdoors, in St. Croix Falls, Wis.

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