Allan,

Just for you I did something this morning that I've never even thought of doing before. I cracked open my cape chests and started counting. Between, hen and rooster saddles and necks, from dry fly to streamer, steelhead and saltwater, there are 110 in the chest.
Do I really need hackle ? No, we're fly fishers and fly fishers adapt to what ever situation arises, that's the nature of the sport - right ?. On the other hand, its sure nice to know it's there if I want to use hackle.

I'm just glad I'm not in the beginning portion of the acquisition phase of tying, facing the current price structure.

Maybe we ought to consider starting a Hackle Bank. You know, create a centralized common repository of donated hackle for desperate tyers in dire need of a specific feather. Locate it in the heartland, near an overnight carriers hub so that in a crisis, no feather is ever more than twenty-four hours and a phone call away.