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Post by harmonist34 on Jul 6, 2019 23:09:51 GMT -5
Like pretty much everybody else, I'd love to find a better place to hunt. Have been watching lease options for a year or so but haven't taken the plunge. Seems like a lot of $ to rent a place to hunt for a few days, but when I look at what property ownership would cost (loan interest + annual taxes + maintenance costs + gas to/from for maintenance, etc.) it's actually not so bad.
Who has bit the bullet and leased land? Did you have success? Choose to renew? Any tips or tricks?
Just fishing for perspectives from people who have actually done it...
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Post by ms660 on Jul 7, 2019 0:37:06 GMT -5
I hate leasing, but I have been on a lease now for 10 years. Cost about 850.00 a year for around 600 acres there are 9 that split the cost about half are deer hunters and the others are on it pretty well just for the fishing. Without this lease, I would have to hunt public land. I do hunt some public land during early archery season and it is good hunting, but will not go on it during firearms. I can usually pick enough mushrooms to sell to pay my lease bill but the last couple of years I didn't do it. If you can find a good lease, go for it. I think leasing has increased the quality of bucks in my area. It is not like it was 20 years ago when there was a tree stand nailed up to every other tree in the woods.
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Post by featherduster on Jul 7, 2019 1:06:34 GMT -5
A group of us leased farm ground and flooded it for duck hunting,we kept a large mobile home there and hunted both waterfowl and deer.
We were on this property for approx.30 years and enjoyed most every bit of it.
There is a lot of up keep and hard work at times but if you have a good group of members it will provide memories that will last a lifetime.
The only reason we gave up the lease is because the duck hunting is just about nonexistent in that area anymore.
I now own a small place of my own that satisfies my hunting and fishing needs and I also live on it.
Leasing and owning can both be fun.
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Post by beermaker on Jul 7, 2019 5:58:01 GMT -5
ms660 - that sounds like the best deal I have ever heard of. I'd pay twice that for 600 acres to hunt and fish on without hesitation.
harmonist34 - I used the same math as you when I leased. I simply cannot buy a decent piece of land and pay it off in my remaining years for what a lease costs, not even close. I have leased twice. The first one I lost because the landowner sold the property and the new owners bought it for their own use. The second time I failed to read the famous fine print and did not renew in time. Shame on me for not thoroughly reading the terms, but shame on the leasing agent also. He new that I had every intention of renewing, but he took a check from someone else instead. My suspicion is that it was a bigger check.
My advice: Read that famous fine print. Have a very clear understanding of when the lease starts and ends, ATV access, if guests are allowed, if you can clear trails and shooting lanes, etc. Also pay attention to the surrounding properties. I had to deal with nosy neighbors both times. Perhaps most importantly, require the leasing agent or landowner to walk the property lines with you.
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Post by jjas on Jul 7, 2019 7:07:45 GMT -5
We leased a 130 acre piece of ground probably 12-15 years ago. It was about an hour away from me, but it had good mature oak trees, and a pond. We planted food plots, put up several ladder stands and then...couldn't keep the locals off of it.
They could see where we parked, and when we weren't there they helped themselves to fishing, killing deer and leaving the gut piles. They left cigarette butts under the stands and trash by the pond.
The owner "tried" to stop by and we talked to the people who lived closest to the gate and asked them to call if they saw someone other than us, but we just couldn't keep people off of it.
In the end, it was a year long $1,300 pain in the a$$...
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Post by duff on Jul 7, 2019 9:22:37 GMT -5
I split a small lease with 2 other guys. $100/yr lease and split the cost for seeds and round up. It is a nice place but have not taken 1 deer in last 2 seasons. My buddy took a nice 10 3 seasons ago and the year before that
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Post by duff on Jul 7, 2019 9:23:38 GMT -5
I would do one like that again. It is direct with landowner. The agents inflate what is out there but they make it easy to shop so....
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Post by harmonist34 on Jul 7, 2019 12:22:28 GMT -5
Thanks, all, this is really helpful!
Seems like everything else in life - you win some, you lose some, and not every situation is the same. But a viable way to get good hunting access if you can afford it and look for an ideal opportunity.
Probably goes without saying, but I'd be open to splitting something if the right situation came up.
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Post by ukwil on Jul 7, 2019 12:57:20 GMT -5
Due to some family drama looks like I might go the leasing route also. Been looking for a while, but havent found anything yet
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Post by swetz on Jul 7, 2019 19:02:26 GMT -5
I hate leasing, but I have been on a lease now for 10 years. Cost about 850.00 a year for around 600 acres there are 9 that split the cost about half are deer hunters and the others are on it pretty well just for the fishing. Without this lease, I would have to hunt public land. I do hunt some public land during early archery season and it is good hunting, but will not go on it during firearms. I can usually pick enough mushrooms to sell to pay my lease bill but the last couple of years I didn't do it. If you can find a good lease, go for it. I think leasing has increased the quality of bucks in my area. It is not like it was 20 years ago when there was a tree stand nailed up to every other tree in the woods. $850 for your share? |
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Post by ms660 on Jul 7, 2019 20:20:25 GMT -5
I hate leasing, but I have been on a lease now for 10 years. Cost about 850.00 a year for around 600 acres there are 9 that split the cost about half are deer hunters and the others are on it pretty well just for the fishing. Without this lease, I would have to hunt public land. I do hunt some public land during early archery season and it is good hunting, but will not go on it during firearms. I can usually pick enough mushrooms to sell to pay my lease bill but the last couple of years I didn't do it. If you can find a good lease, go for it. I think leasing has increased the quality of bucks in my area. It is not like it was 20 years ago when there was a tree stand nailed up to every other tree in the woods. $850 for your share? Yes for my share. I wish that WAS the total then I would then love leasing. Just never dreamed I would ever have to pay money for land to hunt on in my lifetime. |
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Post by featherduster on Jul 8, 2019 4:57:00 GMT -5
Something to keep in mind is that when you lease and the hunting dries up you can leave and find another area.
When you own land you are constantly working to enhance and protect your property.
LOTS OF WORK but it's your place and you are the boss.
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Post by tynimiller on Jul 8, 2019 6:01:45 GMT -5
I've never had a formal lease, but dump a ton of money into one landowner's property in trees, plots, upkeep and christmas thanks yous...I know even despite owning my own small slice (23 acres) I will some day have to start leasing...simply a fact that cannot be avoided. As has been stated ask 100 guys about leasing, and 50 will say good things and 50 will say bad things...
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Post by steiny on Jul 9, 2019 9:30:02 GMT -5
I've leased in IL for over ten years thru one of the major outfits. Already have places to hunt in IN, so with the one buck rule it made no sense to lease here. Had an 80 acre farm to start with for a couple years, then found a great 260 acre farm. It runs around $5,000, two of us split the cost and we each bring a guest.
Have killed one or more deer on these leases every year I've been involved and have killed some great bucks. To date we've not had any trouble with neighbors or trespassers, experiences have been pretty positive. I like that area of southern IL we are in so well, that I also bought a farm and built a cabin just a few miles from the lease giving more options to hunt. We also find mushrooms, squirrel hunt and fish on our lease. Could turkey hunt, but I've not gotten interested in it.
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Post by jbird on Jul 10, 2019 11:32:43 GMT -5
Your talking about people, contracts and money.... sometimes it works out, sometimes it don't...lots of variables to consider.
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Post by steiny on Jul 11, 2019 9:52:02 GMT -5
Your talking about people, contracts and money.... sometimes it works out, sometimes it don't...lots of variables to consider. If you have a contract and have exchanged money, you are a lot less likely to wake up to a big surprise that you've lost your hunting spot. The big outfits give the client first right to renew the lease the following year. Nobody else gets a crack at it if you renew and pay in a timely fashion. If the landowner wants out of the deal, he has to give adequate warning and refund your money. |
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Post by jbird on Jul 11, 2019 9:58:53 GMT -5
Your talking about people, contracts and money.... sometimes it works out, sometimes it don't...lots of variables to consider. If you have a contract and have exchanged money, you are a lot less likely to wake up to a big surprise that you've lost your hunting spot. The big outfits give the client first right to renew the lease the following year. Nobody else gets a crack at it if you renew and pay in a timely fashion. If the landowner wants out of the deal, he has to give adequate warning and refund your money. Agree....but the not so big outfits or those working one-on-one with a land owner can be in for a big surprise. I know of folks who leased and improved a property for nearly a decade. The land changed hands due to a death in the family. The hunters got the boot....and the land was leased to the highest bidder after that. I guess my message is cover your butt....nobody looks out for YOU ...like YOU do! |
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Post by thebellcompany on Jul 12, 2019 18:43:15 GMT -5
If leasing wasn’t too expensive I’d do it. Like if I could even find something small 5 acres and the price wasn’t more than like $300 I’d do it for sure
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Post by duff on Jul 13, 2019 6:19:47 GMT -5
If leasing wasn’t too expensive I’d do it. Like if I could even find something small 5 acres and the price wasn’t more than like $300 I’d do it for sure They are out there. My buddies and I lease off a guy 60 acres for $300 and that allows Turkey deer shrooms. Plus it buys up to landlocked state forest land that is under used. Awesome deal |
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Post by harmonist34 on Jul 23, 2019 20:52:15 GMT -5
Well...I believe I lined up a shared lease for this year. It's a reasonable price and the situation seems good. Going to check it out Thursday evening and then will finalize my commitment. Worth a shot!
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