"Land Trust" Experiences

jolemons

WKR
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
1,051
Location
MT, USA
Lot of these big ranches are already federally subsidized via our tax dollars (not a hater of it, it is just how it goes) and often aren’t “scraping by” with the help of land trust they are just further monetizing hunting forcing more people into less area and creating a European style of aristocratic/ pay to play hunting. It’s private so they can do as they please. But let’s not pretend that they will all go under and turn into urban sprawl
What subsidy are cattle ranchers getting that you're referring to? I have managed ranches small and large and am very familiar with the economics of cattle ranching. While there are consistently profitable operations out there, they are the exception. Those that are able to leverage opportunities such as hunting, energy development and recreation are usually the ones that are economically sustainable.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk
 

jolemons

WKR
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
1,051
Location
MT, USA
Any developer that buys the ranch I am talking about to try and turn it into the next Yellowstone Club is dumber than anyone that pays 6500 bucks to hunt the property. Its ranch land and its the only thing its good for.

Companies like Landtrust are going to continue to search out people and convince them to do it. Many of the ranchers in this area would have zero idea you could even do this but when someone tells them they can, they will. Like I said, it just sucks.
I get it, but if I were in their shoes, I'd probably do the same thing. I lease rights to an outfitter for exclusive access to the ranch I manage , I primarily hunt public land.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk
 

Hnthrdr

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2022
Messages
3,531
Location
The West
What subsidy are cattle ranchers getting that you're referring to? I have managed ranches small and large and am very familiar with the economics of cattle ranching. While there are consistently profitable operations out there, they are the exception. Those that are able to leverage opportunities such as hunting, energy development and recreation are usually the ones that are economically sustainable.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk
Grazing on public comes to mind as a pretty sweet subsidy. I’ll talk to gramps and pick his brain a bit. Both sides of my in laws ranch in AZ, on has been doing it since 1870’s they are definitely not rich but still have a good chunk started with 10 sections and down to 1.5, but thats more from poor business decisions and relatives selling out than just not being able to afford to keep it. I get this is another option for them. I think it’s a really bad deal for the future of hunting in the US. I do know that my other side that has cattle also owns and operates a construction company and ranches are like gods gift to businessmen, everything is run through the ranch and gets written off…
 

hunterjmj

WKR
Joined
Feb 3, 2019
Messages
1,320
Location
Montana
I've noticed some of the local ranches are on land trust now but wouldn't allow hunting before. It's possible this gives them more control and they make some money. I don't know much about it but I assume liability waivers are signed. Some ranchers we know are blocking a few days for me but I'm not paying. They do the land trust thing but still allow a few friends and family to hunt. We help brand, feed in the winter and some other things so it works out.
 
Top