Leasing Land

[Wiscohunter]

Freeloader... really man
There is a lot of ground in between hunting someones land and paying thier taxes for them.
Work, Chores, varmints, food, ect. As long as thier is an agreement that works for both parties all is good. Coming from a land owner who has offered or permitted hunting rights without a monetary exchange.

I know land owners who are happy to give permission for work and some prefer it. One farm I've hunted didn't want money, just help landscaping, shoveling snow, etc. The land was managed as a family trust and all income was split. So, it was easier for the family to have someone do work than get a few hundred dollars a year from the hunting rights. The real money came from farming and that was worth splitting up.

Every situation is different and getting to know what land owners want is best for both parties. When I paid for Leases that is what was best for both parties.

 

[isu22andy]

Be honest. Did the other Texans on here make you change your location because they were embarrased to be associated with you?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Hahaha .

 

[Newtosavage]

Most other Texans agree with me and put their money or time or both, where their mouth is. If someone is paying for the privilege to hunt another person's property with their time or their money, then they aren't freeloading. But what gets me are the guys who complain about losing free hunting "rights" - I heard it over and over again when I was in the midwest and never could understand why they couldn't just be grateful for all the years they hunted for free without so much as paying taxes on the land. To hear them tell it, the landowners were "selling out" - the butthurt was unreal.

 

[SoDaky]

Run ads in the smallest newspapers in the area and in any local 'green sheets' selling farm equipment,land,etc.The age bracket likely to be responsive still reads printed words.If a respectful,informative ad is created,likely you will be surprised.

 

[Btaylor]

Most other Texans agree with me and put their money or time or both, where their mouth is. If someone is paying for the privilege to hunt another person's property with their time or their money, then they aren't freeloading. But what gets me are the guys who complain about losing free hunting "rights" - I heard it over and over again when I was in the midwest and never could understand why they couldn't just be grateful for all the years they hunted for free without so much as paying taxes on the land. To hear them tell it, the landowners were "selling out" - the butthurt was unreal.

I dont know, I think we are getting a pretty good idea how real the butthurt is.

 

[Newtosavage]

I dont know, I think we are getting a pretty good idea how real the butthurt is.

LOL

It's a lightning rod issue that draws a lot of emotional responses in other parts of the country. In Texas, those emotions played out generations ago and now it's just part and parcel of hunting. And there are distinct advantages to leasing land for hunting that often get left out of these conversations because everyone is still butthurt that the game has changed.

 

[Newtosavage]

Better luck finding places online, through realtors, or knocking on doors?

Keep knocking on doors but make sure you let the local state biologist and game warden in your area know you're looking. I've found leases both ways, with my most recent lease coming from a mutual contact through the state biologist. The landowner was going to withdraw from one of the state management programs because they had kicked off their former lessee, and the biologist knew I was looking so they put me in touch with that landowner.

 

[Btaylor]

The club I grew up in was a timber company lease that started in the mid '60s. Dad got in I think in 67-68. I have hunted leased ground, ground where I contribute but no lease, ground where I was just given permission and public ground. I have seen plenty of change in the landscape and understand your point but to blanket paint everyone who doesnt pay something as a freeloader is just wrong imo.

 

[xziang]

there is a hunting lease network website that leases some prime areas and not so prime areas sometime and will then put it online for 'us' to bid and or lease. I've seen leases in IA before. I have never leased land on a side note. Being in Iowa you have some great opportunities with some public land too. Do understand how nice it can be do have your own parcel especially if it is CLOSE to home.

 

[Rich M]

I work off my lease. I put in about 80 hours every fall to have the privilege of shooting 4 does/year off the place I hunt. That comes to about $800/doe if the landowner had hired out the same work.

The "freeloader" comment is for those who think they have some kind of right to hunt private land without payment of any kind. And there are plenty of those who do. Usually in the midwest.

The whole free-loader thing. LOL! Snatch em up as you troll. Folks need to look past this stuff as it isn't a personal attack, just an opinion.

Part of the problem with hunter numbers dwindling is leases and elevated property values (higher taxes).

You can't plug in your regular salary for grunt work. If you do his taxes, that's diff.

I pay about $1,200/yr for a lease. Not all that excited over it but much easier than trying to hunt a single 3-day WMA hunt and shoot something down here. Pay the money, go hunt a couple days, put a few in the freezer.

Wife had me buy a grass-fed cow this year. Got one for $700 and self-processed it - about 225# of meat. Pretty tasty. Cheaper than hunting, more meat. Just want a few more years of hunting, then maybe we'll start raising a cow a year, and some chickens. Shoot any free-loading deer that get into the garden.

 

[Newtosavage]

I have seen plenty of change in the landscape and understand your point but to blanket paint everyone who doesnt pay something as a freeloader is just wrong imo.

Like I said, if you're paying in time or money, you aren't a freeloader. But if not, what are you then? Do you honestly think the landowner gets enough value from the idea that someone is hunting the land? Do you think their cost of ownership is zero? What happens when they can't afford to own the land anymore? It gets chopped up and sold into smaller and smaller parcels that nobody can hunt.

 

[LostArra]

In today's liability-concerned atmosphere I'm pretty surprised anyone except close family is allowed to hunt on private property without a signed lease agreement.

 

[Btaylor]

Like I said, if you're paying in time or money, you aren't a freeloader. But if not, what are you then? Do you honestly think the landowner gets enough value from the idea that someone is hunting the land? Do you think their cost of ownership is zero? What happens when they can't afford to own the land anymore? It gets chopped up and sold into smaller and smaller parcels that nobody can hunt.

Some people find value and joy in doing for others. Sometimes that doing is providing an opportunity to someone who otherwise would not have an equal opportunity. It's a gift. Do you always refuse any gift you are not allowed to pay for? Do you look at everyone as a freeloader who does not offer to reimburse you for the cost of a gift you got them? Sorta ceases to be a gift then best I can tell. Tell you what I will continue to accept gifts with all the grace and thanks I can muster and you can see me as a freeloader. The perspectives are joy or loathing and we are all free to choose.

 

[tgus59]

concerned atmosphere I'm pretty surprised anyone except close family is allowed to hunt on private property without a signed le

If you are hunting property for free, the state covers the liability. The landowner is only liable if they are accepting some type of payment.

 

[Newtosavage]

Some people find value and joy in doing for others. Sometimes that doing is providing an opportunity to someone who otherwise would not have an equal opportunity. It's a gift. Do you always refuse any gift you are not allowed to pay for? Do you look at everyone as a freeloader who does not offer to reimburse you for the cost of a gift you got them? Sorta ceases to be a gift then best I can tell. Tell you what I will continue to accept gifts with all the grace and thanks I can muster and you can see me as a freeloader. The perspectives are joy or loathing and we are all free to choose.

You make a good point. However, do you not also provide gifts in return? If you know a landowner who is being gracious with their property is having a tough time paying the taxes or repairing their fences or fixing their barn or shredding their pastures or dealing with invasive plants that are overtaking their property, do you not feel compelled to help them since you are using the property?

Many landowners' children have moved away (into the city) and aren't around to help on the farm anymore. As those landowners age, they have trouble keeping up with everything and that's when we see places get cut up and sold, and that's a real issue for the future of hunting private land. In Texas, without the money and services generated from hunting leases, a lot of large landowners would have no choice but to sell their places as smaller "ranchettes" and hobby farms, where likely no hunting would be allowed. We see it all the time.

The longer a landowner can keep all their property intact, the better it is for the hunter.

 

[Newtosavage]

If you are hunting property for free, the state covers the liability. The landowner is only liable if they are accepting some type of payment.

This may or may not be true, depending on the state. And remember, someone can sue you regardless of what the law is and you have to pony up to defend yourself whether you're in the right or wrong.

There are good contracts available for free through state fish and game agencies as well as organizations such as the NFAA (national field archery assn.) that can be signed by both parties, whether or not money is changing hands. That protects both parties in the long run.

 

[LostArra]

If you are hunting property for free, the state covers the liability. The landowner is only liable if they are accepting some type of payment.

Maybe in Iowa.
Most of the time the state just limits the liability of the landowner but does not eliminate it completely if they receive no compensation. I've never heard of a state actually providing liability insurance for a property owner.

 

[LostArra]

>>>someone can sue you regardless of what the law is and you have to pony up to defend yourself whether you're in the right or wrong. <<

Amen (unfortunately)

 

[Billy Goat]

In our area leasing isn't common yet and I'm always hearing people complain about loosing permission to hunt somewhere. Generally they never did anything for the landowners they were hunting on. To me it's taking someone's generosity for granted. Things always need to be done on large properties. I'm fortunate and I have a few farms between what I own or rent. I do also lease a few places to hunt. I make sure that a landowner always receives something from me in return. I have showed up to deer hunt on a property and the landowner has been working on equipment or cutting firewood. I help them with what they are doing before I go hunting. It has even cost me hunts as I end up helping them for several hours. Even bird hunting I make sure the landowner gets a gift card to a restaurant or something.

I understand the sentiment that people don't think they should pay to hunt. Back in the day nobody did. That was also a time that if you drove down the road and saw someone who needed help, you stopped and did what you could. Times are changing. Attitudes are changing and it's getting harder and harder to make it as a smaller farm. I grew up on the farm and I still farm but I work off the farm to make a living.

My thoughts are that everything about hunting costs money. You can decide how much you want to spend. But these guys that spend a boatload every year on new rifles or other hunting supplies and won't pay for ground they are hunting? Seems to me like a place to hunt is the most important part. Even hunting public ground there is cost associated with hunting it. Might only be $5 but it's still a cost. By no means am I saying that someone should be paying a grand a year to hunt. That's not my intended message at all. But a landowner should be receiving something in return for their gift to you for hunting. Fixing fence, debris cleanup from fields after storms, help working livestock, maybe operating equipment. Make yourself available.

 

[WhiteOak]

The downside of leases or paying to hunt becoming the norm is that the demand outweighs the supply driving the prices up the leases up. People with deep pockets are willing to pay more and more just to have leases to themselves. The recreational value of the land is starting to outweigh the production value. I have in laws in TX that have seen the prices of land soar in the last few years. Farm or ranch land that is worth 1000 an acre is being sold at 3000 an acre marketed as recreational land and it all sells too, usually to fat cats from the city. Not saying it's right or wrong it is capitalism in full force. I do believe that it contributes to hunting becoming a exclusive rich man's sport that much faster.

My experience is that if you are from the area you likely have some connections to hunt private for free weather you work it off or just through the relationship. I have worked on a farm just to hunt and I take pride in hunting and finding success on public.

At least there is still millions of acres of public we already pay taxes for. The talk with paying someones taxes to hunt is a little weird to me. Whatever you and the landowner agree on together should be good enough. Damn all you freeloaders lol