I purchased 200 acres in Jackson county, Ia. 100 tillible and 86 acres of timbers, (a lot of fingers) house available on land. Just getting into this and want to only rent this out to 3 bow hunters for the whole year. They could do all the prep work and the hunting. Is this a good way to rent this out or do I have to do all the pre hunting, stands, camera, food plots? Is there a market for this?
It sound good to me. Wish you were offering this in IL, or MO. FML! You should look at others prices then cut someone a deal on the first year since it hasn't been scoured. Or has it? It July that means its hot and crappy out. So not only are we not walking around scouting that much, but the deer aren't moving a lot either. You should offer 50% off the first year since no one knows the deer situation. I'd almost let someone hunt it for free the first year to do all the scouting for you. Then charge on thier findings. Just my 2 cents. It can take a couple of years before you know the deer on a property.
I agree with selfbros - I have a lease in Southern IL, this is my 3rd year on 80ac and I am just now getting to know the deer travel patterns on the property, amazing on even a small property how long it takes and the pattern changes based on crops, weather, pre-rut, rut, post rut. I share the lease with 4 other hunters and it is difficult to keep them, as someone always strikes out and does not want to pay the price to stay in. Lots of deer pass through the property but it is not a resident deer location (something you need to determine as well). I do most of the scouting and have absorbed thousands of dollars in costs for cameras, stands, annual food plots, etc - even though we normally all score on at least a doe or two, most of the hunters don't want to pay for a place to hunt with good opportunity (they all think they should kill a monster every year). I have started inviting hunters ($100 for a weekend hunt) for bow hunting weekends, so they can see the deer and opportunities prior to investing. Tom Shelby Co Deer and Boar fanatic "Deer are a public nuisance and must be eaten"
I believe I would find some interested hunters in your area and get to know them. Go out with them and walk it. If nothing else you could get a feel for their attitudes and mannerisms. Charge them a couple hundred for the first season and go up in the next. Let them know how it is going to work from the get go. See if they will sign a long term lease say 5 years, come to an agreement on price, get 1/3rd of it or so up front and let them have at it. Put YOUR rules in writing and agree to let only them hunt it. Keep friends and family out of there during hunting season and don't allow anyone else to hunt it no matter what. Nothing that will make a hunter as mad as being moved in on by someone that is kin to the owner. The kin USUALLY seem to think they have the rule of the roost so to speak and run them over no matter how many ways it's put to them. It happened to me and one of my brothers no longer hunts my property and it's my property not one I lease. Whatever you do be selective on who you pic and once you do it's theirs as far as hunting until the lease is up. Be good to them and they will usually return the favor. --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?j1qacv
I read this yesterday and have been thinking about it so I thought I would comment. I believe that Sticknstringarchery touched a little on what I would deem the most important point. Not all bowhunters are created equal, some are very good with a bow and some pick it up a week before season and think they are Robin Hood. I would be very careful who you let on your property, expecially if you have any other livestock on the farm. Go to your local archery shop or to a 3d tournament and watch. Not saying that a top 3d shooter is a better hunter but the last thing you want is deer running around your property with arrows stuck in them. I have an 80 acre tract of land that I can rifle hunt only because of some arrow slingers. I found 6 dead deer while I was rifle hunting the first time. Now I am in no way the be all end all in bowhunting, I have missed and made bad shots, I have also not been able to recover poorly shot deer. Find a good shooter and talk with him, I wouldn't even let on that you had property until you got to know him better. Once you have a good feel for the type of person he is, let him know that you have this tract and are wanting to lease it out. See if he has any buddies that he is willing to vouch for that would be interested in hunting as well. Sit down with all of them and see what it is that they would like to have in a hunting area and then tell them what you expect. Find a middle ground that all can agree on, I know this is your property, but if you let these guys help in the decision making I think they will do the best they can to respect and care for your property. Any way if I was in their shoes that is how I would like for a landowner to approach it.......Blake
? Hi I live in iowa near jackson county, i was wondering where it is exactly. Also, was wondering if you have any hunters yet or not.
