I found out a couple of days ago my lease is being clearcut. From 1200 acres of standing timber to about 100 acres. And with no warning. I have to go pull stands on Sunday, those that are left. I was just getting the place figured out. I may stay on there if the price is dropped considerably. I can still camp there and hunt nearby public land. And maybe get a stand up in the timber thats left and hunt the edge of the cutover. But every other member of the club probably has the same idea. Here in Texas, if you don't have family or a good friend that owns land you have to lease or hunt public land. If you can't afford over $1000 for a lease you go to east Texas and get on a timber lease. Mine cost $650 a year. But timber leases are subject to harvesting. I need to move to a state that has more public land or where access is still gotten by knocking and asking.
Sorry to hear that Greg. Have you talked to any of the lease members? I wonder how they feel about it. Good luck in your search, maybe you'll find something better
The guys I've talked to are like me. Waiting. We need to know how much the lease broker is going to charge. We have been paying $10K for the lease and dividing that up. None of us is will to pay anything close to that now. I'll keep a spot if its like $200 for the year, and thats just to hold a place until the hunting gets better and there is some cover. Chances are I'll be looking for a new lease. Well, i've already started putting out feelers. If I find something better that I can afford I'll be moving. If you hear of anything please let me know.
That is bad news. If I did the math correctly (1200 acres-$650 per man, $10K for the lease) you guys are paying $8.33/acre and have 15 hunters which avgs 80 acres per man. Maybe 80 acres per man is acceptable in timber, but you would literally be on top of each other in W Texas Not trying to be a smartie, but sounds like they did you guys a favor. I suspect the "broker" you mentioned is putting one heck of a mark up on the lease. $8.33/acre should be competitive for some much better areas. The only reason you guys had a cheap lease (relative to the typical $1500-$2500 per hunter rates you see in Texas) is because you had 2-3 times the number of hunters that most places carry. I know of a few leases up here where they have lots of members to keep the lease price down per man and the landowner is okay so long as he gets xx per acre. Questions 1. Do you still have your place around Abilene? 2. Not that I know of anything right now, but how far from the Metroplex are you willing to go for the right deal? I am in the cattle business and have a wide array of contacts throughout W Texas. I agree that the price to hunt in Texas is awfully steep That is why I always shrug my shoulders when I hear how we are losing all of our hunters. Go try and find a place to hunt in Texas OR draw a tag in the Western Mountain states.
Was it clear cut, or selective cut? Either way the hunting will be good for years to come from my expeirences.
jackflap, yes I still have the place north of Abilene to hunt and its free. I don't want to wear out my welcome though so won't hunt it every weekend like I would a lease. I wouldn't want to travel much farther than that west. I live an hour east of the metro. I have been thinking about the Wichita Falls area. That too would be about the limit for drive time. I have buddies that hunt south Tx. They drive 12-14 hours sleep for 3-4, hunt for a while and drive back. I don't think I could enjoy that and I have my wife and daughter to consider. As far as numbers on the lease goes, yep, it was crowded. Its not as bad in timber but crowded none the less. I've pretty much decided, after much negative input from my wife, that I can afford to pay up to $1000 a year. I know that still won't get me on anyplace great but it may get me out of east Texas and back on pasture instead of timber company land.
JF, around 100 acres in the timber per man is close but acceptable. Most of that stuff is pretty thick. I've hunted in W. Texas and 80 acres per man you are defiantly on top of each other! X2 Are you wanting to stay in E Texas? I'll keep my ear to the ground for ya.
Clear cut with the exception of a creek that flows through the property. They HAD to leave standing timber along the creek bed. Jim I would prefer to hunt in east Tx. Athens, Sulpher Springs, Palestine, you get the idea. Anywhere an hour from Canton would be ideal but I'm a realist. For what I can afford I have to be willing to drive.
It may still be ok. When we have an area clear cut hunting is very good for the first few years or until it gets too thick and everything is about head high and hard to see through. Deer will be browsing through alot and those trees left along creeks are great. Once the cutover gets about 6' tall or so and really really thick it will be a great bedding area. At that time pay close attention to the edges. I like setting up on the edges between the standing timber that was left and the thick cutover. Deer love to travel edges. If you are staying, now is the time to make sure paths are made or left open. Don't get too bummed...you can still do alot with cutovers but NOW will be the time to start ( or just as soon as they finish). Sometimes you can even talk with the timber companies and they might even help push a path or two or maybe leave some lanes open instead of having tree laps laying everywhere...that really makes it tough later on. At least they are cutting now instead of Sept. New vegetation will have time to sprout and you'll be ready for bow season!!! Good luck
Do not turn away yet...that is how they do all the land here in Georgia, cut it down and grow pines...except for the creek beds, and then they accidentaly poison those. You will find great hunting for both deer and turkeys for a couple years and then I would try and get in on the lease next door, because the bedding and browse will be tremendous. Hope it works out for ya...
That's the problem with hunting now days...It's all about the almighty dollar. No wonder kids aren't getting involved. You know how it is...Got to have QDA, BOW HAS TO SHOOT 300 SOME FEET/SEC, SCENTLOC, LAND LEASES, NO ONE WANTS TO SHOOT DOES, GOT TO HAVE CARBON ARROWS, WATCHING OUTDOOR SHOWS ON T.V. INSTEAD OF GETTING OUT IN THE WOODS, NO WOODSMANSHIP SKILLS, THINKING IT'S ONLY ABOUT BIG BUCKS, LOOKING FOR ANY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOWS A PERSON NOT TO WORK ON THEY'RE FORM ETC...It's a joke.
On the leases that we have, the loggers will leave the tree if we have a stand in it and will ask where we want our foodplots after they are done clearing. After the first year it nothing but good hunting with a little work.
2 thoughts ... 1. The hunting may not suffer as much as you think, the green belt around creeks that the loggers have to leave (around here anyway) will become a funnel but you'd still have to deal with the issue of alot of hunters crowded in a small area. Plus, it won't take long before the brush starts to grow up and the deer will use it again. 2. I know a 35,000 acre timber lease in SE OK near Clayton, Honobia, Nashoba and Albion that holds huge deer and there's as many Texans on the lease as there is locals. I believe it's about 2 1/2 hours from Dallas. That might not interest you but in case it does, holler at me and I can get you the contact info. Sooner
