I'll give you some perspective. I've been hunting almost every weekend this season and some evenings during the week. I've seen 3 deer with not much hope for the future. That is the life of public land hunting I'm told. I'd love to have some type of lease. I'd try and renegotiate if you can, point out all you have done in the last 26 years. Sell them on the fact that you are reliable, trustworthy etc. If they are truly bringing new people in then this may help. What drastic changes are they asking you to make?
What would You be paying and have You priced out todays going lease rates? In Waupaca it's $40/acre which is not Buffalo county with 26 years of knowledge and sweat equity in it. I pay $60/acre in property tax for woods.
That sucks! sounds to me like this is the last year, not sure if you are a one buck state or not. If 2, I'm shooting...2.
I wouldn't shoot anything you weren't happy with just to "prove a point". If you're happy shooting a certain buck than absolutely do it.
Boy that's a kick in the junk if you ask me. I wouldn't go killing everything there out of spite though. You never know, they may not get close to what they are asking and may come back to you with a counter offer that fits your bill. I would say one thing though, I wouldn't end the season with tag soup though LOL!!
My lease is in SE MN so I am not sure what rifles and WI have to do with anything. It is shotgun only on my lease.
This is not just about $$$ and I have tried to say this already. I have never asked for anything in writing I have never complained when they asked for more money before either. It was the way he said it that made me decide during the conversation that I am done there. Your word and how you deal with people you have deals with means a lot to me. I couldn't care if it was $1 more I will find a new place with less stipulations.
Sounds like you have been forced to make a decision. I can't believe that someone you have worked with for 26 years - improving their land, the quality of deer and putting in the time and effort that you do - would put you in a situation like this. Maybe it is good to cut your ties and get out because obviously loyalty makes no difference to these people. Sorry you are going through this. That sucks! Good Luck!
Seems that stories like this are all to common nowadays. If it isn't a lease issue it loosing permission for other silly reasons. your only recourse is owning your own spread...and that comes with its own set of headaches. In any event sorry to hear about your troubles, hopefully one door closes and another opens. Best of luck.
