I'm considering doing this if i can get 5-6 guys together... but really have no idea how much is typical per acre here in IL and also trying to decide if it is cheaper just to go on a guided hunt instead... seems like guided hunts are pricey of course but i'm not sure how it compares to leasing with some friends... who can advise me?? who wants to go in on a lease next season??
I am a member of a hunt club. 16 members on 2200 acres. As long as you have an agreed set of rules beforehand all should go smoothly. We have rules about guests, work days, hunting other members stands without permission, antler restrictions, clean up, expenses, We try to cover everything that might come up. That avoids possible conflicts down the road. We also have agreed upon consequences from fines to membership termination depending on the severity and frequency of the infraction. We try to leave the guess work out of it and we all get a better place to hunt.
Txjourneyman's post says it all. If you do this with friends w/o clear rules that everyone agrees to, you'll end up w/less friends. It only takes one who doesn't play by the rules to ruin it for all. Good luck.
ok, great advice so far, some of those things I would have just "assumed" though its a good idea to say them out loud or have the "rules" written down... but I'm curious how it works out money wise compared to using a guided hunt with an outfitter... I mean obviously there is gas and such to get to the lease to prep and scout and etc... it seems on the surface that the cost would, annually, be about the same, maybe even more expensive, though I can totally see the benefits of personal satisfaction of doin it yourself instead of being put on a deer by someone else... whaddya think??
I don't think I'd do this with that many guys. I think I'd rather end up on a smaller patch of land, with fewer guys.
of course, the fewer the better, but still has to be affordable... in a perfect world i'd lease 500+ prime hunting acres by myself, but I'm just not that rich...
My lease is year round. I can go hunt hogs, sheds, turkeys, doves, or just take my wife and daughter out for a weekend in the woods. I sure can't do that with an outfitter.
My buddy and I are the only one's on our lease. 115 acres for 2 guys, bow only. Pretty nice if you ask me.
nice NC... seems like quite a few of the leases I've seen advertised are "season only"... I may be wrongly assuming that means no access prior for scouting and stand prep??
Most Texas "season only" leases allow access 45-90 days before season to allow for stand and feeder, (quit it, we know), placement, as well as scouting.
