Just today I got some bad news. I found out that one of the main properties that I hunt will be timbered followed by a stump grinder to increase the tillable acreage of the property. This is a property I call the 127 (for its acreage) although only 35 of its acres is in timber, it has some good bedding, a decent travel cooridor and one good inside corner. This is a big blow to as it is only 10 minutes from my house and access to land is very difficult in my area. I have 100's of hours invested in this land from scouting, shedding and glassing. This is also a property that Dubbya hunted on while he was here. The quest for some new ground is going to have to pick up some intensity now for sure. Here is saying farewell to one of my main local hunting grounds.
That's a tough break. Finding and scouting new ground can be exciting though. I'm sure you will bounce back just fine and put another slammer on the ground next year. My family farm will most likely be sold in the next 5-10 years if I had to guess, and soon I will be in this same position.
Seems like that would take forever to pay for itself ie: logging/stumping/dozing. Sometimes I don't understand people. Our local water and soil conservation district rewarded a neighboring farmer for his conservation efforts. He's pushed out most of his fencerows, fills in ponds and farms right up to the mailboxes. Every hunter I know cusses his efforts, others reward him for them. Go figure.
I know the feeling, we are suppose to have a major thining on some of our lease this year. The deer are adaptable an so am I, this will not be the first time. I go through this seems like about every seven or eight years.
Did you lose the ground or just feel it will not produce deer anymore? farmers sell off timber because they need $$$$ I think you might find that the ground wont be cleared to be tillable.. that cost a lot of money that is hard to recoup. i have ground that has been cut,and with the tops of trees piled up in spots has made even better bedding areas,, deer simply adapt loggers take the good timber to sell and are gone in a few weeks, they will leave ruts and a mess, this is just me but i would stick it out and help this farmer after the after math of the loggers you will have a place for life.. best of luck.
Scott, I know the feeling. I've lost several properties over the last several years that were GOOD properties but either landowner's passed on, out-of-stater's leased family feud's over hunting, etc. It can be a tough thing, especially when it's a property that you've had a good handle on for some time.
That sucks, I can't hekp but put myself in your shoes. If I lost my main spot, I'd be heartbroken. Good luck in the hunt for another spot.
Might be the motive you needed to find an even better place to hunt, but I do feel your pain when you lose a spot that produced, one you had confidence in. Good luck Scott finding one to take its place.
Join the crowd. My honey hole is up for sale. The owner wants a hefty price. The land is basically worthless except for hunting. My only hope is to win the lotto really fast before he sells it. LOL The one saving graze is I still will have access right by it. We were out scouting some land today ( public ) that is off the beaten path. I don't think anyone has ever bowhunted it as it is nasty to get into. It will take waders to get into it before freeze up. I will have over a mile of walking to get into it. The perfect spot for a big buck to hide out and we know big bucks roam that area. I am going to throw a trail cam in there late next summer as we won't be able to glass it from a distance. It will be real nasty dragging something out of there if I put one down but that is the least of my worries right now. We are figuring this buck maybe using that area early in the fall ( big shed )... I've got some other spots in mind as well that I am digging into. Time to explore and find some new honey holes. Good luck on your quest !! Tim
Sorry the land will be timberless. I know how you feel several times over but under different circumstances. Within the last 10-15 years I've lost the best hunting land I'll ever have: a. 270 acre tract of riverbottom land to a paper company b. 2 different tracts to a guy who rents a house and is now best friends with the landowner c. a nationwide hunting club leased my most favorite property 2 years ago when a landowner's cousin took ownership in a court battle over a will.
