Guys and Gals,

I have read horror stories about dishonest brokers and want to avoid them.

I have a group of guys looking for a lease and want recommendations, if you have them for an honest/fair broker.

looking in and around throckmorton/palo pinto/wichita falls, that area. or south of 30

Any suggestions, let me know.

thanks

The best thing to do is avoid the brokers all together and work directly with land owners. Brokers increase the price to pocket money and to be very honest, it is hard to find a good one.

+1. I know several guys who are lease brokers on the side. Most of them are nice guys.

But I hear many more bad stories than good from the hunters they put on various leases. My thinking is:
1)most knowledgeable owners with good places don't need a middleman; and 2)most lease brokers are motivated to "upsell" any place to get the deals done.

Is this an oxymoron like "honest politician"?

Deal directly with landowner if at all possible.

Pretty much....but even if you find an honest one, you are still paying a premium for the property.

Had good experience with JOHN RAY in that area.

I would recommend going to the feed stores near the areas you want to hunt. They know the landowners that have land available or that are complaining about current hunters they would like to get rid of.

I would check with the chamber of commerce for each county you are looking in. The land owners usually ask them to put it on their website. I found my last lease that way and was on it for 13 years. It's all about timing.

One thing for sure, do not lease from a Danny Coursville. He has a bad reputation. I learned from people on this site about this guy. I would agree with others, stay away from brokers.

Good luck!

Used third-party brokers for several years on the ranch when we first began leasing out the family ranches. They were a total PIA as were some of the folks they brought in. One thing I learned was to never, ever trust them. A haven for con artists.

Wow! thanks for the replies. y'all kind of reaffirmed my own thoughts about them.

Don't confuse lease broker with outfitter or guide. May find bad in any of the three but one is only out to make money off others land, one may own land and show you the place, one maybe employee and there to assist in taking game. Research is key on all three.

wow, i talked to john about 20 years ago when i was looking for a place, is he still leasing? i didnt get any dishonest vibes from him.

Thats easy don't use a broker. I never have or never will.

x2. They do the leg work but then they add a premium to the price to pay for their services.

Good ranches don't need the middleman. Ever...

I can fill my lease all day with friends if I needed too. Landowners don't want to deal with that. If they do they have zero interest in the land and many small land holdings not connected so no way to actually manage/control the place.

You can do the same thing all the lease brokers do to obtain property. There is some huge CROOKS in that line of work, if you call it work. There is so many things as others have stated that are good tools to get in touch with land owners. You will be better off dealing and establishing a relationship with a specific land owner than you ever will with a lease broker. If you need help with a contract, there is many men on here that are honest and will help you if you need it. Good Luck, let us know if you need anything else.

It is a trade off between the time required and the monetary reward. I have tracts spread across multiple counties and it can become too time consuming. Did some short term leasing during dove season one year. Money was good but just too time consuming. A broker would have been easier but did not want to go that way.

Yup