Posted By: alsaenz
Question about deer hunting and leasing my pasture for cattle - 01/12/18 12:16 AM
I think I have the answer from this thread, but I'd like everyone's feedback about whether I should lease my pasture for cattle.
Context:
I have 114 acres, about 60 in pasture (cross-fenced into two 30 acres sections), the rest woods. One neighbor is 4500 acres, no cattle. One neighbor is 1,000 acres, and I've only ever seen about 5 cattle at a time on his place. Two other neighbors are about 200 acres each, and only one of those has cattle (about 3).
A friend of mine asked me if I'd be open to him leasing my pasture (he has about 12-15 head). He's a great guy, and his family has lived and owned land in the area for a few generations. The way my land is set up, I have one tower blind, and the feeder is about 40 yards on the other side of the pasture fence, so cattle, in theory, wouldn't be able to get to it. In other words, the feeder is on the edge of the woods that borders the pasture. I've only owned the place for about two years, and this was the first deer season I've taken anything (an 8-point). Overall, I'm pleased with the deer I've seen from the blind and on camera--no monsters, but a good handful of up-and-coming bucks, and 6-8 doe any given morning or evening. This year seems to be a bit richer than last, but I've been feeding all year, so that may explain it.
For years, we would buy hunts, and even with our land now, I still like to take my boys out to west or north Texas, so we don't put a lot of hunting pressure on our land. Neighbors hunt, and I don't know for sure, but I don't get the feeling that anyone is overhunting (just based on the number of shots I tend to hear--or not hear--in the mornings and evenings.
One last thing: I really don't need the money. My friend just said it would be a huge help to him as he is always looking for land near his ranch to rotate his cattle onto. In addition to paying me per acre, he also said he would take care of any fence work that needed to be done or any other maintenance associated with the animals.
Given all the above, what should I be thinking about as I decide whether to move forward with extending him a lease?
Thanks for the feedback.
Context:
I have 114 acres, about 60 in pasture (cross-fenced into two 30 acres sections), the rest woods. One neighbor is 4500 acres, no cattle. One neighbor is 1,000 acres, and I've only ever seen about 5 cattle at a time on his place. Two other neighbors are about 200 acres each, and only one of those has cattle (about 3).
A friend of mine asked me if I'd be open to him leasing my pasture (he has about 12-15 head). He's a great guy, and his family has lived and owned land in the area for a few generations. The way my land is set up, I have one tower blind, and the feeder is about 40 yards on the other side of the pasture fence, so cattle, in theory, wouldn't be able to get to it. In other words, the feeder is on the edge of the woods that borders the pasture. I've only owned the place for about two years, and this was the first deer season I've taken anything (an 8-point). Overall, I'm pleased with the deer I've seen from the blind and on camera--no monsters, but a good handful of up-and-coming bucks, and 6-8 doe any given morning or evening. This year seems to be a bit richer than last, but I've been feeding all year, so that may explain it.
For years, we would buy hunts, and even with our land now, I still like to take my boys out to west or north Texas, so we don't put a lot of hunting pressure on our land. Neighbors hunt, and I don't know for sure, but I don't get the feeling that anyone is overhunting (just based on the number of shots I tend to hear--or not hear--in the mornings and evenings.
One last thing: I really don't need the money. My friend just said it would be a huge help to him as he is always looking for land near his ranch to rotate his cattle onto. In addition to paying me per acre, he also said he would take care of any fence work that needed to be done or any other maintenance associated with the animals.
Given all the above, what should I be thinking about as I decide whether to move forward with extending him a lease?
Thanks for the feedback.