I need some info.

Maybe you all can help.

I decided that I want to buy some land. I talked to plenty of people who hunt, but they get hunting leases. I really don’t care to fork up 2000-3000 for a deer lease and heck everyone I talk to that does have one, has no interested to add me to the cookie jar so screw them!! So I am looking to get my own land. I am looking for land that I can take my rifles, 4-wheelers and do my hunting sports or just plain ol hiking. I like to know where to best person to contact about where to buy land and what regulations guidelines are on the property that I buy.

I am looking to maybe buy land out in West Texas, kind of close to the Big Bend area. Not sure if hunting is all that good, but heck anything beats always shooting at the shooting range for 2-5 hrs and pay $10 a pop each time and all I can shoot is paper target. I want rodents / small kill, maybe even deer if its popular in west Texas.

Anyone here can help with any input about all this and what to expect?

Thanks

Mike, if you're rich and using it as a tax write off-that
can help you--to a degree. If you're just getting it to
hunt; I would put some major thought in the purchase. Say
you buy 200 acres at $1500.00 an acre.(probably an average
price) That's $300,000.00. Divide that by 25 years=
$12,000.00 a year. I don't know your age but $12,000 a
year will buy a pretty good lease. Even taking a lousy
$100,000.00 and leaving it in the bank can get $8,000.00
in interest. That's also a good amount for a lease. I'm
just saying to think long and hard on a purchase.(just
for hunting) If you're rich-it doesn't matter.

Not rich at all. Working two jobs to pay towards the 401K so I can retire early though

I started to do land search which seems like its very pricey out here. A lady I work with lives out in Llano and she has 12 acres, but she says its only about 1000.00. All I really want is about 10 acres. More for varmint hunting, not big game.

www.landsoftexas.com is a good site!!

Most land in west Texas is going to be under $1000 an acre. Depending on how north and west you go, you can get land as low as $400 an acre. Will be harder though b/c you are looking for such a small piece.

NEVER a bad idea to buy land! One of the best investments you can make.

By the way, good hunting out west too!

Don't get 9.99 acres!!

In Texas you have a better chance of doing what you want with 10 or more acres. Just FYI on that.

And welcome to THF, Texas Mike! Lots of great folks around here and I'm sure one will pop up here in a minute from your area that'll add to what Huntmaster has already given.

Need to warn you right off about the BS that goes on sometimes, though...

If you are going to buy to do all that, get 200 or more acres. Most people that varmit hunt have access to 1,000's of acres though since it takes that much to move around and call often. Think about the price of gas if you are driving to big bend area from a metro area unless you like out there. I think 10 acres around big bend would look like a 1 acre lot in Dallas it is so open.

What would you consider too small of a piece to purchase in south west Texas near the Sanderson/ Del Rio area. Is it worth buying if you can only find 150 ac. or so?

In my opinion and mine only, I would think taking large parcels in south Texas and making them into 100 to 300 acre parcels for people to buy would make it like East Texas. Then comes restrictions and laws... If it is already that size, I say go ahead but then why are they selling?

You probably need more input than we can supply. Like a
good land realtor. Mineral rights? Some oil guy drilling
holes all over the place? Water? Soil content? etc. Unless
some little ole lady is selling 150 acres in south texas
for $400.00 an acre and you can steal it.

Coach I have bad news for you. I know exactly what you are talking about. I have 2 friends that did this all with in the last 3 years, in the same area. If your looking for a good place to hunt, this won't be it. They have over hyped this by the 2 realtors, that are selling it. These use to be VERY large ranches. They have cut them down into very small pieces, to sell for a cheap price. The guys I know, who are co workers have not harvested anything if much. Your neighbors if anything is seen will shoot what ever moves. Check into to it further. Although it is cheap, you may not get what you want in return. Now I have seen much bigger ranches for sell in Pecos and Terrell Counties, but we are talking sections of land, versues acres. Those would be a better deal, but a whole lot more money, of course. JMO

PS, watch the guys on Ebay, they have scammed people pretty bad in this area. I posted a newspaper article on this a while back. Watch who you deal with.

Thanks 7mag. That stuff down there is cheap for sure but what you have said is exactly what I was wondering about. I don't want to get somewhere that I can't make a difference in my place. If the neighbors are going to ruin it- I don't want to do it.

NP, and best of luck to you

Thanks! I am VERY new to hunting. I was not raised in a family of hunters so I am just trying to learn as much as possible here. 7mag- I noticed you are from Midland too- have you been here long?

Yeah, about 20 years. Originally from Ft. Stockton

How about Alpine, Tx area?

Say '20' acres.... good buy for varmints and bigger game hunting?? By the pics, seems that its really hill terrain. I got 4x4s

I agree with the person above that talked about "putting the money you would use to purchase the land in a bank account" and use the interest that money produces to get a good hunting lease.

When you start talking about that small of acreage a good distance from where you actually live, there will end up being alot of unexpected heart-ache. Nobody is around to watch out for your investment when your gone and the smaller tracts of land actually have higher tax values in some cases (money that you were'nt expecting to spend on a yearly basis because most people are just worried about the mortgage payments) !!!!!

A lease on the other hand usually there's a land-owner that watches your stuff while your at home working during the off-season (like when a west-Texas thunder-storm/wind-storm blows over your deer stands, yeah I said "stands"), on a lease you'll have a couple of deer blinds where on 10 acres, one blind might be crowdin' the place, if your neighbors even leave you any wildlife to hunt. Oh yeah, and the land owner has to pay the sizeable property taxes on the land your hunting.

This is JMO, but good luck on your decision either way !!!!

And WELCOME TO THE FORUM, I think you'll really enjoy it.

coach,

i'm a realtor, a landowner, and a hunter.

i can help you find a place and sort through the legal mumbo jumbo.

even though i represent your interests, the seller pays my commission.

email me when you get ready to make that leap:

gregory @ come2fredericksburg.com

You can own bookoos of acres in West Texas and still not have a place to deer hunt. You might find a varmint or two on it at different times, but changes from year to year in rainfall amounts affects this area more than any in the state. It is not like the Hill Country. You better be careful about what you buy and from whom you buy it.

By the way, if you can find anything in the Hill Country for under $1000.00/acre, you better jump on it. For the most part, land in the Hill Country is priced at considerably more than that. JMO, so take it for what it is worth.

This comment is coming from someone who is a homeowner but does NOT own land in Texas...and is simply MY opinion...
It's better to lease the land you hunt on than to go off and buy a plot. Unless of course like some guys on here have stated...if youre doing this as an investment. Will it be easier to find a good lease?...nope not really, but think about the opportunity to change from one location to another from year to year...cant do that if you decide to buy. Plus some of the overpriced Texas land will come crashing down soon enough. What Texas lawmakers have done is over-priced (appraised) land and homes in order to tax the hell outta us.
Of course if you plan to buy developmental land in hopes of being able to sell it to a home builder or developer, before the bust..you might be able to make a penny on it.

Thanks all for the input.

I called the lady that owns the land. She said that there is plenty of jack rabbits and wild pigs/hogs that she seen out on her property. She was unaware if your allowed to hunt, but if its small game w/ something like a 17hmr or 22cal then she said it should be no problem. But I guess I need to find out 4-sure. Anyone here know whom to ask if the land can be hunt'able?

Thanks again and for the welcome here. Glad to join.

Anything more than 10 acres and out of city limits would make it fair game for hunting.

CurtisCatfish is "right on" in his statement.

That was a really great way of answering the question with simplicity, so everyone could understand !!!!!

Good job

I'd look around. The price/acre goes down as the # of acres goes up. Depending on the location it makes more sense to get 200 acres then 20. Besides, owning land is like owning a boat. When you buy a boat get the biggest possible motor it will take. You'll never have enough power. Likewise, buy the biggest place you can afford. The longer you own it the smaller it will get.

I found my place by selecting the counties I was interested in and then looking at the local real estate ads in their papers or on the internet. Most real estate agencies have postings online with pictures and prices. Saves gas initially.

1.) Just remember before you buy, the work on a farm or ranch is never done.

2.) Get every possible mineral right that exists.

3.) Make sure that there are no current leases on the property that can't be terminated at closing.

4.) Make sure you get a title insurance policy

5.) Since your a buyer, use a licensed realtor and check them out so you don't get ripped off.

6.) If the property has water front or river frontage, find out what the flood stage is and how much the water level fluctuates.

7.) If you can find out about the neighbors on the adjoining property before you buy, may save you some grief after the fact.


They aren't making any more land. The price will always go up unless Jerry Jones decides to get the city to condem it to build his stadium.

Grinder, where are you looking at buying property, what county....