Me and a couple of other guys leased out a place and plan on hunting it next year along with 25 or so other paying members. We would like to offer something that will work for all paying members and we would like to deal with the same members (as many as possible) every year to avoid turnover and the turmoil of looking for good people year in and year out. We have a house that will sleep 15 or so, we have electricity/sewer/water hook-ups for trailers. We know that good hunting is going to be the main thing that keeps people coming back, but what are some other activities, amenities, or things that we could do that will make people want to return to a lease year after year. Another way to ask this question is what would you like to see going on at your lease that could make it more fun or make it a better place to be for the people and families that hunt with you? Would also like to know some things you dislike about what is going on at your lease. We don't need any advice that could land us in the jailhouse or require time spent on parole. Just looking for a few legal suggestions.

one of the neighboors elk get out and walk infront of my bow stand

Sounds like a positive to me.

Encourage members to come out during the summer to spend time together even if you're not shooting hogs or hunting. It's good to just get them together and meet one another. You can grill/BBQ together and just hang out.

With more than 25 guys on the lease, I don't think that you're going to avoid turnover.

I agree, but can't it be kept to a minimum? Just trying to encourage a positive atmosphere where people will enjoy themselves and was wanting input on any ideas that would help.

Not trying to slam your set up but I go to the lease for a little solitude and quiet time with a few close friends. That ain't about to happen with 25 people in camp. Would be more like a circus to me. And then if the paid members bring a family member that number could easily reach 50 people in camp. Oh lordy.

I've never been with a group that big, so I've got no idea of what the layout or your budget is...I don't know, a shooting range, picnic tables, fire pits, grills, trash dumpsters...

How big is the place?

I think good hunting is the key to focus on. To me a dear lease is a place to go and hunt, not ride atv's not hang out and bbq, not have a birthday party etc. You go when you need to to maintain your equipment and feed and hunt. Other than that you dont need to be there and if I was the land lord you wouldnt be.

I think you are going to have issues with turnover just because you will never find 25 people who see eye to eye on anything.

for us, 3 of us and our wives, and kids, it is being able to have a lease that is close to home so we can enjoy it all year long. My mom doesnt like to hunt but loves to fish, so a good fishing hole for her is always good. A place to stay is great when the kids are there.....and a GOOD land lord doesnt hurt either.

Also guest hunting would be a big no no on my list. If you have 25 people out there your not gonna know who shot what, allow them to bring guests to hunt and there wont be a deer left in the county.

Wow, lot of folks, this sounds more like you need an outfitter type setup. Planned meal time and menus, planned activity for non-hunting time. You can't have people just running around the ranch. Some guys may want to hunt certain times that others don't want to be on stand. Camp clean up, designated cooks, hunter dropoff/pickup service entertainment for non-hunting guests. Could get dicey.

Maybe you should split it up into 3 or 4 different pastures if it has cross fences. That way you can avoid turnover, and get a few 5-8 man groups.

It can be done. You already acknowledged that there will be some issues but just want to do anything that will lessen the stress.

Either it is play time or hunting time. Many people confuse the two and establishing what type of operation it will be should allow for you to search out people who fit the profile.

When I go I hunt. No joy riding in the jeep or atv, it is not time to clear brush or set stands. That has all been done in preparation for the upcoming season.

Some people like to use it as a camping getaway and if they harvest a deer then that is great plus for them. It becomes a split between recreation and hunting.

With 25 members there will be plenty of kids and family. If the property allows it you might designate an area for them to spend between hunts. A pond or creek bed close to camp or something of that nature.

It is split into 8 pastures and it is 20 sections. 1.5-2.0 hunters/section and your group is leasing that pasture for the entire season.

So is it possible to have 3 camps? Say one camp has 3 pastures, the others have 2 each. That's what I would want. Cause I don't want to be in a camp with 50 or 60 people on opening day. But I could certainly handle 15-20.

One of the problems I have at my lease,(which is one of the reasons I'm leaving after this season), is TOO many rules that make it no fun at all!!! I understand that you need rules but don't go overboard with them!!! We generally have a BBQ at the lease for families and a general meeting to elect officers!!!

I would suggest spending a few bucks and have someone make y'all a private web sight that has a good message board on it. That way communication and plaining between members will be easy. And everyone on the lease can communicate without having mass meetings that some will always miss.
This could cut down on a lot of drama and miss communication.

I was on a big lease like this for several years, and it was actually pretty nice. The only time everyone was there was opening weekend. We had several things that were awesome....

1. We hired outside cooks to come in and cook the whole first week of deer season, every single meal. They also cooked the three days after Thanksgiving. I'm talking big homemade meals! It was awesome. We had quite a few guys that would just spend the whole week there and never have to cook for themselves.
2. We made a rule, no guests hunting the first week of season.
3. No hunting another person's stand without permission.
4. Everyone had duties....cleanup around camp, raking leaves, cutting firewood, fixing up foodplots, etc.
5. Make a detailed rule book!

I wish I had internet access at my lease. I work from home, connected to a mainframe in New Mexico, via vpn. With access at the lease I could work during the day and still hunt the mornings and evenings.

I wouldn't mind hearing more information about the lease. Location, size, etc, etc. I may be looking to change things up a bit.

I'm currently on a large lease with about 20 or so members and we don't really have a problem with overcrowding. Just gotta make sure that everyone knows what is available to shoot to manage the deer numbers. We have a pretty good amount of rules that each member has to adhere to and if not, penalties/fines/removal from lease are all in there and clearly stated. Like i said, i'd love to hear more about the place and maybe help you out with what we've done at my current place. Been on this place for a long time and we don't have many problems with members. Most of us are just looking for a place to get away too. We are a year round lease so we can hunt and fish which is nice in the off season.

With that many people, I would stress having a simple set of rules that everyone knows by heart and enforce them strictly.

We try and have a "Big Buck Contest" each year and the winner gets the next year lease for free. Also, if there is water on the lease, maybe a few fishing tournaments in the spring and summer with a fish fry at the end.

How will you decide who gets to stay in the house? It sleeps 15 but your going to have 25 members? I see a problem there.

Look into getting a verizon 4g hotspot. Mine works out at my lease for those emergency boss emails.