Yeah that's him. I have no problem with somebody that only hunts his lease and with guides on private land, but don't come on here and start telling experienced public hunters what they need to do. Seems cut of the same cloth.
Sorry. With all the azzhatery in this thread, I missed someone who actually had legitimate questions.
Originally Posted by HuntnFly67
Is there a tax advantage for building wetlands?
I'm not CPA, so I'm not sure how to answer this for you. Yes there can be tax advantages. Everyone's situation is different, and this depends on a various different situations. If the land has income from farming then the improvements can be deducted from the income. If the improvements exceed the income, the improvements can be depreciated and carried over year to year until the property is sold. In that situation the carry over would directly decrease your capital gains. There's also various federal programs you can enroll the property in. Some stay with the property in perpetuity, so it decreases the land value and appeal to someone wanting to buy a turn key property. Some are 10, 15, 20 year programs but dependent on a history of farm income as well as other requirements to register with those programs. Hopefully that answers your question.
Originally Posted by HuntnFly67
Sure seems like a crapton of government regulations and redtape to just go out and flood a field (intentionally oversimplified statement). I get the surveying for elevations and drainage and flow/hydrology, but why does the gubmint need to stick their nose in your bidness on what you do on YOUR land? Did you have to get all this cleared through the State of Kansas prior to moving dirt? I assume you are you flooding with a well and that is why? Or are you banking on rain water catch?
Sure you can do what you want on your own property if that's the risk you are willing to take. By the time this project is over, the development will be well over six figures. Not having the proper paper work for water rights and levees was not a risk I was willing to take. Water rights and diverting water is controlled by the feds. All it would take is one person to complain to the right people about our use of water or a levee breaking to no only make us liable for the damages the levee breaking would cause but fines and tearing down of levees. I've had countless friends tell me I don't need permits to do this, but I don't see any of them risking six figures or dropping a pump into any of the major waterways around here flooding fields either. Yes, we will have a wet well and pump each pool. I'd love it if we could just catch the water from run off each year. Save a lot in electricity for pumping.
Originally Posted by HuntnFly67
I think it stays off-radar in Texas if less than 200 acre feet are impounded?
Not based on my research.
Originally Posted by HuntnFly67
Clearly after a 3-year hunt for the 'right' property, you've demonstrated patience, BUT will that push to 5-years of 'missed' hunting when this place is ready to drop the first bird?
This looks like a fun and worthy project. Keep the updates rolling.
Hindsight is always 20/20. I wish rather than maxing out my 401K every year since I started working year 1 I would have just done match up to my company, taken the delta, and invested the money myself to buy land with. Instead, I've got the huge number on a computer sitting in accounts that I can't use until I retire and will never use all of granted there's not a major medical event for my wife and I. Anyway, off my soap box, but I wish I had done this 10-15 years ago. Would have cost 1/4 to 1/2 of what this project will cost, but yes after you get the property bought you get to deal with the slow wills of the government on permitting. If we are lucky, we will get to flood and hunt the property this year which will be just a year after owning it, but realistically you have to go in with the mindset it's going to take 2 years to get the property developed. Then it's going to be another 2-3 years before the birds really imprint on the property, and the hunting is as good as you want it to be. I was lucky that my buddy I'm partnered with has another wetland developed we've been hunting the last 5 years.
Thanks. Trying to get final bids from contractors now as well as pipe and electrical wiring purchased. Should be a busy spring and summer!
Cool project. Not sure on the feeding at night only thing for corn but, I would plant some variety just in case you have a corn issue. More than one species might be good if your corn doesn't make for a reason. Millet, milo etc seeded in along the edges maybe or interspersed. Get some grains that might be staggered in there harvest times so grains on the ground are throughout your season.
Hit up some farmers or coops right now, we saw piles of grain driving down through Kansas , Colorado and Texas first of the month. Have you looked into a solar pump?
This is the type of crap you have to deal with when permitting a wetland. SMDH!!
Quote
Plans indicate wetland berms will be constructed through existing woodland and grassland areas. In County, these habitats may be determined to be critical habitat for the state-listed Eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). We will need more information to determine whether an Action Permit is necessary for the project. Specifically, we need to know what work has already occurred—noting a potential project start prior to application for floodplain fill permits. What is the estimated area of grassland and woodland habitat that has been disturbed or will be disturbed by the project.
My 1st attempt at a wetland. NRCS designed it and i built it. Only 6 acres but add a nice feature to my ranch. Has average of 18 inch deep water, Installed small core under levee. Has drain pipe with concrete seep collar. Built little over a year ago. Lots of Woodducks use it. Took 38 hrs to push up levee with dozer.
