Realistic expectations on cost vs. return for a place to hunt?

Not looking for a trophy buck of a lifetime. More or less, I just want access to a spot where I can tag out every year without hurting anyone's feelings. It's not even about the deer, and deer are not my primary target. I want a place to hunt squirrel, rabbit, dove, etc. AND deer. Some predators, pigs. Would love to get started on waterfowl too, but I understand there is plenty of waterfowl hunting on public land in vicinity of the metroplex. I just generally want to enjoy time outdoors with the family, and I want the kids to have a nice stress free environment without a bunch of pressure from other public hunters. I also want year round access for camping as well, and not break anybody's heart if I want to do some target shooting as well.

I might get flamed for saying this, but I feel like the emphasis on trophy bucks is bad for the land and bad for the sport. It takes all the fun out of it for me, I can only imagine how it would effect the kids. I just want to get some wild vittles and teach the kids about hunting and conservation. Trophy buck management is not equivalent to conservation in my opinion, although I do see how they run parallel to each other.

So what can I expect to pay for this kind of lease? Or should I just hunt doves on public land until I can buy my own spot?

It would help if you mention what part of the state you would like to hunt. The price does vary depending on the area. If you are thinking of saving up enough money to buy your own ranch, what is your budget for that? It is much less expensive to find a lease.

I completely disagree with your opinion. But your welcome to it, of course.

Honestly, if you want that much activity out of a deer lease, you’d be better off buying your own place. I’ve never heard a landowner say that they want to have a deer lease where people come out year round & shoot a buncha squirrels, rabbits, etc.

Try thinking of it from a landowners perspective.

Good luck in your search.

Year around all game hunting leases range between $6 ~ $20++ per acre depending on a long list of variables.

'Tagging out' will require a high enough deer density and enough acreage to support the amount being killed.
In a high deer population area of the hill country that could be 15 acres, in Nw Tx up into the panhandle that might be 640 acres per hunter.

A lot of people buy 100 acres in an area that supports 24 deer per section then proceed to tag out like 3 of their neighbors, in a few years wonder why they don't see many deer any more.

I should probably add that tagging out is not the goal. But if I did tag out, so what?

I would definitely be that guy that buys the 20-40 acre chunk of land in a good area and upsets the locals that are managing for trophy bucks only. I just don't want to play that game. I do reserve the right to change my opinion down the road of course

I am also the guy that spends the day picking up litter wherever I have been granted permission to hunt.

Deer hunting in Texas is becoming a rich man's game. "If it would please the crown" comes to mind. Not exactly "good for the sport". Shame there is not more opportunities. In North Carolina there is public land everywhere, even Fort Bragg isn't too restrictive and you sign in and out on the internet with your phone. Fort Hood could learn something from Fort Bragg in that regard.

But it's not home. Texas is home.

Buy your own place is all I can say. Our lease you could do that but what if you have all 6 guys and families doing that. Wouldn't be any game left or they would run for the hills. If we tagged out on deer, we would shoot 60% of our herd yearly. Shooting a yearling spike is pointless imo. We have ARs so you have to grow the bucks to shoot them.

If you find a property to lease like you want consider yourself very lucky and do everything in the world to keep it.

That makes me sick, & IMO, is a lot of what is wrong about hunting nowadays.

Which part makes you sick? The part where I don't want to play the trophy bucks management game? Or the part where I am a steward of the land, picks up after others, etc.? The part where common folks have plenty of hunting opportunities in NC?

I would bet it's the part where I don't care to manage for trophy bucks. Because managing your land for trophy bucks is the number one most important thing right?

Seems you have not been on a lease before or perhaps just not much experience being part of a lease. There are hunters who are happy to kill a very nice buck and that is all they shoot in that season. You have to take care of your source of animals. Agree deer hunting is expensive and you will find the better leases's cost even more. That is just the way it is.

One's hunting habits affect the other hunters time at the lease and their availability to game.

Hope you can buy a place you will be happy with....maybe you have not expressed yourself properly.

All I can say is I hope you don’t end up as my neighbor.

Chances are very slim you will find what you are looking for. I rarely shoot all the deer the landowners allow me to shoot when I am on a lease. If they insist on filling the quota I ablige, but generally 1 or 2 deer is my average per season. Between deer and other animals (turkey, hogs, exotics) they lease hunting rights for I’m a happy hunter. I wish you luck, there are ranches that will let you tag out but I have a feeling that would be short lived.

The part about tagging out on 20 - 40 acres goes against any stretch of the definition conservation or being a steward of the land.
You simply can't kill 5 deer per year on 40 acres of land that supports maybe 30 deer per section ( 640 square acres) without being detrimental to the herd.
640 / 30 = about 21 acres per deer.
Even if by chance you find a place near DFW that has a population of about 35 deer per section ( which is rare) 640 / 35 = 18 acres per deer.
So on your typical 40 acres near the DFW area 1 or 2 per year is about all you can expect without negatively impacting the deer herd in the area.

Taking more deer than the area can support is the exact opposite of being a steward of the land or conservation, throw in a couple of people doing the same as you in the area = a good way to find yourself basically deerless in a few years.

To find a place that can support 'tagging out' on 40 acres you will be outside of the area you've said you'd like to be in other threads.
There are high to over populated areas of the state that will support that.
Bottom line if you want to kill 3 - 5 deer per year off of 40 acres you'll have to look for a place in an area that can support that.

There is no such thing as 'the trophy bucks management game', sound deer management starts with healthy doe then fawns, the byproduct of that ends up with healthy bucks.
Nutrition, genetics & age allow them to produce antlers to their potential. Most spend considerable amounts improving the land to provide the best environment possible for the deer. That is land stewardship.
Those folks managing 'trophy' deer on properties around you will greatly improve what you see & kill.

There are plenty of hunting leases that don't go overboard on the trophy aspect of deer hunting, many that have no other restrictions other than the county game laws.
There are laws & restrictions in many counties that control what bucks can be killed, these restrictions are not trophy management.


If you're having to pick up after other people, you're on a really bad lease or trespassing is out of control on land you own.
Fixing either is real simple.

If you think other states have more opportunity for common folks to hunt thats where you should hunt.

I don't mean to be rude, you sound very inexperienced, most folks would love to find a couple hundred acres to buy or lease that borders a well managed ranch.

If you can't afford $1500 - $2500 per year for a lease, it's going to be hard to afford the $1000 - $3000 per month to buy, there is some public hunting lands in Tx.

I have never used a lease. I've only hunted public land my whole life and I never hunted deer until my adult life, have only ever taken one deer. I did wait and stalk a big bodied 8 point buck with a small rack, and it was a lot of fun but the one animal filed my small freezer and lasted over 6 months.

Not for the lack of deer, there are plenty of deer here. I just prefer squirrel hunting, and it is a great time with the kids. The boy, my stepson, soecifically asks to go squirrel hunting, and prefers it to deer hunting. A whole lot more fun to snoop around the woods looking for squirrels, lots of action. Like fishing for sunfish

It's possible I might have miscommunicated. But for the ruffled feathers, sorry not sorry, hehe.
I've never tagged out or limited on anything other than largemouth bass. I love me some bass fillets. I bet that comment will ruffle some feathers too! Never even shot a limit of squirrels. Honestly never tried and I don't even have the time.

Would I pass on a animal so it's genes could be passed on? Yeah. Same with fishing, I let all the big ones go. I rarely keep bass much bigger than three pounds, have never kept catfish at 20 pounds or larger. I am that guy that would be just happy as could be shooting nothing but "cull" bucks and does. Ya got deer ya don't want?? You don't say!

But again, if I tagged out one year, so what? Unsure what the limits are like in Texas these days but in NC you get 6 deer tags. Back in Tenessee it was like 20. Deer roam in huge herds like cattle at night in Tennessee.

I would rather be restricted to small game and birds only but otherwise unrestricted use, than to take any deer at all. I am looking for a fun place to take the kids without a bunch of silly rules.

I would also prefer unrestricted hunting of pigs to any deer hunting privileges at all. For all the invasive pig "problems" i have been hearing about my whole life, I've never gotten a pig and only seen ine or teo in my life. Compared to whitetail deer, which I usually run across while squirrel hunting almost every time I go.

But still- if I make you so sick, then change my mind. If you think I sound foolish, come to me with logic that you think might change my mind. Shame on me I make you sick, just strengthens my position. If I were a poacher or if I wanted to tear up the land with my truck all day, yeah, that should make you sick..

These kids are not going to grow into lifetime hunters and sportsmen if their only experience hunting is freezing in a deer blind in front of a feeder waiting for dad to pick one they can shoot. They want to get out, walk around, and have fun. Something to consider if you have little ones and you really care about the future of the sport.

These kids would rather walk around looking for squirrels, or sit on a pickle bucket waiting for doves in the warm sunshine. They don't care about trophies... they like to eat and they like to have fun.

How long have you lived in TX? I suggest talking to some other hunters that are on a lease, to get some ideas of what is involved. I moved here from MN over 30 years ago. TX is a different environment, than a state with unlimited quality public hunting opportunities. For several years, I tried the public route. I hunted ducks on some core of engineers lakes, and bought a type 2 public hunting permit. I did find some quality duck and small game hunting. However, deer hunting was another story. I learned that any hunter who can harvest deer on public land is a very skilled hunter putting in tremendous effort to do so. I decided to go the lease route. I have had leases that are poor, fair, good, and excellent. Usually, you get what you pay for. You might find a East TX lease, or hunting club, may work for you. They are the most inexpensive leases, and offer good squirrel hunting. There are also leases in Arkansas, that start around the $400.00 range. You would need to factor in the cost of a non-resident license.

I was born and raised in Texas. I live there most of the first 27 years of my life. During that time I mostly only fished. Some small game hunting, for rabbit mostly.

I'm 38 now. Moving back next month. Texas is my home of record and I am still a legal resident.

So far, from what I have seen and read, I just need my own property. Watch me, I will probably get caugt up in trophy buck management too, haha. I hope not though, at least not until the kids are ready for all that. Probably hunt small game or maybe even some waterfowl IVO Lake Lavon with the family, and might just try to do a nilgai hunt with an outfitter once a year to fill my freezer with wild vittles.

Would be great if I could find an outfitter where I could spend a whole week with the family for a reasonable price. I would settle for a hog trip of I could bring the whole crew (wife and 4 kids) for the price of a one person nilgai trip. But the wife and daughters don't like to rough it, gotta be a comfortable place as well!

You'll never find a lease if the land owner knows you think this way.

Sometimes, you don't want to express EVERYTHING you are feeling...

And buying 40 acres and shooting every deer you see will get you high fenced out real quick.

I may be able to set you up with hogs

Check back with me in April

I have land and have access to other places

There is a ton of good public land within an hour of the metroplex for small game.

I am inexperienced, absolutely. Indigent? No.

$1500 to hunt all year? What can you expect from a $1,500 a year lease? IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS LIKE THAT WHILE YOU ARE FLAMING ME! Even $2,500 sounds great if I have year round access and we can camp. I don't even care about the deer to be honest. But if I can't offset the cost to hunt with some wild vittles, I'll hunt elsewhere. Nilgai are looking good to me right now. Pigs too. Never killed a pig.

Don't mean to be rude? I think you do. I think a lot of ya'll do, good and ready to get the new guy that wants to tag out flagged and kicked off the forum. I don't think you care a whole lot about new hunters or the future of the sport. But- at least you present a good argumen and provide some insight as to why it's bad to even try to tag out.

Call me out on my threads? Am I contradicting myself? Please quote me. I'm ready to explain why and I as always, reserve the right to change my mind! I beet that you have contradicted yourself a few times in the last 4,000 posts, too!

Texas is where I will hunt.

Thanks for the pointers. Tagging out is obviously a no go, and apparently a taboo subject in the forum. Thanks for not making it personal.

Hahaha! Hindsight!

Tagging out is not at all a taboo subject.
Tagging out on 40 acres anywhere near DFW is basically a ludicrous expectation, it shows either a lack of experience or an I don't care about sustainability of the deer herd in the area / if its brown its down attitude.
The later will make it difficult to find any lease.
As a responsible hunter you have to understand or at least have a good idea of a given areas deer density, some areas will support 5 deer killed on 40 acres, some 3 - 5 deer 300+ acres, others might be 1 - 3 deer on 640+ ac.

Finding a lease when you have no leads or contacts isn’t easy, never said it was, you have to put in the work.
You have to get out and look in areas you’d like lease, stop in feed stores, pick up local papers, check the chamber of commerce web sites, put up a lease wanted add on bulletin boards in feed & farm & ranch stores maybe in a local newspaper, meet people, ask friends & associates if they have any leads.
You have to have cash in hand & be willing to go look at what’s offered immediately.
Leases are in high demand, waiting until next weekend or 2 weeks from now is the best way to miss out on an opportunity.
This forum ' Lands & Leases ' is a good place to keep an eye on. You have to read back through several pages to see if there is anything interesting, visit everyday to see if anything new has been posted.

Mostly you have to have realistic expectations.
Put yourself in their shoes.
Do you think LO’s are actively searching for or want strangers with little experience to run around on their property with firearms whenever they feel like it?
Why would you lease land you own and to who? For what price?
You can't expect LO's to fall all over you with offers just because you want a cheap place to use as a recreational / hunting lease with your children.

I understand you're really not mainly focused on deer rather a place to take kids a have a good time.
Many family friendly leases exist, during deer season I doubt any will want folks walking around so you're limiting yourself to finding a place where you lease all the acreage offered for yourself.

I provided a link in one of your other threads to a site to search for buying a place of your own, land for sale is listed on many other sites including this one.

No matter what, it's going to take quite a bit of time & effort on your part to find lease or find a suitable place to buy.

I’m proud to say that I introduced 4 new hunters to responsible deer hunting this season. But I would never take or help someone with your outlook.

Your attitude & expectations are so out of whack, as to be completely unrealistic on numerous points.

Your idiotic attitude toward “trophy hunters” shows your jealousy. What you call a “game”, is just good stewardship & common sense, both are completely alien to you, obviously.

It’s odd that your a complete noobie, but so adamant in your delusions. You should really listen to the good advice you’ve been given, think about why your wrong, & try to adjust your attitude.

I do take some schadenfreude (sp?) in knowing that you’ll likely never find a lease or buy a place.

My attitude is derived from yours!

My expectations have already been tempered by some of the more friendly advice from others in the thread.

I have seen hundreds of deer Just in the last couple years. I've killed only one. If "if its brown its down" applied to me then I'd be lving on venison.

I'll have no problems finding a place to hunt.

I care more about the sustanability of the deer herd than you think. But I onviously don't know a whole heck of a lot about it.

I have NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER with trophy hunting, let me make that conpletely clear. Jealous, no. Envy, abso freaking lutely! If you don't covet some of the trophies you have seen you are probably not a hunter.

My problem specifically with trophy deer management is that it makes deer hunting cost prohibitive for the average working stiff. I would spend my money on a nilgai hunt or even a good hog hunt before I paid that kind of money to take a trophy buck. Later in down the road, who knows?

Thanks for the link. I forgot about that. Also read the sticky about buying:financing land, and realised I am either gonna need a lease or strictly a squirrel hunter on public lands until I can afford my own spot. Always wanted to get into ducks and geese to, thats available on public land but I gotta get waders, decoys, etc and it's gonna be a process in and of itself. Which I am eager to experience but I think it's not gonna be great fun for the family until I get it figured out.

I get where you're coming from. Looks like you understand my position as well.

I understand that landowners are not looking for the likes of me and my family.

What I am looking for with this thread is cost vs. benefit and realistic expectations, so far I think you and some of the others have helped out with that alot.

All I can tell you is yeah, I am an inexperienced hunter. How can anybody fault me for that? I can for sure fault a couole of ya'll for being so standoffish. But specifically you and I, maybe we just got off on the wrong foot.

At least I'll remember this a few years down the road when a novice deer hunter pops in here looking for a place and a little bit of friendly advice. I swear I was not trying to troll ya'll.

I've always loved hunting and fishing, and dreamed of retiring in a place where I could get my groceries without going to the store Is that dream still achievable in Texas? I'd say so. Not near Dallas, unless you're a millionaire, haha.

In the meantime, until I have enough saved up, I'll be needing a spot so I can do my thing with the fam. and obviously as cheaply as possible so I can get a nice place in a few years.

You have been provided answers without rude ever being part of it. You just have an attitude that keeps you from reading and comprehending. Get your head out of your a$$ would be a good place to start over.

You have definitely eliminated yourself from ever hunting on any land I own or lease I am looking for hunters on. Congrats.

I read and comprehend perfectly fine. Like I previously stated, expectations tempered by advice. Not by your advice, however.

If you want to make it personal, that's on you friend. I hate to think what it's like to lease land from someone that treats people the way you do.

"I had the right to remain silent, but I didn't have the ability to."

- regularguy11B

But which ammo would you use for Nilgai?

Sorry, back to topic.

Well I might have came in a little too strong to be fair! I just can't stand the way people treat you like a scab when you are a new guy, on an internet forum. Like forum status is an schievment or something.

I don't even know what I would use for nilgai. Did you miss the part where I have only ever taken one whitetail? I used a .243 for that... will probably use lightfield slugs for nilgai, haha! Or maybe invest in another rifle.

I have always wanted something in .338 Federal, or maybe .338/06. But I would probably just use a 30/06 and 220 grain corelokt, because it's affordable and plentiful. I could borrow a 30/06. Unless nilgai require more gun?

I love the threads about nilgai hunting on here. It sounds almost too good to be true.

For a couple thousand dollars you can do a fair chase hunt on a big ranch for a 450-650 pound beast that is more elusive than native game? And it's available year tound because it's an exotic... man that sounds great. And everybody says it has the best meat! Sounds too good to be true.

I have seen adds where you can take a second animal, cow, for just $400 on the internet.

The stipulation being, you have to be a good enough hunter to get that animal. I don't know what the odds are, but just for the experience it might be worth it.

If it were just about the chase, I'd be fine getting skunked on the nearest piece of public land, and sharing it with a million other local hunters. Plus a private lease adds a margin of safety, right? You would think so.

It’s not that you came on “a little too strong”. It’s that you started this thread knowing so much that ain’t so. There are dozens of new hunters here every year, & I’ve never seen them treated as poorly as you. It’s completely about your attitude. You wanna “tag out” on 40 acres, all else be damned. Then you insult 95% of the hunters here with a bunch of tripe about trophy hunters & cost of hunting.

Here’s a hint. A lot of people (not me) have some money, & they like to spend it on hunting deer, feeding deer, & improving their ranch & deer herd,

A more humble man, who was a beginner hunter, might ask questions about reasonable lease expectations, deer numbers, sustainablity, & maybe ask for help. But you come in insultsuting trophy hunters, insulting those who take care of their deer herd, & overall sound like a complete jerk. Nobody owes you a cheap deer lease, 5 deer/year, or any damn thing atall.

I’m just being honest here.

Again, no problems with trophy hunters! I want a trophy as bad as the next guy.

It's hard to find a decent place to hunt at all for the cost and availability! Now why might that be?

I never asked for any handouts! Advice is all I ever asked for and if you started with advice like "hey, that much land cant support that much deer" and etc. before making it personal then the thread would be very different indeed!

90% of ya'll were courteous and gave advice, tempering my expectations, as I have already admitted.

A couple of you, not so much. Reminds me of an Adam Sandler movie, anger management. "An angry man closes his eyes and opens his mouth" or something like that. Am I supposed to start this thread with "oh by the eay I am a rank amateur deer hunter please don't pick on me". Thats pretty funny.

One of the first couple posts was "that makes me sick". Set the tone for the thread! Thanks for the great advice!

Give me respect and you'll get it. I'm not sucking up to nobody just for a lease, nor for some kind of forum status? , I'd rather drive 3 hours one way to get skunked on public land.

I will however pay a fair price and adhere to the rules set forth by the landowner.

So far I guess it's aboit $1,500- $2,500 for average hunting lease, someone else said $6-$20 per acre per year. So there is a 100 acre place somewhere I can hunt and camp with my family for $600 a year thats a bargain. Even if all they have on the property is jackrabbits and I gotta drive halfway across Texas to get there. Hunting jacks is a ball and it would make for a great weekend together.

But if $2,000 gets you so much more how much more? Is a $2,000 lease better than a couple days with an outfitter, on a pig hunt?

Or should I spend that money getting started hunting waterfowl on public lands until I can buy my own spot.

No, I didn't miss anything but you did. I figured it was a reasonable question given the knowledge you exude. I'm surprised at your lack of participation in the *current* "Ammo for Nilgai?" and "Musings on a failed Nilgai Hunt..." threads.

As others have suggested, you came right out of the gates with a chip on your shoulder, trying to portray knowledge and experience you clearly (and now admittedly) didn't have, having an attitude of you know better... than people you don't know, and not caring about others' feelings. Your behavior thus far would get you run off of other sites (and I'd bet that has already happened to you). We're pretty laid back. Most of us are happy to help... somebody who is deserving, somebody who is polite, honest, appreciative, humble. If you don't like our "help" than you're free to part ways with us and take advantage of the whole rest of the Internet.

Back to this thread. In my opinion what you want does not exist in the realm of a shared lease. Even if you have an entire lease to yourself you may have some difficulty satisfying all of your requirements. You're best off buying "the 20-40 acre chunk of land in a good area". Be sure to share pictures of your slice of heaven and your "wild vittles".

Best of luck.

Mickey Moose:

Thread broadens with advice that I requested. I reserve the right to change my mind.

You clearly came in to intentionally rattle me again. I'll not further acknowledge your responses.

I mever portrayed experience I do not have. But nice try at defaming me.

Why would I participate in a thread like that?? The OP asked the question already and O have no knowledge to contribute on the topic. But I have actually been folowing nilgai threads that show up on my google search and a few in this forum.

Anyway, keep trying to get me kicked off. I bet a lot of the "experts" trying to shake me are the ones portraying knowledge they dont have.

Some, probably not all.

Go bother somebody else if you are going to be rude.

Thread is clearly going nowhere fast. I honestly hope it gets locked by the moderators.

For those of you who clearly have no life, but make time to insult me in this thread on a constant ongoing basis, I honestly feel sorry for you. What are youdoing with your life?

For the rest of ya'll, thanks for the advice. I think I have gleaned most of the information that I am gonna get and I sincerely appreciate it.

I clearly gave you advice and opinions pertaining to your original post about leasing vs buying. And I gave you links, relevant to your repeated Nilgai interest, to peruse. I encouraged you to document your experiences to share with us. Lastly, I wished you good luck. I guess all of that's trying to rattle you. I guess all of that's trying to get you kicked off. I guess all that's trying to shake you. I guess all of that's being rude. I even tried to help you engage us in a more productive manner yet you continue to be obtuse.

I hope you fail.

Bye.

You have joined them.

I thought this was a friendly forum when I joined.

I see the folly in some of the things I posted and admitted to it!

You have failed to see the folly in your most recent responses. Not to mention you are late to the party with rude commentary.

I think I might have a better understanding of the forum rules than some long standing members posting. Probably could have reported some of ya'll a couple times by now, haha. This is rediculous.

Those figures came from me, my first response was;

" Year around all game hunting leases range between $6 ~ $20++ per acre depending on a long list of variables. "

You never asked a single question or for clarification about any of the variables.

Then in another response I said;

“ If you can't afford $1500 - $2500 per year for a lease, it's going to be hard to afford the $1000 - $3000 per month to buy “

There are leases available in that price range, you have to do the work to find them, no one said it would be easy.
No one said anything about how many acres to expect for the above price range or if the property would be suitable for your intensions or if any LO would even consider you as a lessee.

Several of us are trying to help, seems you won't get out of your own way to see that or do anything to help yourself.
Like for starters, state a budget, an area or direction and travel time from a base point, counties of interest.
I provided a link in one of your threads to help look at land available for sale all across the state.
I like several others tried to help.

The costs I threw out there were what one might expect for a general recreational type hunting lease. $6 - $20 per acre or $1500 - $2500 per gun.

When I started at $6 that's more like for 700 - 1000+ acres usually 3.5 - 5+ hours from DFW.
The lower the per acre cost the more acreage and the farther from a bigger city. Smaller acreage leases usually are more $ per acre.
I seriously doubt you'll find 100 acres for $6 per acre, but stranger things have happened.
There is no guarantee you'll find one that suits your intended use.
I know several LO's that get substantially more than $20 per acre for places closer to the metromess. 30 minutes to 2ish hours.
These are not 'trophy' leases.

The lease cost is nothing more than an access fee, it guarantees nothing other than that, if a property suits your needs is totally up to you to determine when you visit the property.
I'd consider around 100 acres within 2.5 hours N, W or S of DFW to be a bargain at $15 per acre. $20 and up more likely.
There are some smaller leases that go for less, they are difficult to find, some private LO's, often in E Tx, some timber co lands.

When you lease land rule #1 is ~ Their land, their rules, their price or no lease, simple.
The only thing you can expect from the LO is access, some offer more which usually coincides with price.

I don't have a problem with a word you have posted in this thread.

I do appreciate your signifigant contribution of information.

All I'm going to say.

I'd post something like that too if they had one of a guy eating crow. I'd have to eat a steaming pile to get the thread back on track.

But they keep coming... must resist...

Rustlers last comments/advise was excellent, along with his others as best I remember. If you are serious about wanting advise then my advise would be to kiss and make up with that guy and see if he will help you even more. You seem to have alienated a lot of others on here so he may be your best bet. I would offer a lot of the same advice he has but I cant take the time. I don't know Rustler but he seems very knowledgeable and way more tolerant of your attitude and lack of basic knowledge than most. Good luck, the hunting community needs all kinds(I guess.)

"I have the right to be silent or considerate and tactful............do I have the abillity?" We shall see.

A lotta others have intentionally tried to alienate me. I never tried to get anybody excited.

Respect is a two way street.

Brother I am trying!

Edit- more like, a couple others. But at this point, folks are only joining to instigate. What's up with that? Most people giving advice have already been posting since yesterday, seems like.

Regularguy,

You asked a question and it was answered. It may not have been in the manner you desired, but it has been well and truly answered. Being a steward of the land means more than picking up trash. It is practicing tried and true game management practices. Approaching a landowner with a plan to implement a sound management program will get you much further than simply telling him you want year around access to blast stuff.

This post is going nowhere.
"A lot of others have intentionally tried to alienate me."...Not true. regularguy11B, you have to understand that a lot of members of THF
are brutally honest in there statements and answers to questions. They are not here to patronize. You asked a question, they answered it.
No one attacked you. They stated their honest opinions. However, you did not like their answers. That can't be helped. What can be helped
is the way you respond. A favorite quote of mine is " I've never learned anything by talking." So ask your question, listen to the answers
and simply say thank you after reading them.

I didnt approach a landowner, I posted a query an internet forum. You know, to learn something, hopefully.

Would not approach a landowner without first learning something- thank God for the internet right?

I never "just blasted stuff" ever in my life.

Is this your version of advice? You add insult to injury and call it a gift.

With 7,000 post under your belt, i might assume you would be some kind of expert. I'd bet you know a thing or two about hunting. But you haven't learned how to treat people!

Do you think others will be so eager to join the forum after they read this thread?

Easy to get looking for a lease back on track.

As far as rescuing this thread doubtful.
You started off all wrong, bad thing is, just from the reactions of some of the folks that responded you've already alienated several thousands of acres of possibilities.

Stop and put some thought into it.
If you owned land, why would you want to lease it? And to what kind of person.
To a reasonable responsible adult or someone that has unreasonable expectations, portrays a bad attitude about what others do, pricing, trophies etc.

Example;

I'd like to find a year around family friendly lease to join (or) a property that I can lease for just my families use. ( Be best to decide which you prefer. )
If just for my family hoping to find around 60 up to 300 acres.
I have kids ages xx, xx that like to be outdoors, explore & enjoy nature, I think encouraging this is important.
Budget is tight, like to keep it under $3000. or ?

We are interested in small game, dove, turkey, waterfowl, pigs, deer & fishing if possible. ( Or whatever, just don't complain or whine about what others do or pricing.)
It would be nice if there were an established campsite or a good area where we could set up tents or use for a travel trailer.
Electricity & water not necessary but certainly is a bonus.

Looking in areas within a 2.5 drive of ( insert wherever here ). Prefer (which) direction. Or ( insert counties here ).

Of course I'll follow TPWD laws, LO rules and help wherever I can.

If you have or know of a place, (my contact info here) Thank you.
--- --- --- --- ---


I believe you'll be better off focusing on buying in a specific area, the site I gave you a link to also has a sub site 'Country homes of TX' where the properties have anything from shacks to mansions already on them.
With some time & effort you might be surprised what you can get with a reasonable budget. Or maybe you won't, nothing easy about making a desire or dream into reality.

It all starts with the right attitude.

Good luck.

Thanks

Dang man, stop reading so much ill-will into everyone's posts.



As a landowner I'm going to ask anyone wishing to lease from me what they have in mind. I want to know their expectations of the ground they are leasing as well as their plans. What I want to hear are sound management practices which may increase the value of my land. That is the information I unsuccessfully tried to convey in my prior post. I realize you haven't contacted anyone yet so good luck to you when you move back.

I appreciate it brother

I do kinda feel bad for the ruffled feathers now, haha.

Good grief.

Rustler, Choctaw, Brother Phil... there are others in this lengthy thread I owe thanks or apologies too- thanks for the advice, courtesy, and numerous rresponses, and for your time.

Right on.

Where did you find this video of me?

Are you trying to blackmail me?

Yes, this spelling is better.

I wonder how many people saw it before I fixed it... and the jokes that might be brewing?

I'm pretty sure the dude in that video is some sort of gay icon.

20.

Conservative estimate.

Welcome to the THF, Regularguy.

Good luck in your search, regularguy. I'm sure you've learned quite a bit from the thread so I really don't have anything beneficial to offer since most of my hunting is in Tennessee actually, go figure.

I don't figure you'll blast everything just because you can, so I think I know where you're coming from. A few years ago I began the hunting season with 10 buck tags to go along with the 300+ doe tags in Tennessee alone. Killed zero bucks and of course a very small fraction of my doe limit.

Those herds of deer in Tennessee are amazing

Regularguy, the advice given regarding leasing around the state is pretty spot on. If you are looking for anything within a couple hours of the metromess expect to pay upwards of $20/acre annually, possibly more if it is a smaller tract of land (100-200 acres). And that's for something that may be nothing more than some field land and minimal trees. Seems interest in hunting has caused prices to rise and the property isn't getting larger, so supply and demand is driving prices up. Only exception to this would be east texas where prices may not be terrible but you end up dealing with poaching, trespassing, and squatters. But anything north and west of the metro is priced quite high these days.

I wish you well in your search for hunting/rec land. I wish I could say you will be able to find the place you are looking for, but I just don't know if it exists in texas for a price you could pay. Maybe you will, I hope you do.

I tell you what, I have never done a squirrel hunt I didn't have fun.

99.9999% of my experience with hunting is purely squirrel and rabbit hunting. Never took anything else save vermin like english sparrows until I grew up. More importantly, I have experience squirrel and rabbit cooking.

The boy, his number one priority is putting meat in the pot and eating it. And we are not poor, we eat fast food a couple times a week. I just love hunting and getting my own meat, it's half the fun. Even if it cost more than meat at the store at the end of it all.

I am so thankful that eating what you kill has come naturally to the boy. I hope it works out this way with the girls. I want to take him crow hunting, he doesn't understand why I am eager to kill the crows but I don't want to eat them. I know a couple guys that like them, I am sure enough garlic salt and onion powder will overcome anything, but not eager to LITERALLY eat crow. I try to explain to the boy why we have to control crows, coyotes, etc but I guess I need to become a farmer so he will understand. Used to have a farmer that loved me killing his crows and picking up his litter, haha! The poison for groundhogs and etc didnt kill the crows, and my mere presence would keep them away for a while. Looks like coyotes are off the table for us! At least until the boy understands. I have never scored a coyote anyway, so it's nit like I have some great experience with predators to pass on.

Based on the advice I have been given, I'll probably stick to public small game hunts and the occasional deer hunt I know I probably won't score on, until I can buy a piece of property. I can't invest that much money in something my family likely won't enjoy with a clean conscience.

Except for the nilgai. That is gonna happen. I want it so bad I can literally taste it. Maybe a day hunt. The thrill of the hunt and enough free range wild organic deliciousness to last a year or more... i gotta make that happen.

Thanks again for all the advice ya'll...