According to a recent National Deer Association analysis, private land tags mark the great majority of deer killed by hunters in the Midwest, Northeast, and South-east. If you hunt deer in such areas, you most likely already know that private property hunting is quite popular, but you might not know where to locate a deer hunting lease.
Many public-land hunters will read that news and feel a great degree of indignation. You could find yourself priced out of hunting completely. However, you don’t need hundreds of acres to have a decent deer season and gaining hunting rights to private land isn’t a rich man’s game either. There are possibilities to locate a reasonably priced deer hunting lease in pockets all across whitetail territory. Although rare, these prospects do exist.
Prepare a Lay of the Land
A short reality check: This is not a universal approach. In counties and areas well-known for trophy whitetail deer hunting, it is rare to find a small reasonably priced lease. You will most likely be vying with outfitters and out-of-state hunters for ground in these areas. You thus most likely won’t find a steal here unless you have family or friend ties in large deer area. Targeting areas with lots of deer and not renowned as sought-after trophy zones will help you more effectively Zero in on areas having a mix of various sized estates dotted with lots of smaller farms.
Know Rules, Laws, and Rates.
Researching leasing rules and guidelines in your state will help you first identify a deer hunting lease. Most leases are really permits to utilize a private property for a designated use, not really leases. Arrangements like this are sometimes referred to in the West as “trespass fees.” Research the liability rules in your state as well to have a broad understanding of what the lessee and landowner are required of. Most small farmers and landowners are not interested in talking about all this legalese B.S. You should, however, be ready should they do.
Steer Clear of Established Big Buck Country.
Though they are difficult to access, some parts of the nation are well-known for generating huge whitetails (think Buffalo County, Wisconsin and Pike County, Illinois). Presumably, outfitters set up in these counties will lease land themselves. Additionally from out of state, hunters who will be ready to spend top money for leases will arrive. When quality hunting estates and farms become available, they will also purchase them. This kind of rivalry makes hunting access difficult and drives up rates everywhere.
Target places that look to have a lot of tiny family-owned farms as well as ones that are not covered by the hunting media or debated in hunting forums.
Think Small
It’s time to grab a digital mapping program like Huntstand or onX start finding likely properties now you know how much you want to spend and the property size you could be able to rent.
Begin Door-Knocking
It’s time now to start knocking on doors and visit all those houses you noted on your map. Showing up personally is far more successful than cold calling or letter writing. Right now, BE POLITE is the basic guideline. Ask not to go requesting permission Sunday morning or during dinner when households might be preparing for church. Give the landowner some room whether you knock on the door or ring the doorbell.
Go Long Game.
The deer hunters with superior access either spend years building relationships and connections in a region or buy it completely. You will thus have to find access to land using relationships if you are not financially ready to purchase it. Given your budget, the money you are giving the landowner eventually won’t be make-or-break for them. They are letting you hunt at the end of the day because they enjoy you and because it provides a little money incentive for them as well. You will most likely find decent properties over time, lose some, and then come upon others. The game incorporates all of that.
Go Bow or Crossbow Justified only
Though mostly during the gun season, many farmers like shooting a few deer or have children who hunt. Less farmers have the time to be committed bowhunters. You so greatly raise your chances of being allowed to hunt during the bow season only.
Request Special Access
Tell the landowner you would want exclusive access for the season you are hunting from, should she be willing to allowing you hunt. After all, the main advantage of a lease is that you can hunt free from running across other hunters. If the landowner has someone who hunts the property just occasionally, determine when it is and then decide not to hunt at that time or create a schedule. You want to stay away from rivalry and the possible trouble that results.
Prepare yourself for a turned down request.
Generally speaking, you will experience shutdown more often. Eventually, though, someone will let you hunt if you persist (and you are offering a reasonable price). Try not too aggressively to persuade landowners toward it. You won’t receive permission regardless of what you say if a farmer objects to let you hunt. Thus, should your offer be turned down, simply thank you for the time and then on to the next place.
Be ready for a Wild Goose Chase
As you begin chatting with people, find out how open they are. Though they have no intention of letting you hunt, some farmers will gladly sit and chat with you for an hour. Others will want you to get the heck out of there so they might return to work.
You should comply when landowners and farmers are eager to talk. It’s worth asking whether they know of anyone in the neighborhood who could be interested in hosting deer hunters even if they refuse to allow you hunt. One never knows when a lead might become a lease.
Expect Realistically.
You should be happy when you at last close a reasonable deer hunting lease, but keep it genuine. You are hunting on a small piece of land completely foreign to you. A property is not filled with monster cash just because it is privately owned. You have tossed the dice; perhaps it will work out the way you had anticipated, perhaps not.
Remember that working farms get worked on. Roads, cut wood, weed spraying, crop harvesting are driven by landowners. Stated otherwise, they will be out on the land while you are hunting. While you always keep in mind that it is their property and you essentially have no influence over what happens on it, try to cooperate with the landowner to minimize as many blown hunts as possible. On the plus side, farming disturbances benefit deer. Eventually they will return, and you will be the only person out there tracking them.