Locally farmers have started mini auctions to sell Goose hunting rights in fields. What started as some of the guides offering money has turned into pay to play auctions for all.

Kind of losing interest in hunting as it becomes more commercialized. Do a bit of trapping, bit of fishing but don't have the willingness to spend 100 or 200 dollars for a chance to shoot a Goose for a day.

Agreed. That was my big push for owning my own ground. Its going to get nothing but worse from here....we arent too far behind europe...if you dont have deep pockets or your own ground, you wont be hunting. As for the farmers, let the deer and geese pillage their fields. Dont get me started on them....

Yep I feel that , can't even ask for advice without someone trying to sell me something. Remember when everyone was DIY now it's " hay bro you should totally buy that from my company !

Some of the people I trap for pay $6500 a year just to hunt deer

… and most don’t kill a big one as they have all kinds of criteria on what you can or can’t shoot

Rich men only clubs everywhere in the west

This past spring I went to buy my turkey license, got to checkout and it was $53 with all the fees and license and game bird stamp. I decided the state of Indiana could keep “their” overgrown sparrow.

And this is why I don't turkey hunt myself. The kids do on the youth license. Wors is It's $1 cheaper for them to hunt in KY untill they are 11. after that it's 24 more for each 2 deer than hunting in Indiana.

And it's still stupid the amount I spend driving them around and $ on turkey shells.

I decided I will just raise or buy turkey cheaper if I want turkey.


Seriously thinking maybe Alaska needs a visit. My daughter keeps talking about moving up there at some point. Nurses can work about anywhere. Maybe in the area it's not really colder than it is here? But then I could hunt for everything state wilderness being a resident if I ever moved and learned how it is done for each animal.

I've never paid to hunt or lease anything and never will. I haven't hunted game in many years either. Outfitters and leasing are big business here in rural NE. I don't care for Outfitters one bit. To me that's what hunting is. To go out to learn and try to be successful on your own.

I'm only in my mid 50's and when I was young the farmers and ranchers really enjoyed seeing people out hunting and being successful. Just about everyone would give you permission. Those days are pretty much gone thanks to the almighty dollar.

… and that’s not to mention all the money they spend on corn, protein.. tractors for food plots feeding them cradle to grave… and the side by sides to drive to the big shooting houses

Why? It's their land. They can do what they want with it.

I don't understand it either. I have a place I have been leasing for 20+ years. When I lose it guess I will hit public land or beg neighbors.

I don't even own a four wheeler. Been using a cart, wheelbarrow or tarp for as long as I can remember.

And who in the world thinks it's a good idea to drive into the woods to a deer stand with blaring motor and blinding headlights. That won't scare anything off I'm sure.

…. Deer so conditioned to feed they don’t care

No baiting allowed here.

You should see what they pay to duck hunt in Arkansas

I have 96 acres but hunt mostly public land with my kids in early seasons. To kill the # of deer they do each year off my farm would be to much for our population to recover. Plus it gets old hunting g the same slamm area when I Gere up able to hunt 3 counties. back then it was where to hunt today not where can I hunt. And seldom hiting the same area more than 3 times a year.

I suspect one the kids are off I probably won't hunt alt all unless the kids want to go, I have grandkids or other kids that need someone to take and teach them.

I'm lucky I can hunt on 1 piece of private ground here and I buy the landowners some things they can use every year. This past year I also gave them some deer sticks and summer sausage I had made as well. So I spent $150 to $200 a year. To me that's cheap considering some people are spending $1500 to $2000 or more a year for the chance to shoot a deer on leased ground. I just went and seen them last weekend and got permission for this year again. They also told me the population is getting out of hand with this years fawn crop with the easy winters and said start shooting some does. I do anyway if I get the chance and they know that but they just wanted to reiterate it. I got the hint. I've hunted their land all my life so over 40 years.

20 years ago I could hunt a few places that joined the ground I hunt on. Not anymore as the ownership changed on 1 piece and the others don't let anyone in other than themselves or not at all or they leased it out. The surrounding landowners also don't shoot does period. Awhile back I was talking to a co worker and started thinking about the different landowners that join or are close to the land I hunt on. I estimated it at about 3500 acres. I know in a years time their isn't a dozen does shot on that much land. I'm not kidding either. Everyone wants the big buck. The deer also know that so when the first shots ring out during gun season they go in there and stay put. Also no one moves around on those properties so they don't get chased out. The old style deer drives do not happen anymore as the hunter numbers go down and private land is near impossible to get permission on. Times have changed and it's not for the better IMO.

… we weren’t talking about Wisconsin

It's all about what it means to you and how bad you want to do it.

Folks that have hunted for free (on public or private lands) start crying when they have to pay to play. I have no sympathy for ya. Ive paid for hunting access all my life here in the Deep South.

You lose that free access and then ya'll want to "quit" hunting.....lol. Spoiled folks ya'll are.

You whiners could join a golf club and go hit a ball around a mowed field...smh!

I thought there were comments from several states so it's a general conversation. Over.

… my reply was to bowhunter on why people can get away with driving an atv to a shooting house c’mon