All those years worrying about PETA and HSUS destroying hunting, and we did it to ourselves!

And THAT is the #1 threat to hunting. Pay to play.

So you pay $1800 a year for 400 acres with exclusive access. What does this get you? Im assuming you can hunt anything and anytime you want as you see fit?

$1100 annually for the other. How does that work amongst the other 7 guys? Is it a free for all? Do you have to sign in and out of or reserve areas/stands ahead of time? Are these pals, strangers, acquaintences?

The southern "hunt club" mentality has always intrigued me. I cant say I like the idea. But I also grew up in a time when land was free to hunt unless it was posted, and much of it wasnt posted. Truly the "good old days".

I abhor the Texas model of hunting. True privatization.

Yes....my 400 acre lease is 100% exclusive access. But, I choose it to be that way. I could have paying "members" but I wanted this only for my family, close friends and myself. All hunting, fishing, trapping privileges. Have had this tract leased for over 26 years.

A blackwater river (the Alapaha River) flows along the border of both tracts....good bream and channel catfishing.

I leased the recreational hunting and fishing right on the 866 acre tract 20 years ago. Due to the higher cost, I chose members. Several members have came and went over the years. Now, all 8 members are friends with each other. All but a couple are retired law enforcement. 5 or 6 are current law enforcement. All live 3 hrs away in central Florida. For past few years, when an opening for a new member becomes available, I allow those guys to find and agree on the newbie.

I created a list of rules based on deer mgmt concepts that work for that property and to allow each member a quality experience. We do a voluntary restricted antler harvest (4pts on one side or a 15" spread) and limited doe harvest. In this part of the world that simple rule will protect all 1.5 and most 2.5 year old bucks....moving them into the next age group. Each member can claim one "private" stand. All other stand locations are first come first served. The guys love the setup and the number of quality bucks available annually.

That will kill it for sure. Teddy Roosevelt knew this 100 years ago.

It is easy to tell by their comments in this thread who has access to public land or freebie deer hunting.

Ya'll are in a different league of gentlemen.

I hunt all private but exchange trapping favors for access because I realize nothing is free but I’ve also own ground I’ve bought years ago just to be on the safe side . Got access on 25000 acres but it’s not all timber

Anyone around me has axcess to public hunting. I have 2 25k acre woods within an hour and 15 min 200k around an hour and a half pluss depending on the area. Some smaller places from 30 acres to several hundred.

A lot of it is rugged and it gets crowed. We dont hint public durring gun season especially on weekends.

I dont blaim land owners from leasing hunting rights and making more cash from their land.

I also wont pretend it is bad for hunting and getin youth into hunting. Antlers have become a God to some people and the obsession is not good in my opinio.

No sir you cant take your kids squirrel hunting its leasesd. Some. Disturbance from you squirrel hunting may keep me from killing that buck in a month.

I do think its more of a money game these days to hunt. Here it seems like most ground is leased. Theres an outfitter on every corner. Why would a farmer let me hunt for free when he can make 1500 bucks? I get it but it makea it harder. I refuse to pay to shoot a deer. I dont golf either, rarely watch football even. If its not something that lets me catch a fish or hunt a critter i dont much care for it.

You finally noticed

I noticed immediately (and a while back) but its fun to bring it out of some of those golfers!!

Are you talking archery golf?
If so I'm in

Truer words have not been spoken.

Mr. Swamp, you’re getting off cheap on those lease prices. GOOD property in SE VA will start at $20 / acre. Not all of it well managed. The expensive ones generally have a mandatory ‘you must mount it’ if you shoot a buck. These clubs also pound the does to try and maintain a good ratio. Non ‘trophy’ bucks will get you booted.

For dog clubs (not my thing, but to each their own), folks are paying North of $1200 - $1500 with mandatory fundraising minimums.

We can debate the pros and cons of paying all day, but access to public land in this area is minimal. For the areas that we do have, there are seasonal fist fights, slashed truck tires, etc.

I bought my place for a reason. Ain’t none of it getting cheaper.

No...talking about those that would rather go hit a little ball around a bunch of mowed lawns instead of deer hunting.

You can come shoot one of my deer for free, maybe bring a bottle of wine to share. Otc tags and my one bedroom shack is close to done

Lease prices get higher the closer the property is to higher people populations. I count my blessings nearly every day that I live in a rural area of vast pine timberlands, swamps, and some ag.

Thanks for the invite. But, for me to make a long drive the odds of killin' a large mature buck must be pretty good.

What's "large" I got some 120s nailed to my fence. One pushing 140 in a apple tree I think, couple bigger ones hanging in the garage

Large (with me holding the Mathews) would be 140 or better.

Would you have to trap that ground to get access or does simple friendship get you on ground in Illinois? Just curious. I also think things aren’t free so to speak but would never charge as friend to have them utilize something of mine nor would I expect to pay or exchange anything other than friendship in order to access ground where I am.

I read all 4 pages and didn't see anything about liability ( I may have missed it ). Here if they hunt for free they can't sue you, but when they pay, someone needs insurance. How much does that cost ?