WOULD YOU RATHER OWN 40 ACRES OR LEASE 200?
Our answer for this is quite simple, quality over quantity. Let us explain. Many hunters may believe that the more ground you have to hunt the better. However, we would strongly recommend looking at a few different factors before pulling the trigger on your next lease.
Access- access is the number 1 issue for most of our clients. Whether they are located on a steep bank and are forced to use old logging roads that go through the center of the property. Or whether the entire front side of their property is open fields and every time they go in and out of the property they spook out those fields. Many of these access issues can be avoided. However, on leased grounds improvements may be limited. Many times a hunting lease means just that. Only hunting is allowed. If improvements and alterations to the land aren’t permitted, you could be stuck spending thousands of dollars a year on something that will only produce a few good hunts.
Highly defined deer movement- when I sit down with clients, one of the first questions I ask them is, where are the deer located right now on your property? Most of them can point to a general area, but not a specific location. When I ask, where will they be eating this evening and how will they get there? Again, the answer might include a general food source and a patch of woods they walk through to get there. Most of them can’t point to a specific trail that leads to a specific food source from a specific bedding area. This is the difference between a property that can hold and shape a deer herd and one that usual enjoys just a couple weeks of the rut. Highly defined deer movement is one of the most important factors for any property. The smaller the property, the more important it is. It helps create spook free access, as well as a spook free hunt. It helps you hunt the wind more affectively. It helps define morning stands and evening stands. It helps pinpoint where your target buck will be at what time of the day. Allowing you to stay patient and moving in when the conditions are right.
Conclusion- it is not about the number of acres you have to hunt. It is about the number of quality acres you have to hunt. In most cases a properly managed 40 acre property will out perform your average 200 acre property. With the correct habitat improvements and hunting strategy, small parcels can have big success. Stay patient and wait until the time is right.