Tell me what you think...

[pikerliker]

I was talking to my son's wrestling coach yesterday about deer hunting. I knew that he hunted in zone 3 Houston County. He usually hunts the 3B season. Well he told me that his group no longer has permission to hunt the farm that they have hunted for several seasons (he was just informed). The reason? A group approached the farmer and offered $5,000 per person in their group to hunt there!! How in the bleep do you compete with that?!

Do you think this is a result of the APR that has been in zone 3 for the past 3 years? I was kind of in favor of it, but now I'm wondering... Will this become a trend with big rack hungry, big money hunters pushing the "common guy" out of private land in this zone? If I was the farmer that would be a hard offer to refuse. What is your opinion on this?

[Laska]

I believe it plays a part... But Houston County has been a top dog for big racks for years... Ive even heard Bill Jordan has land in the county. As far as what Ive heard this year 2- 25pt bucks have been taken their. Only a matter of time before the "tourists" invade. No common guy has 5k a year laying around. Plus money for plots and scouting and all that, no way I can compete... Sucks but what can we do?

[nonteepical]

Make the whole state APR's then the SE won't be elite.

[96trigger]

I think nonteep is seeing what is going to happen. There have been some monsters taken this fall, enough to turn some heads. I do believe it is going to lead to increased pressure everywhere in zone 3. At least for a couple of years until people get sick of the crowds, or the rest of the state can adopt APR. However, I don't think its viable in some areas of the state until the deer numbers increase.

[leechlake]

I think it stinks that that happened but...

When Walmart (the $5000 lease hunter equivalent) moved into rural America years ago and basically shut down most "Ma and Pa" retail stores it's kind of the same thing. Problem is that most people benefitted by that by paying less for groceries etc (except ma and pa).

The benefit of the lease hunter to most of us is zero or actually a negative. Traditions changed, more guys pushed onto public land etc.

I think the $5000 is kind of an extreme. Where we hunt in South Dakota the adjacent rancher has guys that come in and pay $1000 each. We pay "nothing." We do however arrange reciprocal fishing trips from time to time, bring all food when we are hunting for their whole family and other things that although not equal to $1000 are good faith/friendship building things that show appreciation to the rancher. He also hunts with us. I'd bet if someone offered him $1000 he'd say no, $5000 we'd have a problem, doubt that will happen.

[muskiemanAD]

Houston County has been leasing land for years. It's probably the number one county for lease land. Paying 5k a piece for the right to hunt, that seems pretty steep. I don't think that APR has anything to do with people leasing land, has been happening in this state for years.

[skee0025]

I don't think that APR has anything to do with people leasing land, has been happening in this state for years.

Don't kid yourself. As the number of large bucks increases so will the amount of land sucked up by guides. It's an all to predictable result, if you want a reliable place to hunt I would suggest you find a way to buy now.

[Jameson]

Leasing of land for hunting is happening more and more everywhere. The APR's are likely increasing the rate it spreads and the rate it pays in SE MN, but leasing of land for hunting is happening more and more everywhere. It's just a sign of the times.

Being that I don't hunt zone 3 it's kinda a bonus for me if more of the big money land leasers go down there and stay away from the rest of the state. hmmmm, maybe only having zone 3 APR's aren't such a bad thing. No one in the rest of the state should be allowed to take pics and share their big bucks and this might just work!

[96trigger]

I don't think it is going to go rampant, but I think it is going to be a smaller issue or side effect. I do think however, that because of APR, you will be able to find smaller tracts of land, or even some public land, and still have a good chance at seeing deer. The leasing has been going on for quite some time. About 5 years ago a guide service tried to lease all the land for about 5 square miles, 3 of the 5 farmers told him to take a hike, this was well before APR.

[tengy]

Big deer have been roaming thru SE MN long before APR. The rest of the world is just now catching up to what others already knew existed down there.

[skee0025]

About 5 years ago a guide service tried to lease all the land for about 5 square miles, 3 of the 5 farmers told him to take a hike, this was well before APR.

I would be wiling to bet that the amount that guide services will be willing to pay is going to be increasing as the size of the bucks increases.

[snapcrackpop]

This is why we need to support Pheasants Forever and MN Deer Hunters Association, to purchase as much land as possible and make it PUBLIC!