Buying Land - how many acres per hunter

[toughguy]

I hunt with a group of guys on public land in zone 1 (in the aitkin/crow wing county area). Every year we get together and complain about having to use portable stands and having to compete with other hunters. This leads to talk of buying our own land. I know there are several factors to consider but roughly how many acres per hunter do you guys recommend? (The land would be mostly forested and lets assume that there are not public lands bordering the land) Also does anyone have any experience with groups, either buying land and sharing it or splitting it up?

[Perch Jerker]

You'd be better off leasing land from Potlatch.

PJ

[toughguy]

We have talked about leasing from Potlatch but I'd like to have a spot that we can plan on going to for years. The Potlatch leases aren't guaranteed for any length of time over a year and I would like to have a shack or cabin to sleep in. We might do the Potlatch thing for the short term, but long term I would like to have land that I can call my own. (or at least share it.) Also land usually isn’t a bad investment. They aren’t making any more.

[92python]

In those woods 1 guy per 20 acres would be my max density.

[barebackjack]

At one of the places I hunt, there is 40 acres, approximetly half field and half woods, on that land there has been as many as 5 hunters standing at one time, either in the woods or on the edge of the woods.

[Mark Christianson]

How many acres per hunter?

Man that is so tough. A lot depends on what "you" want out of the experience.

Is there hills on the land?

Is it all forest?

Is it partial woods?

Etc.....

We have 120 acres of land and only 3 people hunting. I kinda like it because I have room to move to another spot without bothering the other guys.

Some people feel that covering every square inch is the right thing to do. Shoot everything in sight that crosses the property. We have a guy that owns a 40 near us. I kid you not, one year they had 7 guys up there on that 40 acres on opening weekend. And its not a solid 40 acres of woods. WAAYYYY to much for my liking.

For me, I also like to have some untouched areas to hold deer. I like the fact deer might get chased from that guys land, and find our farm to be a little haven to rest. (Or so they think)

No easy answer. You have to decide what you want out of the land and the experience.

[Sarge]

I'd say buy as much as you can afford, + 10%. I strongy feel that the "value" of hunting land will not go down in my life time.

Also get a lawyer, sign agreements, and remember the more people invovled the uglier it can get, family not excluded. Everyones priorities change thru time, whats your buddy going to want to do with his share 10 years from now? who is he going to want to let hunt with you? what if a member of you co-op dies? Did I say get a lawyer?

[leechlake]

I can't help but respond about what Sarge says. Do it...we all have a feeling that our hunting buddies and friends can do things on a handshake. The problems arise when peoples life situations changes. A single guys gets married has a child and there you have it, he wants to sell. Someone loses their job...It's great if you can swing a purchase as a team but the less the better. Maybe if two of you buy it the other guys would rather pay some fee to help with taxes etc. It's tough but the main thing is get everything in writing so their isn't any (any? there will be some) disagreements. Other than that go for it, buy as much as you can or buy a smaller amount and work on making any periodic purchases you can. Also, remember there is a lot of public land to hunt for free. Pick the right public land and you'll be almost as happy as private land, with no costs (except new rifles, stands, clothes, scent, calls, rattling antlers) What if you had to buy your own fishing spot! Thanks god for that.

[Satchmo]

I would like to have no more than two guys per 40 acres. This gives you all a little room to adjust to the deer movements without bumping in to each other all the time.

[Hossienda]

I would agree, get a lawyer involved and draw up an agreement that all parties sign. A friend of mine did that with some family members. They got specific enough that once you bought in, you were in for life. Your share could only be handed down to a son, and the wives were completely excluded from any interest in the property. There is no selling your share to someone or having the others buying you out. They also agreed upon allowing 2 friends per share holder being able to hunt with the share holder up to 2 times per year. It is a very touchy situation that could easily go bad without a good legal agreement of all parties before the purchase is made.

-Hossienda

[bigbucks]

The land thing is a tough call. I agree buy as much as you can, I'd also agree that one person per 20 acres of woods is probably as low as I'd want to have to go, depending somewhat on the neighboring land.

You have to get a lawyer involved with the possible exception of you & maybe just your Dad. Depending on your temperments & similarities of thinking on hunting & land mgmt etc. Even then you probably should otherwise when he dies suddenly you own the other half in conjunction with your siblings, which could get really sticky.

I was seriously considering this with my cousin & was very apprehensive about it. The land we wanted eventually sold for more money than we could afford. There were easement issues that needed to be considered due to part of the property being cut off from vehicle travel by a large swamp & landlocked from the other side. You also need to be absolutely positive the other parties will live up to the terms of the agreement. Even if you know they legally can't do something, it's not going to be any fun to enforce it, right or not. Great way to ruin a good relationship.

[mntraveler]

I guess I'm pretty much in agreement with everyone here. I personally haven't had any problems with joint ownership but I know of several people that have, and things get ugly. Unfortuneatly the only way to alleviate any problems (except $$) is to buy it yourself. I used to hunt here in MN and the group wasn't all that much fun. Now I hunt with the in-laws over in WI. There are several owners of land (most of it by the father-in-law), but we average just over 1 person per 40. This seems to work out pretty well. Things will be changing the next few years with lots of young-ones coming "of age" but I'm not anticipating any problems, especially because we are all very careful. Sorry for rambling but I think that is what you have to look at the most. If you hunt with a bunch of guys that shoot at anything, you can't have enough land, but otherwise the 20-40 acre/guy is probably good.

[Tim L]

Wow the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor!!!

[bigbucks]

Good eye Tim, I don't know what his line's there for, but the Germans didn't bomb Pearl Harbor!

[mntraveler]

bigbucks:

Rent "Animal House," it's a classic.

[TMan]

I think its a reference to Animal House - the movie...tounge in cheek.

[bigbucks]

I know it's a classic, I've just never watched it, but that makes more sense. I maybe should, although I'm not really into comedies that much.

[toughguy]

Yes the quote is from Animal House. If you rent it will be one of your top 5 favorites or you'll never watch it again.

Just behind Dumb and Dumber on my list.

[bigbucks]

Well maybe I should, Dumb & Dumber's pretty high on my list.