
Year after year I cringe when I hear hunters say \”I don\’t have anywhere to hunt\”. Finding a deer hunting lease is not easy but it is far from impossible.
You Never Know Till You Ask
The best piece of advice I can give you is still stay persistent and put yourself out there. If no one knows that you desperately need hunting land then they are probably not going to offer. Putting yourself out there means working the topic of deer hunting into the topics of conversation.
Here is the list in no particular order.
1 – Get More Than Religion At Church
Don\’t be pushy just get to know people. Ask folks where they live. Do not assume there are no opportunities just because it is a small property. Many small farms and urban areas can be over populated for many different reasons.
2 – A Little Bonus At Work
Most of us come in contact with a lot of people during a typical work day. Be patient and polite and get to know everyone you can. The topic of hunting or deer being a pest in the garden will come up eventually.
3 – Community events
The youth group car wash at the Church will be teaming with locals. Lots of friendly landowners will probably be at the VFD BBQ fundraiser.
4 – Ag Stores
The local hardware and ag stores are always busy with people. Farmers loading up cattle minerals and chicken feed must have a decent size farm. The nice lady loading up tomato plants might also be looking for a way to keep deer out of her garden.
5 – Sporting Goods Store
Your local hunting and fishing store is a good place to start. Ask the clerk or owner if they can point you in the right direction. They may know about a hunting club looking for members. The store may also have a classifieds board where people can leave fliers about hunting lease listings.
6 – Talk to Neighbors
Talk to your neighbors. Let it be known that you are a responsible hunter in need of a place to hunt. As you get to know your neighbors you can ask about family land and farms. You will be surprised how many people have access to great hunting land and could care less about hunting.
7 – Ask the Relatives
Don\’t write the in-laws off. They may be a thorn in your side but they might have access to land. Close family and extended family could all be sources.
8 – Permit Only Hunts May Work
Many states have a number of permit hunting opportunities. Waterfowl preserves and national forest area source for permit hunts. For a small fee any licensed hunter can purchase a permit to enter this hunting area during a certain time period. These small fees and time constraints can be a big barrier to some hunters which means big opportunities for others.
9 – Get Lucky with Draw Hunts
Draw or lottery hunts are different from Permit hunts. You are basically throwing your name in a hat and hoping to get drawn for the hunt. Draw hunts can be in city park, nature preserves. The odds of being drawn can be low but the rewards can be giant. Many times draw hunts offer access to great habitat and low pressured deer.
10 – Outfitters are Always There
Outfitters are in the business of guiding hunts. Buying a guided or a self guided hunt is a legitimate hunting opportunity. A guided hunt can really be a great alternative for deer hunters with very little spare time. Many outfitters also lease land.
11 – Land Brokers Won\’t Break You
This is normally not the cheapest source for deer land but still an option. A broker is being paid a fee to handle the lease of the land. Lots of people use a broker to secure very small tracts in the middle of good hunting ground.
12 – Get Active in Hunting Forums
Make a frequent visit to local hunting forums. Most of the popular deer hunting forums will have a local classifieds section. While you are visiting the forums it is a great idea to respond to post and start new topics. Establishing a presence in the forums will make you more credible.
13 – Going Door To Door
Don\’t wear camo! Put on some clean clothes, tuck your shirt in and start beating the street. Knocking on doors is tough! All the folks will be nice and polite but be prepared for rejection. If they say NO, then ask if any of their neighbors or family might be able to allow hunting.
14 – Join a Hunting Association
I am willing to bet that each state has a bowhunters association. Maybe even a xbow association or some other big game hunter association. Many of these clubs leverage their credibility in the state for deer hunting opportunities. Deer population control is a driving factor behind these groups gaining access to large tracts. Members in these associations in turn are allowed access to hunting land. Warning – do your research before paying.
15 – Grab the Newspapers
Yep newspapers are still being printed and people are still posting classifieds ads. Check the farms for sale section and look for long distance area codes. This is an indication the owner may not live on or near the property. These can be golden opportunities.
16 – For Sale Signs
Make note of any land for sale sign that announces a decent amount of acreage. This land could be a single owner or an investment company trying to turn a profit. Whatever the case, the land could be sitting there for years with no buyer
This is just a short list of 16 ways I have used to find a deer hunting lease. I hope it provides enough encouragement to get you out there looking for your own hunting spot. If you have another place that I did not list please leave a comment below.
I joined a couple of hunting associations which definitely helps. Before that I must admit I tried the door to door thing but it didn’t really work. You have to be persistent!
I have 500 acres u can land a plane or small airport 10 minutes away. Private private… 100+ acres in corn and soybeans the remainder is pasture land and timber land. 8 ponds. And Jennings creek runs all through farm. Roads roads roads. 2 awesome caves must see. abundance of deer and turkey. Deer lodge efficiency A small Cade’s Cove
Peggy
where is your land at and how much are you charging to hunt is it a annual lease seasonal or what any information would be appreciated there is four of us in my family that would love to deer hunt we have been hunting for years and our lease just sold thanks for your time in this matter
Peggy, My family and I are looking for family orientated place to form hunting club. Where is the land located? We like to set up a camp for our travel trailers since there is 6 of us and our families? We are avid conservationists and prefer game management to ensure a quality deer herd. Our old club land is being sold and that puts us out on our ears. We are all good land stewards and have hunted for years. Please reply with the location and details.
Is any of your land for deer hunting still available I was looking for 100 or 150 acres for me my wife and kids I deer hunted for my first time last year in orangburg sc on lease with 3 other guys loved it took wife and son was excited when I seen that they also loved it but lease was sold and wow I new to this whole thing I mean have always had guns and shooting but grew up with a dad that was a heavy trout fisherman well I know it’s old post but never know do have two daughters that may go once in while thank you for your time Joshua burnette Canton NC 828-734-2097
How much and where are you located?
I’m looking to buy a 20acre plot of land in Illinois. According to the neighbor and zillow the land is great hunting land. It has a ton of oak, maple and pine. I was considering making it a homestead with 1/4 acre gardens spread throughout. As of right now it is full of dense woods. The neighbor also said it’s great mushroom, turkey and I think pheasant land. Will this be good for leasing at $28 an acre once it’s all set up? Also is the price per acre the price per month? I’m not actually a hunter over the next few years I plan to build an under ground bunker on the land for tornados and any real bad weather. I was thinking of leasing the bunker out too as a hunter’s cabin.
Don’t forget to ask WAY early. I am fortunate to have my own land to hunt, but I am always amazed how many friends I have around hunting season. But I can never find them when its time to do the work during the summer. When I was younger and lived out west and did not have any land of my own, I would go out to the neighboring farms and offer to work during the summer for free, so I could hunt in the fall. The farmers always need help during the summer and it gives them time to get to know you, and you get to know them as well as the land. Generally it works out well for both parties involved. One of the farms that I worked on was offered to me to purchase, before it was ever put on the market. I owned that land for several years till I had to move for work. But during that time several of my friends could not believe that I bought the property before they even knew it was for sale! A little sweat goes along way,and they can’t tax it.
I am looking for a small tract of land in the Southwest Georgia area for my family and I to hunt on,moved back from Kentucky last year where permission is still granted to hunt but I am having much difficulty finding anything here to lease other than the wma and they are overwhelmed with traffic
I have a 3.5 story FREIGHT ELEVATOR coming out of a bldg being razed.
Would you have interest in it as a DEER STAND for one of your properties?
Done right it may even be a mobile stand (mounted onto a crane frame w/hyd outriggers) and could have a TinyHome.
It is coming down by this next weekend ..will sell for only $1000 “if you have it taken down” (insurance req’d).
Response and/or referrals appreciated.
Thank you.
looking for deer hunting leases in Georgia for 2022-2023 season. Currently have lease in Heard Co Ga. Wanting to expand club to North and Northwest Ga