John's Journal...

Take the Guesswork Out of Deer Leases

How Much Land Do You Need for a Quality Deer Lease

Click to enlargeEditor’s Note: Hunters today lease land to deer hunt in ever-widening numbers. With a large number of deer hunters requiring better hunting opportunities for bigger and older age-class bucks, most of them realize that to obtain these goals, they must lease land, institute some form of deer-management program and possibly begin some type of feeding program for the deer.Click to enlarge

The amount of land you lease not only fixes the price you'll have to pay but also determines the numbers of bucks you'll harvest each season. Typically, the more land you lease, the better the hunting but not always. To findquality deer leases at low prices, search for little plots of land no one else will consider leasing. In most sections of the country, a deer lease will consist of 100 acres or more. However, you may discover productive deer hunting on as little as 40 to 60 acres.

Here are some recommendations for Click to enlargedetermining the amount of land you need for a deer lease.
* Learn how much hunting pressure exists on the property around the land you lease. The less hunting pressure present, the more potential even a small lease has of producing numbers of deer for you and your friends.
* Determine whether or not the region homes a large deer population, since the number of deer in a surrounding area directly relates to how many deer you can expect to take from a small lease.
* Pinpoint where on the small acreage the animals have thick cover to bed-Click to enlargedown and hide in as well as where food such as browse and acorns naturally occurs. Many hunters have found that often a very small parcel of land situated in the middle of ideal hunting habitat with very-little hunting pressure around it can produce plenty of deer each season for one or two people. If you're considering a larger lease, then more than likely, you'll want to have several other members on your lease.

Then ask yourself these additional questions.
* Does the land have old fields or woods openings for the planting of green fields?
* Is the region noted for carrying large numbers of deer or big bucks?
* Can you learn the hunting practices of the surrounding landowners?
* Can you protect the land from poachers? The answer to this question lets you know whether the property will have a lease value of substantially less and if you will harvest many deer from that land.

Tomorrow: What You Will Pay To Lease Hunting Land for Deer


Check back each day this week for more about "Take the Guesswork Out of Deer Leases"

Day 1: Consider Belonging to a Deer Lease for Bigger Deer and Better Hunting Opportunities
Day 2: How to Find a Productive Deer Lease
Day 3: How Much Land Do You Need for a Quality Deer Lease
Day 4: What You Will Pay to Lease Hunting Land for Deer
Day 5: Should You Form a Club on Your Hunting Lease and How Should You Govern Your Hunting Lease?

 

Entry 552, Day 3