Although many people charge to hunt on their land, this particular situation sounds ridiculous as long as 1) you guys have been doing this at the same place every year 2) you have remained respectful of his land 3) the rancher hasn't had some marked change in his economic situation that would equal desperation. I would assume that if this was an annual event that you would have developed a rapport with the landowner where the mutual benefits would be seen. I find another "town" unless the price was negligible and the landowner could point out a "legitimate" reason for the charge other than "because he could" or "because others would pay"...jeez