In many states including mine, the taxs on the land every year is more than many of the land owners paid for the ranch when thet bought it. 10000-15000 dollars for taxes on a good size ranch is ot uncommon.

That said it is the fact that people will pay quite a bit of money for a hunting lease that is adding to the cost as well. For many hunters in today's economy, cost is no object and I don't see things getting better any time soon. Doctors and lawyers and well to do folks mostly from the east are buying up hunting leases all over the west.