Interesting thread...I have seen both sides...I am fortunate enough that my family owns 3 farms in eastern NC...full of game...they are farmed, but we also manage the wildlife...its a great feeling to take friends there and see them kill their first deer, quail, duck, turkey, squirrel..whatever...I'm 50 and enjoy bringing others into the sport of hunting and fishing....Part of the experience is also cooking what we kill....

I also travelled quite a bit when I was in the corporate world...and have lived in 3 different states...Where I had to get out and find a place to hunt...If you put in the time and get to know the locals you can usually find a good place to hunt...Public lands can also be good...if you find the areas that aren't overcrowded....Fortunately I grew up farrming and working on farm equipment, so I bring a little more to the table than the average guy...If you start looking 2 weeks before the season...You will be left out....I have no problems with landowners asking for lease money...What is charged usually doesn't even pay the taxes on the land and most landowners have had bad experiences with slob hunters....So, if you don't want to pay...don't but don't blame the landowner... Would you let a stranger use your car for a month and bring it back low on gas, in need of repairs and a good cleaning???

The facts are that in the Southeast we are loosing tons of land each year due to develpment...Farm land outside of areas like Charlotte, Raleigh and Norfolk are being bought each and ever day for this purpose...It will be much tougher to find good land to hunt in the next 20 years....If you love to hunt it might be time to start looking for land to buy...As my dad used to say "They aren't making anymore land" and "A good farm only comes up for sale once in your lifetime"...He has been dead over 30 years...But these words still ring true.