Man, when news comes it comes in doubles. Two huge sack punches today and in all honesty it almost feels like it.

(1) I had just settled in my stand this afternoon when behind me another bowhunter was walking past. I didn't regonize him and said "hey". He stopped and looked up at me and informed me this land was leased! I say what? He said a hunt club from South Carolina just leased 320 acres ten days ago and just started hunting it yesterday. The farmers cousin who now owns the land didn't inform the farmer cousin, the guys who leased it did yesterday. In fact one of the two guys there this week sat in one of my stands yesterday! Anyway, he was gracious enough and I told him I would be taking my stands down tomorrow. I also informed him that if my truck is parked near the east farmlane not to worry because I would be hunting the neighbors land. Its not nearly as good. The guy shoots what he calls a 130 class buck this evening.......maybe a 120-125 at best. The other guy now sitting in my favorite tree claims a 150 class buck was near his stand, but couldn't get a shot. Big sack punch!!!![:-]

(2) Found out from returning home this evening that my wife's distant cousins who farm and own their own real estate company just leased all of their land out back in August.........good thing I hadn't hunted it yet, though much of it is just tillable land![:-]

All in all a crappy day as far as hunting goes[:@]. One tiny light at the end of the tunnel..........I am going to try to find out what the party of (1) is paying, and maybe in a year or two I can outbid them. I have unconfirmed info it was around $5 per acre and if things work out I may be able to outbid them within a year or two. This 320 acres was worth it.