I have come to the conclusion that Leases are ruining hunting.


I hate to even say that because I have always told people "you've gotta pay to play" and I've never had an issue on spending money for the things I want.


However.... I really think this trend is going to be a bad, bad thing within the next ten years. When I first started hunting, I had access to thousands of acres. Primarily just farmers who wanted the deer shot. I had farmers calling me asking me to come shoot doe on their properties.


In PA that land access has shrunk to around 800 acres I believe of private land. Which I know is still allot of land, and I'm blessed and thankful to have that. But I primarily still hunt, and I'm used to hunting allot of land. I mostly hunt public now. I like to start walking in the morning, and keep moving all day long. That's about impossible on 50-100 acre chunks of land.


Most of the farms I lost were leased out to several hunting clubs. I don't blame the hunters leasing. I don't blame the farmers for making money.


But I do miss the days of a farmer calling me up saying "Hey, So and So told me you'll shoot doe. I need some doe shot off my place. Come on out.


Some Ohio land in my area I've seen go as high as $35 an acre/ per year. It's just not feasible for many people to do that.


I hate to talk this way, as I'm all for making money and paying for what you want. But I think this leasing stuff is bad. I tried to get some new squirrel hunting woods a few years back after my main spot was clear cut. I knocked on around 15 different properties before I gave up. I take my boy out on a 6 acre piece owned by a family friend now. It works for squirrel. But it doesn't have the "big woods feel" that I grew up hunting.


Complaining done. I'll be out on public land with my bow quite a bit this week. Hope to put the sneak on a rutting buck.


-Jake