Thanks for the info AJ...you pretty much summed up everything I've heard about $$. I'm not looking to pay through the nose for a lease, but I'd consider a reasonable amount if that's what it takes to get on to some good hunting property. Like I mentioned, I'm close to Wye Island NRMA, Idylwild WMA, and a 125 acre piece of state land (Seth Forest) is about 5 minutes from my house, but I'll probably still look for some private land in the counties you mentioned.

Dan...I've been on the Idylwild a few times scouting, but hunted it only once during firearms season. I found lots of sign (trails, some big rubs, scrapes) but didn't see any deer the day I hunted other than one that someone had shot and left for some unknown reason. It was pouring rain and I just slipped around some, more scouting than hunting. The one portion I've been on (relatively small compared to the size of the WMA) looked like a great spot. Several cornfields with nearby brushy creek bottoms and thick pines. I want to learn that place a little better and hope to do some spring gobbler hunting there in the spring. The spot where you're goose hunting has the reputation of being one of the best public land bowhunting areas on the shore for a bruiser buck. I walked up on a dandy one evening, but hadn't filled my B tag yet which is a requirement to kill a buck there. Not sure I would have got a shot regardless, but he sure was a big buck. You should have plenty of shooting. Some mornings in my treestand I couldn't hear myself think from all the geese carrying on!