The Cost of Hunting
 

I was recently trying to plan our annual July 4 prairie dog hunt. A few friends and myself go about every year to shoot our own fireworks, have some fun, and watch the dogs go POOF. It was a low cost enjoyable time. I say was because the rancher that used to thank us for trying to thin the vermon from his place decided this year to start charging.

Its horrible. Its terrible. And its inevitable. Everything costs money anymore. Its just plain crazy. I can't blame ranchers. They're out there working long, hard hours for little pay. They see everybody else charging folks money to hunt on their property. So they do it too. Its just too bad. The good ole days are gone I guess.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

That's too bad, your doing him the favor of reducing the varmint population not the other way around. I'd tell him to have fun shooting his own crop eating critters.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

I hear ya. It's getting to the point where landowners won't let you track down a wounded deer without paying him first. Personaly I'm sick of all the money people are making out of hunting. Your average Joe who wants to put some meat in his freezer is being priced out of the market by middle aged farts who are trying to recapture their youth at any cost.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

On the other side of the coin, do you have any idea what land taxes are these days?????? How about insurance??????????????

I'm NOT takeing sides here, but there's always TWO sides to EVERY coin!!!

Drilling Man

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

Actually I do. And my property taxes haven't change in the last ten years. So thats not the reason why this is happening. I said that I don't blame the owner of the land, I just think that its unfortunate.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

Then your lucky, as "both" my land taxes AND insurance has went up quit a bit in the last 10 years!!!

Even if they haven't went up, someone STILL has to pay them "what ever" they are!!!

Drilling Man

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

Granted, but you can not sit here and tell me that is the driving force behind this. That dog don't hunt. The reason is plain and simple supply and demand. People are willing to pay money to hunt on his land so he is going to make as much as he can. Its the basic capitalistic principle. I do not blame him one bit. If I where in his shoes I would do the same. But, I don't have to like it. The problem isn't the farmer, the problem is the city slickers who are willing to fork over stupid amounts of money to do something that should be free. Now, I've said all I have to say on the matter.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

Although many people charge to hunt on their land, this particular situation sounds ridiculous as long as 1) you guys have been doing this at the same place every year 2) you have remained respectful of his land 3) the rancher hasn't had some marked change in his economic situation that would equal desperation. I would assume that if this was an annual event that you would have developed a rapport with the landowner where the mutual benefits would be seen. I find another "town" unless the price was negligible and the landowner could point out a "legitimate" reason for the charge other than "because he could" or "because others would pay"...jeez

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

That what it is hillbilly,he found someone else that would pay,thats probaly more of the reason than not,I'm shure someone came to him with a dollar amout to just hunt dogs,and BOOM there you go now he charges.

Where do you think tresspass charges came from,some one wanted to hunt,or cross their land and offered them some dough,and BAM a whole new market has been born.

Thats to bad Shilo,yes the good ole days of driving up to farmer Joe and asking to go hunt are gone,there are still a few but they get so over run with hunters that they would rather put up a No Tresspasing sign than to talk.
BBJ

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

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.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

I guess the only thing you can do is either pay him or find some where else to hunt.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

I am from the east (Virginia) I have been here all my life I am 43 now. I have seen things change dramatically my Dad use to take me hunting and all we had to do was go ask the land owner now the roads are posted every 50 ft. 'No Hunting" Most of the farms are being split up into "Lots" The old farmers are fewer and far between. We actually lease some land hunt National forest and my farther bought his old farm 15years ago. But out here it is getting really tough. I am fortunate (for here) but some guys are hurting. I don't see things reverting back they are only going to get worse. It is all about money and selfishness. If I was out there I wouldn't hesitate to throw some bucks to shoot some dogs, we have some people charging $50.00 to shoot doves on opening day??

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

I don't think there is anything wrong at all with buying a place for the purpose of hunting and making money off of it. But I gotta admit it's sad to see guys who put zero dollars or effort into the quality of hunting on their place starting to charge. Especially the guys who consider the animals a nuisance and cost them money due to crop damage. There are still a lot of areas around here where you can door to door and someone will eventually welcome you taking out a deer, elk, or anything else causing damage to their livelihood. The biggest reason I've seen people start charging around here is just hunters causing damage to their property while hunting. One guy complained of bullet holes in his barn when we talked to him a few years ago. So in some repsects it sounds like some irresponsible hunters may be ruining it for the rest of us.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

I totally agree with respecting someones property. In some cases here I have seen where guys will night fish and leave beer cans, burnt tires the banks littered with trash. You can't blame'em for saying no.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

rather be hunting you said it right on the head here.

we have a few of those ranchers who charge non residents an arm and a leg to shoot average four by four muleys (scores right around that 120 inch mark). the wierd part is that they keep getting client, when these people must see what everybody else is taking to the processers at night. i take a lot of swappers, and we hunt mostly public, some private (just as good on public) and from what ive seen, and me and my "clients" have heard from other hunters weve talked to is were doing pretty good. i dont know how many times weve been out to eat in a restaurant here and my non res's get to talking to others just to find out that they didnt pay any tresspass fee, and got bigger animals. ive seen some of these other hunters who paid get a bit upset. sad that so many people spend money needlessly on that.

i cant believe that a rancher who you have been with shooting dogs for free would start asking for money. seems to me that if hes been free for years, then there should be some sort of friendship there and that would make it free. i wouldnt mind paying a small tresspass fee where it is needed (although i never have so far), but thats just taking advantage of people who are actually doing you a favor.

my personal favorites here are the idiot ranchers who cant figure out why the state wont reimburse them wildlife damages when they wont allow any hunters. incredible

brad

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

It seems to be too much work for the landowner. Then he sees a group of guys having fun and cha ching$$$, cha ching$$$. Why not charge these guys for all the fun they are having on my property. I can not only remove the pests, but also get paid for it. I believe this is called GREED. Find another farm and let the jerk take care of his own pest problems.[:'(]

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

You guys think its expensive to hunt in your area, take a look at this link:

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...tml?1116097912


The guy who started the thread is from a company who is willing to spend $25,000 for a season lease for 20 hunters. Nobody on the site thinks he can/will find a place to lease for that little of money (including myself). One guy in the thread leased out his 11,000 acre ranch for $220,000 to a company for HOG hunting for a year. Some of the premier ranches in this area get $15,000+ per hunter for a spot on the lease, which generally only allows the hunter to kill 1 trophy buck along with a few other things like hogs, quail, etc.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

There is the possiblity that the landowner just found out how much insurance to permit a shooting sport on his property would cost, and just wants the shooters to pay for it. Shop around for some liability insurance and compare the rates for allowing hunters, agains those for keeping them out.

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

Not trying to step on anybody's toes but i thought I would throw something else in to think about why they are starting to charge. The landowners are liable for people getting hurt on their property, unless the owner has them sign some sort of release form. I do think like a lot of other people that if you were hunting for free for years then it should remain that way if you have been respectful to their land. If anybody has any info on if they are liable or not, depending on what state they live in, I would love to find out. Cause who knows I could be mistaken. Happy Hunting everybody!

RE: The Cost of Hunting
 

Of course there is the liability issue. Liability has always been an issue. Did you know that if you own land and someone trespasses on you and gets injured that you can be liable. Its called implied liability. God forbid you have something on your place that a lawyer can construe as dangerous. If someone gets hurt on it you are liable because you should have known it was dangerous and made it inaccessable to trespassers. I once heard of someone who got sued when a thief was breaking into his barn and he stepped onto a jump trap that the farmer had set to catch a fox that had been around the area. This guys sole intention was to steal something and he sued for injuries. My point is that it is no more of a risk to allow someone to hunt on your place than it is to get trespassed on. I know insurance is high, I will just pay the money or go to some public land. Its just sad that its come to this. I state again that I hold no grudge against the rancher.