Here is the big question.

I lost my hunting land that I have hunted for the past 8 years. It is going to be pretty tough to find a new spot with the season fast approaching and land is at a minimum here on Long Island.

Would you consider spending $1,500 to have access to over 2,000 acres of land that is shared with 50 other bowhunters? Supposedly the quality of the land is pretty good with some good deer on it.

What do you think?

Oh by the way, hunting on the state land here on Long Island is a pain in the butt. They make you check in and check out daily and there is no guarantee you can hunt the area you want if someone checks in before you that wants to hunt it. I really don't want to hunt in such a restrictive way.

I am bummed and running out of time.

Do you have any hunting buddies that will let you tag along? If not, go door-to-door. You will get a lot on no's, but you may come across someone who doesn't like the deer eating everything they have. It is worth a shot.

Dough-Boy

Most of my hunting buds hunted with me on my piece of land. We are all kind of screwed by the sale of the property. I do have a couple of guys I can tag along with but I hate that.

I will consider going door to door.

Here is something to try.....when you go door-to-door, offer to help out around the owners property (if you can). This has helped some friends of mine get access to some property. Also, if you do get permission, bring a gift at x-mas. I bringa ham to the family that lets me hunt. I also give gift certificates to restaurants to others that let me hunt. Hopefully some of these tips will help you land some place to hunt. I would be very nervous as well, as it is getting close to season!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!

You could always take a ride up to yapank and hide in the back of Rack-Attack's truck. When he goes to the woods, you can too. He might not put you on to any big deer ( I here he's a dink magnet) but it should be fun.

All kidding aside, I've never paid to hunt. If it came to parting with $1500 or not hunting I'd have to anty up. 2000 acres is about 3 square miles and if evenly spaced that would put 1 hunter in aprox 40 acres. If you've got unlimited access and this is looking like your only option I would seriously consider it. You may also want to try some local farms and see if they're looking to relieve the pressure the deer put on their crops.

If it were me I'd likely pay this year and start looking for another property for next year immediately.

I would definitely consider it if I had no other options. 1 hunter per every 40 acres isn't too bad, although it could definitely be better.

Before I jumped into something like that I would do a lot of research first. I would also excercise every possible avenue towards finding another spot to go on my own- either for free, trade for help, or lease.

A lot of public land is like that. You have to check in and out daily and/or they only allow so many hunters so you have to call to reserve a spot a week in adavance and hope you are lucky enough to get it. You get used to it pretty quick.

As far as leasing that land, if the land owner parcelled it up so each hunter got a certain area to hunt then maybe. But if there are 50 other hunters hunting the same small area, I think your $1500 would be better spent elsewhere. It sounds like there is no guarantee that all 50 of them won't hunt the same acre.

I'm not adverse to going door to door I just have serious doubts about getting access in time for the season. (seems all my weekend time is booked lately with two kids and all)

Thanks for the tips about how to go about access. I'm in sales and my two hunting buddies are as well and I think if we found someone who doesnt have someone hunting their land already then I would be able to get access. Land is tight here on the Island and most private places are already being hunted.

The 2,000 acres is leased by a hunting club and is scattered across multiple locations. In addition, there are quite a few small gamers so i think alot of that acreage may be fields and such. I need to go out and check out the areas that could hold deer. I suspect the number of acres that are huntable with a bow are much less.

Paying to hunt would go against everything I have in me. So I'm not sure I can morally do it (but morals be damned, I need to hunt )

LOL, you seem to forget he hunts PUBLIC land! So he could go there anyhow....hiding in the truck or not [8D]

I hate to hear that. I've never been faced with losing the only spot I had. I have lost some great spots over the years which is why I eventually bought my own. Can't lose that. To me $1500/year sounds pretty pricey. I'd probably spend alot of time scouting the public land, while working on finding some private land as soon as possible. If it was $500, I'd probably do it. Good luck to you.