Yes, he is doing something I'm not. Hes hunting the best habitat. Every other hunter that has been on the lease with him is now hunting elsewhere. Coincidence? I think not. I know several others who have hunted there with him. All left for the same reason. 380 acres of habitat, 100 acres of which is very good habitat, 280 is so-so. He has kept the prime habitat to himself and intends to continue. I've come to terms with that. I will improve the area I hunt and ask him to stay out of my food plots etc. I don'twant in to his stand, I'd like to hang a stand 300-400 yds away in the same bottom. If he is hunting down there on the same day I would stay out. I don't think thats unreasonable but its really a moot point now.

Option #3 sounds good to me too, sauce for the goose. If you're both paying half and he's being a bogart the best medicine would be to draw the deer to you and let him dangle. If he bitches later gently remind him that when you proposed sharing he was a total d i c k about it.

Go for option free and when he wants to move to your side tell him only if the entire lease is open to both of you.

I hunted on a lease with my brother for several years. He had the lease for several years before I started hunting with him. He had one area he always hunted that no doubt was the best spot on the lease. He killed 2 P&Y out of the same tree. I never once thought about hunting over there while he was there. Now on theweekends he wasn't hunting he didn't care if I hunted his stand though. I always felt that was his spot. He scouted the area and hunted there way before I got on the lease.

If you can do you own food plots I would start with that. You plant the right stuff and they will come for miles. But I think I would have already started doing that if you had permission to. If you have cows on the lease I think you should fence the plots to keep them out.You will have the upper hand I think. And will probably have the BIL totally pissed!

Darrall

I can see both sides to this. He probably thinks he did you a favor bringing you into this lease. I don't think it is cut-and-dry simply because you both pay the same amount. He was hunting the place before you and you entered into the lease knowing he had a spot. I am an in a big lease and each member gets a permanent stand that is his area. We respected the spots people were hunting before the lease even existed. New members come into the lease knowing the prime spots were taken long ago. However, with a little work you can turn a mediocre spot into a good spot. You deal with the hand fate dealt you. But I see your side too.

This sounds like a losing battle if you pursue it that could lead to hard feelings and family problems. I vote for making "your" side of the lease a better spot or getting out if you can't deal with it. Good luck.

Greg.

Let me know if you want a hand to put in some plots and fence them off from the cattle.

Or even put in a solar power elecie fence to keep the cows out.

I am sure I speak for Bob also we will come down and help ya out after I get back from Australia

If your only paying $500 per year. Keep that going for the convienance factor and then find another lease, for trophy potential.

It truly sounds like your intimidated by him, in some aspect. (sorry, if that sounds harsh, but it'syour post not mine).

If he only hunts 6 hrs a year..how's he, to know, where you spend your time on 300 acres? Camo up and move in.

Or spend thousands on implemants and ground improvement so the real land-owner can see a great change in the deer herd and then lease it to another bunch of guys, foreven more money!

The guy sounds like a greedy b*st*rd to me. My friend and I have several stands that we hunt together, we just alternate or flip a coin. He has killed the larger bucks more often than I, but that's just the luck of the draw. Even if you're sitting there at the same time he is if you're 400 yards away you won't be bothering him. But I agree with you not wanting him to be angry with you. I think your plan will work great, once you have established food plots the deer will come. No deer is worth a friendship, it's only a freaking deer. Good luck!

Tricky deal, I feel for ya. When money and family and hunting all get tied up together itcan gosouth in a hurry. Especially with in-laws that aren't blood.

I like option three, but maybe with some twists. Ain't no need pissing family off, it usually comes back to haunt you. I would put some feeders up, but consider the locations carefully. Before you place them consider possible travels corridors, and how safe the deer will feel using them. If they are too far away across open country they will only be hit at night. Set them in some cover where the deer will feel safe, and have safe corridors to get to them. Then you have lots of hunting options on the corridors before the deer get to the feeders. I also wouldn't make the feeders obvious. No need to rub his face in it, just start killing better deer and let him wonder how you are doing it.

Food plots are good too, but are very visible. I prefer small plots with lots of edge and cover for hunting plots. Plant some good summer forage to get them used to using them all year instead of just fall, that way they are more comfortable there during season.

Maybe add some mineral licks here and there, all the little things help.

I have 3-4 acres in the corner of an ag field that none of the rest of the family hunts because they consider it too small to hold deer. It is really thick and buts up to a neighbor with lots of cover. I have been working in there for 5 years now, plots, trails, this and that. The first year I got one pic of a forkie. This year I have a 130" ten in there for the first time and no one but me knows it. A closed mouth catches no flies.

Tell your sister to cut him off until your allowed to hunt the bottom. Blood is thicker than, well, you know.