Managing farms as a hunting club.

[Dogfish]

I have a landowner who I have worked with for the past 5 years, culling their pigeons, starlings, and coyotes. In exchange I have received the run of 660 acres of prime Chehalis riverbottom land to hunt and fish on as much as I want.

It has great duck hunting, and there are some geese and pheasants available, as well. There is a herd of about 250 elk that hang out there from September to February that I have taken 4 elk out of, and I have another cow tag for October, so I will get another good shot this year, and a few deer that never get any pressure. All in all, it has been my outdoor playground for a while.

My question is this. The owners have approached me to manage the hunting operations and to basically act as the "Farm Warden" making sure that only folks who have paid the dues are on the property, and I would like to know how some of you are managing property that you hunt on.

They are set on turning the property into a duck club, and will give me free run with the tractor to build blinds, and they will provide materials. There are 4 good areas to hunt, some better than others, and none crowd in on other folks hunting. How many memberships should there be? Last year they sold two at $1,000 each.

The farm is also in a special draw area for elk where people have a shot at about 60 cow elk tags through the AHE program. Any suggestions on a price for a special tag trespass fee? These are cow elk, but during the regular seasons there are about 25 legal bulls in the herd. Trespass fee for bulls?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Andy

[nerta]

:depressed: hunt clubs :depressed:

[Tilla]

I had that opportunity come my way.
We basically found out what the farmer wanted and then did everything for him. We found friends and friends of friends that we knew were good souls. We took the price and divided equally. We know and trust everyone, the farmer knows that we respect and take care of his concern. He doesn't have to deal with the usual cr#@ of managing people. We make the rules. Very little turnover. Everyone across the fencelines is paying double. Sweet

[Dogfish]

Nerta,

I have earned my way on the property through good will, and a nice custom birdhouse. I suggest you knock on doors, find a problem that you can solve. Fresh fish works quite well in eastern Washington.

I got tired of the race to the blinds in the morning, having folks set up with 50 yards of you, sky blasters, being peppered with shot, etc. I can get to this property about an hour before sun up, get set, and not see another soul. It sure beats launching the boat at 2:30am to get the best spot only to have someone set up in your back pocket and refuse to move.

There are many farms that I hunted as a kid and young adult that have been turned into hunt clubs and now it is members only. I won't pay over $1000 to hunt.

[nerta]

:depressed: well with 250 elk on 660 acres there must not be much for the cattle. Sounds like you earned the right to hunt! Selling the wildlife of any state doesn't set well with me. Just kind of reminds me of the "KINGS DEER". I grew up in the wallowas of eastern oregon and most 6000 acre ranches didn't have that many elk. By the way even though I don't agree. :smile: I still support your right to do whats legal in your state. Ya we do hunt private at times just don't pay asking works great so does fixing the fence. :smile:

[willametteriveroutlaw]

I am setting up a place similar to that in corvallis right now. As far as the elk charge somewhare in the neighborhood of 800$ a bull and 400 a cow. Deer 500 a buck and no killing of does.. that seems to be pretty much the standard costs on the ranches I have hunted.. That is just for access fee, no help in packing or guiding. As far as setting up the duck hunting call the guy who runs double down (i think that is the name) in amity. Any I fish members who know his info if they could please post.. He has all the know how on planting wild rice and managing ponds for production. If you want to maximize the # of hunters set rules assigning days and a finishing or starting time. Rotating mornings and evenings. I have seen a couple of leases where the ducks Know the closing time and come in on the money every day after it closes. Also set rules on min size for both the elk and deer.
Sorry nerta, but this is the way things are going. But if you cultivate good landowner relations you can have a truly quality expirience for a reasonable price.

[Tilla]

There is a another way of looking at leases.
1. I am 20 minutes to the Rose Garden beer garden (Go Hawks) . I am 20 minutes from the barn with a ATV with electric start.
2. It cost more to drive those 15 or more 100-400 mile round trips in gas and maintenance. 5000+ mi/yr
3. I don't have to fight staying awake for 100's of miles on the way home. (Wear and tear on me)
4. I get to spend more time with my family rather than behind the wheel.
5. I can hunt from Sept 1-March 1 almost contiunously. (6 Months)
6.I am not sleeping in my car nor on those nasty Dodge City Motel beds.
7. I can get a pretty good spot to hunt. without a reservation or outrunning some young track star (but I am lot more cunning). :grin:
8. I am not packing 3 dozen decoys on my back.
9. I don't have a skybuster a few yds away. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] ( But I can out call him anyway)
10. I get to design a crop plan.
11. I get to place the blinds.
12. I get to control the water.
13. I still have to place blinds, drive stakes, tie corn and control drainage.
14. I get to help legislate the rules.
15. I get to train my dogs year round.
16. I can go home and get my boat and be on the river if the hunting is slow. Or do it the other way around.

Now, I busted my butt better than the best of them for over 25 yrs on public and private. I have slept in my car, float tubed in the Columbia at 5AM well below freezing regularly, dragged decoys across knee deep mud flats or flooded wheat and pulled decoy carts across sand dunes. There are witnesses on this board. I have seen few crazier about the sport than I can be. Sure I can be busting them up like I used to down at the Interstate area, and I bet with a phone call I can hunt some of the land real close to where Nerta hunts(I was there Fri).
But, thats over 600 mi round trip, a $50 motel and road food costs. Well .....unless I have real pending business in the area.
I gotta good deal now, when I do the math, it costs less. I have more fun and less anxiety.
I am not 30 anymore. :depressed: . I got other responsibilities and interests.
So some leases are not all that bad, my hand is not being held and it is still is a lot of work.

[Get Bit]

Amen ! Tilla !