View Full Version : Lost hunting ground
After 15 years of hunting the same ground we got a kick in the groin today. The Farmer (who is a relative of my hunting buddy ), leased out his farm to an outfitter.
I think back to all of the days we hunted over the those fields, it's like we lost an old friend.
I am not being critical of the Farmer, it's his land. However, many of us have moved away and opening day was like homecoming. A time to see people you have not seen in a year. To tell stories and get together
It's just a sad day.
Driving down those Iowa gravel roads Friday night looking forward to the cackel of the first Rooster Saturday morning, is something to missed for sure.
Ivy
oldfarmer
09-29-2005, 07:50 AM
Get out your checkbook. You cant blame the farmer for utilizing a potential source of revenue. He has lots of bills to pay, high fuel/energy costs, ect.
This is the getting to be the future of hunting. Either get used to hunting public ground, or start budgeting a little $$ for that annual pheasant hunt.
It is dishearting, but it is also reality. The world population has DOUBLED since the year 1962, and it will double again, in half of that time.......Exponential Growth.
I understand the economics of life. And I am one of the biggest proponents of property rights there is. One of my biggest Pet Peeves is that people think they have the right to tell another person what to do with their property.
Rightly or wrongly, the feeling I have is like when your parents sell the house you grew up in and you go back to that house for the first time. Everything about the house and the neighborhood still looks like it always did. The memories you made and shared are to numerous to count. Except your just not welcome there any more.
It's just kind of a shock to find out 30 days from opening day that your opening day tradition is over.
Ivy
Benelli Man
09-30-2005, 04:18 PM
I have lost many a good pheasant spot in the past 10 years due to leases.
There is a wonderrful retirement program for farmers in some areas.
First they put all that is legally allowed into CRP. Then they lease the rest to a young neighbor to farm. Then they auction off all their farm equipment.
Finally they lease the hunting rights on the whole place to some outfitter or to wealthy private guy or group.
Then if they are really lucky, they rent the farm house out.
Then they move to town and do whatever they want, while still owning the farm.
(This is no joke).
"Money for nothin and the chicks are free".
Ivy, I hear you. That is one reason why we make a fishing trip to our duck hunting area in the spring, and I go up there to help work on blinds, or roof a garage, or do anything to show my buddy with the farm that I appreciate his friendship and his permission to hunt there.
It is sad when you lose a spot, and I lost a spot about 10 years ago when a farm was sold. I still wish I could have bought that place. My first bluebill and wood duck and canvasback came from that place :(
-Box
http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=103808
I don't have any propblem with what he is doing, except that it's my tax dollars making those CRP payments.
Benelli man
10-19-2005, 01:55 PM
Well, that is the point.
This wouldn't be possible with out the CRP money.
Kevin B
11-08-2005, 01:28 PM
I've read all the responses that preceed mine. All truths. I'm gonna be in the same spot very soon as the place where I hunt, the old codger is going to die someday - - could be anyday. His kids will sell the place faster than you can strike a match - - they won't even come out and help him harvest. I'll have the memories. And sorrow.
cnem(logged off)
11-15-2005, 04:48 PM
Joe1 & Benelli Man:
It is also the farmers tax dollars helping to pay for that CRP. The best thing you can do is invest in your local Pheasants Forever or Ducks Unlimited Chapters and help or suggest land acquisitions. These lands then get turned over for public hunting grounds in most cases. Until the ducks and pheasants are completely gone hunting land leases are going to be there.
cnem
Tom B
11-22-2005, 11:22 AM
My brother in law farms about 1500 acres. This fall, he said that over 300 people called or stopped by to see if they could hunt his land. His family all hunts, so the answer is always, "no." He said that he wastes way too much time dealing with folks that want to hunt.
His property is well posted.
Imagine how much work you would get done if 5-10 people a day called you to talk about something non work related.
If a particular farm is that important to you, I would suggest paying a hunting lease and then rest secure in the fact that it will be there for you.
Or hunt public land.
Tom B
Skylane
11-24-2005, 07:39 AM
>I don't have any propblem with what he is doing, except that
>it's my tax dollars making those CRP payments.
CRP is one of the things that has helped wildlife hold on. With out it, this land would be tilled and those nesting areas would not exist. Another upside is the grass helps filter the water before it enters the creeks which is good for us, fish and wildlife. We can all pick on programs if they don't benefit us. It ticks me off that I have to spend thousands of dollars on property taxes that pay for the schools that I have no children to use. Want to talk about forgiving illigal immigrants, non-working baby factories and welfare?
Benelli Man
12-02-2005, 01:12 PM
As a bird hunter, I love CRP. It has been great for the birds.
I just wish it was open for hunting.
What do you mean; "I wish it was open for hunting?"
Thanks,
Ivy
Benelli Man
12-16-2005, 05:15 PM
In my state, all the CRP properties that have any birds on them are leased out to private individuals for hunting. It is not "open to hunting". You can't even ask permission. It is all posted "NO HUNTING".
That is what I mean.
Seems to me, if we are already paying them for not planting a crop, we shouldn't have to also pay them to hunt, too.
Plus, if they are collecting income from our the tax rolls and from recreationalists hunters who leased the hunting privilege, why is this land still real estate taxed at the lowest (pasture rated) tax level? It should be taxed as recreational land. Like lake shore.
Gary Korsgaden
12-21-2005, 01:03 PM
The CRP agreement provides farmers the means to take marginally productive lands out of production to protect against erosion and with that said keeps it with the farmer rather then selling it out for other interests. Nothing in the contract says anything about hunting rights or the right to. Wildlife is a side benefit and we should be content with that. It does keep the land for wildlife if it is in CRP no matter if it is posted or not. I also agree that we shouldn't be telling the landowner what he/she should do on his land.
CRP payments are a portion of the expenses offset by the program. I just wish I had the vision years ago, in North Dakota to purchase land when it was fairly reasonable and put it into CRP. Great post and comments.
Gary Korsgaden
12-21-2005, 01:03 PM
The CRP agreement provides farmers the means to take marginally productive lands out of production to protect against erosion and with that said keeps it with the farmer rather then selling it out for other interests. Nothing in the contract says anything about hunting rights or the right to. Wildlife is a side benefit and we should be content with that. It does keep the land for wildlife if it is in CRP no matter if it is posted or not. I also agree that we shouldn't be telling the landowner what he/she should do on his land.
CRP payments are a portion of the expenses offset by the program. I just wish I had the vision years ago, in North Dakota to purchase land when it was fairly reasonable and put it into CRP. Great post and comments.
No question, CRP has been a wonderful thing for birds and for hunting. However, many a business has been ruined as a result.
Here is what has gone on in the past 20 years.
Individuals and corporations bought tracts of cheap, unsuitable land, broke it up, strictly to enroll it in government programs, then collected any and all possible federal funds through ag. programs. Eventually, after the required amount of qualification time, they put all the lands they could into CRP.
In otherwords, now the land is back to almost like the native pasture land, but now it costs the taxpayers, whereas it was free before.
Large farm coporations and private operators have made millions doing this.
We pay dearly for the improved bird populations.
But, ironically, at least PETA members are helping pay just like the rest of us.
*sweeeet!
Gary Korsgaden
12-23-2005, 07:27 AM
I read your post and have several questions: What business has been ruined by CRP. I might add that a number of govnernment program are designed to keep the land as a larger chunk and the farmers on the land. It is developers that break it up into smaller chunks as value rise and they want to sell it. Keeps it more affordable. Clarify your comments. Thanks
jigstop
12-23-2005, 07:36 PM
If his land is only posted with No Tresapassing signe maybe he should just place a sign at his driveway saying "No Hunting, Please Do Not Ask!" This should get the point across.
Entire small towns have disappeared or all but done so.
Impliment dealers, seed plants, private elevators, grain trucking businesses all have been ruined. Then the ripple effect has broken small banks, cafes gas staions, fuel distributors, service businesses, and finally municipal employees and school teachers. With cropland reductions, the tax base goes down the tubes. In otherwords, everyone in the area, aside from the farmer suffered financial loss.
Gosh Gary, surely you understand economics better than to ask a question like that.
CRP has the same effect on ag based communities as a 20 year drought. The only ones who still get any federal assistance during a 20 year drought would be the actual grain producers. But, at least they keep trying, planting, fertilizing, harvesting, summer fallowing, etc. during a drought.
With CRP the producers have retired, period. They sell off their equipment. They don't need to farm anymore. Most moved to a big town and took up golf.
A large chunk of rural population moved on to urban areas and to other things.
In the wake, many people who relied on the farmers went broke. They didn't get any asisstance.
Kevin B
01-03-2006, 04:28 PM
I agree. I sometimes ask to hunt even if no trespass signs are posted. About 50% of the time, I get access.
Benelli Man
01-05-2006, 09:14 PM
I always ask. Always.
But, it has gotten very difficult to do so with so many of the farmers having moved to town.
WestCoaster
01-08-2006, 02:39 AM
I live in California and I've encountered lost hunting properties as well. Too much of our state is converted to housing or other use associated with urban development. My first dove hunts were in fields that are now warehouses. Pheasant fields where my uncle farmed and I shot my first bird are now exclusive golf course homes. The land my buddies and I shot from high school days till just a few years ago succumbed to commercial use developers. I now pay $1200/yr for upland game property, $1700 for waterfowl, and $1500 for pig, deer and turkey property. Glad the wife understands, but it's the only way to secure property around here to allow my hunting vices to be satisfied. Good luck my friend!