AEP land maybe ran by land lease co.-Questions I am pondering.

[Bigcountry40]

I was talking with a middle age friend (guy is in his late 40's) about gun season and success we have had around Ohio etc. I was showing him a map of woodbury explaining to him where I hunt because he lost his land lease around the Hockey Hills area that was owned by some large paper making company that used to lease land out extremely cheap (basically it was almost like public ground, because of its accessibility and price to the general public). I was also telling him about AEP land in coshocton county that I thought offered great public opportunity as well, this when my friend said he had heard a land lease company would be taking over AEP land and driving up leasing properties just like his Hocking Hills lease properties. I know this subject has been beaten like a dead horse, but in all seriousness when will Ohio hit maximum capacity on public land? I understand the idea of supply and demand and there are only so many family farms and reasonable landowners, will people move onto another state to hunt, will hunters within Ohio become irritated/depressed/disgruntled that they will no longer hunt? Will hunt clubs form like in the south? Just a few questions that come to mind

 

[bowhunter1023]

The future of hunting in this state looks bleak unless you own ground. And yes, that's true about AEP. I don't think the whole thing will be leased up, but portions of it have already been leased and more will be leased in the future.

 

[antiqucycle]

The ODNR is guilty of gross neglect when it comes to leasing. Any yo yo can claim to be an outfitter, guide, or con artist. If a fishing guide needs a license, why not idiots?

 

[Bigcountry40]

The number of people on Ohio whitetail facebook and craiglist pages that are residents searching for hunting land during the "off season" is outrageous (several post a day), I just think to myself, if 100 people hunt 1000 acres of AEP land and AEP gives up 5000 acres (these are all made up numbers) 500 people are looking for new places to hunt. And that 5000 acres is probably divided up between 200 hundred people max, with some of those leasers already having a lease, wanting more connecting land, etc. I am not into communism, socialism or into social justice, but this why trespassing is such an issue, I grew up next to a state land called resthaven in NW Ohio, the saturation of hunters during all hunting season in the last 5 years is crazy.

 

[giles]

My 10 year plan is to own 100+ acres, so my friends and family have a place to hunt for years to come. My wife finishes school next year, after her loans are paid off, we start saving/shopping. Yes, this might block out a few hunters that hunt the land today, but I feel the true meaning of my plan will benefit many more.

 

[Bigcountry40]

Giles,
I have a similar plan as well, I went to school college for free (football), but my wife has some loans. I am not paying for my boys college, either they go for free like I did or they can learn a trade (which they will make more money anyway). I plan on leaving land too my boys, so they don't have the burden that I am having now (I currently have several great places to hunt, but I will lose all them in 10 year I think) I have tried to convince my friends to come together and pay land under a LLC, but they are too ignorant to realize whats going to happen in the next 20 years.

 

[Buckmaster]

They quit making land around circa 1800. The price only goes higher year after year.

My buddy's camp in PA was bought for $ 1,272.00 for 212 acres back in the 1930's. That's $ 6/per acre.
3 generations later the camp still exists with 12 descendent members.

In 2000, I bought my 100 acres for $ 48k (that's one new pickup truck). That was 15 years ago. Now its valued at $ 200k (that's 4 new pickup trucks).
Can you afford to drive junk vehicles for 10-15 years? Only takes some self sacrifice and 30% down on a land loan thru Farm Credit. Taxes are $ 1,600 annually.

Do it before its unaffordable.

 

[teej89]

My 10 year plan is to be in Montana where I won't have to worry about money dictating my hunting capabilities. Just gotta burn off some boot leather and sweat to get to good hunting, not dollars and cents.

 

[ImpalaSSpeed96]

I know a local who leases AEP. I thought about checking into it but honestly, hunting public is fine for now. But when you have thousands of acres to learn instead of maybe 200, you never really learn it. I'm hoping this hunting fad dies down. TV shows are the worst thing that happened to this sport....

 

[antiqucycle]

"TV shows are the worst thing that happened to this sport.... "
That and the fact that the ODNR should have increased non resident licenses to at least $500.
When non residents flew here like those crossing the Rio Grande and started the leasing for millions of dollars, they could afford $5000 a year deer permits.

 

[Big_Holla]

Not all can.........

 

[giles]

They quit making land around circa 1800. The price only goes higher year after year.

My buddy's camp in PA was bought for $ 1,272.00 for 212 acres back in the 1930's. That's $ 6/per acre.
3 generations later the camp still exists with 12 descendent members.

In 2000, I bought my 100 acres for $ 48k (that's one new pickup truck). That was 15 years ago. Now its valued at $ 200k (that's 4 new pickup trucks).
Can you afford to drive junk vehicles for 10-15 years? Only takes some self sacrifice and 30% down on a land loan thru Farm Credit. Taxes are $ 1,600 annually.

Do it before its unaffordable.

That is exactly what I'm doing. Truck will be paid off next year and every payment gets saved for land down payment. 122,245 miles on my cummins, it should have some good life left in her. Very good post!

 

[Jackalope]

Times are changing, the days of the permission slip and the holiday ham are quickly going away. You're either going to buy it or lease it because you're not going to stifle supply and demand.

I leased 30 acres this year. Mostly because I got tired of putting in the time and getting screwed. I would start running cams in June, dump a couple hundred dollars worth of bait before season, get stands hung and any trimming done in August only to have some asshole show up the weekend before season to drive around and hang stands. Or spend the time setting up a small honey hole for my nephew or wife to hunt only to have someone show up and hunt it during the week before we got there the following weekend.

I have always hated the idea of leasing because it will usually displace other hunters. I'm to the point now however I don't give a shit. I've been stepped on and screwed up and screwed over so many times by other hunters I'm tired of it. I'm tired of putting in all the effort during the off-season and not seeing another soul, only to see someone new every weekend once season opens. I'm tired of dealing with trespassers and not having the ability to do anything about it.

So as for those "other hunters" I don't want to screw by leasing land. Piss on them. Being nice hasn't gotten me anything but stepped on and screwed over.

The reality is as the deer numbers have declined across the state, as more land gets leased, as more out of staters role in, the general population of hunters will get condensed onto those farms where the landowner will give anyone and their cousin permission.

As for me. I'm not dealing with that crap. I'm gonna lease it, post it, and watch it like a hawk.

Why? Because I like seeing rubs like this where I hunt.

 

[Lundy]

Being nice hasn't gotten me anything but stepped on and screwed over.

You being nice must have been before my time around here

I know that you know that I have been leasing the same farm for over 25 years, way before leasing was even common. The opportunity was created by inconsiderate hunters and land was offered up as a lease by the landowner. I grabbed the opportunity. ANY YES, I could have used all of that money from all of those years and purchased a good chunk of land with it, but I couldn't have been there to monitor it, so I just look at it as the cost of my recreation every year.

 

[hickslawns]

I have hopes to purchase at some point. Not sure if it will ever happen. I am fortunate for now. Down the road I may not be. I will cross the bridge when I get there.

I do own some ground. Less than 8acres. It has more pressure than public land. I would like to buy the neighboring 5 acres. It would not improve the pressure I deal with a whole lot. Owning ground isn't always the answer. You have to own "the right ground" or you better have a large enough parcel you can turn it into the right ground.

 

[MK111]

I felt the same way as Joe in 1991 when I bought my farm. Then every tom-dick and harry wanted to hunt it. I said NO it's only for family and it's stayed that way until this year when I invited my niece to hunt. The family has been too busy working the last 4-5 years so I'm the only hunter now.

 

[Buckmaster]

The family has been too busy working the last 4-5 years so I'm the only hunter now.

The choice at hand....share it with family and friends and have some fellowship and fun....or hunt it solo.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Owning ground isn't always the answer. You have to own "the right ground" or you better have a large enough parcel you can turn it into the right ground.

The easiest spot for me to kill a deer is my own 2.34 acres. All my bucks have been killed on my parent's 11 acres at their house. The farm is 72 acres of essential SE Ohio habitat and while the hunting doesn't suck, it's far from great. You're exactly right Phil...

 

[hickslawns]

My property is prime. . . .the surrounding hunters make it sub prime. If I could make 15 hunters exit the surrounding properties, I would have a sweet set up. Lol

 

[Bigcountry40]

My property is prime. . . .the surrounding hunters make it sub prime. If I could make 15 hunters exit the surrounding properties, I would have a sweet set up. Lol

Sort of the worry I have when I do decide to TRY to purchase property, I have a buddy that owns 40 acres and the neighboring property kill anything bigger than a squirrel. Why couldn't I enjoy golf or something that isn't such a pain in the ass?