Questions on leases?

[LosCuernosRanch]

I have a question and this is not a sales pitch, this is to educate me from a knowledge base that is second to none, land owners, leaser and lessee views. We have never had any lease hunters on our ranch other than during spring turkey season, we have had package hunting only. The reason I want to get a feel for what is normal, we might in the future open up some lease opportunities and I know nothing about season leases so I need the education. Actually I have a few questions now that I think about it. What is normal pricing per acre and what is included in normal pricing? Lodging is extra I assume? Normal to feed year round for given prices or have the hunter fill the feeders? I know some places put you in a spot so the price per acre might not be realistic because you are paying for a stand not the run of the property. Is it more prefered to offer a block of land or put people in a small area and let them place feeders and stands? Should guest and family be considered? How long is a lease? Seasonal? Annual? I know I might get a flame or two and I hope this thread doesn't break any rules, I just need some education from an outside perspective. PS I am getting ready for church and was not able to proof read so if something doesn't make sense feel free to ask for clarification. Thanks in advance, Cody

[sneaky freak]

It depends how you are going to do it, day hunts you maintain feeders do all the work and charge by the day with trophy fee. deer lease, good ones are year round manager sets rules what you can kill and price varies depending on what you get water,electricity,cabin, dove, turkey,exotics,etc. price depends how big the place is also.Guest should be allowed but animals taken need to come off lease payer tag.Is it how fence or low fence alot of factors go into this and it all makes price different.

[SouthTX1911]

It depends how you are going to do it, day hunts you maintain feeders do all the work and charge by the day with trophy fee. deer lease, good ones are year round manager sets rules what you can kill and price varies depending on what you get water,electricity,cabin, dove, turkey,exotics,etc. price depends how big the place is also.Guest should be allowed but animals taken need to come off lease payer tag.Is it how fence or low fence alot of factors go into this and it all makes price different.

About as good a general answer as you could get. Anything else is goon depend on what you wanna do.

[LosCuernosRanch]

Ok I have typed a couple more questions a few times but at the end they sound like I am trying to sell a hunt, which I am not. So for me to better understand what a lessee is looking for would anyone be willing to give a wish list for your ideal lease? Right now I run 22 feeders on 3800 acres high fenced, during deer season, and 3 feeders in my 800 acre high fenced axis pasture are year round protein and protein blocks. As of now we sell package hunts only, buy the hunt and pay a trophy fee kind of operation. Most of the 22 feeders never see a hunter all season, so I have debated leasing some spots out and letting someone at least get some use out of them or not filling them at all. Having never done a season lease for deer I am at a lose for what to ask or expect a fair asking price is for say dove season through the doe and spike season or archery through the end of rifle season. Knowing this does it help get what I am asking a little more clear or is it still muddy? LOL Thanks for the responses so far, I appreciate them, Cody

[hchntr]

I would say $8-$12 per acre. As others have said it all depends on what's included; housing, water, electric, year around or season only, exotics, blinds and feeders already in place, feed included, guest allowed, ease of access from highway, livestock on the property. These are just a few of the variables that will drive the price and it also depends on what the landowners intentions are.

[systemnt]

Why are you pondering a change from package to lease? Is it monetary?.. sounds like you have a pretty established operation now..just curious as to why you are thinking of changing it

[hchntr]

You asked for a wish list for an ideal lease! Here's mine.
Hill country lease with whitetail and exotics included, for year around use, wife and kids welcome and prefer other guest privileges, must have a decent house or cabin with running water and electric, high fenced would be nice but not a must, blinds feeders and feed do not need to be included, would like it to be a fairly small group of hunters/families, less than 10, preferably 5 or 6, I would implement a year around feed program to include protein
These are just some of the things that could make an ideal lease for me, oh yeah, did I mention I'm in the market for one now!

[sneaky freak]

If your running an operation this big high fenced and filling 22 feeders it would not make any sense to me to lease out to hunters I would suspect you have excepional deer being HF and protein fed. This type of place is one where you can charge by each animal taken. If your just not wanting to deal with it and want to lease out. you could get 6k per man and hunt 12 guys easy. this is just a guestimate considering I have never seen the place,game cam photo's etc. hope this helps. and if you ever need help cullin hit me up