I need opinions and I'm sure y'all can help!!

[luckey7]

ive got a delima and I need some opinions. Me and a couple of buddies are on a place in Menard and the land owner has cows and sheep. We have the place year round. It has deer, turkey and some dove. We've become friends with the land owner and have hunted this place for the past 10-15 years. As of recent there have been hogs in "the area" mostly just passing through. So the land owner hires a "hog hunter" to rid himself of the hogs. This "hog hunter" is and has been out on this place just about every day, he's on several game cams during the day and the night. This season we haven't seen nothing but yearling does during the actual season. Before season started we saw several nice bucks on the game cams and since the season started we haven't seen anything. The land owner has also been doing some clearing and letting a friend of his come out whenever he wants to pick up fire wood. We all think that because of all this activity that that's the reason we haven't seen anything all season. What would you do!? Anything!? The lease cost is cheaper than most lease fees out there so do we just say screw it and give it up!? Do we confront the land owner and ask him about it or let him know how unhappy we are with all the unwanted activity!? I forgot to add the lease is about 400 acres with three guns on it. It is mostly wheat fields during the season so it usually draws the deer in from the surrounding area. It is bordered by the San Saba river in the back and we usually get al kinds of game comin from across the river. We are the only hunters that are in the area, we hear shots but most are way off so I don't think it's hunting pressure. I'd really appreciate a serious answer but I know that won't be all I get. Hey I know how it works on here!! LOL!! I appreciate you views and your response. Also sorry if this is hard to read, I was trying to write it all down as it came to mind.

Thanks Luckey7

[Cold 1]

Talk to the landowner? it can't be any worse.

[DKirk]

Talk to the land owner, tell him your unhappy. Maybe come to an agreement that y'all will kill hogs or that the hog hunter and firewood gatherer will stay off during hunting season. I would think you could come to some agreement if you've been on this place for that long and consider the land owner a friend.

[JDH875]

Talk to the land owner, tell him your unhappy. Maybe come to an agreement that y'all will kill hogs or that the hog hunter and firewood gatherer will stay off during hunting season. I would think you could come to some agreement if you've been on this place for that long and consider the land owner a friend.

X2

[bpa556]

Being that it is actively cultivated acreage, if you tell him that you'll keep the hogs killed off you'd better be serious about it. Your lease dues are likely low because he makes his living off of his crops. Hogs can destroy lots of crop in an astoundingly short time.

If you can't commit being out there every 2 or three days checking hog traps and shooting hogs, you'll probably not be happy with the answer he gives. I feel for you, but you have to see it from his perspective. His crops are more lucrative than his lease income.

I'm sure he'll accomodate y'all on the wood cutting deal. Good luck.

[mpotts]

Keep traps out and make an effort to erraticat hogs during off season

[Mayhem]

First off the landowner is an idiot of he actually thinks he will rid the place of hogs. Number 2 i would look at the contract and see what it says about who hold the hunting rights per the lease. If i decided to stay on the place, i would make sure it shows in the contract that the leases hold all the hunting right to the property.

Contract, contract and more contracts.

[luckey7]

I appreciate all the opinions and guidance and thank you VERY much for no smart ***** comments!! LOL!!
Justin, we've never had a lease contract for as long as we've been on the place. We've never really needed one!!! The land owner is an older guy and super easy going. He gives us a list of likes and dislikes and thats that!! We've never had any problems and if we did we'd just get rid of the problem.
I understand that he's worried that the hogs will get into his crops and destroy what he's worked hard for, i get it!! And bpa556, you're right, the crops are more lucrative than the lease fees bring in, i get that too. I just think it's screwed up to have all those people out there all the time. Maybe it's just me being selfish or self centered. Thank you for giving me a different view on things, i appreciate it.

[Mayhem]

I don't find it selfish at all. If you have the hunting rights to the place you and your group should be the ones hunting.

[Drycreek3189]

I appreciate all the opinions and guidance and thank you VERY much for no smart ***** comments!! LOL!!
Justin, we've never had a lease contract for as long as we've been on the place. We've never really needed one!!! The land owner is an older guy and super easy going. He gives us a list of likes and dislikes and thats that!! We've never had any problems and if we did we'd just get rid of the problem.
I understand that he's worried that the hogs will get into his crops and destroy what he's worked hard for, i get it!! And bpa556, you're right, the crops are more lucrative than the lease fees bring in, i get that too. I just think it's screwed up to have all those people out there all the time. Maybe it's just me being selfish or self centered. Thank you for giving me a different view on things, i appreciate it.

You didn't mention what grows on the surrounding places. If they have live oaks you could have been competing with acorns. Could explain why you had fewer deer. Just a thought.

[8pointer]

If the hogs have moved in, that will reduce deer activity in a heart beat. I guarantee they are disturbing the area more than the "hog hunter" is. Ask the landowner if y'all can start trapping them to keep him from having to be out there if that will make you feel better. I personally would just chalk it up as a bad season and hopefully the hog hunter can put a big enough dent in the pigs to make the landowner happy. I would give it another year. You said after all that the price was right.

[In-Yo-Grill]

Talk to the landowner and tell him you will take out ever hog you see. They will come to the feeders anyway. As far as the other extracurricular activity, I'd ask him to limit it to the months that you are not hunting. Never hurts to ask...communication in any relationship is essential.

I know that land clearing can have an effect on the deer. I was on a lease next to 5000aces and the landowner started clearing out a lot of the trees. It forever changed the amount and types of animals we had on our side.

[luckey7]

That's the way me and my buddy see it too. Every land owner in the area traps and hunts the hogs like crazy and it's not like theres 500 hogs out there. I know if you don't take care of the problem it will be though, i understand that. We just think its wrong for him to have the guy out there all the time. We think it has affected the deer hunting. Either way you look at it, until all the hogs are gone, i don't think he's going to change his approach so it's either we deal with the hog hunter or get our stuff and get off.