Hunting Trips or a Good Lease?

[howzitbra]

Could you get off the lease and do your bucket list hunts but still be able to hang out at deer camp with your buds? (no hunting, just hanging out) The deer camp atmosphere is what I really enjoy.

[OleTomTalker]

My daughters are 27 and 23. We just got the last one through College debt free so thats why i have been thinking about doing these things i never could do before. I hope I am very family oriented. My username is ABCDJ, A is my wife, B and C are my girls, D is me and J is our last name. The youngest one has shot a rifle 3 times and killed 3 bucks. The oldest one never got into hunting much. My dad isn't a big hunter but has shot several hogs and a turkey or two. My grand kids are 6 and 1 now. I am taking the 6 year old next year for the first times, this will probably seal the deal for me staying on if he likes it. Our place is very family friendly.

For me, that 6 year old would be reason to stay on lease at least a couple more years and see how much he likes it. Never know, in a few years, that might just be your traveling partner, exploring new places and adventures.

[TexasCanesFan]

Really depends on you.

I will be 40 years old this year. I can't recall a memory where I wasn't involved in hunting deer until very recently. Not sure what all contributed to my evolution, but something certainly did change in me. Maybe it was the deer hunting market. The grow ranches, high fences, ear tags, insane antler race and over commercialization of whitetail that tamed a lot of the wildness of it all for me. Maybe it had something to do with being on a MLD place for 5 years and having me and my 2 daughters shoot around 30 deer each year. But probably the biggest contributor to my disinterest was discovering big game outside of Texas. I started elk hunting about 8 years ago. About to go to Canada on my 3rd bear hunt in May. Last year I had an epic hunt with many TBHs in far far north Alaska for caribou. And I just booked an archery moose hunt in British Columbia for 2016. I haven't been deer hunting or had a lease in 2 years and I don't miss it at all.

I love the out of state hunts and very much miss going. Like the OP though, I can't afford both. My son is 10 years old and luckily I have found the joy in hunting again sitting in the blind with him the last few years. Plus the off season trips with him are something we get to enjoy together year round.

That being said, one day I hope to be back to doing both. Once he is grown, if I had to choose, it would be out of state hunts.


For the OP, you just have to understand, some times you come home empty handed and all the money spent on that one hunt of the year is gone. No lease to "try again next week". It can mess with you the first time it happens.

Tough decision that only you can make. Any chance the lease is affordable enough to just pay a year to hold your spot and not even go???

[jason.dickens]

4. You could start putting in for the drawn tags. However I think you can get an over the counter (OTC) elk for $500-$600. Hire a guide and go from there. Could keep it under $6500 for sure.

Good info^ Hire a guide or just bring a group of guys out and explore the area. Within a couple of hers of hunting otc you would have a good handle on the area and know where to go!

[tx07]

I would rather stay on a place where everyone is doing good and having a good time. Instead of going on trips and meeting some real dirt balls and ruining my fun.
But that's me......

[TexasCanesFan]

I would rather stay on a place where everyone is doing good and having a good time. Instead of going on trips and meeting some real dirt balls and ruining my fun.
But that's me......

I found one of those dirt balls in New Mexico. My dream elk hunt ended up being a very costly life lesson.

[BowSlayer]

Just let me hold your spot on your lease for you. Go do your thing and when you want to come back to the lease I'll hit the road.