What would you do? Need some advice.

[MedicineMan7]

First off, I've been blessed beyond measure the last few years and thank the Lord above every day to be able to get to travel a bit and shoot some of the animals I've had on my bucket list for many years, as well as purchase a little property to play on. Going through school, my one objective was to get through school so I could go out and purchase my own decent sized place to be able to do what ever I wanted on it and however I wanted to without having to worry about someone over me (i.e. LEASOR) pulling the rug out from under me and passing it on to someone else who wants to pay more money (not a fun situation). After taking a few trips and seeing what its like hunting in other places though, my mind is always drifting to "where do I want to try and go next?" kinda thoughts.

So here's my dilemma. My wife and I thoroughly love getting to travel and see new places and hunt critters that we haven't hunted before. On the flip side, we both want to have a place we can enjoy the rest of our lives that our kid or kids can enjoy growing up as well, but we'd like it to be big enough to sustain how we like to hunt and do things without over pressuring it and making the hunting not so fruitful. Looking ahead, I really can't decide overall which direction to go, either selling our small place now and upgrading to something larger, or sticking with what we have and continuing to pursue adventures in other destinations. Granted, I'm sure if we did buy a bigger place, there would be a trip here or there every few years, but not one or two a year.
Would like to hear what y'all think, especially those who've been fortunate enough to be on both sides of the fence. Thanks!

[BURTONboy]

Hunting else where is always fun, but nothing is as rewarding as hunting and succeeding on your own place. I would upgrade places and take off a few years hunting else where if need be. One thing about it, the oppurtunity to hunt else where will always be there, but you may not always have the opportunity to buy a nicer bigger place of your own.

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[TransPecos]

I would keep the smaller place and keep traveling to hunt. Once you get older or life situations change the freedom to travel may not be there like it is now. You can always upgrade on the homestead 10 years down the road after you have all your dream animals under your belt and want to stay around for the kids or grandkids. One thing to remember...bigger place equals more upkeep.

[Phillip Fields]

I have just a small piece of property down I NC. Many years ago My wife and I thought about getting a bigger property/ We had only so much money available so we decided instead of tying ourselves to one place we would travel. I never have had much money, but have traveled quite a bit. We've visited 40 or so of the states. I've hunted Texas, NC Virginia, Tennessee, California, Kansas, North Dakota, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, Colorado, Africa and have a black bear hunt in Maine next fall. I still have only 25 acres, but I have some wonderful memories. Only you can decide which is right for you.

[DarrellS]

Personally I prefer to own rather than travel. Its nice to sit on the porch of a lodge somewhere and enjoy the scenery but to me it would be a lot more enjoyable looking out over my own land that i have managed and groomed to suit our lifestyle.

[froghunter]

I love to travel, It's become a passion of mine. I can't count the number of times that I have considered moving to a "better" place. However I don't think my wondering spirit will ever be satisfied. No matter where I go there will be an urge to see more.

I grew up on a farm. My dad rarely traveled and my grandpa NEVER traveled. When I got big enough to move around on my own I realized there is a big world out there and I want to see it all. I have a all place now that we kill wee deer on every year. I have also fished(my other passion) 11 states and Mexico and have hunted all over texas with 1 bow hunt in Oklahoma. My 3 boys have been on many if those adventures. They are still little but have seen and fished more if the US than many grown men. No matter how big or cool your new place would be there is still one more hill to cross or one more bend in the river to go around. I have been on both sides of the fence. I sold the family farm, invested the money and now use the income it creates to travel,fish and hunt. I have no regrets and my wondering heart looks forward to the next adventure. (Which is flyfishing in Bimini next month!!!!)

[M16]

It just depends on what you like. I like having my own place. Plus real estate generally doesn't go down. My plan has always been to enjoy my places until I get to old to take care of them. Then sell some of them and travel on that money. I'm getting close to that age but it's gonna be hard to let go.

[MedicineMan7]

Thanks all for the input. I can see both ways the positives and negatives to both, but interesting to hear from others who've been there. I'm still fairly young, but feel like I'm about to the age where I need to decide which road to run down now so 20 years from now I'm not stuck where I'm at now trying to make a similar decision, but have less time to accomplish my goals and dreams.

[oldtestamentman]

For me, I just bought a place that borders the King Ranch near CKWRI and the TAMUK Ag Farm in Kingsville. It is a small plot of 5 acres, but my backyard is the Santa Gertrudis pasture. I have 3 discrete feeders going and the deer come across the fence all the time. We have some nice bucks to watch, but we don't hunt them. My commute to work is zero as I work at the college in Kingsville where I can walk or ride my bike to my office. I have done my time in those big cities with long commutes.

I like to get a new deer lease about every 3-4 years. I get bored with seeing the same landscape from year to year. Each lease comes with a different set of hunters and backgrounds, camp houses, etc...I think it is good to mix it up and explore the different parts of S. Texas. Good memories.

I also fish and guide sight casting on Baffin, so this situation makes sense for me. My life is simple: Big Bucks, Red fish, and Specs anytime I want them. I have lived in many parts of the country, but this is what I want to do for the last third of my life.

[Afd1597]

Upgrade to bigger place. the accomplishment of managing your place where your kids and grandkids will enjoy for generations.. the cost of hunting land will always go up.

[MedicineMan7]

For me, I just bought a place that borders the King Ranch near CKWRI and the TAMUK Ag Farm in Kingsville. It is a small plot of 5 acres, but my backyard is the Santa Gertrudis pasture. I have 3 discrete feeders going and the deer come across the fence all the time. We have some nice bucks to watch, but we don't hunt them. My commute to work is zero as I work at the college in Kingsville where I can walk or ride my bike to my office. I have done my time in those big cities with long commutes.

I like to get a new deer lease about every 3-4 years. I get bored with seeing the same landscape from year to year. Each lease comes with a different set of hunters and backgrounds, camp houses, etc...I think it is good to mix it up and explore the different parts of S. Texas. Good memories.

I also fish and guide sight casting on Baffin, so this situation makes sense for me. My life is simple: Big Bucks, Red fish, and Specs anytime I want them. I have lived in many parts of the country, but this is what I want to do for the last third of my life.

Being in OK, don't have quite as many opportunities as TX when comparing the two. I've thought about doing something similar as you when I retire in 25 to 30 years and do some fish guiding in the off hunting seasons. Changing around leases and getting different experiences with different places isn't to bad of an idea either.

Upgrade to bigger place. the accomplishment of managing your place where your kids and grandkids will enjoy for generations.. the cost of hunting land will always go up.

This is one of the things that weighs on me the most when considering everything. They definitely aren't making anymore land, and what there is isn't getting any cheaper based on the last 10 to 15 years. I figure I'd it would be better to take the plunge now vs later on if I do go this route and save quite a bit in the end.

[Darton]

What size place are you looking for?

[kumathebear]

This has so many different responses one could make, as usual. Unless I missed it, you did not mention the size you have now or what you consider larger acreage? By your Avatar pic, you are obviously a young man/couple so always consider what physical, mental and $$ effort it takes to maintain your own place? I've had my own small ranch before but as I grew older it became so much more of a pain to take care of. Now I'm content to live on our acre and "tolerate" neighbors. But, oh how I yearn for the old days and the room to do what I wanted to do!

So...yep, lease 2 sections with my TBH son to hunt on. The cost per year of the lease is way less than I would have spent just on keeping up the old acreage, so it works for me anyway. But still...it's not mine...

At your age, I would buy the larger acreage and make it exactly what YOU and your wife want. In most circumstances land is IMO the best investment you can make. It's your legacy to pass down to your kids....just keep the Ag Exempt status and enjoy.

[Saddle Tramp]

I have found that I like going different places and meeting other people. I am not a trophy hunt guy so the whole thing of people, new place makes for a really go time in my book.

[Buff]

Thanks all for the input. I can see both ways the positives and negatives to both, but interesting to hear from others who've been there. I'm still fairly young, but feel like I'm about to the age where I need to decide which road to run down now so 20 years from now I'm not stuck where I'm at now trying to make a similar decision, but have less time to accomplish my goals and dreams.

I have done or had both.
Either one is a lot better than most folks have it.

I have traveled the world hunting, it was great and I would not take for the memory of it.

Now I put every spare dime into my place and rarely hunt.
It is hard to explain how satisfying it is to watch your grand kids kill deer at "grandpa's farm"

I like owning my on place land is cheap in Oklahoma, go buy 300 acres