Pay to Hunt, Fish, or Camp

[dovehunter]

There has been a program started her in (at least) Virginia recently whereby you can join a club of sorts which will enable you to hunt, fish, or camp on private land. Membership currently is $99 per year. The money goes to compensate the landowners. The web site is outdooraccess.com. It shows a huge amount of land to choose from. Have any of you ever heard of this or does your state have something similar? It really sounds like a good deal.

My son and I have been losing hunting land in recent years almost to the point where we have no place to go. If this is all it claims to be it would potentially be great. What do you think?

[Jack]

I don't know of a program like that in Georgia. Sounds like it might be a workable solution for both hunters and landowners.
One question I would have is: how many access permits does a landowner sell? If a landowner sells a whole bunch of permits the land could get crowded with other hunters.

[dovehunter]

That's a good question that I have myself. Unfortunately their web site doesn't answer it. You'd apparently have to sign up (and pay) before you could find out. They weren't too forthcoming regarding logistics.

[Purebred Redneck]

Missouri has recently began a program where the state leases private ground and makes it essentially public land. There is no fee for the hunter though.

Normally when this sort of thing happens the hunting is good for a couple years and then all the deer get killed off. After that, I would suspect the national forests and state owned lands would be the way to go after that happens.
It will be interesting to see how the landowners view this sort of thing after a few years because the public is going to trash the place and ruin dirt lanes.

While we currently lease about 120 acres, my family is in a similar situation as yours --- we want/need something other than public land. Public land is absolutely fine if you are in good shape and archery hunt; you will kill a deer every year here. However my dad is starting to get up there in age and I have back, neck, and shoulder problems. Going forward, we will need a place where the stands are 50 yards into the woods and a place to drive the truck up to because it's going to take both of us to get one out.

Personally, I think owning ground is the way to go for those who can afford it. If you can get 100 acres that's 60 tillable and 40 woods, the farm income pays half of the cost. That's not in the works for most families today. A more practical choice is to lease that 100 acres 2-3 ways. 2000 dollars a year split 2-3 ways isn't bad. It's that or hunt public land for free and go on a paid hunt somewhere every few years.

[dovehunter]

You're right Red. I am semi-crippled now and can't around other than with a cane. Even with that, I can't go far, need fairly level and clear ground to walk on, and need my son to go with me. Getting old (and crippled with leg and back problems) is hell, but it beats the alternative.

[Purebred Redneck]

You might check a local forum from your state. There may be a group that organizes a hunt for the disabled that you might be able to get in on. I'm not sure old is a qualified disability but you never know.