Without getting into the drama and details, I don't have anywhere to deer hunt ( primarily bow). Other than a few years of owning a small parcel which we've since sold, it's been a major PITA finding a safe reliable place to hunt. It's to the point that it's kept me from hunting on more than one season.
I actually have access to a family owned deer camp; but it's 900 miles away, and burning up all of my vacation annually for a few days of hunting is a tough sell to my bride.
I love to hunt. I'm not good at it- particularly with a rifle. I've taken mature doe with a bow, pistol, and rifle... but the last buck I got was with an F150. 6Pt, if it matters.
Realistically, I can't buy property unless I sell my boat ( 1st world problems!) . Leases are extremely tough to find, and I'm on the waitlist for a hunt club.
A big part of the joy of hunting, for me, is stand placement, strategy, habitat creation, and all of the things that "owning" the property allows you to do. I also love venison, but I've found that how the animal is treated immediately after being harvested is a HUGE factor, particularly in the early season.
But I'm considering a semi guided ranch type hunt - which seem to run in the 800-160/ week range; for an early season hunt this year. Mostly because I've had to skip two seasons now ( 2 years ago it was health, as I was recovering from heart surgery, this past year I had no place to go that wasn't COVID' locked down) . I've heard that game lands are getting more pressure than ever, even during bow season. Has anyone done one of those paid hunts, and what was your experience, based on the whole " sit here, hunt now" aspect, rather than getting to do the fun stuff yourself?
TIA..
I actually have access to a family owned deer camp; but it's 900 miles away, and burning up all of my vacation annually for a few days of hunting is a tough sell to my bride.
I love to hunt. I'm not good at it- particularly with a rifle. I've taken mature doe with a bow, pistol, and rifle... but the last buck I got was with an F150. 6Pt, if it matters.
Realistically, I can't buy property unless I sell my boat ( 1st world problems!) . Leases are extremely tough to find, and I'm on the waitlist for a hunt club.
A big part of the joy of hunting, for me, is stand placement, strategy, habitat creation, and all of the things that "owning" the property allows you to do. I also love venison, but I've found that how the animal is treated immediately after being harvested is a HUGE factor, particularly in the early season.
But I'm considering a semi guided ranch type hunt - which seem to run in the 800-160/ week range; for an early season hunt this year. Mostly because I've had to skip two seasons now ( 2 years ago it was health, as I was recovering from heart surgery, this past year I had no place to go that wasn't COVID' locked down) . I've heard that game lands are getting more pressure than ever, even during bow season. Has anyone done one of those paid hunts, and what was your experience, based on the whole " sit here, hunt now" aspect, rather than getting to do the fun stuff yourself?
TIA..