How about an Eastern US hunting issue?

[seeth07]

We grow way more of this stuff on US soil than what is needed here and it's reflected in todays prices.

And the government even pays farmers to not farm ground and then turn that land into more revenue while also collecting lease fees off of that land.

It is absolutely crazy to me that an 80 acre parcel in my county can receive $210/acre CRP payment and then also collect a $5000 lease check from the hunters leasing that 80.

 

[thebestusernamesaretaken]

A dispute with a neighbor could last for decades. I suspect that they won't sell because the kids are enjoying the hunting. You would could hold a neighbor meeting to discuss developing a collective deer hunting goal and use the peer pressure of the other neighbors to get them on board. If they don't want to participate then you would have to respect their rights to that decision. You could also enforce no motorized vehicles on the property and put up barriers to this. They would be upset about it, but would make due. However, if you enforced this after you have already advanced your ideas on hunting practices on the property, any actions would be seen from that viewpoint and could add animosity with the next generation of property owners.

I don't see anything wrong with improving the deer habitat on your property that may make their property less desirable to hold deer (to include encouraging the direction of travel). If their portion of the property is pole timber and is not holding animals, you may just need to change the path that they are cursing through. If they don't see a lot of deer because of this, they may consider property habitat improvements as well and that could work out for everyone.

I would consider an annual doe season shoot right next to their property line. Kill only the does and especially the matriarch doe that is heading into or coming out of their area and the rest might change their behavior. I've even hung sweaty underwear to temporarily discourage the use of known dear trails and direct their travel (didn't always work, sometimes deer are curious and may want to check out the smelly underwear or tee shirt. If your neighbors see fewer deer and you have property that's holding the deer then they may either move on or make improvements to the property to increase their odds.

 

[3855WIN]

This is something that has indeed crossed my mind. I could invite a bunch of people (perhaps some HT'ers!) to just come and help me by sitting the edge of their woods and shooting every deer before they go into it. That just doesn't really solve the problem though long term

It actually does. The hunting on their 20 acres will be terrible and they’ll lose interest.

 

[3855WIN]

Not yet, I have only mostly talked with the father and we have a good relationship. This is the first year seeing all of his kids show up and bring the extra people.


No its not. 2 years ago yes it was probably a little overpriced at that rate but there is 64 acres listed for 958k just down the street from me. 13-15k/acre for recreational property and 20-30k for tillable is the new norm around here it seems. Smaller parcels typically fetch higher per acre values too.


The easement has specific language that states they can only use it for access and by foot only. Currently they have a "parking area" created on the easement about half way where they park and than walk the last 400 yards to their woods. I could force them to park on the street and than walk the 800 yards to their woods which would also include walking out with a deer.

Does the easement allow guests?

 

[3855WIN]

“The neighbor with 20 acres harvested so far 23 deer with only 5 being bucks and only 1 being one of the 6.”

These kids are doing y’all a favor. You need some does thinned out.

 

[3855WIN]

The real reason I posted that picture is because I feel our situation is very similar.

IMHO the deer survive in my area because WE provide them a safe haven during the season and only shoot bucks. If we shot a lot of does, I truly believe that the population would collapse for years and the coyotes would hold the deer population under water in that area for a long time. The surrounding clubs have shot the place to pieces with their "If you see a doe, kill a doe" and their "We have too many does" mentality. I cant hardly blame them. Most of them are from the city and they don't know any better. They are blindly following and implementing policy based on what someone has parroted on youtube or at a deer management seminar (which are tailored towards 2 guys hunting a 500 acre big buck managed farm in Iowa.....Not 75 guys hunting a 2500 acre area..)

This year we didn't kill a single deer off of our lease. Based on our inventory, we are still "rebounding" from the covid deer extermination free-for-all.

In summary, every area is different. However, by not shooting does (or at least limiting the harvest), you can make a difference. I know its a hard pill to swallow when your letting deer walk and they get blasted when they cross the property line. I get it. And I am not saying not to shoot a doe here and there. There is a right and a wrong time to shoot white-tailed does for sure. Just don't join the "if you cant beat them, join them".... That solves nothing. Treat your property as its own ecosystem the best you can and manage it to a level of deer that you think is right.

What region are you hunting?

 

[Nuts]

$100 Per acre taxes are not the case around here. I've got farms in both IN and IL, both good farm ground and pay $20-30 / acre taxes.
Only places I've seen the high tax rates like mentioned are where farmers are still farming parcels of ground on town fringes, in industrial park areas, etc.

Farming is a tough business. They handle a lot of $$, have lots of expensive equipment and generally have very high net worth which is all tied up in ground and equipment, but the actual income produced by all that investment is marginal. So, yes they are pushed to try to pick up an extra dollar off every acre, any way they can.

As an avid midwestern deer hunter, I saw how the habitat was getting wiped out years ago and realized that the only way to assure long term quality hunting was to buy ground and develop it for such. Just so happens, it's been a really good long term investment too, appreciating considerably in value while spitting out a little income each year.

Personal experience here. My grandparents farm. When the township came up with a revitalization plan there agriculture zoning was changed to commercial/industrial. (I was 15 yrs old so this is what I was told/remember) Taxes sky rocketed. Lots were subdivided and sold to pay taxes until it was down to 110acres. It reached the point where the township said no more lots may be subdivided without a variance. And to get the variance you will need to give/sell the house and barn to the township. Then the township supervisor had a rendering made of our barn turned into the new township building. Except we still owned it. Eventually they were able to eminent domain part of the farm and the rest was sold off by the family. Before that happen a family member removed the barn in its entirety the only fight back we had at that point.

 

[seeth07]

Does the easement allow guests?

No, the language specifically states "direct owners" and you would need to interrupt from there

 

[seeth07]

“The neighbor with 20 acres harvested so far 23 deer with only 5 being bucks and only 1 being one of the 6.”

These kids are doing y’all a favor. You need some does thinned out.

No the ratio is solid. It was just does in daylight using their property

 

[thusby]

If you get along with your neighbor, you just leave it be. Starting a turf war over a handful of stinky deer doesn’t seem prudent. I see this type of stuff all the time. All of a sudden you can’t recover a deer when the blood trail goes on their property and all kinds of other escalations. It’s just dumb.

 

[jdf]

So funny to me how people get over deer.
I improve as much on my 25 acres as I can for my wife and I to harvest deer on it.
But my neighbors can literally shoot all the deer they want to legally...it's their property! And... They are not MY deer or their deer... lol
High Fence your property or they aren't your deer..
Be appreciative and just hunt..

 

[Mallardsx2]

What region are you hunting?

Southeast US.