Most deer hunters would agree it’s much more difficult to gain access to good, private hunting land today than it was 20 years ago. Hunting on public ground is getting more crowded each year. Are you tired of looking for good hunting spots on public land? Perhaps buying your own piece of hunting land isn’t in your budget right now. If so, leasing is your best bet. Below we compare the advantages and disadvantages of buying vs leasing hunting land.
Advantages of Buying Hunting Land
The obvious advantage would be you have land and land holds value. You can build on it, cut trees, plant trees, develop a seasonal wetland and plant food plots. It’s low maintenance and you can even sell it if you want.
Read Also: What Gear Do I Need to Start Hunting?
Disadvantages of Buying Hunting Land
It’s very hard to determine the value of the land. So many factors can affect a parcel’s value including topography, soil quality, zoning, history, utility access, road access, shape, etc. It doesn’t cash flow, as there are no tenants, there is no one to pay rent.
Advantages of Leasing Hunting Land
Outdoorsmen find that hunting property for lease in Michigan rewards them with many opportunities. The deer herd in Michigan now exceeds 2 million. Many deer in urban areas create problems and need to be harvested. Since around 80% of Michigan hunting lands are privately owned, the only way you might be able to get in on the action is through a land lease.
If that weren’t enough, Michigan hunting leases could also offer great fishing. This state is surrounded by water and has thousands of inland lakes and ponds. You can fish for salmon and walleye, casting for bass, Muskie, and pike. Plus, the trout populations are enormous.
Disadvantages of Leasing Hunting Land
The disadvantage is that sometimes lease arrangements make it difficult to make changes when you need to, like raising your lease fee or the lessee may begin to have feelings of ownership and forget to honor your initial requests. Also, increased liability concerns and costs could mean some trade-offs in other operations and will require record-keeping, evaluation, and business management.
Having a place to hunt is demanding. Not everyone can afford their own private hunting land, and many hunters are turning to leases, it’s important to ask questions and understand exactly what you are getting into before handing over your hard-earned money. In the end, your efforts will be rewarded with a more enjoyable, and hopefully more successful, hunting experience.
