For years, you have wanted your own piece of hunting land where you can control how things happen, instead of having to ask permission from someone else. You do not want to hunt on public lands where many other hunters are trying to take the same deer from the same area at the same time. But if you buy the wrong piece of hunting land, it could cost you money and ruin your dream.
You need to find land that produces game, which will mean nothing if you have lots of land and no place for deer to live. If deer are spooked because they were not able to access your property without being noticed by other hunters, then that deer will likely not come back to that area for a while (meaning your stand will be empty). If you are in the wrong location, then you may have wasted your investment as well.
There is a lot at stake when you are buying hunting property, as you are not just buying a piece of land; you are investing in a long-term relationship with your friends and family through your hunting experience. So, what separates trophy-producing properties from overly-priced disappointments?
Let us look at exactly what makes a great hunting property worth the money that you work so hard to earn.
Location and Accessibility Matter More Than You Think
The foundation for all future hunting activities is to acquire ground with the ideal geography; land you would like to hunt on should possess accessibility while remaining far enough away to support animals.
Proximity to Your Home Base
Distance is greatly important when considering property for hunting. If you can travel several hours to your hunting property, you will be able to go more frequently. Besides visiting your property to hunt, being able to check cameras and food plots, plus reacting quickly during the most productive time of year on the ground, during the peak breeding season, will make it easier to succeed.
Road Access and Entry Points
Practical access is key to quality hunting land. With a good road system in place, you will be able to come and go safely. Multiple access points will allow you to come at bedding areas from various angles, depending on the wind direction. If access is not good, every deer will be alerted to your presence before you set foot on the hunting property. Look for properties that have existing trails or are wide enough to create them without disturbing the core habitat of the land.
Access is a key element in being successful at hunting. If there is a good road, then you will be able to get to your property securely. When you enter your hunting property from too many directions, you may not be able to access the bedding areas of your deer without letting all the deer on that property know you were there before you hunt them. When hunting on your property, look for existing roads and/or access points that will let you get to your property without disturbing the core habitat of the area.
Habitat Diversity Creates Hunting Opportunities
A variety of habitat types is one of the most important things to have when looking for the best hunting property. Different terrain types help create natural movement patterns and attract the species we want to hunt.
Food, Water, and Cover Trio
Whitetail deer require three things to remain on a property – food, water, and cover. A property that has all three of these elements will allow deer to remain on your property for extended periods of time. Natural foods such as acorns, agricultural fields, and creating your own food plots will all provide food. Natural sources of water, such as a creek, pond, or spring, will supply them with reliable water. Security cover in the form of thick timber or cover will allow them to feel safe while bedding down.
Terrain That Funnels Game
Deer travel along natural paths created by the terrain. Rolling hills, ridges, and creek bottoms are all natural travel routes for deer that are used to travel between their bedding areas and food sources. The ability to set up your stand in a good position is accomplished more easily on a property with natural funnels, compared to one that is flat and featureless. You should be able to travel with the terrain, not against it.
Size and Layout Impact Your Hunting Strategy
How much land do you really need? The answer depends on your goals and target species.
Acreage Requirements for Different Game
A hunting land of anywhere from 20 to 40 acres can work when there is the right environment for deer; hunting lands between 80 and 160 acres offer more opportunity for the establishment of sanctuaries as well as allowing rotation of stands without all of the hunting pressure. Upland game birds will require habitats different from those of deer. In a habitat of 200 acres or more, you will be able to offer more management options and much better control of the hunting pressure.
Layout and Stand Placement Options
The arrangement of property affects your capability to be productive long before looking at total acreage alone. You want land that has multiple possible stand sites based on time of year and wind direction. Bedding areas need to be of sufficient depth for deer to feel safe while using them. Food plots that are close to cover will see greater use than an exposed plot.
Before buying hunting land, you should look at how game travels the property. You can then walk the boundaries of the property so you know where the access points and bottlenecks would be.
Neighboring Properties Influence Your Success
Your hunting land is part of the larger system. The way other properties are used nearby will affect where the game population is and how and when the game moves through the area.
Adjacent Land Use Patterns
Deer tend to use properties adjacent to farmland and large timber stands more frequently because farmland provides food as well as cover. If neighboring landowners use sound habitat management practices, everyone benefits. However, deer living on properties surrounded by urban development or where they experience a lot of hunting pressure may experience difficulty using their habitat.
Managing Hunting Pressure
If the game is pressured too heavily on a neighboring property, they tend to move to other areas. However, if neighboring lands experience only low pressure from hunters, deer are likely to move to your property during hunting season. When there is a lot of hunting pressure, deer may become nocturnal and behave erratically. Before purchasing land, it is important to research how the neighbors use their land and how many hunters are active in the area. Talk with residents about the hunting patterns and pressures that have been present in the past.
Legal Considerations Protect Your Investment
Before signing an agreement, savvy land purchasers spend time researching rules and regulations.
Zoning and Property Rights
Confirm that hunting is allowed on the land; different jurisdictions have rules regarding the discharge of firearms and the seasons when hunting may be done. Additionally, examine property lines closely because boundary disputes can create ill will with neighbours quickly.
Make Sure you understand any easements and/or access rights in relation to the property; you need both the unencumbered title to the property and the authority to manage it as you choose.
Wildlife Management Regulations
Each state has its own regulations regarding hunting (e.g., seasons, bag limits, and baiting). In some cases, tax incentives can be obtained for enrolling your property in a wildlife management program. If you eventually plan to sell your property, properly managed properties often have a greater value than those that are not well managed.
To increase your chances of finding buyers when selling your land, keep accurate records detailing the improvements made to the habitats and the species of wildlife residing on your property.
Infrastructure and Improvement Potential
When you purchase property specifically for hunting, the current improvements can save you both time and money. However, consider the possibility of enhancing the property as well.
Roads, Trails, and Utilities
In many states that have rural hunting land (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas), there are typically no utilities provided on the property; this works out to be okay for the purposes of hunting. More importantly than having utilities is having access to the property via main roads and trails that can take you through the interior of the property.
Dirt roads are fairly common for remote hunting land. Make sure that as you assess your property, you determine if it is accessible to you on a year-round basis, not just during periods of nice weather.
Food Plot and Habitat Opportunities
Do you have options for expanding your food plot projects? Is there enough area for you to add additional water sources? The ability to improve your habitat will add long-term value to your property; south-facing slopes and open areas provide the best locations for food plots. Broken cover adjacent to open plots creates perfect areas for attracting deer and other game birds.
Study your potential land as if you were going to manage it for a long period of time—what can you improve on this land over time?
Making Your Hunting Land Dream Affordable
The reality is that you can buy hunting land without having to spend a fortune upfront. The majority of deer hunters believe that it is impossible to own their own land; this isn’t the truth at all.
Owner Financing Opens Doors
There are companies, such as Landopia, that will enable you to purchase hunting land without much difficulty. You can obtain a hunting property in any of these states (Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, Nevada, and Florida) for approximately $100/month.
There will be no dealing with banks, no large down payments, just simple terms that give you the opportunity to purchase land for your budget.
Rural Land Offers Real Value
In rural locations, there are interesting real estate options for those who enjoy a little space to enjoy the outdoors. For the most part, you’ll be about an hour from the nearest grocery store (Walmart, for example), but that’s one of the reasons the whitetail deer population can thrive and be well-maintained due to low hunting pressure compared to urban areas. Purchases made in these private holdings located within growth corridors near urban centres may increase substantially in market value.
Therefore, you’re not only getting yourself a hunting property, but securing it as an investment that could grow threefold in value over time (just think home builder or builder’s directive).
Finding Your Perfect Hunting Property
The best hunting land balances habitat quality, location, size, and affordability. You need property that supports healthy deer populations and food sources naturally. Accessibility matters for regular visits. The right acreage gives you management options without overwhelming your budget.
The best properties suited to hunting will have all types of features that can affect habitat quality, but you also need the land to naturally support a healthy population and to naturally provide food sources. Accessibility for regular visits and having enough acreage that you can manage without breaking your bank are both important.
When looking for hunting ground property, you can’t wait for the right one. There are many eager to purchase properties that have good bones. You should find hunting land that has a varied landscape (hills, valleys, and water access) and is within reasonable driving distance from where you live, even if your goal is to hunt whitetail deer, upland birds, or a mix.
To determine what is currently being offered, check out your desired state for available hunting property. If you can, visit the property during different times of the year. Speak to the neighbor about deer movement patterns in your area and learn about local hunting activities. Check out real estate trends to ensure you’re paying a fair price. Once you have made a smart buying decision based on research about the market trends, you will be able to hunt successfully.
Your hunting land is here. With owner financing to buy land starting at $100 per month, you can easily become a land owner. You don’t have to hunt on public land and compete against other hunters any longer; instead, use your own private property to create a legacy. The memories you will make on your private land will last longer than anything else you could purchase.