Show us some pics from 15 yrs ago, 7 years ago and last season so we can get a visual on how you management plan you have is working for you. Just curious to see what you quality was and is today with your harvesting and your management plan.

That also applies to Level 2 as well.

then cut the number of hunters down to a level that the land will sustain.

Hunters go down, price goes up. Maybe some guys cannot afford it at that point and the whole thing is for not because all of a sudden the whole groups gone. Look I'm not saying every body kill a buck just because you paid your due's but if they're really managing it and can take a mature buck off every 160 acres then that's great. More power to them.

i give up

Do what i do now, take the money and do a kick arse hunt in kansas for a week and see plenty of deer and some really big ones! All on public land too. Stop paying the high prices and they will come down, of course thats just my 2cents worth

I'm with you. Some people must think there is a mature buck tree out there.

Me too..a hunter is the one who has the ultimate decision in whether there a mature buck under that tree everytime he pulls the trigger. If it is for meat then shoot a doe and save a buck. Numbers are given for harvesting as to what someone thinks should be taken off..not as they are going to hold a gun to your head and make you take that number off.

On our place, 1700 acres, we take around 20-25 does a year, and we are allowed, depending on the year, 8-12 bucks. We take all our does every year, and usually only 3 or 4 bucks. Gotta leave something out there, or eventually, you won't have any, and your county will be the next one under ARs.

The landowner gives you the numbers to shoot and you as the hunter make the decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot. How many guns allowed? I take it this plan is working very well for the landowner and you? So everyone is happy or you would not still be hunting there?

8 guns. We are happy. Deer are getting bigger and bigger every year. Everyone has the chance to shoot a buck every year, but it just doesn't work out. Turns out mature bucks are tough to come by during daylight hours. Just shot the biggest deer I've ever shot last year, so we're pretty happy.

Since you have 2 sons, I'd stick to a lease, just so you have a place to go and get outdoors with them. I'd look for a laid back place that i could take the kids out on year round even if it's not the best hunting.

Get them out of the suburbs and away from the tv whatever you do, teach them how to use a shovel or fix fence. One week a year isn't likely to pass on the hunting tradition.

Good luck, hope you find something that works out.

That is very good advice.

Hate to hear that. I would never dream of quitting the lease/leaselike hunting. I enjoy the work that gets put into everything. Can call me selfish, but I like seeing MY hard work pay off, not someone else's.

Before you give up your lease, maybe come up with the extra money and try your week long hunt idea out first. I was all excited about moving to Texas and getting to deer hunt. Oh, what a surpise I got when I got here. Deer all over the place in hill country, and you can't find a lease (without a 2nd and 3rd mortage taken out.)

The upside, I found out how much I enjoy duck hunting. Onl problem is ther really are no ducks in Cen Tx.

I'm up in the air this season on weather I want to make a trip to Mississippi. I have an invite, but not sure I want to spend the money. However, like you, it would make up for a not being on a lease. I'd go for a 5 day hunt to make it worth while.

Loat up thr truck and take a week long hunt in the Colorado mountains. It will be a lot cheaper and I'm sure you will enjoy it even if you don't kill anything. I did it for 25 years and loved it every year. We hunted in the national forests and stayed in tents or trailers.

And that's why I hunt NM.