If I had a hog problem there is no doubt that I could have plenty of folks come out for free and kill as many as they can. People would be lined up and my phone would be ringing off the wall. Since I have limited land and there is limited time only a specific number of people can hunt productively and safely.

Once that specific number of hunters is determined, it is easy to determine if I can find that many people to pay X number of dollars.

As a land owner, why would I give away something for free when I could get the same results charging for it?

The hunter pays the going rate based on availability and demand to access land that is not yours and go on a hunt that they would not otherwise have had, the land owner benefits from the hogs that are taken, and he gets to put a little money in his pocket to maybe help recover a tiny piece of the losses from damage.

Long way of saying: because they can.

As a landowner I could sell hog hunts right and left, I just choose not to do so. I'll let friends that I know and trust hunt anytime but I don't want the hassle of people I don't know. It's not all about the money, though I have no problem with people who do sell hunts. I don't blame anyone for providing a hunting opportunity and charging for it. That's why we call it America.

So, you believe that anyone charging for hunting something is a lease pimp?

About those waivers.. anything one scumbag can put on paper another can undo.. It is actually very hard to sign away your rights in Texas. We also run a guide service and every hunter signs a 9 page front and back waiver. Do we feel it's water tight?, No.. all it takes is one, one fool and any money you made and might make is gone including possibly putting your land in jepordy...

You are proving my point. This would be like charging a doctor or lawyer to fix my problem. Thank you for your help!!!

I've never asked anyone to pay to fix my problem. I'd probably let you hunt for nothing.

There are plenty of landowners who would probably love to allow some respectful hunters kill some hogs. But I have also noticed the price to hunt hogs increasing. There also seem to be more and more people starting to "guide" hog hunts. I guess as long as people are willing to spend the money on it, more power to them.

Like you say, as long as there's people with money to spend, some people will seize the opportunity.

charge hunters, pay a trapper to release or get paid by others, hard times it is all about the money

I have had some experience with guided hunts here in Texas and other places, and if pressed, none of the Release of Liability Waivers hold water.

On the other hand, most if not all hunters that I have dealt with understand the risks involved with hunting and probably would never say anything.

As far as the 9 page document, from my observations and experience, a one page document works just as well.

Thankfully, I have a place to hunt, but looking at the hog problem in Tx. and the way these farmers are whining about the crop damage, it's almost akin to CHARGING the vet to come to your house in the middle of the night to treat your dog. Haskell Co. farmers are paying in around .85\acre for the chopper guys to fly around and kill them, some in other areas are paying even more.
If it's going to cost you $1000+\yr to get rid of a pest that is costing you money, why would you try to poke some guys eye out for the "priviledge" of taking care of your problem because he gets some enjoyment out of it?
I guess if you don't enjoy it, you can get paid to do it, but if you like it, it should cost you big money???

Those signed papers releasing liability are not worth the paper they are written on. Liability insurance costs the landowner a pretty penny, and heaven forbid if a claim is ever filed, because the insurance is just about worthless when it comes to paying claims.

Any of you want to risk all of the work and money you put into your property without being taken to the financial cleaners? In the long run it is cheaper to hire a profesional than let hunters have free access to the land.

A decent size farm will have assets of a million dollars, one mistake by a hunter and that asset can be wiped out.

This pretty much sums it up.
We sell hog hunts. Not looking to make a bunch of money. Not looking to wipe them out, cause it won't ever happen, but mainly to keep the hogs in check.
Then, most people who want to hunt hogs, first question asked, "How many feeders you got??" So now, you as a LO have money invested in corn, feeders, stands, etc.......... which cost money. We only charge $75. That's not per day, but for the whole weekend. Just enough to pay for the corn and gas for us to drive out to the ranch.
Then, you just don't realize how many idiots are out there. Last year alone, not once, not twice, but 3 times somebody discharged a firearm either loading it or un-loading it at the truck. Scary stuff!!! Almost made us stop it all completely.

I would pay that in a heart beat. hell you could even charge $75 and a few bags of corn, you should make some cash on the deal.I was just saying 200 per pig is nuts

at $200 a head, I killed $1000 worth last night...an AR10 is a helluva hog rifle.

Just as the people who pay it!!!

Yep, it's called demand.

If it was demand, then my hunts at only $75, I would be booked up to next year. Still have a weekend in March open and all of April and May except for one weekend in April. Maybe I should start chargin $200 a pop. People seem to like to pay that now. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, something to think about!!!

No, I think that is called a fool and his money are soon parted. Paying 200 a pig just proved that point.

I think $200 a pop is crazy, but to each his own. There are guys out there that pay it. Just like some of these day lease places that charge $200 for the hunt, plus a trophy fee, you could be looking at upwards of $400-$500 for ONE hog. But they charge that much, cuz people will pay it. I don't disagree with these farmers and ranchers making a little money, but if your putting stands and feeders out, you went from FARMER to GUIDE, IMO.

As far as signing a piece of paper. Yes there are loop holes in everything. I used to hunt our neighbors place, and he was worried about me getting hurt and trying to sue them. Well I did get hurt, was crossing a down tree, slipped on some ice and fell on a tree branch, required 5 stiches, I told him what happend, and told him he had nothing to worry about, it was part of hunting and things happen sometimes.

I plan on hitting sqiggy up when I get back from the sand box, if he is doing any hunts in July. $75 for a weekend, I can afford that, even if I don't get anything.

the money can be good, but just dont want a bunch of amateur hunters out here, besides the price of wild hogs is up now and trapping is worth some money right now.