Well now that deer season is over I have a big decision to make so here is my story and any and all input is welcome, what would you do?

This is in Palo Pinto Co.
My grandfather and his buddies have been on this land and property since 1984. They were very good friends with the landowner (who is now deceased). They provided the majority of materials for the cabin that they built an what they couldn't get (concrete for the slab etc.) he provided, they did the labor to build it. And when the original LO died he left the deed to the cabin in my grandfather's name, which his SIL and daughter immediately asked him to sign over an he did without question. We've paid $350 since 1984 and knew when the original LO died and gave it to his SIL and D that it would go up and that it was reasonable and expected to go up. Well yesterday we had a meeting with the SIL (now the LO) and he went up to $750 a gun which is still cheap and very reasonable. However he gave us a lease contract for all of us to sign and there are some very questionable subjects in here. I've only been on this lease my whole life so I'm curious as to what you more experienced leasers and leasees think.

First the details of our lease.
We used to have 800 acres, he's cut that to 493. We have 8 hunters, our cabin, all of us hunt with rifles over deer feeders and we used to plant lag patches but due to the drought we haven't in 2-3 years. I hunt there with my grandfather (shot my first deer/buck with him in his stand at age 15, I'm 24 now), and 3 of his buddies from the original 8, my dad (I got to see him shoot his first ever deer/buck this year), my younger cousin and a good buddy of mine. The LO has 3 teenage son's that hunt and they let some family friends hunt the land as well, however the LO and his boys have over 600 acres of their own to hunt, where there are typically bigger bucks but less overall deer. So here are some sticky points in the contract that the LO drew up that I'd like your opinions on. The contract is 8 pages so I'll only tell you the points I have issues with.

Game to hunt:
whitetail deer: 1 buck 1 doe. (total of 8 for lease) hunters must alternate harvesting animals: buck, then doe, buck, doe etc.
Wild hogs: 1 per hunter, non-trophy, less than 125lbs. Any pig over 125lbs will be considered a trophy and hunter must pay LO a $150 trophy fee.
Varmints: Raccoon and skunks only. No coyotes or bobcats may be shot by anyone other than the LO, his sons, or their friends. No baiting or calling allowed and you can only shoot a coon or skunk from your stand by chance only.

Weapons: rifle only.

Blinds: stands and feeders may only be relocated or moved with prior permission of LO.

HERE'S THE STICKY PART
LO Hunting Rights: The LO, LO family, and LO FRIENDS reserve the right to hunt any and all legal game from anywhere on the property at any time from any stand. LO friends can only shoot does, not bucks.

When we all read this we about fell over, I asked if they were putting up any more stands on our side of the road. We have previously found 3 secret pop-up blinds that we didn't know about on our side, 2 of them within 100 yards of our feeders, hidden behind trees. The LO said if their sons were hunting and knew of a trophy buck that they wanted was going to one of our stands they could hunt it and kill it.

Protein feeding: it is now mandatory that we feed corn and protein year round. He will provide us with protein feeders.

Food plots: it is now mandatory that we plant food plots from 1-3 acres at each stand and maintain them year round (fertilize etc). He said he would pay for the fence post and wire and help us build these plots.

Record keeping: it is now mandatory that all hunters keep a daily log of what they see every time they go to the stand. Any pertinent information must be wrote down, if it's a buck, how big?, points, approx age, etc. how many doe, what varmints, pigs, time of day, location on property etc.) they would also like to see pictures from our game cameras. In addition, any animal harvested you must present an electronic photograph to LO. Daily logs must be turned in after every hunt.

In addition to all of that he tells us that him and his sons will hunt coyotes and pigs from our stands after season is over and we're not allowed to. He said his sons can't seem to be able to call a coyote in even with the help of a semi-pro from Stephenville, Matt somebody. Myself and another lease member have $35 coyote calls from bass pro and we're well over 50% on being able to call in a coyote or bobcat and they can't even do it year round?

They will also be hunting hogs with dogs after deer season is over, go ahead. The lease is 75% cedar trees and hogs don't stay for long do have at it.

These are just some sticking points for me. The major drawback to leaving is I won't be able to hunt with my grandfather again cause if he leaves he's done. And having a nice
cabin is great. So any advice would be great as to what you would do.

Thanks!

Of course you can talk to the LO but it sounds like time to shop for a new lease. Remember there will also probably be people standing in line waiting to sign those terms and maybe even offer more money after he puts it on the likes of Craigslist for similar.

Best of luck!

I hate to say it but I think I would tell them to get lost. I understand both sides of it but seems like he only wants people on there to benefit him, both by money and growing deer that sounds like he will be hunting anytime you are not there. I would say easiest thing to do put a good lock on all the stands and see what happens. And my thing, if hogs are such a bad thing, why would you have to pay a "trophy fee" on one. I dont consider any hog a trophy.

Time to pack it up and move on.

You should have kept the cabin.

He's trying to run y'all off. If it was me, I would pack my crap up this weekend.

X2

Had it been my call I would've and so would over half of the lease members but my grandfather is not a confrontational person.

I agree about hogs. I told him the term "trophy hog" was only invented to make money and to me, there's nothing trophy about a hog. I shot a big 200lb boar with nice cutters and a cool calico color but I dumped him. What am I going to do with it? Mount a big boar head on my wall? His cutter weren't that nice.

I agree that it is time to move on but I want to know if I'm being unreasonable here by being ticked about some of these terms.

Certainly you have a right and reason to be pissed. Most I know would be as well. Yeah it's a bit chickenstuff but it's a free market so the land owner can offer whatever terms and pricing they like.

Not at all, time to move on. Y'all had a good run.

Initially the price sounds reasonable, but with the landowner family hunting free sounds like there will be a lot more than your 8 hunters. And your expense for the requirement to do plots, fences, fertilizer, and protien for them to hunt over. Expense for any large hogs killed. Your only allowed one buck every other year and only one doe the other year. If it was a true management plan with a long term contract, maybe, but sounds to me like your being limited so family members can take a share of deer and feeding so they have a free baited stand to hunt over.

Hate to say it, but looks like this one has run it's course same as all leases do eventually. As for your grandfather. If he is not up to another lease, check with some of the outfitters on the forum for a hunt catered to him. I am sure it would be cheaper than that lease is going to be in the end and a whole lot less headache.

He will benefit from your money, time, and sweat. Time to move on.

So let me get this straight:

1.You pay 100% of feed bill (corn & protien year-round), and plant mandatory food-plot (your cost, seed & machines)
2.You have to record and document everything, including game-cam pics, and turn copies over to LO every hunt.
3.LO and family have overriding-priority on all game, all stands, any time all the time. (no guarantee they they won't shoot 100% of legal game leaving you NOTHING!)
4. YOU have to pay $750 a gun.

WOW - what's your phone #?
Sound like this LO is getting YOU to pay him to be HIS wildlife-manager.
Thats at least a 30K/yr job, plus you're paying ALL expenses, and you're paying HIM!
WOW - I've got some acres, and would LOVE for you to do this for me. PLEASE, PLEASE call me . . . .

Sounds like he's gettin yall to pay his year round hunting bill. Yall pay for food plots, protien and corn and he gets to hunt....
I would find another lease. Good luck

No doubt the land owner will probably find some group of hunters to do this for at least a year or two and then move on to the next suckers.

Your first mess up was giving the rights to the will over. So either deal with it, or move on, its a sad thing, but thats what happens.

Things cahnge. time to close one chapter and start a new one. The only thing attractive about that offer is price. One thing I can promise a fist fight will ensue once the LO, Family, and Friends start shooting the place out.

8 hunters, less than 500 acres and each get a buck and a doe.

Plus, he wants corn/protein fed and a survey?

Those two don't make sense. Not the least little bit. At 800 acres it was over hunted. It's now a slaughter house. There's no managing a situation like this. Then add on the fact that the family and their friends are going to be harvesting too. No way it will work.

Pack it up and move on. This LO sounds like an idiot armed with just enough knowledge to make him dangerous.

Another thing not really touched on is the game cam photos and log's. Why do you suppose the LO wants them? He wants them so he can give them to his friends so they have a better chance of finding something to shoot without having to scout the property.

What they offered you is a one heck of a deal for them. Give up the cabin, the no good lease, and get scootin'.

Time to move on. Sounds like with all the new rules and regulations he's just trying to run you off anyway without having to be an arse and just flat out telling you to get off.

Be gone...!

Its gonna be hard to leave but this guy is a jerk, i wouldnt play his game even if the lease is cheap!

That's a shame but it's time to move on... I just don't see your group ever coming to terms with the new LO with demands like that and you will always have tension in the air from here on out even if you did work out some common ground.

Like said , you had a good run . Now I would be hauling rear out of there . Good luck .

I wouldn't hunt there for free.