I want to know if the prices for deer leases this year seem to be increasing or remaining the same as last year?
What about the quality of the deer lease? Does that bring higher prices this year?
Is it tough to find a deer lease this year at any price?
What size of deer lease (acreage)is the most requested?
How many hunters are moving this year to find a better lease because of the quality of animals?
How many hunters are leaving a lease because of other members of the lease creating problems?

Put me down for that last one.

Problem hunting buddies I bet happens more often than not.

I got off because of people driving by my stands, dogs that only seem to appear during the season, timber company raising the lease price and making new rules that make it almost impossible to kill a buck and the kicker this season was clear cutting the area right across the lease road from my stands in December!!! My last day of season was December 17th due to my work schedule,(offshore), and they decided to clear cut the area from the 10th-17th!!!

I'm not planning to pay any more this year for my two leases. As far as the economy goes, I still think "play money" is in relatively short supply, so I'm not looking for a run on the higher priced leases. Smaller, less expensive leases that actually have decent hunting will still be in high demand and very difficult to find. For a desired acreage, 500 seems to be the magic number for some reason.
As to having problems with other hunters, it has only happened to me once and I made sure they left, not me.

Thanks for the comment

Supply vs demand IMO, more people are hunting these days.

Lots of variables in the OP. However, I have been hunting since '63 and I have never seen prices go down, regardless of the economy.

Price of lease has been same 4 yrs running. IMHO location and food supply are key # & size of deer. For example, West Cross Timbers has 100 deer per 1000 ac and East Cross Timbers has 10 deer per 1000 ac per the Texas Wildlife Dept. My lease is in West Cross Timbers and only 350 ac, but to get to the wheat fields the deer gotta move thru our lease. Add a new guy to the lease is a two way street.. If I don't get warm fuzzy about hunter fitting in that hunter will not get on lease. Gotta be easy going and forgiving to have a happy and enjoyable came.

Interesting comment

I know that's right.

agreed

Ours should be getting cheaper.

Who can afford to hunt in Texas where big deer live?

Yes and Yes. Its gotten extremely difficult and expensive. You almost need to watch the obituaries to get on somewhere.

Yes and Yes. Its gotten extremely difficult and expensive. You almost need to watch the obituaries to get on somewhere.

Leases are out of my price range anymore. Thank god every day that i have my small place in sulphur springs. Can walk to my stand in 10 min. Hunting isnt as good as it was before AR rules ang bag limits were inacted but still kill a few deer and hogs and the best part is its paid for.

^^^ Agree, even though I could probably afford a lease, just don't want to take the risk again of others on the lease not following rules and doing as they may when you're not there, especially when it comes to your blinds/feeders.

And I have another tract that I can hunt for free just to reduce the deer population in Dripping Springs - just happen to run across this fellow last spring. Super nice place and TONS of deer.

I have been looking for the past 2 years and still cant find one.

I lost my lease, so its public land this year and looking at out of state hunting.

Yeah I am doing my deer hunting up in Virginia where my dad manages land for a guy. Best thing about it is the land is surrounded by a battlefield and a national park and both do not allow hunting so the deer get pretty big.

I have decided to hunt close to home in NE TX this year due to rising gas prices, five plus hour drives down south, higher lease costs, and my lack of vacation availability to make the extra costs and work worth it for me. I have paid for a hill country lease and home area lease for the past 8 years. I have had great hunts at both but have to work a second job to support both expenses. I am getting older and feel if I devote my money and effort locally I can achieve the hunts that I enjoy with less money, travel time, and sweat equity. My two cents. I still go on paid hunts now with someone else doing all the work, I can just enjoy the hunt. I am planting summer plots, putting in water stations, protein feeders, and other management efforts now on my east texas lease due to the increase in time and money by not multi leasing. I love working on any lease just makes more sense to do it closer to home. btw hunt on 900 acres of a 4k acre tract of timber property.

True That Kamolaw!

It is damned hard to find a decent lease.
Despite having had problems with other hunters (that used to be overlooked but are now addressed with the new lease manager) and the fact that is is going up by 500 this year we are planning on renuing.

The upshot to the price going up is that there will be less hunters on the property which should make for less potential drama and overall a better experience.

No thats a new thread.