This is my first year on a lease in Runnels County. A couple of guys(I know one of them) leased one property and the LO had the property right next to it open up. They had room for 7 hunters so me and my 4 brothers took 5 of the spots. The guy I know who had leased from the LO for the past couple of years posted the rules which included harvesting all legal game animals (the ranch has WT deer, hogs, dove, ducks, quail and plenty of varmints). The rules also stated that we could hunt the extended doe/spike season. No guests outside of family and hunting dogs only when bird hunting. Of course, we don't have anything in writing from the LO - only what one member has put in writing from conversations with the LO.

During dove season the LO came by the dove field we were hunting and told me that no dogs were allowed on the property. I calmly told him that I was told different by the one member who knows him best and that I would not have gotten on the lease without my dog. He then backed off and said just keep him away from the cattle and don't let him run the fields alone. About the 2nd week into the deer season he told us that there would be no extended doe/spike season. Two weeks ago he told us that there would be no quail hunting. Two days ago he told us that the main road running through the first pasture could not be used to access the second pasture (we would have to leave the ranch, drive into town and then take a different county road to access the other pasture - a total of 20-25 miles round trip).

I'm concerned that it's only going to continue to change if we sign up for a second year. We see plenty of deer (no monsters), lots of dove/quail/ducks - but I'm getting worried about the continual changes. Any thoughts besides get everything in writing? Thanks, guys.

Get things on paper or leave the lease. I would be concerned that it will continue to go downhill unless you have things in writing.

Sounds like you and everyone else on the lease need to have a sit down with the LO.. This time get everything in writing. If they will not put everything in writing so its clear to all parties i would walk.. Sounds like they are changing the rules of the game so to speak after the fact.

Time to bail out! Sounds like he is trying to run you guys off!

Getting it in writing is your ONLY choice, along with all the particulars, including signatures from all the parties involved (LO, plus lease members). Otherwise, however the landowner feels on a given day will be the rule for the day. He owns the land, so he can make the rules and change them as he pleases if no written agreement is in place. Your word against his and he owns the land so only his word counts, lol. In a perfect world, a mans word would be good enough but you really don't know 100% what was said between the LO and the one lease member who supposedly had a conversation with the LO.

if its starting to smell rotten, it may be dead!

That land owner sounds kinda like I was when I owned my own property,I did not really want to lease it and after I made up all my rules I decided that no one in their right mind would lease from me, so I never did lease it. ONLY difference IS this guy leased his property and then started making up the lease rules. Your best option is to Talk with the land owner and see if you can agree on rules that will make both parties happy, if not move on down the road.

Say the guys get something in writing from the owner.

Chances are, this guy will keep changing the rules.

If it's in writing, and the rules get changed - your only recourse is legal action.

I can't imagine that it would be worth it to pay a couple grand to retain an attorney.

Sounds like this could get frustrating.

~ jds

bad deal

bad deal

At this point you know the LO's thoughts and opinions on things that are important to you, like the dog and late season hunting etc...
How far do you think he will bend when trying to get things in writing? Even if things get worked out, seems like it could get worse over time. It's worth talking to the LO, but I wouldn't hold much hope out...
Good Luck.

Be thankful ya have place ta hunt as leasie u have options too. used to hunt leases till got out priced. Was told, throwing money away bye credit adviser, yet lots of good memmories. On leases the Buck stops with U Best Wishes

Thanks for all the input. I'm leaning toward getting off the lease. I just bought land in east Texas that i can hunt, but it's not big enough for all the brothers to hunt. I like being on a lease with my brothers - it's good fun, story telling and lots of laughter - that's my only hesitation at this time.

Well then get off the lease and find another one that might suit your and your brothers better..not all landowners will be like the one you describe.

It's a shame that these days everything has to be in writing.That being said, I would never lease out or lease anything without a written contract. It's the only way to know what your getting, what is to be expected and to protect you as well as the land owner.

Draw up a lease contract direct with the owner. Done deal. He likely has reasons for all the things he's doing. Talk thru them, develop a relationship with him, and you could have a real good experience.

Get things in writing....

Otherwise... it sounds like the Jersey Shore... Drama drama drama which I don't want to read about.

Amen.

My brother just got off the phone with the member who has the closest relationship with the LO. He says they have tried to get something in writing in past, but the LO has refused. My mind is pretty much made up. Thanks for the input.

Totally understand this, why not get your brothers together and all buy land. If one doesn't have cash money up front maybe get the others to put up money and have the one without the cash make the first 16 payments or whatever...work it out with your family-but get it in writing too. It'll be worth it

I'll never do a gentlemans agreement again. Youre just setting yourself up to be screwed.

Time to move on. He's trying to run you off.

Update: I got a call from the lease member who invited me on this lease and he told me the landowner would not be leasing to us next year (so much for a 5 year "gentlemen's handshake agreement") - Lesson learned. I did ask him why he was cancelling our lease and he told me the landowner stated that we didn't understand that he was running a cattle ranch (30 head on 1100 acres) because we were at the lease too much and brought too many kids. When we agreed to lease his place we told him if we lease a place we are there a lot during hunting season and we absolutely wanted our kids at the lease with us - he told us kids were no problem and that they could work the cattle around when we were there. He also said that we drove the property too much (checking feeders, putting up fences around feeders, etc) and scared all the deer away?! Finally, he said that we weren't friendly enough to him (in total we saw him three times since May). He said one time when we were skinning a deer, no one stopped to talk to him (when in fact, we stopped said hello, continued skinning a doe and then showed him the nice buck that my niece had shot. After we skinned the deer, we small talked, offered him something to drink and then he left. Other times we helped him fix the plumbing in the ranch house and helped him empty trailers full of fencing.

So, I'm not exactly sure what we could have done differently (besides get everything in writing). I just wanted to let you all know how things turned out. I appreciate your earlier input.

Sounds like a bit of a crank but it's his land. I bet there will be folks waiting in line with money if he decides to lease it again.

He wanted the lease money but hated having other people on his land. Hard to have your cake and eat it too.