In the next year or two I want to buy some property north of lavon area within an hour or so to duck hunt on. question is should I buy bare ground and build a pond or way to hold water from scratch and hope the ducks show up or should I buy something with a pond on it already and make it better. I have any piece of equipment I would need to do the work that would only cost me diesel fuel so that is out of the equation.

Walter

Come on up to bohnom area I'd get land with some type of pond and go from there.

That is the area towards where I would be looking. I live in Copeville now so I would like to to be no farther than whitewright as that would be an easy drive for anything.

Walter

Walter I got some ducks you can kill this year to hold you over until you get a spot. As for what type of land to get, in a perfect world I would want something that already holds water and ducks. Then just improve on it to hold ducks longer.

I agree with this. I would only buy, or lease, a proven duck hole, where you know there are ducks, a hole with a track record of holding ducks. A lot more homework (and risk) would go into building your own duck hole.

If you can find property in an area that is known to hold ducks and have all the equipment to build marshes/ponds then I would do that. That way you can make them exactly the way you want them. Paying a couple thousand dollars for diesel when you already spent many times more than that on the property is not a risk in my book. Build it and they will come.

Thanks Ramball I am defiantly down to do that. I already own some property out in east Texas and we do have ducks there and a neighbor with a nice marsh we can hunt anytime. Problem is I want something that is within an hour so I can hunt the morning during the week then go to work. I have been leaning both ways with the land. Building something to hold water is not hard and I have the right equipment to do it. I am not looking to do it right this second but want to choose the right property and not just jump on something cause I want it.

Thanks for all the advice guys, keep it coming.

Walter

Thx for delivering blind today Walter. U are welcome to hunt w me from time to time- let u do the grunt work

Guess I need to change the combo. Lol.

Text me around teal season. I have 2 other places as well.

I would definitely get a place that hold ducks and improve it.

If I had the choice I would buy property in an area known for ducks. Not so much as in it already has water and holds birds but in the general vicinity.

I prefer to build my own holes. Put enough food in there and you will have birds.

Location location location

Bottom land is typically less expensive as well

No problem. And thank you for the business. You have a great place out there and I hope y'all love the blind. I'll take you up on the call. Thanks again
As for the combo one my memory is so great that I will forget by tomorrow. Lol two I am not the kind to enter someone's property without permission. It was hard enough for me to go through your gate and on the property without you there that is just how I was raised.

Walter

You know I was kidding. Look forward to hearing from u.

Hell, I have people in and out of there all the time. Change combo every month.

I may have some ideas to open up a few spring fed ponds I have. Building a levy w water control is pretty simple.

You will find a good piece of property when u are ready. Lands of texas is a pretty good site, in my opinion

Yeah I'm in no rush yet. My only concern for the property is duck hunting so I am looking for something relatively small like ten acres or so. That can mostly be turned into hunting land.

Walter

I got out of strictly duck hunting there at the wrong time... Seriously, I only duck up there for years and hit it in the middle. Looks like good times again. Drive around the area you want and see what is holding ducks first and then decide.

I got one place left to lease in Hg and one duck paradise for sale behind lake cooper in Wetland Reserve

will you send me a pm with some info please.

Walter

I would stay away from WRP. Very restrictive- unless you can buy for 50 cents on the dollar. Owner who created easement typically gets paid 800 acre for lifetime easement. Advantages- they do infrastructure. Disadvantages- need comparable use approval for any improvements, planting, mowing, manipulation, etc

X2, I have some friends that had some WRP's put on their place and they can't do anything to them. levees are busted out from when we had our bad drought and the water rose back up on the cracked levees and they won't do anything about it nor will the let my friends fix it without approval which from what I hear can be months to years.

How many ducks does that place hold? How much water? Do you know any of the hunting history?

It all depends on the people and relationships you have with those people at the local NRCS. I have had very bad luck working with the NRCS in delta county. Seem to have decent experiences with the one in Lamar county.

Yes can get things done w patience and sweet talk- w a CUA

Heard people doing all work and playing dumb- what are they going to do, take and away? Probably not.

They just have a process- I have actually had them overturn a rejection before- for a high powered well for flooding. They are mainly concerned about future issues or costs to them.

If you go WRP Route, make sure you have some land- even a few acres- more the better- outside WRP - makes it a lot easier for resale. Also, you Cannot build ANY structure on WRP- period

There are some unique properties available out there. Nice think is you don't have to plant, cut hay, or keep cattle on it for Ag