I quit leasing in 2011 for the same reasons. I've gone to high quality package hunts on a real big ranch. I have a great time, take great animals, and it doesn't really cost anymore than a year round lease.

Some of my favorite parts of hunting is the prep work, setting up feeders and blinds, trying pattern deer, trail cam Pics, all that hard work in the spring and summer makes it so much sweeter when you pull the trigger on a nice buck. I couldn't imagine feeling the same way about just paying to go shoot a deer.

That's why I bought my ranch nearly 20 years ago. I have never looked back and my investment has quadrupled in value.

I joined with a group of guys on a lease in West Texas 8 yrs ago. After 2 yrs was the guy who dealt with the LO. Now only have 3 Gun Slots thru attrition. Have a short list of do and dont's. Can't imagine trying to "please" all the members of a big group. Be like trying to herd a passel of cats.

plastic plated are not that disposable, make a heck of a stink

and, I just got off my lease, kept my feeder full for two years, last yr new guy comes out by invitation and shoots one under MY feeder.

When I leased in Texas, hunting was not my top priority. I spent more time hunting arrowheads than I did animals.

The guy was invited right? I'm not sure what the problem is. Did he shoot something he wasn't supposed to?

Our old lease rules worked great. No invite hunting, you could bring your kids, wife, or girlfriend as a non hunting guest and that was it no buddies no extra marital girlfriends. No fire outside of the wood stove or bbq pit, everyone had their own stand you wanted to hunt someone else's you asked them, you could shoot what the law allowed on your tags.

Exactly!

I don't mind prep work, 'cept if there's a young man just standing around that's about as useful as teets on a boar hog. The kind that actively tries to get out of any kind of work.

To each their own.

For me, I need more land to hunt and roam around on than my wife would ever agree to buying!

I've learned over the years most problems occur when rules and expectations aren't black and white from the beginning of the lease agreement.

It is very difficult to assemble a group of people and everybody get along all the time. I've learned through the years that some people that have the money for a spot your best saying no to recognizing they would not fit in well with the rest of the group. I'm a lease organizer on our lease. I've found things go smoothly if you don't try to order grown men around and treat them with the same respect you want them to give you. I like to give each member their own space. If you want your own camp fire for your wife and family or have time to yourself that's cool. If you want to come join me at mine, come on over.

I do enjoy the time spent with friends and lease members at camp.

Guys should be working on their marriage instead of deer hunting

Go though a outfitter for a weekend someone that guarantee's a opportunity check out www.Hardknocksoutdoors.net you will see anywhere from 15-30 deer a sit. Great lodging and accommodations We are very easy it the client hunt so they pick the style of hunt.

Seems to me the more hunters you have the more problems. Was on a lease for 5 years that carried 12 hunters I think and in that 5 years one guy was kicked off. There should have been 2 more to go but the fellow in charge would not do it. The problem was the lease manager as much as anyone else.

We finally bought some land to hunt on, and now we live on it. The hunting is pretty good. Lots of work to do, and just me to do it, but that's Ok for now, since I'm not too old to do it.

I was on a bunch of leases over the years. Some good ones and some bad ones. One good thing developed, in that when I went looking for an old travel trailer for the first of many leases, I took the wife. She, not I, picked the old Airstream we bought. She decorated it, loved it, and became a lease regular, though never a hunter. Lots of great memories, so I'm very glad she loved (loves) camping.

Over the years, I was on 5 or 6 leases. Only one was a real good lease. But owning our own place, we now have better deer than I ever saw on a lease, and my favorite elevated stand is just a couple hundred yards from the house.

I bought my small 133 acre place South of Bowie about 30 or so years ago. I think I paid $400 per acre. Glad I did and it's paid for. Have a trailer house, well, shades for tractor, shipping container to slow the 4 wheeler thieves down and other stuff. Had to have a road cut through it. About 10 years ago, had a 1.5 acre pond dug and stocked it with bass/bluegills. Over time, various friends/family have hunted. Now, only my 18 year old Grandson and his 19 year old buddy ever hunt with me. They're both good kids and have hunted with me since they were about 5 or 6 years old. They sometimes go there on weekends when we aren't around. I tell them no more than 2 beers each and they adhere to that. Both took 135 class 8 points last year and I was more excited than they were; if that's possible. Occasionally, one of them will bring a girl friend but that's OK. I've had a couple of teens that aren't welcome back due to attitude problems. I get help with feeders and that's a plus. I haven't had to gut or skin a deer in 5+ years when they are around.

It's also our weekend getaway place and usually our vacation spot. Gotta admit, during July and August I don't go there very much.

Way cool. That is awesome! Congrats. Love that story

I have been a lease manager for a number of years now. The biggest headache I have had is chasing down the money to get the lease paid on time. You are going to get an occasional a**hole that will have to be dealt with. I make all my members sign off that they have read, understand, and will abide by the rules. I will get someone new that wants to put in a new rule and I will tell him that we already have rules, thank you, and if your rule is something you really think needs to be in place then I ask them to move along...I don't want someone bitching all year long about something they think should be in place but isn't. I also give a deadline now for when money is due- one day late and they get a letter asking when they will coming go get their stuff because they have forfeited the lease membership due to being late with lease money. All you have to do is that one time and the other lease members know you mean business. As a lease manager I hate to be an a**hole, but sometimes my job calls for it. As far as leasing vs. going on paid hunts, I couldn't afford to go on as many paid hunts as I go to the lease. Of course it helps that of the two leases I hunt the farthest is only 35 minutes from where I live.

Like several others here I have been a lease boss for ten years on a large LF ranch. Has been one of the most awesome things I have had the privilege to be a part of. We start with land owners who are straight up good people and serious about management and growing big deer. Even though it is much work, for me it is enjoyable. I spend a lot of time up front screening before any new member joins us. We base everything off of respecting each other. If a member has a suggestion I will listen - sometimes the idea is implemented and sometimes not.

Our number one rule is no drama. Everyone signs the rules which are very clear and straight forward, common sense rules. I do not fudge on the rules and follow them just like everyone else. I pay exactly the same as the other hunters pay. We limit the number of guest - money is paid on time - in ten years I have never been a day late on our payment to the ranch owner. We treat the ranch as though it was our own which means we pick up trash, close gates, etc.

Guess we are in the minority but we have 12 hunters who get along great, help each other out when needed, and are just all around good folks and have a fun camp with serious hunters. Not to mention we get to see and harvest some awesome deer. I would not trade it.

Yep - this

Ah, a true gentleman. What finishing school did you attend?

at all

Speaking as a non-resident here, who visits but doesn't have the advantage of their own lease down there. My partner and I are invited every time we can make it down. Mostly about every other year. The wives are all good friends, but take that opportunity to go to Houston to plays, shows, and shopping! You guys with good leases and well-meaning members have a treasure. We certainly appreciate what all goes into making a good one work.

We are friends with everyone on it. Have watched kids and grandkids develop into men there. We buy at least a ton of corn when we visit and gladly fill feeders, move or develop stands, clean the owl poop in the elevated boxes, and spray the hornets, etc. We figure its our due to buy the groceries and do the cooking when we are there. I haven't shot a deer for 6 years, but gladly sit in the blind with my friend and take video and enjoy his success when he gets one. We have offered to split the cost of a membership but no one on the lease will hear of it.

Every one of them has been welcomed to Idaho to hunt elk and deer, and stay in our home. Many have taken advantage of the offer and it has been great. Say what you will about hunting a week for trophies every year, instead of leasing, but the comraderie and friendship on a good lease is something special.

God bless Texas.

Definitely understand that. I am on a lease but not a camp. I go to my lake house in the evening and come back in the morning. so does everyone else. I will eventually get my own place but no rush at this point. The men and women I hunt with are fine Christian people and that goes a long way with me, especially when I am there with my young son. I don't have to worry about a bunch of drunks tearing up the place and cursing around my boy when we meet up.