how much does farmland lease for crops in your area?
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What are your long term ambitions?
I originally focused on hunting, but for years I have wanted a simple life like farming and to get away from my crazy job.
The property swiftly evolved to a place of mental health refuge. Spending a day clearing brush, maintaining the trails, planting trees or just walking the dog is something far greater than just shooting a deer. It is worth a bottle of Prozac to go out there and do some real man-work for a day.
Because it is fairly close to home I have the option of other projects to make the land productive and used all year long.
Maple syrup late winter
Food plotting for deer spring summer fall
Food/veggie gardens spring summer fall
Free range chickens summer fall
Fire wood cut fall and winter
A quiet place to hike for peace and exercise all year
Expand your ambitions and the land will have value for you all year long
I picked up some land last year after years of hunting other peoples properties and crown. I can say its been an amazing experience.
I've come to learn so much more about deer, bear and other animals in the process in an effort to improve the land. If you can afford it, I say 100% own. As for trespassers, nothing yet but it's pretty secluded and not the most obvious access. I did put a trail cam right at the entrance just in case, high up so if someone does come by i will have a pic.
Like Johny said, it has actually become something other than a hunting property. Being able to go somewhere somewhat off the grid and just breath in the fresh air and disconnect for a day or two has been a pleasant surprise.
Lots of work but still an amazing experience so far.
Bep
Some farms in north Oxford $350.00 per ac. For rent. I've personally witnessed a deal go down for 425. Crazy. 75 ac Farm sold across the Rd from me last spring for 27500$ per ac.
Some of the responses are interesting. It all comes down to what you want for a "hunting property".
Buying farmland in SW Ont? Probably a non-starter.
Buying a chunk of bush a little closer to Gods country? Definitely do-able.
I've bought and sold 7 bush lot properties since 2000. Many of which were further North, in unorganized townships. Typically bought a chunk of bush with decent access to larger Crown parcels, built a cabin or two on the property, and sold them for a fair bit more than I had in sunk costs. Over the process, I've learned about the varying topography across this great province. Learned about the different habits of game animals, and thoroughly enjoyed the entire process.
Now owning a permanent cottage in a corner of the province that many folks don't think about, which is close to a ton of Crown, my next step is to start buying acreages, and start making them more "huntable".
Hunting land has it benefits for sure. It can also become a lot of work as well, depending on land use. I wished I spent as much time hunting as I did working at mine the last few years...
Own if you can.
I was extraordinarily lucky to be born into a family with a hunt camp and large piece of land to call our own. Even if we lose access to some of our neighboring properties, we still own enough to keep my entire extended family hunting. The camp means more to me then lumber, dirt, and trees, its the memories and experiences I have grown up with, and am now raising my family with.
We have deer, bears, moose, rabbits, grouse and ducks, with the odd turkey starting to appear. I coudnt be happier. My wife can run her dog after birds days on end and not have to deal with anyone else. I can sit on a deer watch and not have to worry about somebody bumbling his way through in front of me.
I was very fortunate to be able to buy a 100 acre hobby farm before I retired and was able to not only Hobby farm it, but the property is also excellent for recreational use. It has a large hunk of bush and an abundance of wildlife. I was able to built a nice shooting range on an old hay field and pursue my hunting activities in my own 'back 40'. The vast majority of deer I have shot over the past 20 yrs have been from a stand less than a ½ mile from my kitchen door.
So yes living and hunting on the land you own is, as my buddy says, “living the dream” . :)
After reading thru the posts here I've seen a couple things you should think about:
I noticed that a lot of the encouraging comments I read here are from older guys who obviously have the time and money to enjoy owning a hunk of land dedicated for recreation use. My experience at the hunt camp is that most of the <45 crowd don’t have a lot of time or money. Few can even get off work to hunt for a full week let alone commit their weekends and holidays to develop ‘Gods Little Acre’.
It’s seems to be owning land for recreational pursuits is more inclined for those ‘later in life’ dreams unless you are lucky enough to ride on the coattails of family and friends when your young.
I also have to say, once you have owned a property for a while and you get to know the pulse of the land, it doesn't take long before you figure out where and when to hunt and the hunting becomes less difficult and success rates each year become easier to achieve. What that means is that hunting can be a fleeting moment, often taking only a single day to fill your tag. Both my ML deer and spring turkey seasons were over in less than an hour this year.
With that said, it might be hard to substantiate a financial commitment to own a piece of property, that you may only actually hunt on 1-2 days a year. Like owning a $20K boat or RV that you only use 3-4 times a year.
It might well be it would make far better sense to hunt crown land or get permission to hunt on someone’s property until you have the time and money to be able to do enjoy your own recreational property.