DUCK HUNTING LAND FOR SALE – How to find the right property.

When you start looking to invest in duck hunting land for sale, what are some of the key property features you should focus on to create that prime waterfowl club?  Ducks are creatures of habit AND habitat!  American Land Company has put together the following tips & questions to ask when searching for your next waterfowl property.

1.  Water. This key ingredient is critical in most areas for successful duck hunting.  Ducks like water.  And you need to either have the ability to provide them with that water, or have some permanent water source on your land:  i.e. a river, stream, lake etc.  Most duck clubs get their water via pumping, either through a well or from a re-lift, or camelback pump.  If the land for sale that you’re considering doesn’t already have the means to get water, then you’ll need to budget for additional capital expenditures such as drilling a well & installing a submersible pump; or purchasing a pto driven pump and either a tractor or power unit to run it.  Either scenario will most likely run well into the tens of thousands of dollars.

2.  Food. This is another obvious, yet critical ingredient for great duck hunting clubs.  Most waterfowl hot spots already have food, because they’re either a working farm (or have well established food plots) or they’re a wetland / marsh.  If this is a working farm, then who’s going to farm it?  If the answer is NOT you, then you’ll need to talk to several farmers and figure out a way to rent it so that the farmer can make some money, and you can have some food left for the ducks.  Make sure you get a signed lease if you’re renting the farming out to someone! I can tell you from experience, ducks LOVE corn and rice.  If the property is a wetland or marsh, then you can get with your local NRCS agent to help give you guidance on how to properly manage your wetland.  They’re experts at this and they’re there to assist you.

3.  Rest. This is a feature that is often times overlooked, yet is very critical to good duck hunting.  All waterfowl need a time and place to rest.  Take a cue from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s and the Missouri Department of Conservation’s waterfowl management practices, they both stop hunting at around noon on the majority of their respective public hunting areas.  Yet these public hunting lands continue to offer some of the best duck hunting in the United States year in and year out, despite the fact that they’re also some of the hardest hunted.  Why?  Because they have rest areas, they stop hunting at mid day and they provide cover.  As hard as this is for a lot of land owners to actually implement, it’s a must if you want to have consistently good duck club.

4.  Cover. Waterfowl like to “feel” safe, and cover allows them that “feeling”.  Examples of good duck cover are:  standing corn or any uncut crop, uncut grass, cattails, willows, trees and brush, levees for wind breaks, etc.  Cover can be harsh and impenetrable, like thick woods or a cattail marsh, or benign, like a levee for a wind break.  But the bottom line here is, if you give the ducks some type of cover, they’re much more likely to use your property.

5.  Pressure. Does the area get hunted heavily?  Either from other hunting properties or public hunting areas?  Regardless, this can be a catch 22 if the area receives a lot of hunting pressure.  On the one hand, if it does get hunted heavily, there’s a reason:  there’s a lot birds that use that area.  That means this area is “IN THE FLYWAY”.  That’s good!  But on the other hand, that also means that you’re going to be facing pressured birds, which makes for some challenging hunts.  As for me, I would rather the area be full of hunting clubs, because I know the ducks will be there when fall arrives.

6.  Size. This one is really up to you to decide, but obviously, the larger your property is, the harder, and more costly it will be to maintain.  Think about who will be doing most of the leg work and how much help you can count on.  I can assure you, properly maintaining and managing any hunting property, but especially a waterfowl hunting club, is A LOT OF BACK BREAKING WORK!  So don’t bite off more than you can handle.

7.  Capital Improvements. Are there levees already constructed?  Are they in good shape?  What about pipes and gates?  Does the property come with equipment like tractors, pumps, boats, atv’s?  How about blinds?  These must all be considered when purchasing a potential duck hunting property.  Remember, this is a labor intensive investment.

9.  Utilities & Lodging. Does the property have electricity?  What about water, either from a rural water supply or well?  If it’s from a well you might consider getting it tested for water quality?  Does the property have a place for lodging or to put a camper?  How far are the nearest hotels?  Again, these are important considerations.  The last thing you’re going to want to do is drive an hour to a motel after working all day in the heat and water with the snakes and mosquitoes.  If lodging isn’t present on the property, maybe there’s an old farm house nearby that you could rent?  Or maybe there’s a farmer close by with water and electric that will let you hook up a camper?

One thing to be careful of is the “build it and they will come” theory.  I’m not saying it’s not possible with ducks, because it is—I’ve done it.  But, if you’re going to go that route then make sure the property in question is in a flyway and has some sort of access to water.  Those 2 are a must!

Another possibility is to rent before you buy.  See if you can lease the land in question for a season with the option of purchasing?  If even you have to pay a premium price for the lease, that’s a lot cheaper than finding out you’ve invested in a ‘ duck hunting club ‘ that the ducks won’t come to!  And don’t be afraid to ask around – local diners, farmer’s co-op’s, tractor dealerships, sporting goods stores – all of these places can be a wealth of local knowledge.

If you’ve gone through you’re check list and everything pans out okay, then it’s time to pull the trigger (pun intended).  Developing and maintaining your own duck hunting property is a very satisfying endeavor.  It’s also a lot of work, and it takes a lot of money.  But then, as my Dad is so fond of saying……”we’re making memories”!

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The Texas countryside really has it all—beautiful rolling hills and wide open spaces, as well as beautiful creeks and lakes. It is no wonder, then, why so many people would want to snap up a Texas farm and ranch for private use, or to use as an investment. These days, Texas Hill country ranches for sale are among the most desirable. These properties can be used for cattle ranches, dude ranches or great hunting properties. Many of them have all the important factors necessary to maintain and grow healthy animals, which include permanent water sources, thick brush for eating and areas for habitat or sanctuary. Among the most desirable are ranches with “live water,” such as rivers or creeks. Not only do these waters make perfect drinking spots for animals in the area, but they also can be great for swimming, fishing and other outdoor activities. Due to the scarcity of live water properties, they are among the most prized, tending to hold their value best of all. A Texas farm and ranch can be the kind of investment that you can make a lot of money on just by reselling it, or you can start a business on the property that will be a separate source of income in addition to the land. Some great examples of lucrative Texas land uses are cattle ranching, hunting and dude ranches. If you have a ranch with a permanent water source and lots of mature browse, turning it into a hunting ranch can be a great idea for income, with minimal effort involved. Live water ranches can make great dude ranches, as horses will have places to drink and guests would be able to swim and fish, too. If you are looking for a cattle ranching property, lots of acres with rolling hills can be the ideal setting. No matter what your preferences, whether you’re looking for a Texas horse ranch for sale or something a little bit different, there are a variety of properties available that will fit the bill of any investor or outdoorsman.

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Texas ranch property can be a great investment. Land in Texas can be very inexpensive, but also beautiful and valuable. Whether you are thinking of buying for personal use, starting a business or just buying to hold onto for a while, there are a lot of options available with Texas land. Just imagine the things that you could do with ranch land for sale in Texas. You could make a huge, gorgeous family compound for your children, grandchildren and extended family to visit. Build a sprawling house to accommodate everyone you love, and get tons of land for the youngsters to roam around and have fun on. If you want to make the property into a business, considering opening a dude ranch or marketing the property as a desired hunting spot. If you have mature trees and lots of dense foliage on your property, it could be perfect for hunting deer and game. These are the elements that make land perfect for larger animals—the presence of food and sheltered spots. A dude ranch can also be a great investment, because you can have people come to your land over and over again for recreation. Horses don’t need a whole lot in terms of resource-related accommodations, either. All you need on your land is a clean drinking water source and some grass for them to munch on. Properties in the hills are ideal for this kind of business. Some of the most lucrative properties are those with “live” or running water sources. A creek or river can be ideal for fishing and water sports such as swimming and jet skiing. You can stock the creek with fish and charge a fee for admission, or simply while the day away with your kin, enjoying the private fishing spot for yourself. In addition, you can get tax breaks if you exchange land. If you’re seriously considering Texas ranch property, talk with your real estate agent or associate to find out more about 1031 exchange requirements.

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Early season elk hunting methods and tips from a professional guide and outfitter.

Spot and Stalk

Spot and stalk is a very common method used by many elk hunters.  Spot and stalk is where the hunters glass areas for elk, and then come up with a plan to stalk the elk.  After deciding what to do the hunters slowly creep with in range of the elk for a shot.  Elk hunting guides should know the area, terrain where the elk are moving.

Waiting on trails between bedding and feeding areas

Elk feed at night and head to their bedding area about mid-morning.  They also get up from their bedding area and start working towards feeding and watering areas in the later afternoon.  A good tactic to use is waiting on the trails that lead between these bedding and feeding/watering areas. Make sure your guides have been scouting year round and know where the elk are feeding and bedding.

Sitting over a feeding area or water source

Sitting over a meadow where the elk have been feeding or a water source they have been using can be very effective.  Especially on a hot day, a well used water source such as a pond can be a great place to bag that trophy bull Elk. A scouting camera come in handy to pattern the elk.   Hunting from a tree stand in these areas can also be very effective.

Harvesting

After harvesting an elk, it is important to get the meat out of the heat and on some ice immediately.  Take your photos and then get you elk on ice and out of the heat in record time.

Health

In hot weather hunting conditions, it is important to take care of yourself.  If you are hiking, you are losing sweat and nutrients.  Make sure you bring as much water as you can carry and make sure you are not too far away from another possible source of water where you can refill.  Bring along snacks to replace nutrients such as powerbars, etc.  Wear light clothing that wicks the sweat away from your body and make sure to put the safety of the hunt before anything else.

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Understanding a bit about the animal a hunter is seeking is essential to any trip. Knowing the behavior of Canada geese will greatly increase a hunter’s chances of going home with a few bagged birds. When planning your next hunting trip, keep the following points in mind:

• Find the Food. Canada geese are large birds that need a lot of food and water. They often make frequent stops where there is plenty of food and clean water available. The geese will not tolerate swampy, sludge filled water, so they often fly farther than usual to find a clean water source.

• Look for the Flock. Canada geese usually fly in large groups, though sometimes a breeding pair will split off. During migration is when the larger flocks are found, which can have thousands of birds. Be weary of hunting flocks though, often there are many other types of birds mixed throughout the group, so know what you are shooting at.

• Look for Habits. Geese will often stay in the same general area with a stable food source for many days. They usually go in three or four day cycles, eating at one spot for a number of days and then going to another nearby, then eventually back to the first spot. A hunter can capitalize on this habit of the geese and predict their next stop. Be aware though that the geese will become weary of the decoys, and if they come to associate danger with a particular spot, they’ll avoid it all together. Also, the geese prefer to stay closer to large bodies of water on overcast days, and will venture farther in warmer weather.

• Watch the Calls. Canada geese have very sophisticated calls which guides have mastered. Trying to call Canada geese could wind up with the geese steering far clear of you. There are separate calls for danger, feeding, and returning to water.

• Know the Area. Scout your potential hunting spot before you start the hunt. Look for natural areas the geese will be drawn to, and look for signs that they’ve already been there, including areas they’ve bedded down for the night. A large flock of geese will leave a lot of debris and waste on both the ground and in the water.

• Chat Up. Talk to people that are familiar with the area, both hunters and not. People don’t often miss a large flock of geese, and the birds leave so much waste behind, most people will probably be glad to point you in the right direction.

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