*Update about: 1/1/2012- Michigan’s RDAT Teams to help Michigan Deer Managment…  http://deer.fw.msu.edu/management/management_plan.php/  &   http://deer.fw.msu.edu/involved/slteam.php/   &   http://deer.fw.msu.edu/management/   @ bottom.

The response to this article has been overwhelmingly supportive because this is a hard-hitting echo of how so many folks in Michigan feel.  You’ll see more at bottom but what needs to happen: You need a PETITION for a ONE BUCK KILL in Michigan AND a Gun Season opener of 1-2 weeks later, say December 1st for example.  PETITION & contact with your Legislatures on this.  Here you go!!….

MICHIGAN’S DNR DEER MANAGER- TIME FOR A CHANGE!       By Skip Sligh

This writing is blunt, honest and truthful.  This will not be taken well by the DNR Deer Managers of Michigan as well as those who are fine with the status quo of Michigan Deer  Hunting.  My intent is not to offend anyone about how I describe Michigan’s Deer Management and hunting BUT rather to speak from the heart and let POLITICAL CORRECTNESS go out the window!

My name is Skip Sligh, I live in Iowa and own/manage Farms in Iowa that are great places to spend my time outdoors or in a treestand for endless reasons.  I grew up hunting in Michigan- I’ve spent many years hunting there in all parts of the state.  I have countless friends that deer hunt Michigan.  I have extensive hunting, management, farm, biological and whitetail knowledge & experience.  I am not looking for any recognition.  I have nothing to gain with this article; no money, no better hunting- I just care about the state I grew up in.

To everyone in our state of Iowa and all of your neighboring states (Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, etc, etc); Michigan Deer Hunting and Management is a JOKE.  Michigan Deer Hunting and Management is shameful, appalling and ridiculous.  The DNR Deer Managers should have been FIRED years ago!  There is not one element of the deer hunting opportunity that any state would want to mimic.  There is no other state in the Midwest that is managed more poorly and I believe the DNR would be hard pressed to make it any worse.

The question many ask from neighboring states is “How do you all accept the job the DNR Deer Managers are doing without throwing them out?”.  These DNR Deer Managers are YOUR EMPLOYEES making the decisions about your state’s deer herd.  These folks are paid by your taxes and should be thrown out from your up rise!

TOP Reasons Michigan is the WORST managed state for Deer Hunting:

·        You have the worst age structure for bucks of any state.  Folks from other states laugh (and feel sorry for you) that your buck kill is comprised of a vast majority 1&1/2 old bucks.  The likelihood of seeing a mature buck is like winning the lottery!  Are there actually folks there that don’t realize all of your neighboring states have a great supply of older bucks and far greater age structure?  *See DNR and/or QDMA data on age structure harvest in MI.

·        Your Buck to Doe ratio is terrible in most areas and the DNR can’t get folks to doe hunt and better “MANAGE” the state.  Why would they?  What are you managing it for?  A better quality 1&1/2 year old buck herd?  Will it turn Michigan’s 4 pointers into 6 pointers?  No one wants to contribute to a losing cause and no one has any passion for Michigan’s CURRENT & ridiculous deer herd.

·        Michigan’s gun hunting is in the peak of the rut!  Why wouldn’t you mimic other states like Iowa, Kansas or Ohio with the December gun season?  At least for the Lower Peninsula.

·        Any guy can go out and shoot 2 bucks in a season.  Why wouldn’t you (at least temporarily) move to a 1 buck rule and allow a hunter to harvest more does?  Michigan has one of the highest hunter densities and still chooses to allow 2 bucks, what a joke.   *This article is not geared toward the new young hunter who is trying to get his 1st deer – this is directed toward the average hunter & average situation in MI.

·        Michigan ignores & resists infinite ideas & laws to improve the deer quality. BUT chooses to adopt a new law like allowing Crossbows which will further degrade the hunting.  Of any proposal out there, they pick the one that makes the hunting worse.  Yes, it’s debatable BUT out of all the possible laws out there- they didn’t go with one to greatly enhance management.

·        The folks who represent the Status Quo failed management practice silence the opposition.  Folks, you are far greater in number than the DNR and the “Super Old Schoolers” would like you to believe.  There are a large and growing number of you that want to change the state.  I believe you are actually in the majority but made to believe you are not.  You need to realize there’s far more of you than the DNR would lead you to believe.  The Status Quo folks would also love for you to believe this issue is a lost cause.

·        The serious hunters are leaving the state in droves to hunt neighboring states while very few folks travel to Michigan for quality hunting.  In other states they have to limit how many Non-Residents come to hunt.  Michigan couldn’t pay hunters from other states to come there for a quality hunt.

·        Bow hunters get very few days of good bow hunting.  The 1^st part of November is really the only decent part of the Michigan season.  Most years the weather eliminates several of those key days (too warm or rains).  With a December gun season, bow hunters will have a solid month of great hunting.

·        Michigan hunters have far less a voice on how their DNR (their EMPLOYEES) manage the deer herd VS. the far more powerful & influential insurance industry.  Who should be making the majority of decisions and who should the DNR be listening to?  Its employer- YOU, the hunters and residents of this state OR the Insurance industry who doesn’t care about hunting, environment, herd quality, etc?  The insurance companies only care about the bottom $.

·        Michigan tax payers accept and tolerate an inept, ineffective and irresponsible Governmental Department.  The DNR is failing you and many other states would never tolerate this & demand change.  Why aren’t you demanding change?  You need to organize, speak out and demand change or your state will continue to be run by an incompetent DNR and your hunting will continue to be a complete joke.

TYPICAL MICHIGAN DEER HARVEST:

TYPICAL DEER HARVESTS & SUCCESSFUL HARVESTS (mounts in this example) OF NEIGHBORING STATES:

2004 Ratio of Pope and Young bucks per licensed hunter

• Kansas         1 in 149
• Iowa             1 in197
• Illinois         1 in 297
• Wisconsin   1 in 493
• Missouri      1 in 694
• Indiana       1 in 763
• Michigan    1 in 5166

Questions to ask:

·        How many more years will you tolerate your tax paid DNR Deer Managers managing the state in the poorest fashion imaginable?  I would have to get creative to think of laws and regulations to make the state any worse.

·        Why is the state not adopting ANY laws and regulations to drastically improve the hunting?  Likely, no one has any courage to stir the waters and ruffle any feathers.  You folks need a NEW LEADER with COURAGE and vision!

·        Who brags about Michigan’s hunting?  I cannot recall anyone EVER bragging about how great the state is.  I don’t know ANYONE who doesn’t complain about how bad it really is.  Even folks who defend the status quo complain about how bad the hunting is.

·        Do folks who haven’t been to other states realize they have the worst hunting in the country in their home-state?  Maybe it’s like folks who are content skiing in Michigan because they’ve never been to Colorado or Utah.  Unfortunately, most folks know what a joke the state is.  Fortunately, you could transform Michigan hunting unlike changing the skiing.  There’s a large number of folks who haven’t experienced what a”well balanced and well managed” state can be like to hunt- maybe that’s a good thing since it would keep a lot of folks from even bothering to hunt MI after experiencing what good hunting is like.

·        Why won’t people change?  In varieties of cases- most feel they can’t change anything without a high-level DNR mandate.  They are correct- very little will change without the DNR getting their heads out of the sand.  The only hope for the state is to fire the DNR Deer Managers and get someone in there to take the reigns of revolution and change!  The state needs a total make-over of laws and regulations from real leadership.  Thankfully the younger generation of hunters is actually starting to fight for these issues!

·        Why are the numbers of Co-op’s, trying to create far better deer hunting, growing in numbers?  They are popping up everywhere so they can take management into their “own hands”.  (Co-ops are groups of hunters and landowners getting together to make their own standards, rules, goals and regulations to manage a specific area).   They know the DNR is an utter failure.  Co-ops will improve certain sections of the state to some extent BUT the real change needs to happen at the State/DNR level.

·        Could Michigan be a good Deer Hunting State, especially for big bucks and a well balanced doe population?  YES!!!!  You have the soil, genetics, climate and endless habitat.  Right now you don’t have bucks that live.  Currently a buck can’t reach its potential in Michigan BUT that can change!!!

What we would do & what needs to be done:

There’s 2 FUNDAMENTAL & SIMPLE changes that need to occur: 1) moving the gun season out 1 or 2 weeks and 2) making a 1 buck rule.  Those 2 things ALONE would transform MI within 3 years.  The list below is an extremely expanded list & more ideas.  MI needs to start with the above 2 simple steps & make the changes simple & concise.

·        Gun Season does not begin until after the rut.  Bucks will not be the stupidest animals in the woods come December 1 (only 2 weeks later) and many more young  bucks will survive.

·        Manage Doe Harvests by a county to county basis.  Different quotas, possibly different doe seasons, tag allotment, etc by each county.  Established from previous harvest results and deer population survey.  It will also depend on hunter opinion & satisfaction by each county.  (Yes, currently there is SOME effort and management at this level.  Not near what there should be).  Phone check in for deer harvests is another option. This carries merit to gain valuable management/harvest data.  Lastly, deer hunters and residents should decide county by county deer numbers- NOT insurance companies.  The residents & public own the deer – not the insurance companies.

·        One Buck per hunter.

·        Crossbow season would be removed.  I wouldn’t fight to the bitter end on this issue BUT I’d roll back to 2008 law on this issue if possible.  I realize you do need to pick your battles & this would not be #1 but I would push for it.

·        We would host regional forums to get hunter input & recommendations each year.  This will be done with a yearly public meeting in each region AND we will work to create an internet site for hunter input and discussion.  A region would either be ONE county or a few counties in a convenient location- there would be a volunteer representative for each county or region.

·        Make sure the current DNR Deer Managers either have new jobs, change their incompetent ways or are fired.  At a minimum- they are out of power.  They had their chance and have gone down in shameful failure.  They have failed the residents of this state.

·        Stop listening to the SAME FOLKS, with the same old argument, who have argued against this for years!  Keep listening to them and you’ll continue to be in the same place- LAST PLACE!  Your state will continue to be managed worse than ANY state in the Midwest if you keep listening to the same case of: “If it’s brown it’s down”, “A trophy is in the eye of the beholder!” (from the guy who has 36 racks in his garage of 1&1/2 old bucks), “I just hunt for meat” (killing all 1&1/2 olds instead of does), “Rifles during the rut are GREAT!”, “Things will never change”, “This is a lost cause!”, “2 bucks per person in the highest hunter density state is the way to go!”, etc, etc.  Listen to the same folks with the same argument and you’ll be in the same shameful position for management!

·        Create a Michigan Deer Hunter’s organization that will stand up and fight for these issues and fight for making Michigan’s deer herd what it should & could be.  This will be a non-profit organization with members of the public and it will have representatives to stand up for your issues.

·        Baiting is permanently GONE!

·        We will turn this state into a place the neighboring states ENVY and want to come to.  NOT A STATE THE RESIDENTS RUN FROM & NON-RESIDENTS LAUGH AT IN DISGUST.  Others will see Michigan as a success in 5 years after all this is implemented.

·        We will bring in revenue of Non-Resident’s who want to come here and hunt.  This will help bolster the hurting Michigan economy.

·        We will let Michigan reach its potential.  Whatever that is, it will be achieved.  I assure you, it is light-years away right now.  You will get there!

·        We will make sure EVERYONE will see bigger bucks, a healthier deer herd and a balanced deer herd for age, ratio and the habitat. 

·        We will improve Michigan’s Public land by allowing access by lottery and time allotment.  There’s much more detail on this BUT we will end the fact that “Public Land Sucks!”

·        The last thing we will do is prepare for the backlash this will create!  The individuals whose jobs I am talking about will fight back with fury!  They are going to fight back using the resources & organization your tax dollars paid for.  They’ll use the DNR’s name BUT these folks need to go and the DNR needs a new face, core and strategy.  Individual support of yours is the only hope to fight back.  Your speech and my speech is still FREE-SPEECH and our intention & obligation is to FIX a broken Government system!

These proposals and the reasoning for this argument are not from folks who ONLY care about big bucks.  This is from the majority of hunters who know Michigan needs a drastic change.  They care about a balanced deer herd, QDM, new generations of hunters, the economy, the environment and many other issues this affects.  ALSO- this article was not meant to be chalked full of statistics and quotes.  Most of the FACTS are common knowledge OR could be substantiated with the smallest bit of research.

Really, I hope that the tax payers would hire someone who will do what I’ve described MUST happen!  I’ll do anything for you that you ask.  My motivation is nothing except caring for the state, its hunting, the resources, its deer herd and the future of hunting in the state.  (YES, any time you speak out for something you believe in, SOME folks will be angry, that’s fine!).  Remember the forces that will fight back on this and the reasons why!  Defeating the opposition that stands for status quo is the only threat here!

ACTION – WHAT CAN BE DONE????….   You need to ORGANIZE and get a petition going for: moving the gun season out a week or 2 (ideally 2, especially in the Lower Peninsula- December 1) & getting a 1 buck rule.  *Basically what has made Ohio so successful.  Get petitions going and get to appropriate people- INCLUDING YOUR LEGISLATORS & DNR.  This is HOW and WHAT needs to happen!

I also hope that I bring awareness to such a crucial revolution that must occur.  You folks must organize, rise up & take charge of what’s yours (you are FAR GREATER IN NUMBER THAN YOU REALIZE!!! Your numbers are vastly greater than what the DNR would like you to think!).  You must demand a change and not accept anything less than a 180 degree change in the management of your deer herd.

The time is now, fire your DNR Deer Manager, create a movement and change the face of Michigan’s Deer Hunting!

Skip Sligh

Des Moines, Iowa

www.thedeerhunt.com

skipsligh@hotmail.com

*****UPDATES*****

1/1/2012 *Update about: 1/1/2012- Michigan’s RDAT Teams to help Michigan Deer Managment… http://deer.fw.msu.edu/management/management_plan.php/   &   http://deer.fw.msu.edu/involved/slteam.php/   &   http://deer.fw.msu.edu/management/….

I am going to keep this as SHORT & TO THE POINT as I can….  I think the above RDAT team is great and in the right direction & it was created from folks who often feel the same frustrations as most Michigan hunters.  I think this should continue, etc.  BUT….  I want you to read the 1st link & read the different links on that page.  Read about all the things folks are discussing, debating, concerns at meetings, team initiatives, regulation thoughts, etc….   You will find folks concerned or wanting change to (just to name a few): baiting, deer #’s, poaching, public land improvements, point minimums, license fees, economy from hunting, people/deer balance, youth hunting, crop damage, etc, etc, etc.   The list is never-ending.  I think many of the things folks are talking about are great, valid and important issues BUT…..  Here’s where the MAJOR PROBLEM IS:  If we can’t start with 1 or 2 fundamental issues PRECISELY: 1 buck per season and/or moving gun season to December 1st – NOTHING (or very very little) will change!!!  I promise you that.   All these topics are too much for anyone to go through (hardcore hunters, DNR or the general public- it’s WAY TOO MUCH!) and it’s distracting everyone out there.  There’s no way anything is going to get done trying to address the top 100+ concerns out there.  I’m telling you folks, you MUST start with 2 simple things & then after that, get on to discussing or debating all those other things.  START with ONLY focusing on a 1 buck rule & moving gun season out- THAT’S IT!  It wouldn’t surprise me if most the other issues became non-issues LATER but 1st thing’s 1st- ADDRESS THOSE 2 THINGS!   AFTER THAT… more folks will be enthused about hunting- creating more hunters, new revenue, attracting hunters from other states, a more balanced deer herd, more folks wanting to create good habitat for managing deer, giant bucks being harvested, folks wanting to keep #’s in check, no need for point/antler restrictions, better quality hunting and deer herd for all, etc, etc.   FOCUS & do NOT get distracted with the million things no one can juggle OR you’re going to be spinning your wheels.   Change those 2 things (or 1 if that’s the best you can do) and MI deer hunting will be improved 180 degrees within 3 years.   Don’t change those 2 things BUT keep discussing, bickering, debating, etc all the “other stuff” and nothing is going to change.  That’s my deep truth of belief on this topic.   Get it going folks, FOCUS: 1 BUCK LIMIT & MOVE THE GUN SEASON OUT!!!!

*Buy these WAY IN ADVANCE, 6 months minimum, longer the better- everyone runs out and runs out of good rootstocks and popular varieties.  Get catalog.  Also- get with some buddies to put your order over say, 50 trees for example- price point that should cut the cost per tree in half.

http://www.cumminsnursery.com/

www.centuryfarmorchards.com

www.forfruittrees.com

http://www.vanwell.net

http://www.acnursery.com/

http://www.raintreenursery.com/

http://www.willisorchards.com

www.welterseed.com

FREE SEED: http://www.nwtf.org/conservation/land_management.html AND/OR call your local USDA/NRCS office & Pheasants Forever to track down free seed.

Your local co-op – they can special order certain varieties you’d like BUT unlike Welters (can buy any quantity amount)- you probably will have larger quantities (say 25-50 lbs).   Can get some stuff with the deer picture on it BUT you’ll pay 3-10x the cost and I personally believe the ingredients are not near the quality in almost all expensive blends.

http://turkey-shoppe.nwtf.org/c-130-land-management.aspx NWTF Turkey Shoppe

 ROUND-UP & CLETHODIM & OTHER HERBICIDES:

(Clethodim kills grass, in clover, tree plantings, alfalfa, etc, etc and is by far better than anything else, it puts POAST to shame!  Use with CROP OIL!!!)

Clethodim (with all costs, there’s NO reason to spend over $80-85 per gallon or cheaper): http://www.ruralking.com/clethodim-1-gal.html   You can also email another source, may be a bit more and must buy 4 gallons with this source I think: jbolding@agchemical.com

ROUND-UP – Glyphosate 41% (same thing, generic is fine!):  A good buy on 30 gallon drums is $10 to an absolute max of $15 per gallon.  If buying in 2.5 gallon jugs, shop around, I suppose $30-45 is around the norm on this?   Best solution is to call a few local co-ops, order a 30 gallon drum and split with some buddies.   If you took ½ the barrel- $150-ish would get you a ton of spraying at a low cost.  Co-op or farm store is probably the ticket on Round-up.

OUST XP: http://www.townsendchemical.com/

**I’d get GENERIC Oust XP: It’s called “SPYDER”, same thing… 

http://www.keystonepestsolutions.com/spyder-herbicide-3-pounds-replaces-oust-xp-276.html

http://www.iowapheasantsforever.org/  go to order forms or seed link.  I’m sure you can find your state’s chapter if this doesn’t work.

http://www.prairieseedfarms.com/   Osenbaugh’s- great with knowledge, customer assistance, seed varieties and you can always ask them to match another price if you see something cheaper (can’t hurt to ask).

http://www.welterseed.com/ProductTypes.aspx

http://www.gamagrass.com/   Gamagrass- cool stuff, do your homework.

http://www.prairiemoon.com/

http://www.lacycreekgrowers.com/misc_gig.php   Miscantheus & trees

***Iowa DNR – great source for the lowest cost trees and some great varieties.   Check your state if this is too far or too expensive to ship.  http://www.iowadnr.gov/forestry/nursery.html

http://www.coldstreamfarm.net/default.aspx

http://turkey-shoppe.nwtf.org/c-130-land-management.aspx

http://www.lincolnoakes.com/

http://mdc.mo.gov/cgi-bin/mdcdevpub/apps/seedlings/add_to_cart.cgi

http://www.oikostreecrops.com/

http://www.bigrocktrees.com/

http://www.lacycreekgrowers.com/misc_gig.php

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/

http://www.plantra.com/

http://www.bigrocktrees.com/

http://www.growtube.com/prices/

http://turkey-shoppe.nwtf.org/c-130-land-management.aspx

http://www.minntrapprod.com/about.php

Pro-Phos 8 – Beef Mineral.   By Far my 1^st choice, hands down blows away anything else for deer preference, quality, antler growth, nutrition, etc.  Should be $20-22 for 50 lbs.  This is worth tracking down or making a short trip to get this.  Pro Phos 8  ITEM # 1990077.   Click on this and ask them the closest place to you to purchase Pro-Phos 8 granular: http://www.landolakesfeed.com/contents/contact/contact.asp?page=6

2^nd choices for ingredient quality:   I am not sure on the deer preference, I would highly suspect it’s not as good as Pro-Phos 8 but ingredients are good.  I would add 10 lbs of Molasses and/or some apple flavoring mix to add to attractiveness.

Purina: http://wildlife.purinamills.com/products/ECMD2-0017374.aspx   Click on “Where can I locate this feed?”

Antler King: http://www.antlerking.com/

SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTES OF THE LAND:
Many buddies in the past have asked for my list of what I look for.  I’m super picky and super-detailed.   You might not care about all these and think some of my pickiness is crazy BUT I truly believe it makes a huge difference!  Some are obvious and basic and some are more specific and intricate….
•   Is it in a state that consistently produces old deer?   In that state, is it in a region that consistently produces old deer?   Now, when you find some pieces you like, you need to dig into that neighborhood to find out what the neighbors are like and find out issues like possible poaching, trespassing, etc.  All your efforts will be for nothing if you choose wrong.
•   I like a good mix of heavy timber with draws and plenty of hills.   Some guys like more timber, some like far more open land.   I personally feel I do the best with a 50/50 combo some may argue I lose out on some income.   Your costs go up and down as well depending on more tillable vs. more timber.  50/50 will have the best hunting at a price point that makes sense – you’re not competing with farmers where you would be on a 30/70 (timber/tillable) break-up for example that will be way over-priced.  With 50/50 you’ll also be able to hold plenty of deer and have plenty of food.
•   How many treestands can I get on a place?   I know a 400 acre tract with 2 big fingers of timber & lots of switchgrass can HOLD a lot of deer BUT what if I can only find room for 5 killer stands?  What if my buddy and I want to hunt it & the wind is west for 4 days straight leaving 2 stands.  You may have 400 acres but your stands are going to get burnt out REALLY FAST and your ground will SUCK even though it’s 400 acres.  HOW MANY STANDS FOR DIFFERENT WIND DIRECTIONS IS THERE ROOM FOR?
•   DEER POPULATIONS: I’ve also see a TON of areas in a TON of states that have ravaged their deer population and there simply is just not a lot of deer there.  I’d rather have too many and reduce it down VS not near enough – because if there’s not near enough- probably a lot of other major problems out of your control: neighbors blasting everything, predators, drought prone (EHD or Blue Tongue), bad regulations, too many people, poor quality habitat, etc.
•   Is there year round water on the place?  Or areas for a possible pond?
•   What’s the timber make-up?  Mature trees worth a fortune or young growth junk trees?   Big diversity of oaks, walnut, maple, cherry, etc or a monoculture of Burr Oaks, hickory or something like that?  None of these are deal breakers & with time can be improved.   Probably is most important with how it relates to income (yes, even though mast trees are important to wildlife BUT you can easily increase those “relatively” quickly, especially with certain hybrid oaks & other unique oaks & apples, pears, etc).  Can trees be harvested for good $- MATURE Trees?
•   IMPORTANT!… Stand issues AGAIN: Can you access lots of different stands from different ways?  Or do you have to walk through the core of your land to get to every stand?  I’ve seen many long/narrow tracts with only a one road entrance; walk through the whole place to get to any stands- NOT GOOD.  Can you access from several roads, several fields, a river, a ditch OR can you create plantings to shield you?
•   Can you put up multiple stands for multiple wind directions?   So some pieces are stellar west wind properties mainly (or whatever) but will you have enough stands to rotate if you get a south wind for 4 days straight???   Or if you did get a west wind for 5 days straight, do you have different stands you can rotate to?
•   What is the soil quality?  Get a CSR score – CORN SUITABILITY RATING.  This will tell you what the ground should bring for cash rent and tell you what that type of soil is typically selling for.
•   How much neighboring border is along your land and is it hunt-able ground?   If I am sharing the main block of woods (cut by property lines) with several neighbors….  I better count on problems….  Guys hunting my fence, guys blowing their wind from their foolishly placed stands on my place, running deer all over, trespassing, shooting bucks I pass, everyone wanting to get in on everyone’s business/gossip, hunting like IDIOTS, etc, etc, etc, etc.  I’ve seen it all.  I’m very nervous looking at a place that has 5 different neighbors that all have hunting land on their place and we share the woods with property lines, usually nothing good comes from it- even when it’s legal and well-intentioned hunters.
•   Plenty of room for you to do projects?  Food plots, tree plantings, ponds, apples, cabin, etc.
•   Power/Electric & water able to be run to place if you did put house/cabin on it?
•   Any history/proof of fully mature bucks, plenty of them?
•   PRICE- I’m happy to help here.  Get some professional, non-biased thoughts/opinions.  Premium/rare tracts are one thing, “regular” ground is a lot easier to find supporting evidence.
•   Projects been done OR are you going to have to do them?  Do you like doing them?   If they are done, you probably will be paying a bit more & can find more projects if you like- MAINTAIN what’s there!   If not, you can get a better deal, do yourself or hire it out.
•   Is the land restricted by anything such as the Wetlands Reserve Program?  (In short, that’s a common one that will cut your land price in half & government owns a lot of rights out there BUT you still control hunting).    Just double check on anything such as this & easements.
•   Property taxes.  Here in IA they are CHEAP!   I feel bad for my buddies in some other states where they get gouged.  Are there any programs you can enroll in to reduce taxes?  Here in IA we have Forest Reserve for example.
•   Does the land qualify for CRP (conservation reserve program) where you can seed down your tillable to grasses (great cover) and get a rental payment?
•   What’s cash rent going for on that type of farm?
•   Are there south facing ridges that mature bucks love to lay on & later you can find sheds?
•   If you’re buying a smaller piece with not enough stands, do you feel you can get permission on other farms several miles away to spread out pressure?
•   Are there separate fields or ways to break up fields so if you bust a group of deer, there’s plenty more fields they could be feeding on?  Or a way to enter without busting them?  Are their SECLUDED fields that mature bucks love?  Separate fields with a variety of food sources?
•    Do the woods lay so you can get in and out without blowing all the deer outta the woods OR is the woods open and elevated where every deer in the county can see you coming?
•   In many cases, do you have the patience to wait 3+ years to get the place “the way you want it”?
•   How’s it LAY on an aerial?  Does it look good?  It’s important for resale later AND you want different areas deer can go on YOUR land instead of a 15 acre blob of timber that if you bump em out- they’re gone!   Here’s an aerial of my 315 I sold, I love the way this lays: plenty of different fields, big timber & draws, plenty of funnels, enter from 3 different roads, water, plenty of food, almost have total control of hunting on the block (best parts for sure!)

DONE RIGHT, I don’t see how anyone will regret buying the right piece of land to call their own.   It’s the coolest thing and financially it’s an excellent move.   Give me a 100 acres of hunting land that I CONTROL and I CAN IMPROVE VS a piece of PAPER that says I have 20,000 shares of General Electric Stock that someone else controls- I’ll take that land ANYDAY!
There are also a million excuses to not buy land, heard em all, a relative FEW really could get in the way, the rest are a distraction and they’ll always be an excuse….   Overcome it, buy yourself your own piece of heaven and thank God & yourself later for making it happen!   Best wishes on your quest, holler if I can help!
Skip Sligh