BIG BLOW

I just received a phone call from the land owner where I have 1 of my tree stands. I’ve been hunting in this spot for 10 years. It’s only 11 acres but, it’s the right 11 acres. This is 11 acres that butts up next to 126 acres of property that I have a lease on and runs along the river bottom of the Mississippi. And when the landowner that I lease the property from sold the 11 acres to this developer 4 yrs ago it was said that I would still have permission to hunt along the river where it’s at until the land was developed. It’s also the spot that I invested my $$$, sweat, & time to plant a food plot. Well, so much for that verbal agreement.

At the same time the 11 acres butts up to 240 acres of the developer. I know I don’t have anything to stand on when it comes to hunting down there other then a verbal agreement that was made when the property was sold 4 yrs ago. It just sucks to get the call right now when things are beginning to heat up w/ Buck movement and it’s a great spot w/ next to none hunting pressure.

The developer said he doesn’t want me hunting down there anymore. He said his brother-in-law was hunting down there last night and it’s his property to say who can and can’t hunt down there. He also mentioned that his kids are getting to be of hunting age and he wants a spot for them to hunt as well.

The first thing I asked; “was it something that I did?” The next thing I asked was if he gun hunted? After a 10 min conversation he said I could finish hunting there this weekend and need to pull my stand out of there by Sunday night. He said that he’s not a trophy hunter and explained that if he was to see either of the small bucks that I mentioned seeing the last time out that he would shoot them.

I have hunted in this spot for 10 years and to get this phone call today was devastating. Not only am I losing one of the best pinch points for hunting a guy could ask for I’m having several hunters move into an area that I would consider a sanctuary for deer and QDM was enforced.

The one positive thing i did get out of this is that he is raising his kids and passing on the tradition of hunting.

The biggest negative is 4-5 more hunters will be hunting down next to my lease this year then the past. It’s an intensive harvest area and I just know that everything is going to be getting shot at or turning nocturnal…

I understand life goes on and it’s not the end of the world. I’m just venting because I’ve had it so good for the last 10 yrs w/ learning deer movement and finally getting to the point where I can pass on 2.5 yr old bucks.

Do any of you think I should bring up the fact about the verbal agreement that was made before the purchase of the property? After all he is the one who agreed to it and I can remember our 1st conversation on the phone after the purchase and him specifically saying “I don’t know you and I’m having a hard time w/ letting you hunt down there but I told Ed & Margaret before I bought it that I agreed to let you continue bow hunting down there until it’s developed”.

Just curious

If there is that many people in there it won’t take the deer long to start avoiding that area. They might start using your lease a little different and you might have to figure out how they are going to enter and exit your property now. Esspecialy true if they don’t keep up the food plots. JMO

I learned something long ago…. a man is only as good as his word…. evidently, he’s a bad man…

big G

Sad people doin’t stick to their word anymore.

happened to me this year as well, except I’ve only been hunting this property for 4 years. I did get permission to hunt the neighboring property, but it’s just not the same travel corridor (funnel.)

in your situation it may turn out better than expected, as in 4-5 people hunting not only the small piece but the larger acreage as well, and hopefully pushing the deer in to your lease.

good luck

Picco, That is a bad deal all the way around but as they say “Every cloud has a silver lining” As you know I deal with an overabundance of hunters too. You just hafta deal with it cause they’re just out doing what we all love to do. It’s just a shame some just don’t care if they screw up your sits day after day.

To say the least that sucks.

My brother owns a very good funnel but the neighbor own part of that funnel too. That guy doesn’t bow hunt hardly at all. Soon as gun hunting starts to fly they deer are only seen on camera in the dark. Bow hunting that property is just over after gun season. I think the same will be with that property once those deer know people are in the area. They will only travel it at night.

I know what its like to lose a piece of property and a good piece at that too. A verbal agreement is like standing on toothpicks. I feel for ya.

Sorry to hear it Gobbler. That does stink!

Perhaps you could talk to the old land owner and see if they can do anything???? Not sure how well you know those people??? They might go to bat for you and at least lena on the guy???

Picco haha (like the name) sorry about the situation. I know the spot you are talking about and that is a rough blow. But i know you will make the best of it, and hammer another big one down one way or the other. If i remember right one year ago from yesterday,or the day before, i was skipping out on studying for a calc test due to the phone call that somebody said “Its a big one” so i needed to go take some pics and see if it was true. Needless to say im still jealous. Good luck and im sure it will work out.

I’ve experienced very similar circumstance on several different pieces of property. My advice is to just move on and be grateful of the times you had there. Life is dynamic and the next spot may be as good or better!