Where to Buy Hunting land

[Bone Seeker]

I have been leasing land to hunt deer and turkey in NY for awhile now. I wanted to ask you guys who live there year round.....Where would you but a 100 acre or so parcel to call your own hunting paradise?  Ive been hunting in Oneida county and like the deer densities Ive seen.

What County  would you look to buy land in for hunting to call your own?? I seem to favor Oneida, Madison or Otsego because I want to stay within 5 hours drive time from New Hampshire where I live. This will be a property I can hunt till I retire, and then spend alot more time here later in life.   

 

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

[dbHunterNY]

depend on taxes and how you hunt.  if you're a gun hunter then northern zone continues to get squeezed.  many north country whitetails held or sold properties are in western NY but have one of them as a neighbor would help the deer hunting.  100 acres if ok to begin and a good portion of timber with can be improved to hold deer.  I'd lean more central to western NY.

[HectorBuckBuster]

I would see what you could afford then go from there.Also the 100 acres yes its alot of property, but what would it be made up of? I own 200 acres but only have about 40 acres of woods, the rest if open farm fields.

[steve863]

If it's land that you will eventually live on, maybe it's worth buying.  To live on you surely don't need 100 acres.  But to buy 100 acres just to hunt on for a few weeks each year is a waste of money.  In NYS the price of land seems to be at least $1000 per acre in most places I've seen.  That will add up to at least $100K in cost and taxes each and every year after that.  For that kind of money I could go on some really nice hunts elsewhere until I die.  Actually, I could probably go on a nice hunt each and every year with the amount I will need to pay for taxes alone on those 100 acres each and every year.  I'll also have no headaches of running back and forth to the property to maintain it and monitor it throughout the rest of the year.  That's how I see it anyway.   

Edited March 12, 2015 by steve863

[Culvercreek hunt club]

If it's land that you will eventually live on, maybe it's worth buying.  To live on you surely don't need 100 acres.  But to buy 100 acres just to hunt on for a few weeks each year is a waste of money.  In NYS the price of land seems to be at least $1000 per acre in most places I've seen.  That will add up to at least $100K in cost and taxes each and every year after that.  For that kind of money I could go on some really nice hunts elsewhere until I die.  Actually, I could probably go on a nice hunt each and every year with the amount I will need to pay for taxes alone on those 100 acres each and every year.  I'll also have no headaches of running back and forth to the property to maintain it and monitor it throughout the rest of the year.  That's how I see it anyway.   

On the block where I live there is 50 acres of undeveloped land (not structures0 for just over 250k if you have some extra pocket change floating around.

[steve863]

On the block where I live there is 50 acres of undeveloped land (not structures0 for just over 250k if you have some extra pocket change floating around.

 

 

I surely won't be buying it, Culver.  Probably a good thing too, since you wouldn't want my type in your neighborhood! LOL

 

The $1000 per acre I mentioned in my first post is probably very low for many places these days.  I know in the Catskill, Hudson valley region it can go to $5K and up which is ridiculous.  Only an idiot would spend that much for hunting land. 

[Bone Seeker]

Dont worry Steve, Im not an idiot. I just want to own the land I hunt and do whatever I want on it as far as managment of wildlife. yes this is a piece of land I will eventually spend alot more time at as the years go by. Im looking for something in the 1K/acre range with a small camp if possible on it already. I have a line on a property of 98 acres for 119K for example. No Im not an idiot...just in search of the american dream...as it applies to a fanatic Deer hunter.

[dbHunterNY]

nobody who owns land only hunts on it.  it has much more uses.  keep an eye on county tax auctions.  you may only find a couple good properties cheap in a life time but it's all about assets.  paying to hunt on someone else's land gives you nothing for assets.  land is one of the few things you don't see more of so there will always be a demand.  just make sure it's not squeezing you tight money wise.

[phade]

If hunting is the priority, I wouldn't be looking at acreage size for the primary factor. I'd find a parcel backed up against a no-hunting zone and pay a premium for it, if it is the right spot. The right 20 acre parcel is much more valuable from a hunting perspective than the wrong or mediocre 100 acres.

[Doc]

Pay attention to all the threads that we have had here about absentee landowners who find out that they have paid the big bucks to purchase the land and pay the taxes only to find out that the locals use the land as their own when the landowner isn't there.

 

However, if you have made up your mind that this is what you want to do, It sounds like where you have your lease seems to be satisfactory, so that is probably where you should be looking. Any possibility that the people you are leasing from might want to sell off a chunk of it?

 

I'm over here on the west end of the state so my location preferences really don't have much interest for you. I suspect that you put a lot of thought into your lease location, so most of the criteria are already set for you right there.

[HectorBuckBuster]

You are not touching anything in my area for $1000 a acre. The best price I have seen was a nice 54 acres all brush good hunting for $2300 a acre and it sold with in weeks.

[moog5050]

Focus on high density areas with solid access and neighboring properties are an important part of the equation.  Phade is also right that having a no hunting parcel (ex. public park) next door is a HUGE plus.

 

I bought 40 acres of marsh between a preserve and farmed fields because I wanted to know I always had a place to go regardless of leases or permission.  Cost as much as a decent car, but it was worth it to me and taxes are pretty reasonable being mostly wetland.  I like the security of knowing I have my own place and I like spending time trying to manage it.  Big bonus, its less than 30 min from my home.

[Bone Seeker]

Thanks Moog, thats some good stuff. I agree that it doesnt need to be BIG to be good. I just figured 75-100 acres gives me some variability of the land and the hunting spots. Like you, I want a place that I KNOW I can hunt when I want, and how I want. Im not worried about trespassers yet, Ill deal with them if need be. Ive had great success with keeping people out of my lease property. Nothing works better than threatening some asshole with a good beating. And of course being willing to deliver it. But,,,,Im a hunter, not a fighter. 

 

[growalot]

Ever thought about going to a farm...preferably older farmer...and saying I am looking to purchase so many acres...I would be willing to give you so many years of farming access for a reasonable price on said amount of land...would you be willing to sell?...There are also behind the scene incentives you could mention in passing say so much cash and so much per acre on books verses off...just saying....

Edited March 12, 2015 by growalot

[moog5050]

Phade was alluding to another parcel on which we have permission that is only 23 acres (10 of which is field) but we hammer the deer there.  Approximately 20 killed from there the last 2 years including 5 or 6 decent bucks.  We also often hunt it with 3 people on that limited 13 acres of hardwoods.  When a friend needs to see deer, its where I bring them.  How is that possible?

 

Add a really nice public park to two of the borders and place it in the middle of an extremely high density area.  That's why 20 of the right acres is better than 100 acres of mediocre or poor ground. 

 

Do your homework bone seeker.  You will find what you want and don't settle.

[scolopaxmatt]

Looking forward to seeing more "Posted" signs with out of town names and addresses on them.  We love that.

[phade]

Phade was alluding to another parcel on which we have permission that is only 23 acres (10 of which is field) but we hammer the deer there.  Approximately 20 killed from there the last 2 years including 5 or 6 decent bucks.  We also often hunt it with 3 people on that limited 13 acres of hardwoods.  When a friend needs to see deer, its where I bring them.  How is that possible?

 

Add a really nice public park to two of the borders and place it in the middle of an extremely high density area.  That's why 20 of the right acres is better than 100 acres of mediocre or poor ground. 

 

Do your homework bone seeker.  You will find what you want and don't settle.

 

I just realized all I killed were "park" deer last year. They practially jump on the broadhead for me; my hunting skills are diminishing, lol. I didn't even kill one "wild" deer...at least you got a few.

 

OP, if you can't find a no-hunting zone, then look for like-minded people. Even with a 100 acres, it becomes very small with bad neighbors.

Edited March 12, 2015 by phade

[dbHunterNY]

Ever thought about going to a farm...preferably older farmer...and saying I am looking to purchase so many acres...I would be willing to give you so many years of farming access for a reasonable price on said amount of land...would you be willing to sell?...There are also behind the scene incentives you could mention in passing say so much cash and so much per acre on books verses off...just saying....

 

you won't get a blade of grass that way.  go ask their kids.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

you won't get a blade of grass that way.  go ask their kids.

I have two of my best friends that each grabbed 50+ acre parcels this way.

[dbHunterNY]

I have two of my best friends that each grabbed 50+ acre parcels this way.

 

I hate myself for saying that but it's the truth.  most people can't afford hundreds of acres with 5 figure taxes when using land for just recreation.  got to pull income from it with work.  many don't have the desire and competence to make it work.

[BizCT]

You can get a nice 1/2 acre of prime whitetail land in Westchester for around a 1/2 mill. Or if you really want to go big, here's 4.84 acres for $6.9M

 

http://www.landwatch.com/Westchester-County-New-York-Land-for-sale/pid/307085504

Edited March 12, 2015 by Biz-R-OWorld

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I hate myself for saying that but it's the truth.  most people can't afford hundreds of acres with 5 figure taxes when using land for just recreation.  got to pull income from it with work.  many don't have the desire and competence to make it work.

Those two leased the fields to local farmers to help offset the cost. It helped. I think many of the areas of state vary in the tax part but NY in general it high.

[woodchuck]

I know of all wooded land for sale and they are asking in the 40's for 50 acres. Just outside of utica in Herkimet county. It's with a realtor

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[dbHunterNY]

Those two leased the fields to local farmers to help offset the cost. It helped. I think many of the areas of state vary in the tax part but NY in general it high.

 

enough tillable used acreage, here it's 10, and you get an ag exemption.  logging if you trust the person won't destroy your woods.  also through county and state there's different programs you can do to get money back (like habitat or farm infrastructure).  some are straight up with little put in like CRP or certifying as wetlands.  others are capital improvement stuff requiring equipment.  if you have or know someone with the equipment like a backhoe, dozer, etc. to do the work yourself you can make out with a little kick back.  they're estimated to out source everything as most don't have those resources.  if you have river frontage it's possible to subdivide some off for public fishing access.

[thphm]

If you intend on living on the property that you intend on buying ( it depends on ) How much income you have when you retire. Can you afford to have someone plow you out almost every day as with the weather we had this year or can you afford a plow truck or what ever to move snow ?. House ( closer to a plowed road the better) Also a good generator and fuel supply if the power goes out. To supply and run the house and heating and refrig. systems. Many things to plan on. Add every thing up first and see if it is worth it.