Hunting Permission: Let’s talk Price

umchorn2

umchorn2

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Hunting Permission: Let’s talk Price

I think it’s only fair to compensate a landowner for use of their resources. After all, everything has a cost - wheat, canola, cattle. And you really don’t want to have to hunt that lousy crown land again this year. Do you? Or even worse, spend six figures to buy enough recreational land to have a decent hunt. Do you?

After all 150 inch white tail or 5 year old mule deer can take a lot of time and cost to find on public land.
What’s it worth these days to have a great hunt and feel good about supporting your local landowner for keeping some untouched areas of the property intact for wildlife or limiting access and keeping the wildlife populations and age structures healthy?

Being a good steward of the land can be financially rewarding. One can start with greasing the farmer or rancher with a dinner and his or her favourite bottle. Then as the landowner - land user relationship develops further, perhaps help with the operation or offer to pay the taxes. Or maybe ask him to name his price...what’s a hunting lease worth to you?
 
umchorn2 said:
I think it’s only fair to compensate a landowner for use of their resources. After all, everything has a cost - wheat, canola, cattle. And you really don’t want to have to hunt that lousy crown land again this year. Do you? Or even worse, spend six figures to buy enough recreational land to have a decent hunt. Do you?

After all 150 inch white tail or 5 year old mule deer can take a lot of time and cost to find on public land.
What’s it worth these days to have a great hunt and feel good about supporting your local landowner for keeping some untouched areas of the property intact for wildlife or limiting access and keeping the wildlife populations and age structures healthy?

Being a good steward of the land can be financially rewarding. One can start with greasing the farmer or rancher with a dinner and his or her favourite bottle. Then as the landowner - land user relationship develops further, perhaps help with the operation or offer to pay the taxes. Or maybe ask him to name his price...what’s a hunting lease worth to you?
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I have access to a few private land hunting opportunities but financial matters have never entered into it. I just show up when favors are asked and I report anything i see out of place like broken fences, signs of tresspassers, predator sign ect ect. These are friend's properties though, not some random rancher with deer runnin around.
I do know a place I've been offered access to for bison on private land. The access fee is 500 bucks but I would also have the services of a backhoe to drag it out and hang it for 1/4ering hehehe
 
It is illegal to seek or offer compensation for hunting access in Saskatchewan or Alberta. Game animals are a public resource.
Do not council unlawful behavior on a public forum.
 
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From what I've seen in other countries where trespass fees are normal; 100-125 a day seems to come up a lot. That usually includes nothing, just the right to be there. Guides or outfitters are over and above that of course, and normally the landowner flat-out owns the game on his land so there's that too. Few people are going to hand you the key to the mint and say have fun, the blinds are here and here and close the door on the cabin when you leave.
 
I never had to pay to hunt on private land, But Ive always been there to lend a hand or return a favor. One farmer was having so much crop damage from all the deer that he was asking anyone who wanted to help thin the herd.
 
Magellann said:
I never had to pay to hunt on private land, But Ive always been there to lend a hand or return a favor. One farmer was having so much crop damage from all the deer that he was asking anyone who wanted to help thin the herd.
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That's it exactly, before I bought my own land I had permission to hunt several local farms.

Generally they were 1/2 hour to an hour hour out of town and before going out I always called a few days ahead to see if they needed anything and save them a trip into town. You'd be surprised how thankful they were, most farmers are quite busy and if you can save them a mornings drive running around they are very grateful.

The one most common complaints I heard from them were about the others that had permission to hunt, they were never seen or heard from all year until the day before the season opened and they would call to say they were coming out.... not even ask if they were still welcome to do so.
Some manners and courtesy will go a long way.

JJ
 
I recently lost hunting access to a 200 acre farm because a group came forward and offered the farmer $$$ for exclusive access...

But if I had to pay for access, I'm not sure I would be doing much hunting...

We continue to maintain access to our deer spot by sharing the harvest, sending a Christmas card & volunteering to help out when needed, (this past year I brought my chainsaw out and cleared downed trees for the landowner).

Cheers
Jay
 
I asked a few farmers at Agribition in Regina about this same thing and they said minimum $500 a day and likely $1000 a day on some of their farms. I thought it was a bit steep but they said go look at the price of buying your own land.
 
The 2 brothers that have signed permission for the deer season for the last 10 years never were asked a dollar, but for that time in summer they come and do the lawn , plant flowers and in winter they clean the driveway and shovel all the stairs, they own a landscaping business, this is better than money.
 
A good way to destroy hunting for us normal folks, It will become like Europe, an elitist sport. In return , since game is public property, we could impose a tax for having it.

Grizz
 
Aren't you the guy who had some crazy idea in regards to a hunting ranch or something and were totally out to lunch in regards to how much your high fencing and operating costs would be?

Trying to get a feel for how much you could charge hunters for access?
 
I get guys showing up at my house several times a year asking for permission to hunt. Not one person has ever offered money, not one has offered any exchange of services or any help with the property.

Some have offered a share of the game, some have used magic words like whiskey, beer and steaks.

One guy came all the way to the back of the property and walked into my shop while I was working. My first thought (right or wrong..don't really care which) was 'if this guy will pull in, walk through my property and right into my shop as a stranger..what liberties would he take with permission?

That same guy, and a few others, have asked me what I or my neighbour would do if he just went ahead and did it anyway. These are the guys you have to watch out for, the ones you say no to and they immediately regret ever asking..I think they feel asking is a courtesy, but they are going to do it anyway regardless of the answer.

The fact is spots like mine are rural and forested but very close to town, aka easy to get to. That makes pressure high and numbers of hunters seeking opportunities equally high, unfortunately these people need to push further and drive further if they want opportunities.


If you say yes to everyone, there wouldn't be any opportunity for anyone. I don't think money would change much, it would establish who wants it most, or more correctly who could afford it most..but saying no in many cases is for reasons other than financial, be it ethical, conversation of privacy, a sense of ownership, perhaps elitism, an unwillingness to share, etc.
 
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My gang hosts a wild game dinner and open bar every January for all the neighboring farmers and their families to keep up relations and show out appreciation for allowing us to hunt properties adjacent to our own. 8-10 landowners and around 15 farms to hunt, it sometimes turns into quite the social event and some of the neighbors requiring a ride home.:cheers:
 
45ACPKING said:
I have access to a few private land hunting opportunities but financial matters have never entered into it. I just show up when favors are asked and I report anything i see out of place like broken fences, signs of tresspassers, predator sign ect ect. These are friend's properties though, not some random rancher with deer runnin around.
I do know a place I've been offered access to for bison on private land. The access fee is 500 bucks but I would also have the services of a backhoe to drag it out and hang it for 1/4ering hehehe
Click to expand...

Fellow ranchers love folks like you!!! And always welcome to hunt the land!!!
 
There’s a place on Manitoulin Island in WMU 43B that charges $135 a day.
You get a stand or a blind, a hunting permission slip and sleeping accommodations.
Bring your own bedding/sleeping bag and grub.
It’s just tree stands and ground blinds.
No drives or pushing.
Think it’s called Gordon’s Park.
The accommodations are heated trailers and outdoor toilettes.
Google “Deer hunt Manitoulin” for website.
Haven’t been there myself.
I might give it a try some time.
 
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