DIY Hunts Through Lease Opportunities

[SeatoSummit88]

Have any of you ever used groups like: GotHunting or HuntingLocator? Sites where you work directly with outfitters or Landowners and you pay to gain access on their lands...Some are 500 acres and some up to 100,000 acres...All over the US.  There are, what seem to be, great leases... Just curious if any of you have used these groups before? Or leased property in general

[Stein]

I have looked at many.  You may find a diamond in the rough, but local guides or private clubs know where the best properties are and can afford to pay for them. 

From my experience, the clubs like you mention pick up properties others have passed on.

If I didn’t know the landowner and lease directly or have first hand knowledge of the property, I would be careful how much I paid to check it out.


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[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks Stein. So the properties I'm looking at include: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado and BC (North of Id/Mt border). Ive had one group from BC get back to me and 1 group that owns 15 properties throughout Colorado (Oak Creek/Yampa area). The gentleman and son who own the 15 properties in CO have spans between 10,000 and up to 50,000 acre parcels. Colorado is draw for Mule Deer and over the counter for elk. So they have a Bow Season and then Seasons 1,2,3 and 4. Return guests get first dibs when they finish prior hunts...And each ranch gets 1 group allowed on the property per season...so he allows no more than 6 guys in a party and no less than 2. The 4 properties that do not include access to camping or housing on the property are $2500/2700 per guy. The other properties that include on site camping or lodge stay are $2900-$3200 per guy. Success rate for last 8 years hits around 9 for 13 Elk per year. 4 other minimum for both species. This is DIY...They allow and recommend ATVs/Side by Sides/E bikes
 The BC outfit emailed me today. They allow camping on site and have some rooms available for more $. Also DIY...They go over the map and boundaries..you have 14 days total for the money you pay. Sept 1- October 2nd/10th (forgot end date) is early season and you are allowed to take elk with archery, musket or Rifle, which is insane! Elk only is $1500..Deer/Elk Combo is $1950.

[Brushcrawler]

Don’t you need a guide to hunt big game in BC?

[SeatoSummit88]

Was just reading up on BC's regs...It looks like it. I'm going to have to talk with the guy more and figure it out and ask some questions.

[jamesjett]

Yes you have to hire an outfitter in Canada. I’ve hunted B.C. and when I did the guide told me that even he needs a guide if he hunts a different Province in Canada. That was back in 2012 so not sure if the regs have changed or not.

[SeatoSummit88]

Did you hunt Elk in BC? Anyone else been up there to take a Bull? Any feedback on experience?

[jamesjett]

Did you hunt Elk in BC? Anyone else been up there to take a Bull? Any feedback on experience?

I hunted Mule Deer and killed a nice buck.  I took my own rifle and crossing the border with it was not too much of a hassle.  Had to fill out some forms and pay a $25.00 firearms fee.

[Stein]

Those prices are getting fairly close to the cost of a guided trip.  If you have the money, I would go for it.  If it were me, I would probably try to hunt public land nearby for a year and check out the ground before I dropped $3k on what is essentially a trespass fee.

There are ranches where you can pay $3-4k and have a very high degree of success, no 400 inchers, but quality adult bulls on a guided or semi-guided hunt of known quality and success.  That's the problem I see with the "lease" is it's an unknown.

Do they have a list of previous clients you could contact?

[SeatoSummit88]

Yeah, I've been trying to make the call on whether I'd just start E Scouting a particular State and then region with high success, and try my own DIY on public...Or pay up and get a back country horse pack outfitter and go for a 2 on 1 guide hunt. It seems as though that some of these private parcels are so large, it would be beneficial to pay that finder's fee (if reasonable) and do a DIY hunt. The way I am looking at this "pay to hunt on their land" opportunity, is that majority of the landowners are only allowing 1 group (2-6 people max) per season on their properties...Which if true, would mean considerably less pressure than going to a lot of other public DNR/County Lands...But you bring up one of the most important points, getting prior client's numbers... as you're relying on that 10,000+ acreage to harvest your animal, without local help...So a few references would be needed to verify that this said party/landowner is reliable and the hunt is worthwhile.

Overall, my buddy and I are looking for "more-promising" opportunities to harvest a bull each...Hunting is never a guarantee, however I feel that there are other States that have higher percentages per certain units...I believe that every hunter is different...Some may be ok going 5, 7, heck maybe even 10+ years without killing a Bull...But some may hit that point where they are willing to dish out some $$$ in order to help better there chances...I am a younger guy, who has plenty more years to figure things out... but I can tell you that I am pretty sick and tired of hearing my wife bicker about my unsuccessful seasons...She gives me enough grief about driving down to SW WA to spend a week "walking around in the woods"...And why is it even worth it anymore... Obviously you can tell she's a real gem about this subject...Lol. Not sure about you other guys, but she is the type where hunting season can't come fast enough to end so she can stop hearing about me talk about pictures, plans, gear, etc etc... Getting a nice Bull would be a way to finally show her, here is the hard work and time I've vested, Now give me space to get to work each season and tag out.   (  we will see how that works out for me ;-)  )

[fishngamereaper]

I've heard some issues with these types of opportunities before. Lack of animals, no guarantees you're group is the only one hunting, etc.

I would either save that much coin and do high opportunity guided hunts every other year, go to Alaska, etc...or use that money to take your wife on nice vacations before hunting season and continue to hunt public land every year getting to know new area's and increasing your odds.

IMO I wouldn't spend that type of money strictly for a feel free to hunt opportunity. Not with millions of acres of public land available.

[Stein]

In my mind, I'm comparing these to ranches I have hunted on, including MT BMA properties.  There are a few ranches that always hold animals, but those are pretty rare.  Most often, there may be elk there, maybe not.  They either migrate through or get pushed around and sometimes end up there depending on what is going on around the property.

For ranches that always have elk, they can get $2-3k a guy, six guys a week, new crew every week during rifle season at least.  If they are only getting $3k for entire season, you are either getting a deal or there isn't enough opportunity to get more money.

[SeatoSummit88]

Appreciate both of your guys advice! I will work on getting some references from these properties and see if I can talk to past hunters...Also will do some e scouting of the lands and see the success rates of the units these properties are in.

It does seem extreme to drop $1000-$3000 on a DIY, "access to my land" hunt...When I could find a premium outfitter and spend close to the same.  Taking the time to break things down and do extra homework will be important! (As always).

Anyone hunted Utah or Colorado for Elk?  Are there any advantages/positives/negatives/ etc etc to these States vs, Idaho/Montana...?

[ctwiggs1]

I brought over about $500 in salmon, halibut and crab when I went to Wyoming this year.

I secured a lot of land and made some great friends... And probably ran my fish bill up with Skillet 

There are less expensive ways to get what you're looking for 

[msg]

One of my partners and I went east one state last year. We hunted SW Washington for decades. No looking back. It used to be good. Hoof rot and other circumstances have taken their toll. If you are paying access fees to Weyerhauser or others you are not that far off from an out of state tag. I think you would be hard pressed to get a guided elk hunt from a premium outfitter anywhere close to 3,000 dollars. All of the western states have many more elk than Washington which hasn't updated their numbers in many years. Look at OTC success rates in other states in each unit. Then compare to where you have been hunting. If you are young you have plenty of time to get dialed in. There is good hunting in places that have summertime float trips. Convince your wife that you are treating her to one of those with the motive to look at nearby hunting prospects !