So this is my second season not being on a deer lease (currently searching for a spot on one) and my question is, since there is so many of us without a lease. Who has found success and has enjoyed just doing day hunts? I did a few day hunts this season trying to get my 10yo to harvest a hog or spike... and on the third one found success in Duval County. He was able to take his first deer... a spike. First 2 day hunts (different places) we went on were complete fraud, I'm talking empty feeders.. POS blinds and I'm talking falling apart... worthless chairs that had been there open to the elements for probably 20+ years... I know you pay for what you get but $200+ per day for a hog or a spike is not cheap. I wouldn't mind doing day hunts but it seems that finding a good place is hard.... Whats yalls opinion or experience?
Deer Lease vs Day Hunts
buckwild
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
So this is my second season not being on a deer lease (currently searching for a spot on one) and my question is, since there is so many of us without a lease. Who has found success and has enjoyed just doing day hunts? I did a few day hunts this season trying to get my 10yo to harvest a hog or spike... and on the third one found success in Duval County. He was able to take his first deer... a spike. First 2 day hunts (different places) we went on were complete fraud, I'm talking empty feeders.. POS blinds and I'm talking falling apart... worthless chairs that had been there open to the elements for probably 20+ years... I know you pay for what you get but $200+ per day for a hog or a spike is not cheap. I wouldn't mind doing day hunts but it seems that finding a good place is hard.... Whats yalls opinion or experience?
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10,155 Posts
Last lease was 2500.00 to walk on the property, between all the weekends and work I spent over 5K as year. Walked off that lease 2 seasons ago and only miss it on a few days. I can kill better bucks, not work my arse off on a paid hunt.
It is not for everyone however it is for me. P.M.me if you want a rock solid outfitter...
John
It is not for everyone however it is for me. P.M.me if you want a rock solid outfitter...
John
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13,387 Posts
Taking a deer is a very small part of why I have a lease. Going out this weekend to set up some pens and start protein feeding. The non-hunting events out there are far more medicinal to me than anything a doctor can prescribe to recharge the bodies batteries.
Supposed to be 72 Saturday so really pumped for that after being 10 last night and in the teens tonight. 90 minutes from my driveway is an added bonus. Get to use it a LOT.
Supposed to be 72 Saturday so really pumped for that after being 10 last night and in the teens tonight. 90 minutes from my driveway is an added bonus. Get to use it a LOT.
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11,571 Posts
I've been on one lease years back and it was terrible. I started looking into a day hunt recently and the outfitter is very reputable, but I just couldn't get past the minimum $1k for a doe and hog. They have very nice culls and exotics but those ring up the cost another 1500.
I'm sure there are others but I think I'll have to wait on those very far and few between invites. I just don't have that kinda cash.
I'm sure there are others but I think I'll have to wait on those very far and few between invites. I just don't have that kinda cash.
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8,173 Posts
You said it man. I hunted all but 2 weekends this year and killed 2 deer, but getting to spend time with my Dad and sons is why I pay for a lease. I'm 46, and been at a deer camp since I was a toddler, I think I would go nuts without one.
Everyone has different reason to get out and hunt. My reasons now at my age is just to get out, watch the deer grow and do some videoing and picture taking plus enjoy seeing others have a good time. Oh yes our lease is not cheap but usually if you want to see some deer it cost. Thats mostly the way things are now days. There are exceptions I know.
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4,847 Posts
To me it kind of depends on your budget and how much time off you get to hunt. If you have kids that are involved in sports and such and have to attend a lot of Thanksgiving/Christmas social events that take away more weekends then probably a weekend hunt is ideal for you and your son.
If you have lots of time off and can bring your son and you are wanting to go on multiple hunts. Then a year long on season lease would probably be better for you.
If you have lots of time off and can bring your son and you are wanting to go on multiple hunts. Then a year long on season lease would probably be better for you.
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11,098 Posts
There is a pretty big difference in my mind between a package hunt and a day lease. If you don't have a lease, you can find a 3-4 day hunt at a lot of places. Going with a good recommendation you have a decent chance. Paying by the day to hunt somewhere that has a load of different hunters all through the season, you better be pretty lucky.
I have to agree with that first part of your statement..Going on offseason with wife and maybe a grand kid..And working on foodplots/blinds/feeders/clean up/projects on camp (my camp or fello hunter)..Slow ride around lease late in evening to check out game..Camp cookout and BS around campfire...Thats the primary reason for My lease..Harvest a deer or2 and same on hogs is a definate +++++too...We just love the OUTDOORS
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Personally, if one can find a good reputable landowner/lease that lets a few of these hunts out each year in order to meet game (MLD) quotas... That’s the ticket IMO.
I know that is a tall order and long shot... however, it’s about building relationships ... I watch these guys spend $10-$15k per year on all of the stuff needed to have a good lease... travel trailer, heaters, camo, specialty guns, feeders, stands, side by side, tractors, implements, cookers, meet processors, corn, protein, seed, bait, callers, food plots... I could go on more, but, my point is there are decent places out there to day hunt and have success.
I have a father and son that hunts a small place I have every year (day hunt) he spends about $600-$800 ... some years he takes 3-5 animals... I fill my MLD tags.
I know that is a tall order and long shot... however, it’s about building relationships ... I watch these guys spend $10-$15k per year on all of the stuff needed to have a good lease... travel trailer, heaters, camo, specialty guns, feeders, stands, side by side, tractors, implements, cookers, meet processors, corn, protein, seed, bait, callers, food plots... I could go on more, but, my point is there are decent places out there to day hunt and have success.
I have a father and son that hunts a small place I have every year (day hunt) he spends about $600-$800 ... some years he takes 3-5 animals... I fill my MLD tags.
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8,039 Posts
We are duck hunters first, deer hunters second. I do both on public land and have for 38 years. I do book my son for MLD day hunts so he can shoot a bunch of doe but he also preferres duck hunting.
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308 Posts
I believe it. $5000 a year will git you a great hunt and a terrific trophy. You trade a season for 4 or 5 days but money comes out about the same.
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671 Posts
I would call this guy. Doe hunts are cheap and he has nice little cabins to stay in. Pretty much guaranteed deer, had 100 deer in front of me. Make sure you let the expensive buck clear your doe before you pull the trigger, had to wait 10 minutes to get a clear shot at mine.
http://www.crenwelgeranch.com/pricing-texas-deer-hunting-trip.htm
http://www.crenwelgeranch.com/pricing-texas-deer-hunting-trip.htm
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148 Posts
Day hunts can be VERY successful and VERY rewarding but you get what you pay for and money wise don't expect it to be much different than a lease. If you are on an east TX or hill country lease you pay less for smaller antlered deer (typically) than a nice south TX lease. Same for the day lease stuff. If you just want a deer or hog, you can pay less but if you want a big bruiser trophy deer then you pay quite a bit more. But just like a lease, you really have to do your homework on the lodge/outfitter. There are a LOT of scam artists out there. Especially if you are trying to do it on a budget. They really seem to prey on the budget guys. Again, you get what you pay for usually.
But both have their place and their different rewards. I grew up hunting leases with my dad and the past few years we've done weekend hunts. I just don't have the time right now in my life to spend the time it takes for a good lease.
Hopefully you figure out what works best for you.
But both have their place and their different rewards. I grew up hunting leases with my dad and the past few years we've done weekend hunts. I just don't have the time right now in my life to spend the time it takes for a good lease.
Hopefully you figure out what works best for you.
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11,191 Posts
My oldest granddaughter is 4 and already LOVES "deer camp" and hunting in general. I was in South Dakota this fall pheasant hunting and she called me. Asked where I was, she said, "Pop, are you hunting without me?". That is why I will always keep a "deer camp". Plus I kinda like it myself.
I am lucky that I own property for deer camp, so I don't have to worry about that part.
I am lucky that I own property for deer camp, so I don't have to worry about that part.
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429 Posts
I love this topic!
OK, 1st I will say that I used to hunt a lease in Del Rio area, (Devil's River) and paid 2000 a year for Lease. Prolly 2000+ a year of more in Corn. No telling how many trips I made there through out the year to fill feeders and I tell ya, when we went, we took 3 tons of corn. So yeah, I had to buy a trailer, and a Rhino (1st year too, 2004
There was a camp house there so no RV was required, but this ain't always the case.
All in including fuel you're 6K plus and you might kill a 135+. Yeah, there were some 150s but these are few and far between...
Three years ago I started the "3 day" kill'em hunts, Cull Buck hunts, 1 dollars a point. Guide was trying to get me a "good 7" cull, I said shoot, I'm meat hunting!!! Give me a UNICORN! Needless to say I killed 1 spike and 2 sika does. All in that weekend, with processing, and fuel I was out LESS THAN 1500 bucks.
Next year will be out 4th year on this ranch and I'm gunna shell out 5 grand or so for a good deer.
It depends on what you want. If you want a lease that you can go to all year and hunt stuff, birds, pigs, and and maybe from water to fish in, then pay for a lease.
If you want to go have a good 3 to 5 day hunt a year and you choose how much you spend and kill, day hunts are the way to go. Not everyone is the same and I understand that. I figured it out on the 1st ebay hawg hunt I won for 3 people at 750 bucks... It was the way to go.
OK, 1st I will say that I used to hunt a lease in Del Rio area, (Devil's River) and paid 2000 a year for Lease. Prolly 2000+ a year of more in Corn. No telling how many trips I made there through out the year to fill feeders and I tell ya, when we went, we took 3 tons of corn. So yeah, I had to buy a trailer, and a Rhino (1st year too, 2004
There was a camp house there so no RV was required, but this ain't always the case.All in including fuel you're 6K plus and you might kill a 135+. Yeah, there were some 150s but these are few and far between...
Three years ago I started the "3 day" kill'em hunts, Cull Buck hunts, 1 dollars a point. Guide was trying to get me a "good 7" cull, I said shoot, I'm meat hunting!!! Give me a UNICORN! Needless to say I killed 1 spike and 2 sika does. All in that weekend, with processing, and fuel I was out LESS THAN 1500 bucks.
Next year will be out 4th year on this ranch and I'm gunna shell out 5 grand or so for a good deer.
It depends on what you want. If you want a lease that you can go to all year and hunt stuff, birds, pigs, and and maybe from water to fish in, then pay for a lease.
If you want to go have a good 3 to 5 day hunt a year and you choose how much you spend and kill, day hunts are the way to go. Not everyone is the same and I understand that. I figured it out on the 1st ebay hawg hunt I won for 3 people at 750 bucks... It was the way to go.
Thanks!
These are all excellent replies, thanks! So the way things are looking it looks like I might be doing day hunts for a while... If any of you can point me the right direction as far as any ranch owners or managers that I can reach out to for MLD, cull or doe hunts I would be greatly appreciated. One thing I learned this season is where NOT to go, that's why I'm starting early this year...
These are all excellent replies, thanks! So the way things are looking it looks like I might be doing day hunts for a while... If any of you can point me the right direction as far as any ranch owners or managers that I can reach out to for MLD, cull or doe hunts I would be greatly appreciated. One thing I learned this season is where NOT to go, that's why I'm starting early this year...
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4,847 Posts
What's your budget? Do you want LF or HF? What area of the state would you prefer to hunt in?
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23,550 Posts
Many men go deer hunting all of their lives without knowing that it is not the deer they are after.
Seriously though, I like the camp life that a lease or in my case my own property gives me; it's how I grew up.
But there are plenty of hunts for axis doe and such that are very affordable.
TH
Seriously though, I like the camp life that a lease or in my case my own property gives me; it's how I grew up.
But there are plenty of hunts for axis doe and such that are very affordable.
TH
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