a friend and i were the only folks on over 800 acres in Hawkins Co. for over twenty years, and all it cost us was fixing fences, running cows back into the pastures, and keeping trespassers off as best we could. those days of getting permission are largely (not completely) gone.
many years, we got 4 or 5 birds between us, in addition to the deer.
Ames is regularly planting quail for the National Field trials held annually so hearing and seeing quail is a regular occurrence. But, I don't imagine very many survive year to year in spite of their best efforts to create brood cover. I've personally witnessed hawks killing them on several occasions. IMO hawks are the primary killer of adult birds. Nest raiders kill the rest. I don't think coyotes kill that many adult quail but they get plenty of fawns. It is cool to hear them whistling and flushing them just like the old days when I was a kid.
For clarification it was a lease with members that deer and turkey hunted. They paid considerably more and I only went a few times each year chasing turkeys.
Same here. I can't enjoy myself when I have to constantly worry about another hunter moving in and boogering a bird I'm on. I'm plenty good at boogering them myself. I don't need any help.
Just imagine the places you could hunt if someone saved $1500 a year for 10 years!
How so?
It does add up, especially when you also pay for deer too! But, if I had all the money I spent on hunting, I'd still spend it on hunting. That's a quote from Andy S.,
Think about it. You have $15,000 in the bank account you've saved for 10 years since dropping your turkey only lease. You could very easily travel to public land in states you've never hunted hunting different subspecies. If public land ain't your thing you could still do a few guided hunts in places you've never been.
I'm too old now but I went through this internal debate back in 2010 when I first joined Ames. I've been on 7 guided hunts in my lifetime and been on many out of state DIY hunts as well. One does not substitute one for the other. A guided hunt will not scratch the itch for missing an entire season. Not only that but your skills are honed at home. Killing a bird under a guide is not the same. DIY hunts can be satisfying but they require other people and are hard to organize every year. Do all the above if you can afford it.
How does a DIY hunt require other people? Most info can be found online, maps, places to stay, state harvest logs. I've made a few trips by myself and it was a blast!
Hunting the entire season for 10 years verses going on a few guided hunts in other states is a no brainer for me. Sure, if the goal is to kill a few turkeys, your way would work. But, if you actually enjoy the hunts, the time outdoors, having 16000 acres to roam on, etc. the $1500 lease is the way to go.
Unfortunately, there are those that will pay it.
