Purchasing Your Own Whitetail Paradise
It’s the dream of nearly every whitetail hunter out there; owning your own piece of ground (or more of it) that you can shape into your personal whitetail hunting paradise. Let’s face it, purchasing hunting property is an enormous decision and an often overwhelming process, especially for a first-time buyer. If you’re thinking about purchasing your first piece of hunting property, we have put together an overview of the process including financials and land features to consider. Along with these considerations, the best recommendation we can make is to work with a reputable agent specializing specifically in hunting property. They will be able to guide you through the entire process with confidence and answer the many questions you may have along the way. Ultimately an educated buyer will make a smart land purchase.
Beyond the obvious reasons like being able to manipulate the landscape, control access, and of course grow bigger bucks, recreational land can be an investment in both your financial future and your family’s hunting legacy if done right. You’ll hear the cliché that land is one of the few things they aren’t making any more of, implying that the land you buy will simply become more and more valuable. Don’t get us wrong, in some situations it can, but if left untouched, most vacant land will only appreciate around the rate of inflation. By purchasing the right piece of ground (a fixer-upper) and putting in plenty of sweat equity however, that equation can be shifted in your favor. You just have to be certain you have the interest level along with the time and energy required to make it happen!
Many prospective buyers often jump right into shopping, but if you are truly serious about buying it’s important to get your financials in place first. A pre-approval letter or proof of funds will allow you to be taken seriously by sellers and be capable of moving quickly once the parcel that checks all of your boxes arises. Typically there are three ways to buy recreational property:
1. Cash
2. Loan
3. Land contract.
Each option has its benefits and drawbacks, but will mostly be dependent upon cash on hand, availability of credit, and the flexibility of the seller. If a recreational land loan makes the most sense in your situation, you probably won’t find one through your personal bank or credit union, but there are lenders out there that specialize in exactly that.
The next financial consideration to make is how the physical features of different parcels such as tillable acreage and timber can be used to generate income and potentially offset the costs of land ownership. If the property has tillable acreage that can be leased for farming, it’s important to know the quality of the soil, lease history, and rates in the area to understand what level of income may be generated. If the property contains mature timber, logging may be another great option that can both generate income and improve deer habitat. Although typically not as lucrative, government programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Qualified Forest Program (QFP) can also be ways of generating reliable income on a property while benefiting wildlife.
Once you have a thorough understanding of the financials, the fun can really begin. Just like hunting, the search is the most exciting part of the process. There are an infinite number of things to consider when shopping for a hunting property, but here are some basics. The first are the building blocks of quality deer habitat such as food, water, and cover. Areas that are lacking these qualities can be improved upon over time, but having a solid foundation to start makes habitat improvement a lot easier. The next consideration is the specific area in which the property is located. Factors such as antler point restriction (APR) zones, chronic wasting disease (CWD) containment areas, hunting cooperatives, and simply who the neighbors are can make an enormous impact on the quality of hunting.
Finally, be sure and take your time and do your research in order to be confident in the land purchase you make. Happy land hunting!