In WI we have a lottery to get tags, in the zone I am in we have 6 time periods that now last 1 week each (previously was 5 days each). They had extra tags and I was able to get a second tag so I have 1st and 5th time periods.
We have 4 other turkey hunters that are hunting this spring on our property and only 1 guy has overlap with a another hunter who was also able to pick up a extra tag this morning as well.
We have about 400 acres, of which most of the turkey hunting is on a 100 acres or so; we don't charge for them to hunt, but also know them very well and do deer drives and other hunting with them as well. Come fall we usually get a few more hunters as well (for some reason they flock to our land in the fall with numbers between 60-80 and by spring we have 20-30 birds.
Wondering if others find land owners to be as inviting to hunt on their property as well, and if you hunt on public land what is your perception of private land owners (farmers, ranchers, development property and Other tracks of land that hold turkeys.)
I hear more and more land is leased out for hunting aspect and while this is one way to offset the values I struggle with this concept as Deer for example if not harvested will harvest our crops, Coons make lovely crop circles of Corn and and do more damage as well if left unchecked. Turkeys for the most part don't do any major damage but some argue they pluck out seedlings.... But at the end of the day having others help harvest some of the game allows for more crops harvested, and if we need a hand doing something we have never gotten a bill from anyone (don't ask often but they are always willing to help).
My largest concern is $ to participate in a sport, respect for the land and nature (regardless of ownership), and getting younger kids into the sport. Long after football, soccer, track, baseball and other sports fade out Hunting can be easily done from youth to old age). We used to be part of a Game Farm, and dropped out due to the lack of respect for the land, wildlife and general poor sportsmanship (and occasional bullet thru the glass of a tractor). We didn't feel was benefiting anyone but some rich big city adults that if a deer didn't drop at their feet they wouldn't track, after the game farm disbanded and long after we weren't part of the game farm acres several continued to hunt w/o any permission and locked up deer stands that once removed somehow they knew right were to ask for it back.
I know several farmers around that others use their land w/o any fee's , leases or expected good will. Some offer gift certificates, wine, sausages and a good hunting story, but most just a nod and thanks is all that is needed. DNR employees hunt and share knowledge and when I started Turkey hunting I was overwhelmed with everything from "use my cannon" turkey gun and ammo, to turkey decoys and offers to call in the big one with me and setting up a blind and chairs to hunt in. The good thing is these same guys have asked to take a new hunter out on our property to teach someone new to the sport offered them the same support as I received. They know the chances of getting a bird, deer, fox, coon... is very high and makes for a very rewarding first time experience for them.
Hoping others can find similar access to private land and/or good public land to hunt w/o decided what bill to pay. I'm a meat hunter, I rarely save any part of the animal other then the meat and some pics, we donate some to food banks (this past year I ended up with 3 bucks and a doe by afternoon opening day with 1 breading a doe when I shot him (see profile pic). Best hunting story of my life and only hope others get the chance to see nature up close and personable.
