Still and all, I can't help but be amused by some guy who spends $8K on an ATV, several hundred dollars on a tower-stand deer blind, more hundreds of dollars on other gear--and then gripes about $2,000 for the lease. He's wound up with five years' worth of lease money tied up in stuff he doesn't need for hunting...
Never owned a ATV, don't personally know of anyone that hunts off one. We do see em by the dozens every year but that is going to quickly change here, in fact I saw a lot less this year, hopefully less next. Every time one is caught off road he is now given a nice ticket, and enforcement is actively looking. I hardily applaud that too they are great tools but to many are abusing the country hillsides, causing scars that will last for years.
I have never even seen a stand guys sit in or you hunt out of except in pictures or for waterfowl. That just doesn't happen here or anywhere I have ever hunted. Also I don't know one person that pays anything to hunt anywhere unless it's guy's that go to far away places. It's free on public land, all a guy needs is a car or pickup to get there, license, tags and a gun, knife and essentials.
The day I need to pay a private individual to hunt deer will be my last day deer hunting. It is fine for those that want to but I have shot enough deer I would never pay, except for license and tags to do it.
We do get our share of newbies etc the last few years from the large population growth in this area but when you see guys in a $100 worth of camo with orange reflective tape all over em, with stuff hanging all over them, or over at the big warehouse store buying all kinds of stuff they don't need we just grin, let em, it's their money, at least they are out trying and learning.
We have got our deer every year many years now (knock on wood) without any of that stuff, and as far as I know the deer are the same as they were 100 years ago before any of it came along. You can't buy deer to my knowledge, at least not around here. Hard work, skills or just plain old luck get deer not whatever new fandangeled product to come along and hits the market you buy. That and shooting straight when you should pull the trigger.
That junk and the magazine writer's, TV hunting shows, and folks that promote it, well I better not really say how I feel about all that cause I am getting into areas that irritate me and I will say stuff I shouldn't. I will say I think all that stuff hurts hunting and new hunters that believe in it and buy it, and get disappointed.