Woods Walk on the New Hunting Property

[earlthegoat2]

Well, we finally closed on a 30 acre parcel that will serve as my primary stomping grounds for deer and turkey and the occasional hog as there does not seem to be that many in this part of GA.

I scouted the property lines that were just marked by the surveyor and found a few nice areas I hadn’t seen upon initial inspection as the property surveyed out a few acres larger than originally thought.

It is a mix of 20 year old planted pine and older mixed hardwoods. There are a few high clear areas and some lower thicker underbrush areas as well as swale type terrain in the lowest spots. Good mix.

Some nice lowland areas where water collects during wetter times was a happy bonus. A 2 acre clearing filled with wild blackberries was making me smile. Saw a few tracks and a few old rubs.

Put up a trail cam so we will see what is out there. There is thick 5 year old planted pine on the parcel to the south that should provide good bedding areas. I should be able to get at least a half ways decent food plot down in the clearing to compliment the blackberries.

It was the last day of small game season and I managed to jump a rabbit but was probably not going to shoot even if I could have gotten one. I had my “ranch rifle” with me. Remington 597 Magnum in 22 WMR. Mainly if I got into a mess of small game but also if I could get a shot at a hog.

@Armored farmer style pic for you.

 

[Armored farmer]

Congratulations.!
I hope you get much enjoyment for generations from your new property.
Nice picture! I have a vangaurd too!
I'm honored.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Well, we finally closed on a 30 acre parcel that will serve as my primary stomping grounds for deer and turkey and the occasional hog as there does not seem to be that many in this part of GA.

I scouted the property lines that were just marked by the surveyor and found a few nice areas I hadn’t seen upon initial inspection as the property surveyed out a few acres larger than originally thought.

It is a mix of 20 year old planted pine and older mixed hardwoods. There are a few high clear areas and some lower thicker underbrush areas as well as swale type terrain in the lowest spots. Good mix.

Some nice lowland areas where water collects during wetter times was a happy bonus. A 2 acre clearing filled with wild blackberries was making me smile. Saw a few tracks and a few old rubs.

Put up a trail cam so we will see what is out there. There is thick 5 year old planted pine on the parcel to the south that should provide good bedding areas. I should be able to get at least a half ways decent food plot down in the clearing to compliment the blackberries.

It was the last day of small game season and I managed to jump a rabbit but was probably not going to shoot even if I could have gotten one. I had my “ranch rifle” with me. Remington 597 Magnum in 22 WMR. Mainly if I got into a mess of small game but also if I could get a shot at a hog.

@Armored farmer style pic for you.

View attachment 981403

Nice knife also. Have a blessed day, Leon

 

[BigBore44]

I really thought I wanted a good chunk of land up until a few years ago. But when I really thought about it, I didn’t think I would actually hunt it. I have so many places to hunt, seeing the same land over and over lost it appeal. But good on you OP. I sincerely hope you and your family get generations of happiness from it.

 

[Patocazador]

Years ago I bought a 160 acre abandoned dairy farm in Wisc. for $12,000. That is not a typo. $75/acre. I only hunted on it 3x due to difficulties getting away to go that far. I paid exorbitant taxes on it for many years and finally sold it for $67,000. After taxes and inflation I figured I broke even.

Your piece is close by, evidently, and I'm sure you will enjoy the heck out of it for many years. Congratulations.

 

[Navy87Guy]

Years ago I bought a 160 acre abandoned dairy farm in Wisc. for $12,000. That is not a typo. $75/acre. I only hunted on it 3x due to difficulties getting away to go that far. I paid exorbitant taxes on it for many years and finally sold it for $67,000. After taxes and inflation I figured I broke even.

Your piece is close by, evidently, and I'm sure you will enjoy the heck out of it for many years. Congratulations.

I have access to hundreds of acres, but I do wish sometimes that I had my own piece of property. One of the things they do here in NH is offer tax breaks to people who put their land into "current use". It has to be a parcel greater than 10 acres, and it has to remain undeveloped. It can be used for forestry, farming, etc. - but you can't build structures on it. The current use exemption cuts a significant portion off your assessed property value, which is designed to help people afford to keep property and not sell it for development. Once you're in the program, you have to pay a 10% penalty on the assessed value to take it out of current use. It means that everyone else gets taxed more to make up the difference, but it goes a long way to helping people resist the urge to sell to developers!

 

[earlthegoat2]

I have access to hundreds of acres, but I do wish sometimes that I had my own piece of property. One of the things they do here in NH is offer tax breaks to people who put their land into "current use". It has to be a parcel greater than 10 acres, and it has to remain undeveloped. It can be used for forestry, farming, etc. - but you can't build structures on it. The current use exemption cuts a significant portion off your assessed property value, which is designed to help people afford to keep property and not sell it for development. Once you're in the program, you have to pay a 10% penalty on the assessed value to take it out of current use. It means that everyone else gets taxed more to make up the difference, but it goes a long way to helping people resist the urge to sell to developers!

Here it is called conservation use valuation agreement (or something). Acronym of CUVA. And yes, that will be happening. I have to get a forestry plan in order to keep it going but it is a 10 year agreement and it cuts your assessed value down to 40% of current use as opposed to actual assessed value.

 

[Patocazador]

One of the things they do here in NH is offer tax breaks to people who put their land into "current use". It has to be a parcel greater than 10 acres, and it has to remain undeveloped. It can be used for forestry, farming, etc. - but you can't build structures on it.

Here it is called an agricultural exemption or "Green Belt". Any bona fide agricultural use qualifies. You can build on the parcel but the part that has buildings do not qualify. It is a wonderful program to keep land green. But with huge developments offering millions of dollars most farmers sell out and move their operations to other areas that are less desirable to developers.

I have a T-shirt that reads: "Save Wildlife, Shoot a Land Developer."

 

[IMAhobbyist]

After we bought a parcel of unoccupied woodland some years back, went behind the surveyor and drove old waterpipe deep into the ground next to the flimsy stakes they use around here. Glad I did cause soon after, someone unknown decided to pull some of the cheap survey sticks out.

 

[earlthegoat2]

There are a few concrete posts at some of the property corners on my parcel.

Maybe something specified by a timber company at one point in the past.

 

[George P]

You don't have many hogs? That is surprising. One kid that works in SW GA on a quail plantation said that had government folks in helicopters remove over 700 last year from their property as nuisances.

 

[Rembrandt]

Congratulations on becoming a land owner. There's a lot of freedom, independence, hard work, and satisfaction in having your own. Sometimes think if more people had a piece of land they could call their own.....we'd have a lot less social problems. People that own adjoining properties most often work together as a neighborhood community and watch out for each other. Good luck and hope you develop it into a hunters paradise.

 

[earlthegoat2]

You don't have many hogs? That is surprising. One kid that works in SW GA on a quail plantation said that had government folks in helicopters remove over 700 last year from their property as nuisances.

This is more southern middle GA. There is not known to be a lot of hog activity. To the point that no one around there actually proactively hunts or traps them. Apparently, you will usually see a few while doing other hunting activities and will shoot them as a target of opportunity.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Congratulations on becoming a land owner. There's a lot of freedom, independence, hard work, and satisfaction in having your own. Sometimes think if more people had a piece of land they could call their own.....we'd have a lot less social problems. People that own adjoining properties most often work together as a neighborhood community and watch out for each other. Good luck and hope you develop it into a hunters paradise.

I will be making an effort to contact the adjoining land owners. The one to north just bought the land also as ours came from the same seller. There has already been a burn done on a big part of that tract so I know that owner is at least interested in the timber investment. That is probably 8-12 year old trees that have had one thinning done already. I saw an automated feeder from the property line in pieces but it looked new so I figure the owner or someone is looking to hunt.

South is a 5-7 year old pine plantation that is thick as thick and probably won’t be hunted by anyone sane.

There is a deer stand in a clearing on the east property line so there appears to be some wildlife interest.

 

[Patocazador]

South is a 5-7 year old pine plantation that is thick as thick and probably won’t be hunted by anyone sane.

Drawing deer out of that thick bedding area, could be the key to early success. Good Luck to you!

It sounds as if it's mostly absentee land owners, ones that don't live on the property.
If any live by your place, pay them an introductory visit and bring them a ham or turkey from Piggly Wiggly or wherever. It won't cost much and does a lot to smooth out any potential future problems.
Bring your wife along so they can see you're a family man.