Happy to. This is of course the readers digest version. The hunting lease industry works on one basic principle.. that is that the landowner is deserving of compensation for allowing access to hunt on their property. There are hundreds of hunting companies that produce quality products that we as hunters literally can't wait to buy or spend our money on. From Remington to Ford to Mathews to Under Armour. Good products made by solid companies that improve our hunting success. The one person left out of the traditional equation (in the midwest) is the landowner. He/she is the one paying the taxes, maintenance, harvest and planting costs, insurance etc. and deserves nothing? It simply doesn't add up. The landowner should be the very first person/company to receive compensation.
Of course leasing is not new. It started in the 1930s in Texas and has been a literal way of life for sportsman in the south and southeast for nearly 100 years. I speak to these people everyday and they cannot fathom some of the sentiment in the midwest. Its easy to understand though, most of us were given something of value for free for many years. To abruptly have to pay for it, is a tough pill to swallow. Its not just hunting lease companies that are reaching landowners with this message. Landowners have lawyers, accountants, trade organizations and insurance companies that are encouraging this revenue source to them.
As for the affordability of leasing, it is like anything else in this country. If you want a nicer, bigger, better anything it costs more. BUT..there are many many quality opportunities for hunters here in Indiana that are quite affordable. As many of you know, I was an Indianapolis firefighter for over 26 years. I retired in October. There are few careers in life more middle class and blue collar than fighting fire. I have been leasing for the last 8 years with a small group of friends and I wouldn't trade it for anything. FOR ME...it was and has been a very beneficial arrangement. Although I congratulate anyone that saves and is able to purchase their own ground, I simply am not interested in ownership of a small tract. I want to hunt quality ground and I am happy to make sacrifices through the year that allow me to pay my part of that experience.
That should be enough to chew on for now...I need to get back to work!!
All my best to everyone. This is still my favorite site and I assume it always will be.
One more thought...remember the first time you let a big buck walk away? It was tough at first, but once you do it once it is much easier the next time. Once you budget, plan to hunt on a lease you see the benefits and it really is much easier and makes sense the next time. (I hope that is a somewhat relevant analogy. made sense to me)