Well I thought I might jump in here and swim around a little.

First let me state, I am in favor of everyone finding the perfect spot and enjoying whatever it is they want out of their hunting experience.

I have worked for Base Camp and I understand the comments that some have made regarding prices. They may "seem" high or ridiculous to some. However, the market is not dictated by BCL, it is dictated by the people who pay the price. In northern Indiana, I was 100 percent leased. That means, by any logical economics model that the prices were not too high. I can tell you also, that in nearly every single situation it was a group of blue collar, family type hunters that simply decided to hunt a nice tract of land, they would pay the landowner before they paid Cabelas, Dodge, Mathews, Nikon ...you get the picture.
Does a company like BCL make money..of course. They are simply a broker. no different than a real estate broker. Its that simple.
Can you find a landowner and arrange a lease. you bet! it will take some work, but it is surely worth it.
I would advise that you buy insurance...from the AHLA..not the NRA. (might be a little prejudice there). Get a signed lease agreement and work a price the works for you.
As for the leasing in general, I believe it is the future of hunting. Maybe it takes a different shape slightly, but the facts are it is too beneficial for all parties for it not to work.
I would never consider paying $1500 for a 3 or 5 day hunt. Thats not even hunting. I will pick up an egg mcmuffin on my way to hunt the stand that I hung, I know who hunted it last week, I will access it the way I like and hunt as long as I want. AND..I will plant food plots, run trail cams, turkey hunt, squirrel hunt, shed hunt, archery hunt, gun hunt, muzzleloader hunt, cross (whoa almost went to far!). I will have full year round access to my lease and will enjoy it for a fraction of a guided hunt.
My lease in Decatur county was a very nice piece of land. 205 acres. All huntable. 4000. Split it 6 ways and paid just under $700 for all of the above hunting.
I am sorry, but leasing is not evil. It makes sense for the landowner and definitely made sense for me and my group.
This was not meant to fan any flame, simply my take on what it will take to hunt exclusive land going forward.
Take care everyone and hunt safe.