Looking to a purchase used compact tractor to use at my hunting club.

Like Mc said, go bigger than you think. I'd go as big as you can haul. I've never once wished my tractor was smaller, but even with a 75hp I've wished I've had bigger several times.
You will lose some HP with HST when it comes to pulling a disc, but if your just doing food plots and such, it's probably not a big deal. If you don't plan to use around a manicured lawn or anything, I would try and get a rig with R1 tires vs the r4s you see on most compacts. The r1s pull much harder when pulling a disc or plow.

Only thing I would tell you is to compare the prices of used vs new.

Used tractor market is sky high right now. I have a Deere 5075e and could sell it for what I paid for it in '21

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Used tractor market is sky high right now

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Thats no joke.

I’ve been poking around and seeing a lot of used 25-40HP tractors in the 15-20k range.

New Mahindra, TYM, etc are too far off from that range. The new JD and Kubotas are fetching a premium, especially if you want more than 25HP, which sounds like I would from the responses above

I figured a front end loader and 4wd would be non-negotiables for me

I’d love to find something in the 15k range. Realize that’s tougher in this market. This will be my first tractor, and while I want it to last it doesn’t need to have all the bells and whistles. Just something I can use as a weekend warrior up at the camp

Sadly my wife doesn’t share the same enthusiasm for spending extra money on this tractor purchase

My thoughts for a camp/food plot tractor...

4WD is very nice for compact as it helps make up for the lack of weight for keeping traction while using ground-engaging tools (discs, box, rake, etc.). Do not think 4WD will allow you to get into places you shouldn't take a tractor. It just allows you to get further in the crap before you get stuck. 4WD also helps traction when overloading the front-end loader without a counter weight.

FEL has been the most useful implement on my tractor and I highly recommend. Look for one that is easy to remove because it does add a good bit of length. I typically leave the FEL on during early season clippiing roads/trails, then remove for prepping food plots. Just make sure you remove on a flat/level area that won't shift or you will need another tractor with a FEL to get it positioned perfectly...Learned that the hard way.

I would also recommend looking at "standard" size open station utility tractors. They can be found at reasonable prices, and you don't necessarlily need 4WD as the tractor size and weight will give you basically the same ground-engaging power as a 4WD compact. You may be able to find one for roughly the same budget as a 25-40 HP compact 4WD. I would not hesitate to have a 45-60 HP utility tractor as a dedicated camp tractor.

For the record I have a 30 HP L-series Kubota (4WD with FEL) that does great with ground work, but wish it had a little more PTO power for clipping.

I have a JD990 and it has 1800 hours with 4wd, loader, and gear drive. I have put 1000 of those hours in 17 years and would buy the same tractor again. Built by Yanmar and I just spent $900 having the loader re-sealed. Other than oil changes and air filters that is the only maintenance I have done.

I'd far rather have mine than a new emissions burdened new tractor. No comparison to an old mechanical diesel to a newer common rail diesel, mechanical every time.