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Minimum Acre Per Hunter
Posted on 11/10/19 at 9:23 pm
Posted on 11/10/19 at 9:23 pm
I've found a property that I'm considering buying to make into a private hunting spot for me and family/friends. It's 70 acres completely wooded and surrounded by complete wooded lots as well. It's bordered on all sides by either US Forestry Land (125 acres and not a WMA), Colonial Pipeline Land (100 acres), or land owners who do not hunt or live on the property. There's no water source on the property. I've not went to the property to look for wildlife signs but if there is would this be a good investment for what I'm wanting? My main friend and me would be hunting the property pretty hard during the season. As well as planting plots and managing the property in the off season. Is 70 acres too small for this? We rifle hunt mainly and its usually from stands. Primary wildlife will be deer.
There's about 8 acres on one side of a dirt road that's used for entrance and the other side is the remaining 62 acres. I'd like to eventually build a small camp to sleep and hangout after hunts and make a dove field out of the remaining acreage on that side of the road bed. Would I have enough property to do this as well or am I better off with using the total 70 for deer?
How much property would I need to do both scenarios if the 70 acres isn't enough?
There's about 8 acres on one side of a dirt road that's used for entrance and the other side is the remaining 62 acres. I'd like to eventually build a small camp to sleep and hangout after hunts and make a dove field out of the remaining acreage on that side of the road bed. Would I have enough property to do this as well or am I better off with using the total 70 for deer?
How much property would I need to do both scenarios if the 70 acres isn't enough?
8
Posted on 11/10/19 at 9:32 pm to GAFF
70 acres is plenty for both, but hunting it hard all season (not sure how long your season is) probably isn't going to be wise.
Watch some of Meateater's Back 40 episodes. They have a 60ish acre piece of land that they are managing for everything from squirrels to deer. It's entirely possible, but you have to be realistic and understand that you probably won't kill a bunch of deer off of it each year.
I would also look at what goes on around you if you have any inclination of managing deer. If people are shooting anything on the public ground, you are going to have a hard time improving the herd.
At the same time, if you hunt wisely, manage the land in a way that brings the deer in and holds them--you could have a pretty special property.
I would look at 4 main things: food, water, shelter, and access. You know 2 of those already (access and water, or lack of water). But what food is there? Is it closed canopy with little browse available? Is there bedding? Can you create bedding/sanctuaries?
Watch some of Meateater's Back 40 episodes. They have a 60ish acre piece of land that they are managing for everything from squirrels to deer. It's entirely possible, but you have to be realistic and understand that you probably won't kill a bunch of deer off of it each year.
I would also look at what goes on around you if you have any inclination of managing deer. If people are shooting anything on the public ground, you are going to have a hard time improving the herd.
At the same time, if you hunt wisely, manage the land in a way that brings the deer in and holds them--you could have a pretty special property.
I would look at 4 main things: food, water, shelter, and access. You know 2 of those already (access and water, or lack of water). But what food is there? Is it closed canopy with little browse available? Is there bedding? Can you create bedding/sanctuaries?
Posted on 11/11/19 at 5:55 am to GAFF
I know you mentioned the surrounding property isn’t hunted. That can be good or bad. If you put a lot of pressure on your 70 then they will just go where there isn’t any. If you hunt it smart and use strategy, you could maybe capitalize on the fact the deer have room to mature around you and maybe pull in one or 2 good ones each year.
70 acres would be tough with 2 people and is probably the minimum amount for 2 guys that hunt a lot but don’t expect anything more than just a place to get in the woods and maybe get a doe or two for the freezer with the exception of the rut.
70 acres would be tough with 2 people and is probably the minimum amount for 2 guys that hunt a lot but don’t expect anything more than just a place to get in the woods and maybe get a doe or two for the freezer with the exception of the rut.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 6:24 am to FelicianaTigerfan
It all depends on your neighbors. If there is zero hunting around the 70 acres then it would be fine for probably 3 or even 4 hunters.
If their is heavy hunting around you then it would drop to zero hunters on 70 acres assuming you don't want to shoot really young deer.
If you had total control of all land. For example you had a 10000 acre hunting property. Meaning neighbor influences were minimal. A good rule of thumb is minimum of taking 1 buck per 50 acres. If you want more mature bucks you need to push that to 100 acres per hunter.
If their is heavy hunting around you then it would drop to zero hunters on 70 acres assuming you don't want to shoot really young deer.
If you had total control of all land. For example you had a 10000 acre hunting property. Meaning neighbor influences were minimal. A good rule of thumb is minimum of taking 1 buck per 50 acres. If you want more mature bucks you need to push that to 100 acres per hunter.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 6:33 am to GAFF
No easy answer, I own two pieces of property and to say they are very different is the understatement of the year.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 7:27 am to GAFF
quote:
No water source on property
Wouldn’t worry about that. Deer get their water from browse. I have never seen a deer drink water
Posted on 11/11/19 at 7:54 am to Ron Cheramie
quote:
Wouldn’t worry about that. Deer get their water from browse. I have never seen a deer drink water
wut?
Let me help you out, during a dry fall isolated water is the best bait to hunt
https://www.realtree.com/brow-tines-and-backstrap/5-watering-habits-of-mature-deer
Posted on 11/11/19 at 7:58 am to GAFF
A lot depends on the terrain. My family has 80 acres that we hunt on and have 5 stands. We also have a pipeline that runs right thru the middle that makes a great place to hunt. My son and I have taken 2 deer so far this year, but have seen deer on every hunt. Hills also make smaller tracts of land seem larger. If you do make a campsite, do like we did and put it on a corner of the property where you drive in so you don't spook deer going in and out of the campsite.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 8:07 am to REB BEER
Also a lot depends on the lay out of the land as to what is North. If the road side is north, deer will wind you every time you go there due to prevailing winter winds.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 8:11 am to Cowboyfan89
Tree fiddy. Get it?
Posted on 11/11/19 at 8:13 am to cave canem
You purposely passed over the first couple articles about deer and water.
Have you ever seen a deer drink water?
Maybe in Texas or other arid regions or areas without lots of browse but in Louisiana there is plenty of browse and groceries full of water for them to get their dose of water
Have you ever seen a deer drink water?
Maybe in Texas or other arid regions or areas without lots of browse but in Louisiana there is plenty of browse and groceries full of water for them to get their dose of water
This post was edited on 11/11/19 at 8:15 am
Posted on 11/11/19 at 8:15 am to fishfighter
quote:
Also a lot depends on the lay out of the land as to what is North. If the road side is north, deer will wind you every time you go there due to prevailing winter winds.
This and your entrance to the stands. It is entirely possible to have a good wind and good sound proof box stand and hunt it 30 times a year with almost 0 pressure on the deer.
But 60 acres you need to consider how many stands you can have. More is not always better as said due to wind and pressure.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 9:05 am to GAFF
We have a small family farm of 100 acres and can hunt three people easily without being too close to one another.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 9:08 am to The Torch
I have 130 acres and could probably hunt 4 stands. Currently just have two boxes but plan to add some ladders down in the bottoms. Anything smaller than a square mile and your neighbors are the most important factor in huntability
Posted on 11/11/19 at 9:19 am to Ron Cheramie
quote:
Have you ever seen a deer drink water?
yes, many many times
quote:
Maybe in Texas or other arid regions or areas without lots of browse but in Louisiana there is plenty of browse and groceries full of water for them to get their dose of water
In April absolutely, in fall not so much.
If it aint green it aint holding water and hence my earlier comment was qualified with dry fall.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 4:42 pm to cave canem
I hunt basically a swamp. What would have been dry a week ago is knee deep. Last Thursday in stand 15 feet from from the flooding I watched 3 separate groups come in and drink.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 4:42 pm to GAFF
If y’all are serious deer hunters, 70 isn’t enough.
If you had to do it, try;
Make a ten to twenty acre clear cut in the middle and let it grow up.
Hunt from the outside in.
Make long, narrow food plots.
Use a kiddie pool or plastic cattle trough for water.
If you had to do it, try;
Make a ten to twenty acre clear cut in the middle and let it grow up.
Hunt from the outside in.
Make long, narrow food plots.
Use a kiddie pool or plastic cattle trough for water.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 5:12 pm to 257WBY
So what’s the minimum acreage needed for 2-3 people? The dove field isn’t a must but I would like room for a hunt camp to sleep and keep equipment/gear. I don’t mean prime acreage, just the basic amount needed for 3 people.
Posted on 11/11/19 at 5:48 pm to Ron Cheramie
quote:
Have you ever seen a deer drink water?
I have. You think there is enough green forage out there to meet their water needs during a drought, or the winter?
Posted on 11/11/19 at 7:28 pm to FelicianaTigerfan
quote:
70 acres would be tough with 2 people and is probably the minimum amount for 2 guys that hunt a lot but don’t expect anything more than just a place to get in the woods and maybe get a doe or two for the freezer with the exception of the rut.
This is such a lie.
Me and my father hunt 25 acres very very hard. He hunts morning/afternoon 7 days a week all season. I hunt weekends and 2-3 days a week.
He slaughters them. Tags out every year with at least one quality buck, sometimes 2.
There’s a science to hunting small acreage and he has figured it out over the last 40 years.
Edit: our neighbors mostly suck to top it off.
S and E (road side) is a group of 3-4 jackasses that slam their door and trailer gate 300 yards from my best stand and 150 to another. They ride golf carts in and out. Just noisy and douchey people.
W is private owned “hunting club” type deal. They let them grow and have enhanced our buck population tenfold in the last decade.
N is a different club with a couple of hunters on that side fairly close (200 yards tops)
We are “cut off” from every direction if you ask our neighbors.. But we outhunt them. They’re loud. They don’t hunt enough. We keep corn/bran constantly available. We kill quality bucks and plenty of deer.
Not saying others around us don’t, but I’d put $ on us to kill more/better deer year in and year out. With much much less
This post was edited on 11/11/19 at 9:24 pm
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