cost
I couldn't/won't do $2500 bucks on a deer lease. But I am in two leases here in AL and have been in at least one or another for 25 years. but my costs are not even a third of that. , But, most likely, next license year, 2019-2020, I will drop the largest lease, (3800 acres) though it holds a lot of memories, know it well, taken a lot of game and have some choice spots and patterns identified.
Primary reason is cost. Lease prices have steadily risen. To keep the lease affordable to average folks, we have had to take on more and more members. There are now at least 3 times more fellas on the land (I heard 40) than there were when I first started there. Used to be I could spring gobbler hunt and never have to deal with another hunter, except maybe on the first weekend. Those days are over, and deer season is worse.
Also, the owners have been steadily cutting the big timber, and planting back pines. Once the pines come up, it is extremely hard to hunt the pine plantations, just to darn thick. And turkeys will not hold in the thick pines, there is no thinning, they are just THICK. So in addition to more hunters on the lease, there is less huntable land, especially for gobblers.
Finally, a conflict has developed concerning a critical 200 ac. that allow access to the rest of the tracts. That 200 got leased away from us by the narrow minded owner, despite long years of trouble free hunting. The new 200 ac club is run by idiots, who immediately started trouble, blocking roads and trails, and trespassing onto what remained of our club. We had to get the law and the court house involved to gain access to our leases, and the whole thing got redneck ugly. I will not hunt under those conditions.
Public land is still an option, and there is enough close to me to be viable. Gun hunts are crowded and prone to attract idiots as well, but bowhunting, especially later on in the season, seldom has any conflict. Problem is, I cannot cover ground and climb trees like I used to. Guess I'll just have to learn to hunt smarter, not harder. And I plan and remaining in my other, smaller lease, (1500 ac) though my success and understanding of it is not as complete. It's nearby and convenient, and offers some soft hunts, which are attractive these days. But prices and resultantly, membership, are increasing there as well.
Texas. You read and hear about their hog problem. So couple of pals and myself decided we'd be more and happy to help them out. Hasn't happened yet, there is money in them hogs. I don't know how much money is lost in crop damage by hogs, but land owners are sure trying to get as much back as they can on fees to non resident hog hunters. I don't see a TX hog hunt in my future.
Honestly, its ALL gotten expensive. License and permit fees, ammo, firearms, components, clothing, ...everything. Take note of the cost of the items featured in the Rifleman and American Hunter. You will seldom see a firearm reviewed that is not solidly four figures. I fear my sport and hobby is becoming the pastime of only the wealthy, or at least those with more money than me.