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The Big Pay-Off!

Can Farming Pay? 3 By: John Coit Date: 11/30/2000 John Coit, a South Carolina outfitter, has never been one to sit back and take it easy. Things don't happen to John; he MAKES things happen! Perhaps that's why he operates such a successful deer and turkey outfitting business. Here's John's take on a problem of nationwide proportions: Farming!

What it's worth to everyone involved:

In today's economic climate, hunting land has become a hot commodity. Plenty of fine deer hunters fail to harvest their buck every year simply because they don't have a quality place to hunt. The consequence of this is that more people are turning to outfitters, both to eliminate finding land on their own, as well as to get a quality hunting experience. And yet given the opportunity, most of my clients would prefer to hunt their own private deer mecca.

Let's talk money here. Most hunting clients will spend between $200 and $300 a day simply for the opportunity to hunt trophy deer and turkey. Money like that adds up fast, so when an entire season's worth of paid weekends is calculated in, spending anywhere from $1000 to $1,500 per year toward a hunting/farming co-operative agreement sounds like money well spent. A well-organized group of five to ten hunters could pool their

resources to provide a nice bonus to 'their' farmer. The result, at least in our neck of the woods, is that farmers are putting more effort and time into "deer farming," than traditional cash crops. Quite simply, deer hunters pay more.

A good place to start negotiating with the farmer is by offering to pay his land taxes. Then discuss a per acre dollar amount for hunting rights. Other details to be determined include liability insurance, seed, fuel, and fertilizer costs, labor costs and a thorough discussion of what usage rights are included. A lease and usage contract is a must so that there is no confusion. Such a contract also makes it legal and businesslike.

In almost every case, the final bill for you, the hunter, will be far more reasonable than it would be otherwise. At the same time, you or your club will be helping farmers and land owners. Hunters who aren't up to a steady diet of chores, or who are tied down to their businesses can always book with an outfitter.

In closing, I suggest you look into 'farming' your own deer next season. You might find out there's farming in your blood after all.

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