Deer Hunting And Good Leases In The Southeast

By Author: Westervelt Wildlife Services
Total Articles: 44
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Deer hunting is more than a pastime for many hunters. It is, indeed, a passion, one fed over generations and a tradition carried on by hunting enthusiasts. In the Southeast, for example in states such as Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida, deer hunting brings in millions of dollars in revenue every year, and landowners and hunters alike look forward to every next season.

For the hunter it is about being offered a good, well-administered lease, and for the landowners about finding ethical, responsible hunters that may share his/her ideals about conservation and relevant issues to help ensure that this, and future, generations will always benefit from being offered quality deer for the hunt. It is the interaction between the expectations of both parties that will determine the success of the hunt: on a good, well-managed tract of land, chances are that the animals are healthy and abundant in their numbers, which is what the hunter comes for – and which, ultimately the landowner benefits from financially.

It is no longer so easy for hunters to find a lease, not like it was in the past. Few farmers and landowners ...
... will now allow you to simply arrive, hunt and leave. They have every right to be remunerated. Also, there is a much greater awareness than before about culling, about making sure deer populations survive in good habitat so that the next generation can be equally good, healthy, and suitable for the hunt.

This means lands are managed better, and systems are being put in place to help promote good habitat and hunting habits. To find a good lease may require some research. Fortunately the internet offers good options. In the Southeast, for example, there are some well-known timber companies that now manage their lands to offer additional opportunities. They no longer cut trees for timber production alone anymore; they manage their lands for, among options, deer to roam their properties, and therefore they now offer hunters the opportunity to take out hunting leases too.

Some of these services actually offer more than a lease: they also manage leases for their neighbors and other landowners – even far away, across state borders. They make sure they advertise leases well so that hunters will find them easily. There are a few good companies that offer such leases, such as, say, Westervelt Wildlife of Alabama, and a few other similar services that can help hunters find the lease they want.

When you deal with a reputable company, expect their leases to be snapped up; so look around well in advance of the hunting season for the best leases in the state that you want to visit. Collect as much information as possible before you arrive, such as to establish whether a certain lease that may interest you, is located in good forest land with great animal cover, water and food sources that these animals live off, or try and establish what the average numbers per tract are to help you form an idea of abundance.

If at all possible, visit the land before you sign the lease; if it is too far, for example, ask the agent or lease manager to supply as much information as possible, such as what past hunting activities on this tract of land revealed, also with regard to numbers of buck hunted, quality of the animals and the number of hunters that return. This all helps with deciding and planning your trip.

And remember: dealing with a respected management company that acts for owners, is always a good start. Find out what your responsibilities, and the responsibilities of the owner, are. Every landowner wants to know that they offer leases to responsible hunters. Ethical hunters, likewise, want to know they visit a piece of land with healthy deer they are offered the chance to hunt.

Hunting leases in the Southeast, as elsewhere, should be in writing so that all parties agree about the arrangement; therefore most landowners now employ experienced wildlife consultants to assist with the process.

About Us

At Westervelt Wildlife we manage more than 700, 000 acres of hunting leases across a few states in the southeast of the United States in conjunction with our main activity, which is timber production. Our expertise allows us to manage our activities to incorporate good management capabilities with high quality wildlife practices and excellent hunting opportunities for the enthusiast. We have been known for many years for the hunting leases we offer and the wildlife services that we believe form the backbone of proper, responsible hunting activities. We are proud of our history and the ethical behavior we are known for in terms of the land and wildlife that we are responsible for. For more about us, please visit https://westerveltwildlife.com/.