simpletranslation..........public hunting opportunities will continue to shrink, while private pay to hunt fees will continue to rise.
Which means I won't be coming to SD anymore. I'm not a check book hunter. Never will be.
Will public be any good in SD this year?
- Thread starter UGUIDE
- Start date
Which means I won't be coming to SD anymore. I'm not a check book hunter. Never will be.
UGUIDE
Active member
Safe to say if you are hunting at both those camps it should be a hunt of a lifetime 870.
cockrocker
New member
or you could be one of the poor farmers out there...you know...the one with last years model truck.You sound like our current leadership "Everyone but you gets everything"
Here is an idea.......
If it's so great, buy a farm and become wealthy!
Just read through this whole thread and there is a lot of food for thought! I think Carptom1 had a good comment about midway through. IDK if the farmers are doing well or not, but I do know they have a lot invested in what they do and I know they have to make enough in the good times to carry over through the bad times, and sometimes the bad lasts for several years! I think farmin' could be a good life, and I think like anything else it could be a way to lose your behind rapidly! Ultimately, we are all here by the grace of God, perhaps a farmer though more than others. The only control over our business any of us can have is just to try our best to do it right, whether it is spaying a dog or sticking seed in the ground. I remember one of my teachers in school telling me that a dairy farmer has more invested in his business than just about any other type of business. Livestock and crops can die, and when they do they are gone.
Livestock farmers in England a few years ago could not even go to their other farms they had leased to feed their stock and go back home. Their children at school could not return home and had to stay in town with friends. Sounds unbelieveable, but it is true, and people who had carefully bred livestock for generations keeping strains pure and developing new characteristics that were highly desirable had to stand by and watch their herds destroyed by officials trying to stop "foot and mouth disease" from spreading. I sat through a lecture on that situation and had tears in my eyes for them. Even though the disease was not diagnosed on their place they were close enough that no one could be spared in order to isolate the disease. The country went to extreme measures to contain and eradicate the disease. There was no choice for anyone! Point being that all farmers take the risk and trust God and their own hard work to yield them a living. Sometimes it is good and sometimes heartbreaking! Profit should not be a dirty word we all need to make one, and it is pretty hard to go pheasant hunting if you don't.
My wife and I noticed when in Kansas two years ago that there seemed to be a "graying" population in the small towns. Talk to a few folks and you understand that the young'uns don't want to farm and they have moved to the city for an easier life with more dependable jobs. Who buys the farm when the "folks" can't work it anymore? Big Ag a lot of times, and when they get several sections together they will farm it all with only thoughts of profits for stockholders so they can grab more and more. What happens to the critters then?
I have been privileged to hunt some small farms every time I have gone to Nebraska and Kansas and now this year to S. Dakota. I deeply appreciate the access I have had and the friendships that have come from those trips.
I can stay here and pay for pen-raised birds more economically, but I'd spend the money to get back there to see my friends, hunt wild birds and watch my dog work as long as I am able to do so. Have gotten my camper hooked up and am starting to get ready for our trip this fall, and my dog is about to burst with excitement! She won't let me get out of her sight! I am excited too! I will hunt what I can and enjoy the trip. I just hope the weather cooperates. The gas is expensive, but the joy cannot be measured!
Livestock farmers in England a few years ago could not even go to their other farms they had leased to feed their stock and go back home. Their children at school could not return home and had to stay in town with friends. Sounds unbelieveable, but it is true, and people who had carefully bred livestock for generations keeping strains pure and developing new characteristics that were highly desirable had to stand by and watch their herds destroyed by officials trying to stop "foot and mouth disease" from spreading. I sat through a lecture on that situation and had tears in my eyes for them. Even though the disease was not diagnosed on their place they were close enough that no one could be spared in order to isolate the disease. The country went to extreme measures to contain and eradicate the disease. There was no choice for anyone! Point being that all farmers take the risk and trust God and their own hard work to yield them a living. Sometimes it is good and sometimes heartbreaking! Profit should not be a dirty word we all need to make one, and it is pretty hard to go pheasant hunting if you don't.
My wife and I noticed when in Kansas two years ago that there seemed to be a "graying" population in the small towns. Talk to a few folks and you understand that the young'uns don't want to farm and they have moved to the city for an easier life with more dependable jobs. Who buys the farm when the "folks" can't work it anymore? Big Ag a lot of times, and when they get several sections together they will farm it all with only thoughts of profits for stockholders so they can grab more and more. What happens to the critters then?
I have been privileged to hunt some small farms every time I have gone to Nebraska and Kansas and now this year to S. Dakota. I deeply appreciate the access I have had and the friendships that have come from those trips.
I can stay here and pay for pen-raised birds more economically, but I'd spend the money to get back there to see my friends, hunt wild birds and watch my dog work as long as I am able to do so. Have gotten my camper hooked up and am starting to get ready for our trip this fall, and my dog is about to burst with excitement! She won't let me get out of her sight! I am excited too! I will hunt what I can and enjoy the trip. I just hope the weather cooperates. The gas is expensive, but the joy cannot be measured!
or you could be one of the poor farmers out there...you know...the one with last years model truck.
Whats your point?
I know people with homes ,trucks,toys and they go on hunts every year....I know for a fact they arent anywhere near rich!
FCSpringer
Moderator
Headed back to hunt on 1,500 acres of prime ND land again this year. Been a while. All private. Going to cost me my gas, and 30 bucks a guy to stay at the farm house a night. Then you simply walk your arse off on true wild birds. Problem is there is so many, your useualy done in a, less then an hr. So I will have to bring the fishing pole for Owahe too. Should be fun, been about 9 years, but same farmers, same good people. Couple calls and things have not changed. Other then a few small bussiness folks that had to fold up shop after they changed the regs to 2, 5 day hunts. Everyone still has the same bar stool, and same hospitality they always have. Great folks, cant wait to see em again. And they cant wait to hunt with some of my bird finders again. They dont have dogs so they really enjoy that too.:thumbsup: If I get bored for some reason there is more public land near by then I will be able to cover in my few days.
Should be fun, been about 9 years, but same farmers, same good people. Couple calls and things have not changed. Other then a few small bussiness folks that had to fold up shop after they changed the regs to 2, 5 day hunts. Everyone still has the same bar stool, and same hospitality they always have. Great folks, cant wait to see em again. And they cant wait to hunt with some of my bird finders again. They dont have dogs so they really enjoy that too.:thumbsup: If I get bored for some reason there is more public land near by then I will be able to cover in my few days.cockrocker
New member
Whats your point?
I know people with homes ,trucks,toys and they go on hunts every year....I know for a fact they arent anywhere near rich!
just what many farmers I know say when we are joking about "poor" farmers ok...no point to be made there. I wasn't saying farmers are wealthy....but I wont say I've ever met alot of poor ones either...if I did...they were in last years model pickup
just what many farmers I know say when we are joking about "poor" farmers ok...no point to be made there. I wasn't saying farmers are wealthy....but I wont say I've ever met alot of poor ones either...if I did...they were in last years model pickup
So it's the ole....."Your truck shows your worth" :laugh:
cockrocker
New member
So it's the ole....."Your truck shows your worth" :laugh:
but dirty carharts and a 7yr old john deere hat don't really mean that the guys are poor either if we are judging by looks now
. I know what you are saying though.
I just wish as a framer and not a farmer that I could qualify for some of those subsidies out there. I know the farmers don't have things easy as not alot of us do these days and big ag is taking over which is very sad. One of my best friends is 3rd generation in SE Nebraska and while he may not seem "rich" (no "show" for this guy) the 320 acres he owns is only worth about 1.2 million. I don't envy him or anybody else for the $$$, I really envy the richness his life has provided in the ability to work the land, live an honest life, treat the wildlife with respect, and appreciate it all. now that is real wealth:cheers:
P.S. that same farmer is one who told me.....and I quote him..."the only poor farmers are the dumb ones"
birddog456
Member
True land is worth alot. If a person had to start out farming and pay 1.2 million for the ground, I think he'd have a hard go at it. Got some neighbors, their family(Grandpa) sold most (not all) their ground 25 miles s e of here bout 9 years ago. They multiplied land mass 7 times when they bought out here. Now they are farming 3000 acres. I don't know any dumb farmers. Their pick-ups aren't even last years model!but dirty carharts and a 7yr old john deere hat don't really mean that the guys are poor either if we are judging by looks now
I know what you are saying though.
I just wish as a framer and not a farmer that I could qualify for some of those subsidies out there. I know the farmers don't have things easy as not alot of us do these days and big ag is taking over which is very sad. One of my best friends is 3rd generation in SE Nebraska and while he may not seem "rich" (no "show" for this guy) the 320 acres he owns is only worth about 1.2 million. I don't envy him or anybody else for the $$$, I really envy the richness his life has provided in the ability to work the land, live an honest life, treat the wildlife with respect, and appreciate it all. now that is real wealth:cheers:
P.S. that same farmer is one who told me.....and I quote him..."the only poor farmers are the dumb ones"
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roycefromrc
New member
public land report
Just got off the phone with my brother-in-law who lives in Pierre.He managed to limit out in about an hour,also got two bonus birds,a couple grouse. They hunted the Corps land north of Pierre and some east of Pierre also. He said there were plenty of birds ,but not many hunters out.Maybe hunter numbers will be down for the regular season opener too.
I'm heading there on wednesday night to fish and do some scouting before the pheasant opener. Catch a few walleye to fry up with the pheasants and grouse my BIL shot today.
hope everyone limits out and has a good time hunting South Dakota.
Royce
Just got off the phone with my brother-in-law who lives in Pierre.He managed to limit out in about an hour,also got two bonus birds,a couple grouse. They hunted the Corps land north of Pierre and some east of Pierre also. He said there were plenty of birds ,but not many hunters out.Maybe hunter numbers will be down for the regular season opener too.
I'm heading there on wednesday night to fish and do some scouting before the pheasant opener. Catch a few walleye to fry up with the pheasants and grouse my BIL shot today.
hope everyone limits out and has a good time hunting South Dakota.
Royce
FCSpringer
Moderator
Maybe they were all at the pay hunt places LOL
. Good luck fellas and have a blast.:thumbsup: cast and blast sounds like a good ole time to me.Even if you forget the huge investment in ground. Think about the production costs for crops, It's nothing to spend $300 per acre for application. Thats a lot of borrowing, I don't want spend money on equipment loans either. Remember land won't keep this value forever, see I remember the late 70's. So walk a step in a farmers shoes, and get the eagle eye view. Lot of money on the table, it takes a lot, it is "high capitalization" business. A lot of farmers are running down hill with a herd of debt hungry elephants on their trail. One bad step...... Review that with the house payment, car payment, and going to a job, and getting paid.