Do the homework before buying hunting land

Purchasing land for hunting — whether it’s a 40-acre property or a multimillion-dollar parcel — is a major investment.

Companies like Whitetail Properties Real Estate can help make that purchase easier for buyers and sellers.

Luke Gliniecki, an agent for Whitetail Properties who specializes in land in Shawano, Waupaca, Marathon, Langlade and Lincoln counties, said potential buyers should do their homework before taking the first step.

“You should lay out what your objectives are in purchasing a property and prioritize the features that are important to you,” he said. “Everyone has different motivations for buying land, so going into the process with a clear set of criteria will certainly help to focus your search on properties that would be the best fit. Also, I highly recommend establishing a budget and talk with a few different lenders to see what kind of loan programs they have to offer and get preapproved so you know what price range you’re working within.”

Whitetail Properties assists buyers and sellers of rural properties, including land for hunting, farming and timber.

“We assist buyers and sellers in successfully navigating a real estate transaction,” Gliniecki said. “We’re all avid outdoorsmen who are knowledgeable regarding land and can help folks make the best of their buying or selling experience.”

Gliniecki’s five-county area includes prime hunting land, especially for deer.

“Shawano, Waupaca and Marathon counties are definitely highly sought after, especially for hunting with robust deer herds and strong deer numbers, as well as trophy class potential,” he said.

Gliniecki’s current Shawano County listings include one near Bowler that includes more than 220 acres of prime whitetail habitat.

“It’s a really nice piece of land with a variety of hardwoods with oaks, secluded food plots, cedar swamp, great trail system,” he said. “There’s a nice cabin there with well and septic. That’s definitely a nice piece of property there, and they have a good history of quality whitetails.

“I also just listed an 80-acre tract near Tigerton that has had a really solid track record of producing trophy-class whitetails and routinely producing bucks that meet Boone and Crockett standards. For somebody looking for a proven trophy producer, that’s definitely worth a strong look.”

The Bowler property lists for $1.39 million and the Tigerton property has a $795,000 price tag.

“When you get into the higher-priced properties, the pool of potential buyers starts to shrink,” Gliniecki said. “It can take longer to find the right buyer.”

Buyers have a wide range of ideas for purchasing rural land, Gliniecki said.

“It could be just for a building site in the country for a home,” he said. “Others might be looking for a prime hunting tract or general recreational piece where they can camp or ride ATVs on the weekend.”

There are advantages of owning land, he said.

“When you own your own land, you get the certainty of having your own hunting spot year after year where you don’t have to compete with public land hunters or worry about losing a lease from one year to the next,” he said. “You can also make habitat improvements and set up the property the way you want and implement your own land management strategy, which is really an enjoyable aspect of land ownership. It depends on your comfort level.”

State and federal programs can help with habitat management, including Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law program for woodland owners.

“It gives you guidance on how to properly manage for a healthy, productive forest and also create better wildlife habitat,” Gliniecki said. “As an added bonus, you save money on your property taxes. It’s a matter of personal preference. Some people see the benefits in the program, but others don’t like to have any restrictions or have the government tell them what they can do on their land.”

Should potential land owners look for properties near their home? That depends, Gliniecki said.

“It’s certainly convenient to have land close to home so that you can utilize it fully,” he said. “Land located within a short drive of population centers will typically be more expensive compared to properties located further up north. You have to weigh that convenience vs. the cost.

“If you’re looking to consistently shoot big, trophy-class whitetails, you really want to focus your search on not only counties that have a history of producing high-quality bucks, but narrow it down in terms of specific areas where you find like-minded neighbors that are managing to similar objectives.”

Land prices have increased in recent years, but Gliniecki said it’s still possible to find parcels for $100,000 or less.

“You’re probably looking at a smaller tract of land or having to travel further up north to get something in that price range,” he said. “Areas that have a reputation for producing trophy-class whitetails are highly sought after and therefore, the demand for that area causes the prices to rise above your average piece of land.”

He said there’s never a bad time of the year to start looking for land.

“Getting boots on the ground and seeing a variety of properties first-hand, you know what you can get for your money,” he said.

The process of purchasing land also takes time, according to Gliniecki.

“From the time of an accepted offer if there’s bank financing involved, it can take up to 45 days to close,” he said. “If it’s a cash purchase, it can close much sooner.”

Gliniecki said there’s something special about owning a parcel of hunting land.

“There’s nothing like having your own piece of ground that you can hunt and manage the way you want and not have to worry about competing with public land hunters,” he said. “All the effort that goes into habitat management efforts on your own property just makes it more enjoyable when you harvest a deer and reap the rewards of all that hard work.”