Buy Hunting Land Series: Location, Location

Location, location, location…

Emmitt hung up the phone and turned to Jan, “Ed says we need to get up to Sandy Cross to see that property this weekend.”

“Is that the one with the pond near the Interstate?”

Emmitt confirms it is that parcel. “That will be the perfect location for us. Ed worked it out to be as close as possible for both boys in Gainesville, us here and Will over in South Carolina. We could never have found something to work that well on our own. I really like it because I can see the mountains from the high point!”

There is a lot that goes into deciding what makes a parcel the perfect location. With some people, it has everything to do with what kind of game or the quality of the game in the area is. With other people, distance for family to travel or access to other options like rivers or lakes may take precedent. No matter what the need, finding a real estate professional who has similar interests—hunting, camping, hiking, fishing—should make finding the right spot for your purchase a lot easier. Be honest with them about how much money you have available to spend. Telling your agent that you want 50 to 100 acres is fine… if you know for a fact that you have the funds that will buy 100 acres.

If you are going to be accommodating other family members, have that discussion. If half of your friends want to be able to hunt or fish within an hour of home, but the other half will only buy something in three counties that are a four-hour drive because they have the best chance for a trophy buck, there may not be a reasonable compromise. Then your timing obviously is not right, so just don’t do it. You end up buying something two hours away but not in the prized area—and no one is happy —ever! Wait until the opportunity presents itself that all involved in the purchase have similar goals and intentions.

Georgia is a remarkably diverse state regarding topography and hunting or fishing opportunities. Although I know some folks near Albany who refer to bass as trout, they are not trout. So, looking for a place in Georgia will require some additional notations. For example, I live on the side of a mountain in Rabun County. I can hunt at the end of my street on public land if I want to mountain climb through the rhododendron and mountain laurel. This would not be the kind of place flatlanders in Tifton would consider a place to hunt. Coastal folks and areas allowed to run dogs would not understand why they just need to climb up that tree in Madison and not wait on the howling hounds for a chance at a buck.

At the same time, someone from Bainbridge may well want to have a mountain home to escape the heat, find smaller mosquitoes and soak a fly line for some rainbow trout on a cold mountain stream. It may well be a six-hour drive, but not knowing the area—again —finding a good, fishing realtor in the area can save a lot of time and frustration. Trout can be found in 25 counties with over 5,000 miles of streams! Private access limits much of the trout water, so knowing what can be had is important.

Ridge and Valley folks around Lafayette may wonder about hunting over bean fields in Metter or Adel. Keep in mind, we hunt more than deer and fish for more than trout or bass. We have great broad rivers, swamps, waterfalls and beyond that clearwater deep lakes in the mountains, power company lakes, tannin stained lakes and then brackish or saltwater coastal waters. Everyone has the chance to find what they like or try something new.

Once again, it is location. Getting it right for all parties concerned may be easy enough if you are the only one who must be satisfied. When recognizing the wants and needs of your co-owners, it may be difficult to check all the boxes. Be sure you know what those boxes are. Find a qualified broker to help you in your search. Be honest with your broker and your team as far as what you want to achieve. Know your budget and your limitations. Identify what the most important aspect of your property will be. When you are ready, pull the trigger!