The concept of " leasing " certainly has become a hot issue amongst sportsmen everywhere. I like the idea of attempting to brainstorm some ideas here without attacking one another, etc. So let's make a fair attempt at doing just that........
What constitutes a lease? If a hunter helps out the landowner with seasonal work, etc... and tosses in a Ham at Christmas time...
what about if the hunter offers a service for the right to hunt..... say he is a carpenter and provides some remodeling work, etc for the privilege to hunt.....
Does a lease always have to be in writing?
What if the landowner never allowed hunting for years due to bad past experiences.... and now leases to a group of individuals whom he has selected..... is that bad?
Since when does the landowner not have the right to choose who is allowed to 'trespass' on his land? ....... it is suddenly wrong if he charges a 'access' or 'user' fee? ......
Remember now we are just brainstorming......
There will always be public land...... do I enjoy the idea of hunting public ground after having access to quality private ground.... NO WAY!!!
Let's look at this from a different angle...... maybe it is the quantity of hunters that is creating the problem. Does not increasing the efficiency of weapons used lead to more 'hunters' in the woods? More hunters means greater property demands..... thus some choose to lease to increase their chances quality property. Does not all the publicity the 'Big Buck Mags' give Iowa and the other Midwest states create some of the problem?
Unfortunately, hunting is no different than anything else...... supply and demand. Look at the millions of dollars made each year by all the gear manufactures, etc. Iowa raises their license fees and they still sell out....... how high can they go before the majority say 'No'?
'Leasing' is here to stay.... that is capitalism. I don't think that hunting is going to be a sport for only the rich...... but if you are getting access to quality ground and giving nothing back to the landowner, don't be surprised if one day you no longer have access.