Hi all - quick intro here. I am from PA and currently under contract on my first farm in Iowa. I am curious whats thoughts are on a good time to reach out and introduce myself to the neighbors? With onX and a little googling, facebook etc. i was able to find contact info for a couple of them. None of them are local to their farms and with me being out of state, doubt our paths would just cross while at the farm sometime. Would ya'll wait til after closing or dont see a harm in reaching out now that under contract? Looking forward to learning tons and enjoying the process with this first one!
CottonwoodCanyon
PMA Member
I'd say get everything squared away with the purchase first. Once everything is official, then go for it. Congratulations on the new farm!
Daver
PMA Member
Personally, I would wait until after closing, but that's just me. Most neighbors would be happy to get to know other neighbors in my experience and hopefully share info and try to establish goals, etc. We have had good to very good success with this over the years. I will say though that you should be prepared to hear some different perspectives on what a "big buck" truly is and/or be prepared to learn that some people have a harder time passing bucks than others, ahem.
I am not trying to slam anyone, but sometimes "new to Iowa" folks will get all googly eyed over what is a big buck to them and crack it the first chance that they get. These are commonly 3 to 4 year olds in the 140" to 160" range and are EXACTLY the ones not to shoot if you truly want REAL big bucks.
Neighborly conversations can get interesting when people agree to pass certain age class bucks and then someone actually shoots one, or more, of said class of bucks because, "It's the biggest buck I have ever shot...", or "I know we weren't going to shoot that one, but tell that to my son, buddy, self...etc.", or "I got all shaky and my instincts took over...", or "I only draw a tag every 4 years and it was the 2nd biggest one we had on cam and I couldn't pass him...". I could keep on going with "hypotheticals"
but the point is...in my experience, shooting the hi po 3 and 4 year olds, often greatly aided by cell cam surveillance, is the main limiter on true giants in a given neighborhood. Now then, EHD in the area trumps all of these scenarios, but is mainly out of our control.
There are many dynamics to think about, but it is best if the neighbors know each other and work together as much as possible.
I am not trying to slam anyone, but sometimes "new to Iowa" folks will get all googly eyed over what is a big buck to them and crack it the first chance that they get. These are commonly 3 to 4 year olds in the 140" to 160" range and are EXACTLY the ones not to shoot if you truly want REAL big bucks.
Neighborly conversations can get interesting when people agree to pass certain age class bucks and then someone actually shoots one, or more, of said class of bucks because, "It's the biggest buck I have ever shot...", or "I know we weren't going to shoot that one, but tell that to my son, buddy, self...etc.", or "I got all shaky and my instincts took over...", or "I only draw a tag every 4 years and it was the 2nd biggest one we had on cam and I couldn't pass him...". I could keep on going with "hypotheticals"
but the point is...in my experience, shooting the hi po 3 and 4 year olds, often greatly aided by cell cam surveillance, is the main limiter on true giants in a given neighborhood. Now then, EHD in the area trumps all of these scenarios, but is mainly out of our control.There are many dynamics to think about, but it is best if the neighbors know each other and work together as much as possible.
Trapshooter1
Well-Known Member
I agree with the sentiment of passing the 140-160" bucks. The problem with it is, everyone around me kills them I don't own enough to have sanctuary to hold them and they never leave. "Here" a 160 inch buck is big. Because everyone will massacre it. Its all fine and Dandy to act high and mighty. But if I wait for that 190-200" here. It will just about never happen.
I have a friend that owners a true sanctuary in this county. You know how many true Giants he s killed? Like 2. And thats after owning it for 30 years. His walls are filled with 150-160 inches bucks. Because his neighbors won't pass them.
Ive passed nice bucks so many times late season thinking. Just 1 more year, just 1 more year. Ya know how many repeats I have that make it and stay around......very few.
I have a friend that owners a true sanctuary in this county. You know how many true Giants he s killed? Like 2. And thats after owning it for 30 years. His walls are filled with 150-160 inches bucks. Because his neighbors won't pass them.
Ive passed nice bucks so many times late season thinking. Just 1 more year, just 1 more year. Ya know how many repeats I have that make it and stay around......very few.
If your friends wall is filled with 150-160 inch bucks, I would say he is the neighbor that won’t pass them.
Bucksnbears
Well-Known Member
Different mindset here.
I really don't want to know what my neighbors are doing and I don't let them know what I'm doing.
I really don't want to know what my neighbors are doing and I don't let them know what I'm doing.
As an out of state landowner in a couple of places we went the post closing route. Made a couple friends, had a few shoulder shrug "nice to meet you" and a definitely a few grifters that then became problems. I am nervous to share anything with them at this point...then again though I will post(ed sign) all of our places it appears to become a neon sign for the ill intent as well. Would also add that a property with visible trespass, line sitters, or neighbor presence on it would almost always be a "nope" to purchase for me. I want to find hard working neighbors and develop a cash for help relationship with them and hope it leads to a friendship. We have handed homemade baked good to neighbors we texted on the holidays just to catch them trespassing or taking advantage in the future.
To answer the question and say where I am now- say "hi" if you see them, limit information and if there is any concern get cameras up.
To answer the question and say where I am now- say "hi" if you see them, limit information and if there is any concern get cameras up.
Muddyrem
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, this is what it’s come to, and agree with you 100%. Big deer make grown men do really, really dumb things. With the condition of many Midwest herds today, the idea that there’s a 170-inch deer behind every tree just isn’t reality anymore. I can hunt my southern Iowa farms for an entire season and never have a true net Booner on camera. Even in great neighborhoods, there may only be a few mature bucks worth chasing—nothing like it was 10 years ago.
The more people you add to that circle of information, the more you decrease your own odds of being the one who tags that deer. People always say, “I’m happy my neighbor killed the target buck,” and to a point, that’s true. But let’s be honest—every one of us would rather be the one with our tag on him. Anyone who says otherwise is probably kidding themselves. Then factor in everything you’ve invested: land payments, food plots, equipment, leases, fuel, and countless hours of time. After all that, it just doesn’t make sense to give away information that someone else can use to gain an edge on the very deer you’ve worked so hard to hunt.
Be respectful. Be neighborly. But in today’s world, keeping your hunting intel to yourself is often the smartest decision you can make.
The more people you add to that circle of information, the more you decrease your own odds of being the one who tags that deer. People always say, “I’m happy my neighbor killed the target buck,” and to a point, that’s true. But let’s be honest—every one of us would rather be the one with our tag on him. Anyone who says otherwise is probably kidding themselves. Then factor in everything you’ve invested: land payments, food plots, equipment, leases, fuel, and countless hours of time. After all that, it just doesn’t make sense to give away information that someone else can use to gain an edge on the very deer you’ve worked so hard to hunt.
Be respectful. Be neighborly. But in today’s world, keeping your hunting intel to yourself is often the smartest decision you can make.
Bucksnbears
Well-Known Member
Yep!
Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
Never tell anyone you are buying a farm until it closes, especially the neighbors . I did that once and the neighbor got upset, called the realtor & made a back up offer…
It turned out to be no big deal, but if my financing had been delayed even by one day or some other minor circumstance, he could have bought that from under me !
It turned out to be no big deal, but if my financing had been delayed even by one day or some other minor circumstance, he could have bought that from under me !
CottonwoodCanyon
PMA Member
^that's a great point. I'd kind of forgotten about this but maybe 10 years ago we were looking at a 40ac piece on the edge of a small town, off market type of deal. I went and walked the place on a Saturday. Called him on Monday to discuss and all of a sudden it wasn't for sale. Turns out a neighbor saw my truck and talked him out of selling to someone "not local" and made him some sort of long term lease deal instead.
For sure with all the segmentation going on the only chance a guy has anymore is putting acres together contiguous instead of buying multiple farms. Unless you happen upon a piece in a great neighborhood but then you’re that guy! Lol but on the flipside nothing wrong with just enjoying what you have and doing the best you can with what’s available. Everybody has their own standards and goals we all started somewhere.
Snail3496
Well-Known Member
Absolutely do not make yourself known until it's closed and officially yours.
Also, be cordial and a nice, normal person to your neighbors unless they give you some crazy reason not to. You can have normal conversations without being off putting or unveiling everything you've got going on to them. And don't weave in "we're only shooting 160 and you should too!" into your first couple interactions. It's off putting to most locals.
The romantic thought of all the neighbors sharing trails cam pics etc. and everything being kumbaya is incredibly far fetched and rare and will end in your frustration and heartbreak more times than not, ESPECIALLY if you're an absentee ladnowner with no local network or connections. Too many local gossip ties you'll never outrun. There ARE occasionally a neighbor or two over the years you can have a relationship like that with but it takes years of having the place to properly vet them out and ease into that type of relationship.
Also, be cordial and a nice, normal person to your neighbors unless they give you some crazy reason not to. You can have normal conversations without being off putting or unveiling everything you've got going on to them. And don't weave in "we're only shooting 160 and you should too!" into your first couple interactions. It's off putting to most locals.
The romantic thought of all the neighbors sharing trails cam pics etc. and everything being kumbaya is incredibly far fetched and rare and will end in your frustration and heartbreak more times than not, ESPECIALLY if you're an absentee ladnowner with no local network or connections. Too many local gossip ties you'll never outrun. There ARE occasionally a neighbor or two over the years you can have a relationship like that with but it takes years of having the place to properly vet them out and ease into that type of relationship.