[greerhunter]

My pipe-dream: a small marsh/wetland/flooded fields situation located adjacent to a livable small house not too far from civilization (medical issues.) I need a place to walk or quad to from my kitchen. No more long road trips against the headlights. Home and warm in ten minutes and holler on the cell phone for my caregiver if my health goes south. Hey I'm 78 and I've done the stations of the cross--indulge me. My state is WA. My last shooting was a local club Lincoln Creek Valley, good people, known a long time, but too far to walk and they wouldn't allow quads. So guns and decoys been gathering dust while I fight various disability issues. Getting late in the day--may be my last season ahead.

I never used my VA Loan guarantee, and can afford a reasonable monthly payment. Maybe a two-bedroom cottage, something like that? I have driven the roads in Lewis County and seen places that would work--some of them lease to the club--but never anything for sale. Open to Grays Harbor County, or Mason. Heck, I'm open to MICHIGAN, since my lady-love hails from there.

Ah well, just a pipe dream.
Bill Burkett, author of "The Duck Hunter Diaries."

 

[Tim Terrell]

greer--
'Couple of buddies from high school days... and I had the same dream. We found a 60+ acre ag. property already enrolled in WRP... farmer/owner needed cash at the time and agreed to a contract sale @ $300 acre. That was 1999. Then I stepped-up and contacted the NRCS regarding the easement we operate under with them. We got federal $$$$ support to add water control structure and dike. The cost was paid 100% by federal funds.
We did a dike remediation last summer after 20 years... again all associated design specs, consulting, labor and materials paid 100% with our NRCS 'partners. I also had the entire property enrolled in Indiana's "Classified Forest" program. Yearly property taxes fell from $1,800+ to about $13 dollars and change.
Hands down, this is the smartest thing I've ever done in my life. We started with 6 partners. Three of our partners are older, non-hunters and a non-factor. One partner left and was replaced-- and one of our original partners (hunter) died 6 years ago of a heart attack.
There are only 2 of us now actively hunting and I also love working out there in the off-season... minus July and August. Sometimes September too. (WE NEED RAIN) We are 1/8 mile from a Federal refuge and the marsh is surrounded by a 700+ acre local Land Trust-- ie. absolutely no hunting and no access, just a trailhead/parking lot with a raised boardwalk through parts of the swamp. I was 45 years old when we got this ball rolling and we are now about to begin the 22nd year of ownership. It's 10 miles from my house... my other hunting partner lives right next door to the property so he can indeed ATV it.
In October, I'll turn 67 years old... still wading water, but trying to hunt safe-- and smarter as well. I am truly blessed. A private place to hunt, wade and hike in the off-season with Ethyl, my Yellow Lab. And we always get 1st pick out there... LOL.
Good luck and hope you can still make that 'pipe dream' a reality. Time's a wastin.'
--Tim

 

[mudpack]

My pipe-dream: a small marsh/wetland/flooded fields situation located adjacent to a livable small house not too far from civilization (medical issues.) I need a place to walk or quad to from my kitchen. No more long road trips against the headlights. Home and warm in ten minutes and holler on the cell phone for my caregiver if my health goes south. Hey I'm 78 and I've done the stations of the cross--indulge me. My state is WA. My last shooting was a local club Lincoln Creek Valley, good people, known a long time, but too far to walk and they wouldn't allow quads. So guns and decoys been gathering dust while I fight various disability issues. Getting late in the day--may be my last season ahead.

I never used my VA Loan guarantee, and can afford a reasonable monthly payment. Maybe a two-bedroom cottage, something like that? I have driven the roads in Lewis County and seen places that would work--some of them lease to the club--but never anything for sale. Open to Grays Harbor County, or Mason. Heck, I'm open to MICHIGAN, since my lady-love hails from there.

Ah well, just a pipe dream.
Bill Burkett, author of "The Duck Hunter Diaries."

Seems to me that buying duck hunting property when you only have (probably) one season left to hunt would not be a sound move financially.
Better to take some of that money and use it to buy hunts with outfitters who will take you to their blinds in ATV's and do all the hard work for you, leaving you to just shoot the birds.
I'm 74 and am rapidly approaching the same situation you find yourself in.

 

[greerhunter]

greer--
'Couple of buddies from high school days... and I had the same dream. We found a 60+ acre ag. property already enrolled in WRP... farmer/owner needed cash at the time and agreed to a contract sale @ $300 acre. That was 1999. Then I stepped-up and contacted the NRCS regarding the easement we operate under with them. We got federal $$$$ support to add water control structure and dike. The cost was paid 100% by federal funds.
We did a dike remediation last summer after 20 years... again all associated design specs, consulting, labor and materials paid 100% with our NRCS 'partners. I also had the entire property enrolled in Indiana's "Classified Forest" program. Yearly property taxes fell from $1,800+ to about $13 dollars and change.
Hands down, this is the smartest thing I've ever done in my life. We started with 6 partners. Three of our partners are older, non-hunters and a non-factor. One partner left and was replaced-- and one of our original partners (hunter) died 6 years ago of a heart attack.
There are only 2 of us now actively hunting and I also love working out there in the off-season... minus July and August. Sometimes September too. (WE NEED RAIN) We are 1/8 mile from a Federal refuge and the marsh is surrounded by a 700+ acre local Land Trust-- ie. absolutely no hunting and no access, just a trailhead/parking lot with a raised boardwalk through parts of the swamp. I was 45 years old when we got this ball rolling and we are now about to begin the 22nd year of ownership. It's 10 miles from my house... my other hunting partner lives right next door to the property so he can indeed ATV it.
In October, I'll turn 67 years old... still wading water, but trying to hunt safe-- and smarter as well. I am truly blessed. A private place to hunt, wade and hike in the off-season with Ethyl, my Yellow Lab. And we always get 1st pick out there... LOL.
uostill make that 'pipe dream' a reality. Time's a wastin.'
--Tim

Thanks for your message and the story of making it happen. Gives me inspiration. Bill.