Avoid These Three Mistakes When Buying Deer-Hunting Land in New York
For deer hunters in New York state, there's nothing like owning your own land. Owning land lets hunters build a cabin and use the land for other purposes, such as snowmobiling, ATVing, and hiking. Best of all, hunters who have their own land don't have to worry about others hunting in the same area. If you're looking at hunting land for sale in New York, though, there are a few mistakes to avoid when selecting what land to purchase. Avoiding these three potential pitfalls will ensure you're able to fully enjoy your new hunting land.
Buying Less Than 50 Acres of Land
You don't need to own 50 acres of land to hunt deer in New York, but having at least 50 acres provides an important benefit. Hunters in the state can apply for deer-management permits (DMPs). A DMP is a special permit that lets you take one antlerless deer (in addition to deer allowed by other tags). While anyone who is legally able to hunt deer in the state can apply for a DMP, preference is given to landowners who have 50 acres or more of contiguous land. Thus, if you purchase at least 50 acres, you'll get to be at the front of the line for these additional permits.
Purchasing Land That's Far from Your Home
Owning deer-hunting land isn't a lot of work, but the land will require a little upkeep. You'll want to occasional repair deer stands, for instance, and you may need to mow down some areas for trails. If your land is far away, you might find it difficult to get out to your property frequently enough. Purchasing land near your home will make the trips to and from your hunting grounds shorter and give you more time for maintaining the land and hunting.
Purchasing Land That Doesn't Allow Rifle Hunting
Before buying any lot, make sure that you'll legally be able to use a rifle to hunt deer. What you're allowed to use varies by county. In Suffolk, Westchester, parts of Albany, and parts of Monroe, only bows are allowed. In Niagara, most of Erie, Orleans, the rest of Monroe, Onondaga, Tompkins, Dutchess, Putnam, and parts of Broome and Rockland counties, other firearms are allowed but rifles aren't.
Even if you yourself don't use a rifle, you should still look for land in an area that allows rifles. Your preferences may change, or you might want to bring a friend who only uses a rifle one day. If your land isn't in a region where rifles are permitted, you and your friends won't be able to use them.
To look at different tracts of land for sale, contact companies like Wellons Land and Timber Co.