We field thousands of questions each year from candidates. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Q1: What is included in my dues if I join a Wildlife Cooperative lease?
A1: Membership dues cover professional wildlife management consulting services, hunting rights, and liability insurance. Other services such as food plots (lime, fertilizer, seed), lodging and utilities may also be included on some properties.
Q2: A forester was on the lease today and said that a timber cut is about to begin. Can we require the loggers to wait until hunting season is over before cutting timber?
A2: No. Timber markets fluctuate based on supply and demand. When retailers need more lumber, the ripple effect means sawmills up their quotas of logs. A timber sale contract typically gives the logger a window of time (can be 6-18 months) to harvest the trees. Each logger juggles multiple logging sites based on weather conditions, sawmill demands for specific sized logs, and travel distance to the mill. Bottom line is that loggers work year round and cannot afford to curtail during deer and turkey season.
Q3: If loggers cut timber on my lease during hunting season, do we get a partial refund?
A3: No. If landowners had to operate on those terms, there would be no hunting leases.
Q4: The landowner drove through the property when I was there. Would you please advise him to give us a courtesy heads up when he plans to be on the property?
A4: No. You purchased hunting rights; not ownership rights. Your rights give you limited access for hunting and camping. The landowner will respect your rights to enjoy the land while managing his/her property such as repairing roads, inspecting timber for beetle damage, feeding cattle, and cruising timber.
Q5: The rules state that each member is allowed to kill 2 bucks age 4.5 or older. If I don’t kill a buck this year, would my quota rollover so that I am allowed 4 bucks next year?
A5: Uh…..no. An applicant actually asked that question several years ago. We laugh about it to this day.