If hunting is one of your major pastimes, you may have thought from time to time about owning your own hunting land. After all, imagine the possibilities: you get your very own tract of land for hunting all the big bucks you want, hold onto it for as long as you’d like, and then sell it for a decent profit somewhere down the line.
As with any investment, however, there are risks to consider and questions to ask before acting. Buying hunting land will not necessarily be cheap, so you will want to make sure you are making the right decision.
With all that in mind, here are five questions to consider when buying Michigan hunting property for sale.
1. Has the land been surveyed recently?
Since you’ll be using your new hunting land for your own private hunting, it stands to reason that you’ll need to know its borders and the rights that are associated with it. Surveys are performed by professionals who will discover whether the tract has any boundary disputes or other legal problems related to it. This is all done to ensure that you, the new owner of the land, are safe from being targeted by neighbors who might have a different idea of where their property ends and yours begins.
2. How close are the adjoining neighbors?
You might think the neighbors near your new hunting land will have no effect on how you use your property, and this is mostly true. However, you will need room to hunt on your own land without necessarily coming into contact with neighbors. This could be unsafe, first of all, and also would intrude upon your ability to hunt freely on your land. In general, it’s best to buy hunting land near neighbors who share your ideological views on hunting and who will respect your property’s boundaries. This may not always be possible, but don’t be afraid to ask around to see who you’ll be hunting next to.
3. What will the taxes on your land be like?
Some people who buy vacant hunting land for the sole purpose of hunting for sport might think that taxes are nonexistent for their purchase, or at least low, since the land will remain vacant. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as the federal government taxes all land property. Vacant land is assessed differently from other types of property, like the land your house sits on, but your hunting land will still be taxed. The taxes will be based on the land’s assessment, which looks at the resale value of the property and other factors related to the location. Depending on your land size and condition, be prepared to pay a tax bill every year.
4. Is it easy to access the land?
This point should be common sense, but it’s definitely a question to consider before placing a down payment on any hunting land. Yes, the land might be ideal for deer hunting, but is it ideal for traveling by foot? What is the topography of the area? Can you access your specific land tract by vehicle? Are there areas that are potentially unsafe for hunting? These are all points to think about before signing any papers for new hunting land.
5. What does the game in this area look like?
Of course, the main attraction of buying hunting land is the game that’s available there. You have to research the tract of land you’re looking to buy to see the deer populations and discover whether it would even be worth your investment. If the area shows a respectable population of deer year over year, you may want to go for it. However, also be sure to check if it’s legal to shoot does as well as bucks, as game laws differ from place to place.
If you’re looking for hunting land in Michigan, be sure to reach out to Michigan Whitetail Properties for the best deals on Michigan hunting land, farmland, ranches, and country estates. We do this for a living, but we also live this industry every single day. Contact us today to start looking for the Michigan hunting land of your dreams!