Buying land next to state land

[Familyhunt]

I am looking to buy 60 acres in Michigan for the family to mainly deer hunt- the land has 1000s of acres of state land bordering 3 sides. Do you think that is good or bad?

 

[yoderjac]

It depends on access to the state land for hunting. If the state land is non-hunting land, in some cases deer numbers could be high for the habitat. If the land is public hunting land, then access plays a role. I know of some places that are small and surround by public hunting land on 3 sides, but the closest drivable access point to the state land is 5 miles away. That means hunters would need to walk over 5 miles to trespass on your land. This can be ideal because you only own a small amount of land but can hunt on the public land as well with little competition.

On the other hand, I know if folks with small plots of land adjoining public hunting land with access points nearby. They get a lot of trespass from hunters using the public land that stray off of it.

So, like most things, the devil is in the details. It could be very good or very bad.

 

[Mennoniteman]

It sounds like a good deal to me. Often hunters on state land will push the deer onto the adjacent properties on the first morning of hunting season, essentially making a deer drive towards you for free. I had land against state land and then the state wanted to buy it for better access to their land. Although I didn't end up selling to them, the location increased the eventual sale price.