HammerTime®: “Buying A Pig In A Poke”

Through the course of this column I’m going to focus on the ins and outs of leasing duck hunting ground in Arkansas, which probably applies in certain other areas as well. I don’t know all the answers, but this information should give those thinking about a lease, something to think about.

This time of year Arkansas leases are a hot topic in sporting good stores, chat rooms and coffee shops throughout a multi-state area. To put things in perspective, in our small section of northeast Arkansas, I know of people who are involved with seasonal leases from many different states. Some of them make regular eight and ten hours drives, just to hunt the famous Arkansas rice fields. Or, in some cases … the not so famous ones!

Now that duck season is over the emails will start piling in from people wanting to lease ground. The questions are usually similar; “If you don’t have anything to lease, can you tell me who does?” I really like it when someone asks; “Do you know of anything close to where you hunt?”, while I don’t mind the emails, this lead in brings me to my starting point.

There are a lot of rice fields in Arkansas and you can rest assured, the farmers want those fields to produce as many bushels of rice per acre, as the ground can. More rice grown in the field, normally means more grain that’s knocked on the ground during harvest. Spillage is the duck food and more duck food means more ducks … WRONG! Just because you lease a rice field in Arkansas, it does not mean that you will have a good season, lots of spillage or not. For example, in one area we have hunted for many years, we control 3,500 or so acres. We don’t flood all the ground, but we do have seven pits in the area. We also flood several rest fields, with no pits. At one time we had nine pits, but we pulled two of them, near the center of all the hunting … because the ducks did not use those two fields on a regular basis.

I can’t tell you what the difference is between locations, but there is a difference. One pit we pulled was ¾ of a mile west of one of the best scoring pits we control, yet the ducks just did not like that particular field. The other pit we pulled was no more than ¾ of a mile south of the pit that produces so well and about the same distance north of another great producer. We pulled it out of the field, smack in the middle of two excellent producers … because the ducks would not use that field. I can’t tell you why it’s that way, but it is. I wish I knew why the ducks make the decisions they do, but I don’t and no once else does. Based on what I don’t know or understand, I can tell you one thing for sure; “Leasing ground for ducks, without any previous knowledge of a particular field, or pit, is somewhat of a gamble, at best”

Having made that statement, these questions might provide some insight for those who are interested in pursuing a seasonal lease:

When should I look at a field? Looking at a field is not going to help you, unless it is when the season is open. If you look at a prospective field after season, do not expect to see the same thing during season and ask yourself why the farmer is still holding water on the field. Most farmers want to get the water off their fields ASAP, to prep it for spring planting and it needs to dry up to plant. Holding water on a field in February and March is good for the ducks and normally helps get ducks in a field. Most farmers have drained their fields, which pushes ducks to fields that normally don’t hold ducks on a regular basis and that’s not what you want.

How important is location? Location, location, location are the three key words when considering any piece of real estate. A duck lease is a real estate deal between you and the landowner … with a migrating bird controlling the outcome. With that in mind, location is of the utmost importance. Even then, think about the story I mentioned previously, related to our own locations that didn’t produce, yet were right in the middle of other excellent locations.

How many years has this field been flooded for ducks? No matter where it is, or what it’s close to, if a field has not been flooded for several years, it has no track record. Consider that high risk, but high risk can bring an exceptional value … if the ducks happen to like it.

Who leased the field last year and why are they not leasing the field again? This question needs to be asked. If the field is good, why would the people who previously leased it, not be leasing it again. I have one field leased for nine or ten years to the same group. Some years they take more ducks than others, but they are realistic in what they expect. Someday their plans will change, with the addition of more kids and members of their group moving, all of which are good reasons for letting a field go. Whatever the case many be about a field, ask the question. If possible, why not get the name and number of the people who leased it before and give them a call?

Does the pit go underwater in a flood? This is an important question and can be hard to answer. I had two pits go under this past season, which never had. It was from an eight-inch rain. The field drains could not shed the water fast enough. Had you been planning on hunting, you would have lost two days. On the other hand, if a pit is in the main flood area of a river and it’s a year like this past one, you could have a pit underwater for weeks at a time.

Is water guaranteed to be on the field and if so, who pays for fuel cost? Since diesel prices skyrocketed a few years ago, a fuel surcharge is common. In fact, I would rather gamble on the amount of fuel used to pump a field, than have it included. At least in a wet year, you don’t use as much and the field ends up costing less, but ask. In a large field, during a dry year, it’s possible to use a thousand gallons, or more, of fuel. Even figuring off road diesel, which cost less, that’s a big chunk of money and no water, no ducks!

The questions can go on and on. There are many things to consider when looking for a lease, but most importantly: “Don’t fool yourself!” If you think your going to lease a field and kill limits everyday, or even close, you’re probably wasting your time and not being fair to the landowner. I certainly don’t see anything wrong with leasing ground. The ground we hunt is leased. So what’s the big deal, you ask?

To over simplify things, if I could provide my clients with the level of success they expect and only lease one field for each group to use, I would do that, but it doesn’t work that way. Duck leases range in price from to cheap, to be worth anything, to so expensive you could buy a house for a one-season lease. Nevertheless, any given field can beat another one, any day of season. Consistent bird numbers is what makes for a really good field and consistency normally comes at a price (location, location, location). Either you are going to lease a field with a proven track record, or your going to go try and lease multiple lower priced fields and jump from location to location, when they’re hot … if they ever get hot. Whichever avenue you consider, the next time you think; I want my own duck lease … back up, rethink the questions above and ask yourself, is this the right location for consistency, or I’m I … Buying A Pig In A Poke?