Lease cost question

[tupe]

So i am just curious. What is WRP going for per acre on average for a duck lease? Anybody know the range?

Appreciate it.

[lipsplitter39654]

12-25 per acre... that's a big gap I know but that's what ive seen. lots of these places that are grown up have some great deer hunting potential as well. if that is the case the price will likely be double the 12 price.

[tupe]

Thanks. That's the range I kinda figured.

But if anyone else has other thoughts I'd like to hear them as well.

[Wingman]

If it's the typical wrp cattail slough with trumpet creeper and brush, I wouldn't pay as much as a tract that was managed for moist soil every 2-3 years.

[tupe]

Wingman - you are spot on.

I have looked at a ton of WRP over the last few years and the range of quality of management is so strange. Some pieces are prime and others look like they have not been touched since they were built. Its a shame. I have seen the potential of what good WRP can do and it is nothing short of amazing but so much of it has been just left alone and wasted.

I love good moiste soil habitat, can't bet it in my opinion. But some folk seem to think you just scape out a few low spots and leave em wet and you got duck ground...

So not true.

I wonder what is going to become of WRP with the changes of the farm bill. I swear if people just put in the effort WRP ground would be top dollar ground and worth it.

[novacaine]

[Take 'em]

Novacaine can you elaborate on what all is needed to be done in early season for managing moist soil as far as draw down times, when to bush hog if needing or what/when to spray for unwanted weeds? I have a place we are currently working on putting in a water structure that will be a moist soil duck hole and would like more info

[SWAG]

[SWAG]

Because the link does not seem to work....

Wetland Management for Waterfowl

[tupe]

Moist soil is as much an art as a science with a liberal dosing of diligence, record keeping and luck.

The link above is a great place to start and a very well put together guide.

I have managed places from a few acres to over 1000 and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that well managed moist soil is unbeatable.

Now, to be fair, I am a wetland and waterfowl geek and I love that habitat work stretches my season to a year round deal.

But man, even on public ground, learning what wild plants and habitat attract birds in what times of year and conditions has improved my hunting success both on private and public ground, without a doubt.

[Wingman]

From what I've noticed, in most years, ducks will be in moist soil more than ag crops. The art of the drawdown in spring plays a huge role, as does putting a disk in it every 2-3 years. If left alone, a good hole will become solid cattail or willows in less than one year. And a good grass spot in June can become solid coffeeweed by August. Keep an eye on it weekly.

I have one hole that won't drain. It has been solid coffeeweed the last three years after it finally dries out in late summer. Last summer I got in an disked half of it. That disked half this year is turning into a lovely stand of duck potato. The top half is turning into a carpet of coffeeweed now. A dose of Blazer or 2,4-D will cure that.

I disk my other drainable holes every couple of years. Fall disking is easier but covers up the food. Try to do sections instead of the whole thing so that you will still have winter food and part of it will be disked and primed for next year.

The only time I use a mower is in fall to mow areas for the birds, or to control woody species or coffeeweed with a good stand of growing grass underneath.

http://www.ms-sportsman.com/details.php?id=914

[levi127]

Solid! Ive got cat tails as tall as 6ft right now in our timber hole! Killed them all 2 yrs ago and took them out. Left it alone last yr after planting millet. Went in the other day and couldnt hardly move! Ground stays damp most of the year

[Wingman]

Roundup. Just sprayed some of mine that became infested this year.

[Wingman]