This is correct - you will not have access. Lots of tracts on that list would have to be leased by a neighbor. So why put a minimum bid? The neighbors are already hunting a lot of them. If you could get $1 acre from a neighbor with access, why not? Some are hunting it anyway.

This is true. I looked at some parcels a few years ago and there was literally no access to get into them. Adjoining landowners lease them because they have easy access to the properties where the average guy cant get permission to get into them, or if can he has to be half billy goat and olympic athlete to get back in there. None of the ones we looked at had any type of road access. If ya killed something it was drag it all the way out.
The state also requires a list of names and SS#'s for whoever will be on the property. Few of the guys I was looking with didnt like that part of it either.
If they wanted to bring friend X who just showed up one weekend for a unplanned hunt to be legal with the state they had to be on the list beforehand or as the state put it "they wouldnt be on the land legally".

Did you even look at the listing of tracts? It was a whole bunch of 20-40 acre tracts. There is any number of ways the state could've acquired this land. Seizure due to failure to pay property taxes comes to mind. Secondly, the number of tracts in Walker and Winston county is astounding. It has to do with coal. My guess is that the state is the only one who would buy property that had been strip mined. I don't think your speculation that the state is "buying hunting property" is accurate. Lastly, these have nothing to do with Forever Wild. You can hunt most of those now for free because they belong to all of us.

Please think before posting disparaging remarks about a good program. Some idiot will come along, read your remarks, accept it as true, then tell his buddies. This has nothing to do with Forever Wild property.

I was corrected on that two posts later.

I still don't see why those tracts aren't put up for sale? There is always someone that will buy an asset at some price.

Lighten up Francis.

Walt I understand your feelings about the State owning land I look at it like this.

If they sell a Capitol asset to plug a funding leak, the next year the budget shortfall will STILL be there, but now the asset is gone.

The land around the State Prison above Atmore is a prime example. YEARS ago (when most of us were in diapers) this land fed a majority of the prisoners (State and County) in this state (or so I've been told). Can't work them anymore, sooooooo........

For a bunch of years it served as a half assed cattle operation. They considered selling it several years ago. It would likely have brought $2k an acre I suspect, and that only for the farmable or pasture ground. A fair amount of it is gullies, creeks, etc. and basically useless.

Then inspiration hit. They leased it out for farming (did Draper N of Mtgy the same way).

NOW, the State DOC receives anywhere from $65 to $135 an acre for farming rights (on the farmable portion of course) AND they STILL OWN THE ASSET. In 10-15 years they will get as much in rent as they'd have gotten for selling it, and they still own it, and it can still produce revenue.

Had they sold it, that money would have disappeared like a popcorn fart in a hurricane.

The OTHER SIDE to this is EVERY ACRE that gets farmed supports businesses in Atmore and the surrounding areas. Seed, chemical and fertilizer dealers benefit. Dealers sell equipment. Fuel, parts, and labor come from the local economy.

If they'd sold it, maybe some of this happens, maybe not. Word was the Indians would have bought most of it for cattle (which wouldn't have NEARLY the same affect on the local economy, not 5% of it).

In my opinion, this was a win-win.

I see what your saying, I really do.

But try having a budget shortfall in your own household.
You own land. And your heading to bankruptcy.
Think your argument about future revenues would work in a bankruptcy court?

Sell em. Fix the budget. Learn from your mistakes. Buy land back when you can stand on your own legs again.

Govts got a real spending problem in this country at every level. They already tax us for everything under the sun and want to raise them.

Time to take responsibility.

And besides, its not the govts responsibility to provide land for people to hunt.
Sounds like welfare. Subsidized hunting. Like subsidized housing.

That lands better in private hands. I'll never be convinced otherwise.
Govt screws up & mismanages everything it touches.

So how do I get on the mailing list so next year I get this?

Well today is the day! We bid and won On both the properties that are bordering our lease. So for about 500$ we picked up a little over 100ac of 70+y/o mixed hardwood and pines Thanks for the heads up in this opportunity, turned out great for us!

Anyone know if #75 got picked up?

My quess would be NO at 11 dollars an acre!

If forever wild doesn't get out of the preservation business, I may not continue to support them. They own tracts where some level of forest management could be revenue positive and biologically sound.

The properties are managed and cut on. One issue is staff and time.

X2

How can you get set up to receive an email notification about it next year.

How can you find out if it got leased out or not?

Franklin county to be specific?

Everything leased yesterday is on 5 yr leases now so shouldn't be another one for 5 years.

Did it all get leased? How can someone find out?

TTT.....does anyone know how to find out if a certain lease got leased? Also, would the ones that didn't get leased go back on the market next year?

I was at the auction and I would say about half of the state land did not get leased (a lot never does). You would probably have to call the state lands division (talk with Jay Caruthers) to see if a particular tract got leased. You can still lease a tract from them now assuming you meet the minimum price (varies by tract). They are leased on 5 year terms now, this will be the first year of the term. If a tract is not leased it is open to the public being that it is owned by the state.

And therefore open for hunting as per DCNR regulations?

That is my understanding,