Small Tracts and Big Racks

At LandandGame.com we get a wide variety of buyers looking for rural and recreational land for sale but some of the toughest orders to fill are the people looking for the perfect small tract. “Small” can mean different things to different people but for most it is less than 40 acres. When you are working with such small amounts of acreage you have to be very careful about several different variables to ensure the piece you choose will meet your needs. Here is a highlight of some of the major things you should consider when looking for that perfect small tract:

Ask yourself: what is my #1 priority with this rural property? For many of our clients the answer to this question is inches of antler, but you really need to know the answer to this question before you even start your search. What we find a lot of times is that clients have several different goals like build a cabin, fish in a pond, shoot upland birds, ride atvs, and ride horses. To accomplish all of these things on one tract is possible but chances are practicing one of these activities will make the others less enjoyable.

When you identify the one thing that is most important to you the next step in the process is to identify the features of a property that would be best suited for that activity.  From a hunting perspective, identifying the features that make the perfect small tract is the million-dollar question. One of the features we like to see is a small amount of road frontage to increase the huntable acres. This increases the number of possible stand sites and the number of options you have for multiple wind directions. The second thing we look at is the type and density of cover. This could mean that there is a good native grass stand or some cedar trees to allow for more deer to live on the property. Having more dense cover also allows you to get to your stand undetected. The last thing we look for is some kind of water source. This could be a small creek or pond, but just something so you can satisfy the big three, food, shelter, and water.

Now that you have a pretty good checklist of the components you are looking for you need to choose where you want this property to be. The common real estate theme “location, location, location” comes to mind when I start to narrow down the concerns of the small tract client.  No matter what the aerial of the property looks like, if it has a poor neighboring situation for any reason it can be a bad situation for the landowner.  In contrast, if you find the perfect neighboring situation, it can mean a great return on your investment in the form of awesome hunting memories at a fraction of the cost of a large tract. The easiest way to do this is to go knock on a few doors and see what the neighbors have to say. Keep in mind that some neighbors might have their own agenda for not wanting you to buy the property, so get a balanced group of opinions.  You should ask what the hunting practices are and make sure they line up with your management goals. You should also consider the lifestyles of your neighbors to make sure that it will not negatively impact the enjoyment of your property.  A little bit of homework at this point can really pay huge dividends when you own the property down the road.

One of the features of buying a property through LandandGame.com is tapping into our in-depth knowledge of growing and holding mature bucks on small acreages, also known as the Advanced Habitat System™. When you buy a property through us we will walk your through the step-by-step process of making the property you choose into the best property it can be. With some simple equipment you can put in a little sweat and exponentially increase your odds of success this fall on your own small tract.

Buying a small rural & recreational land tract is a great opportunity to get to know a neighborhood or to get your feet wet in the recreational land market. It can be a very rewarding experience to purchase a small tract and get world class results. If you have been thinking about buying a small tract get in touch with us and we can guide you through the process of finding the perfect piece for you. Check out our recreational land for sale inventory, or the pieces shown below, to see if they are a match!