Best area in NJ to buy or lease for hunting

[JoeS500]

In a perfect world if property wasn't so expensive where would you buy or lease property in NJ? I hunt zone 8,50,13 and the deer numbers are way down from what they used to be.

Let me hear some thoughts and opinions! 

Edited January 4 by JoeS500

[BHC]

The farm my father leased back in the 80s, Wantage...Rt 565/Lewisburg Rd area

[10deer]

I am in hunterdon county hunted lots of property here for 40 years still have a few 30-40 acres pieces but the deer numbers are down here also when it was the best spot back in the day

[JoeS500]

I hunt in the Tewksbury/ Readington area and the deer herds are nothing like they were even 10-15 years ago. There's some decent ones around but not like it was. A lot more bears, coyotes and bobcats on the trail cams. I'm sure the long seasons and unlimited antlerless play a role as well. 

[Eyesofthewoods]

I think there are deer in pockets all over the state.  If I was to buy land strictly for hunting purposes I would want it to be within 20 minutes of my home.  This way I can hunt often and tend to the land often without it being a day trip.  Once I’m packing a truck for a 1.5-2 hour ride it’s no longer fun just work in my opinion.  To each their own though. 

[jumpthestring]

I would look at PA or NY state. Jersey is ridiculously overpriced.

[NotJust22s]

A nice wooded piece in between mega mansions 

[nmc02]

EVERY place is expensive now.

[Gobblengrunt]

I dont think there is one zone or particular area as a whole that is better than another.  Good deer numbers and/ or mature bucks are found all over the state but in pockets throughout.  

[FeniQuest217]

You're better off picking an area where development isn't expanding. 

I agree with another post - i'd rather pick NY or PA - honestly PA might be your best bet for cost but land is just expensive anywhere.

[tcook8296]

I have hunted many pieces of ground over the years and have owned 2 hunting farms, one in NJ which I still own and 1 out of state in Illinois.

If I were to ever think about buying another one strictly for hunting which I wont, there are a  few things that would be a must for my ideal piece of ground.

Also my goal is trophy hunting so your goal may be different.

1st, it has to be in an area where historically has good genetics and good soils and produces nice bucks annually. 

I want something with water, lake stream pond etc. If it doesnt have it, you could always dig a pond but water is important.

Something with diverse habitat, some hills, bottom ground, fields for food plots and thickets for bedding. Fruit trees and Oaks would be a plus. Bedding wouldnt be a huge factor for me on the right piece, nothing a chainsaw cant fix.

Something that has a buildable lot. You dont want a useless piece of swamp ground you cant do anything with.

A must would be some type of sanctuary bordering the property and the less neighbors the better.If you dont have a sanctuary for deer to hide, you will never achieve the age structure to grow quality whitetails consistently.

Neighbors is the biggest factor I dont care how good your land is, If you have neighbors that arent on the same page as you or have the if its legal Im shooting it mentality it will never work.

Neighbors change, so whats going on this season could change next season. Also farmers with depredation permits can ruin your plans.  

Also ideally preserved farmland adjoining your property ensures it will be there forever. If its not preserved, you could have a development pop up on your border.

Another plus and something to look at is if the piece you want to buy is not preserved, you may be able to preserve it and get some of your money back.

Also, if it has mature timber, you could log it and get some return too.

To me, the neighbors is the 1st thing Im looking at. The more smaller landowners around you equals more hunters on each one of those woodlots.  

Of course the cost and taxes is a consideration, but if you want the property to hold or rise in value, the building lot is key.

Swampland will always be useless and not a wise investment.

A preserved farm with a buildable lot is the best case scenario.

Edited January 6 by tcook8296

[BowhunterNJ]

6 minutes ago, tcook8296 said:

I have hunted many pieces of ground over the years and have owned 2 hunting farms, one in NJ which I still own and 1 out of state in Illinois.

If I were to ever think about buying another one strictly for hunting which I wont, there are a  few things that would be a must for my ideal piece of ground.

Also my goal is trophy hunting so your goal may be different.

1st, it has to be in an area where historically has good genetics and good soils and produces nice bucks annually. 

I want something with water, lake stream pond etc. If it doesnt have it, you could always dig a pond but water is important.

Something with diverse habitat, some hills, bottom ground, fields for food plots and thickets for bedding. Fruit trees and Oaks would be a plus. Bedding wouldnt be a huge factor for me on the right piece, nothing a chainsaw cant fix.

Something that has a buildable lot. You dont want a useless piece of swamp ground you cant do anything with.

A must would be some type of sanctuary bordering the property and the less neighbors the better.If you dont have a sanctuary for deer to hide, you will never achieve the age structure to grow quality whitetails consistently.

Neighbors is the biggest factor I dont care how good your land is, If you have neighbors that arent on the same page as you or have the if its legal Im shooting it mentality it will never work.

Neighbors change, so whats going on this season could change next season. Also farmers with depredation permits can ruin your plans.  

Also ideally preserved farmland adjoining your property ensures it will be there forever. If its not preserved, you could have a development pop up on your border.

Another plus and something to look at is if the piece you want to buy is not preserved, you may be able to preserve it and get some of your money back.

Also, if it has mature timber, you could log it and get some return too.

To me, the neighbors is the 1st thing Im looking at. The more smaller landowners around you equals more hunters on each one of those woodlots.  

Of course the cost and taxes is a consideration, but if you want the property to hold or rise in value, the building lot is key.

Swampland will always be useless and not a wise investment.

A preserved farm with a buildable lot is the best case scenario.

Thanks for going into all that detail

[JoeS500]

Thank you for all of your input. Tcook8296 those are literally all of the things on my list but very hard to find. We have property in PA but we run into many of the issues that you listed. Many neighbors and hunters in the area. Would love a preserved farm with a bordering sanctuary of some sort in an area that's not grossly overhunted which is probably unrealistic in the state of NJ..

[tcook8296]

7 minutes ago, JoeS500 said:

Thank you for all of your input. Tcook8296 those are literally all of the things on my list but very hard to find. We have property in PA but we run into many of the issues that you listed. Many neighbors and hunters in the area. Would love a preserved farm with a bordering sanctuary of some sort in an area that's not grossly overhunted which is probably unrealistic in the state of NJ..

I have a 350 acre cemetary that borders my 51 acre farm and even that is not enough with neighbors and farmer in the mix. 

It is what it is. 

The privacy and seclusion my property  brings makes it all worth it but for strictly hunting, I would never do it in NJ

Edited January 6 by tcook8296

[trapoholic]

Why buy any land for deer hunting? There is so much land here in Sussex that never sees a hunter every year.