more bad news and a ? for you all

[Hud]

Check aerial maps, and DNR maps in the area you are looking at. Then look at the public land if possible and check for sales & listings in the area. The sales might give you an idea of what is selling and the cost/ac. If you talk with realtors, they might think your ready to buy when your just looking at the area.

Do some scouting on public land. Check with locals and see what they see in the way of game.

When you think you have found the right area, watch the local papers for sales by owner and listings. Beware of property with easements, incroachments, boundary disputes. Check with the county for legal issues, proposed developments, right aways, water rights, mining, timber or crop agreements, or other potential problems before the sign. Don't buy anything without title insurance and it might be best to have an attorney look at the contract before you sign.

If you can't buy, look into a hunting lease with your brother or group. That is a whole new program with do's and don'ts.

[Overspined]

there is always public land. After many road trips nocking on doors I have some private land access, but for many years my dad  took me to public land and we did just fine! even here in Michigan where there a ton of hunters. You never have to kick people off your land, no vandals, no theft..not really a bad deal.

[Mr.Vic]

I know what i would do if it was me in trouble. Land in the family all those years and a family who hunts. I would sell it for 50.00 bucks to my kids, than when it is clear and done. I would sell everything i could do without for a while pay off as much as i could, not enough? Go bankrupt. And start over. Been there done that. Please understand that is what i would do, so i'm not giving any advice. Good luck and hate to see anyone have to deal with this. Hi. i'm vic and i been forced hunt public land.

[Ssamac]

This is a hard fit to find, but I hunt on 2.5 acres each year. The land is in town but on the very edge next to farmland. (Corn and Beans) In October, crops are still in the field. Belongs to a friend who does not hunt, 80+ years old and I split the meat with her. Costs her nothing and me nothing. (except the tags) 5 minutes from my house.
We have a State Park (no hunting) in the middle of the town where the deer bed and they pass through a gully and thru this land to the farms. I fill my tags in the first 2 days and then just go back now and then to watch the deer.

So how big, not very. Location, Location, Location  

One of the great things about trad hunting. YOu don't shoot too far.

Good luck
sam

[BobCo 1965]

I'd be inclined to lease. I personally know in my area anyway, that I could pay less for an annual lease with about twice as much land then what I pay in taxes on the land that I own.

[poison arrow]

I feel your loss. My log house in Maine is on the market. I would advise as others have. Look for land that borders a National park, forest or preserve.

[Shawn Leonard]

I agree that size is not that important. If the piece has good thick bedding cover and than some hardwoods and than some fields for food plots and what not with a good water source, 20 or so acres for one guy can be very good. With small pieces ya just have to be very good about leaving the deer a sanctuary that no one ever enters and make sure you get in and out of your stand sites very clean. Shawn

[hunterace]

thanks for all the good advice everyone...
my dad won't sell it cheap to us because it won't help him enough, my brother and i tried, first we said give it to us, then offered to buy it, but he needs a good chunk of change to get himself out of trouble.
as far as buying something i'm going to have to save for a long time, maybe by the time i die i can afford something and let my kids have it? i was hoping that my law suit would help me out, but it appears that we will not get much help from it after all.
i probably will end up hunting with my buddy and his dad for bow season. if i can't gun hunt it won't be the end of the world as long as i'm out there in bow season.
thanks again everyone

[tarponnut]

What Gene(L.E. Carroll) said above,
I would definitely have another talk with Dad.