Finding a deer hunting lease can be frustrating. There are several factors to consider when exploring a hunting lease. First and foremost, is the location. You want a hunting location which is home to many deer. You should walk the land and look for deer sign like rubs and scrapes and deer tracks.  Often, a parcel of land looks good but doesn't hold many deer. Second, you want a parcel of hunting land that has cover. You need cover like a swamp or a bunch of tall switch grass. Big bucks like to lay in the switch grass during the day.

Next, you want to find a good patch of hardwoods. Preferably, you should look for hardwoods like oak, which produce acorns.  Hardwoods along the edge of a field is a terrific spot to intercept the paths of deer as they move from cover to food. Ideally, you should attempt to secure a hunting lease on a farm. If the land is actively farmed, you can expect to see deer throughout the seasons. They will never move far from the food sources. Big bucks prefer corn but also will munch on soybeans, watermelons, and they especially like pumpkins.

Finally, a most ideal spot will have all the above and also next to a river. Big deer travel the river and use it as a guide. Often during the rut, the big bucks will bed down next to the river as the river provides a water source. This is important as the deer spend many hours roaming around looking for a mate.  All of the above factors should be considering when evaluating a deer hunting lease. Below is a summary of what to look for in leasing hunting land.

• Find a good location with concentrations of deer
• Look for deer sign like tracks, scrapes, and rubs
• Look for land with cover like switch grass and swamps
• Find land with a good lot of hardwoods
• Look for food sources like farmed land or natural food like acorns, apples
• If possible, lease land that has a river that runs through the property