Lost hunting land. Same ol story.

hot_rod_eddie

Six Pointer
I have been friends with the land owner for 30 years. He was a friend of my dad's. He was my dad's age so it was tougher for him to do bigger chores on the 100 acre farm. I started helping him fixing fences, cutting up trees that fell into the pasture, etc. I was just starting hunting and he would let me hunt his place.
We became good friends. He taught me everything I knew about turkey hunting. When I moved out of state, every time I'd come home I'd call and see if he needed help. Most of the time he did. I would sometimes hunt when I came home.
Moved to NC 8 years ago and I started hunting there again (2 hours away). Always helped him on the farm and around his house as he got cancer and was unable to do many things.
Our relationship was to the point when my dad was around our friend would tell my dad when referring to me as "our son".
I bought land in NC and rarely hunted that farm, but I would still go help when I was in town. After my dad retired he was interested in hunting deer so I would go sit with him. After every hunt our friend would be there feeding cows or something. We would talk for hours or I would work on something that needed done.
My friend told me multiple times that no matter what happened to him he had instructed his family to always allow me to hunt. I appreciated how much he appreciated me.
He died April 2023 at the age of 73. I still called the wife multiple times to see if she needed anything. I didn't hunt that farm last year as Dad was too busy.
Dad was interested in going the gun opener this year, so I called the wife. She informed me that she leased the land and only family is allowed to hunt. Funny thing is the only family that hunts is a son in law that married in a few years ago.
I don't really care about the hunting, but it hurts my feelings that they would forget about all the help I provided because the son and daughter didn't help out. I am also very disappointed that they didn't honor the wishes of my good friend. I still think of him every time I go hunting.
Thanks for letting me vent.
 

sky hawk

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Good on you for helping an old man. Everyone knows that it's completely up in the air when that LO passes though. That strong relationship you had with him, may mean very little to another family member.

You're right, it's the same old story. I get it, but I feel like a long term relationship like that at least deserves a first right of refusal to lease the property at whatever rate they choose, or at the very least a phone call to let you know what they are doing with the land. We have had similar situations. I understand when they decide to go a different direction, but at least communicating with someone who had a decades-long relationship with the LO AND with the land (improvements) would be a minimum courtesy. It may be that they just forget, but I suspect they don't want to have that conversation.
 
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Roanoke

Eight Pointer
Changes in hunting land will always take place. I am a member of a club that had been hunting a track for over 100 years that we lost.
 

fowlhntr

Eight Pointer
Sad to say but I’ve been thru almost the exact situation more than once. Have one farm now that the farmer passed but his wife still allows me total access. I know as soon as she’s gone their kids will sell the place. One recently referred to it as his land in a conversation. It’s just a matter of time
 
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