Buying A Tiny Piece of Heaven

[FishSticks]

I've thought about this very thing a lot. It would be very sweet to build a few duck blinds on your own slough or pit in a field, not worry about your tree stands getting stolen and have a place to call your own.

As sweet as that would be having your own piece of land there is something to be said about being able to go wherever to hunt without thinking twice, not having to put in a ton of time for property upkeep and not having those extra costs.

If the situation presented itself it would be hard to pass up. Maybe someday I could be fortunate enough to be in that sort of position.

 

[Duckslayer100]

I've thought about this very thing a lot. It would be very sweet to build a few duck blinds on your own slough or pit in a field, not worry about your tree stands getting stolen and have a place to call your own.

As sweet as that would be having your own piece of land there is something to be said about being able to go wherever to hunt without thinking twice, not having to put in a ton of time for property upkeep and not having those extra costs.

If the situation presented itself it would be hard to pass up. Maybe someday I could be fortunate enough to be in that sort of position.

See. And that would be my ideal: own a chunk that you could have a place AND hunt.

But realistically, I want a tiny footprint that's easy to maintain. That's what my buddy has, and it's perfect. Small shack with a kitchen, storage closet, bedroom with some bunk beds and a living room. It has a fridge and a sink, but no running water. Just a shitter out back.

I think two summers ago they reshingled it, but other than some basic, basic maintenance they hardly touch the place. And they live in the Twin Cities! I'd be in Fargo. It would be nothing to zip out on a weekend in the summer to do some basic maintenance and just enjoy the quiet of country Nodak in the summer. Have a fire in the fire pit. Drink adult beverages. Let the dogs lay around or jump in a slough somewhere.

Then when it's hunting season, have a place to eat breakfast, take a siesta after the morning flight, cook up some birds from the day's take, and dry waders for the next day.

 

[FishSticks]

See. And that would be my ideal: own a chunk that you could have a place AND hunt.

But realistically, I want a tiny footprint that's easy to maintain. That's what my buddy has, and it's perfect. Small shack with a kitchen, storage closet, bedroom with some bunk beds and a living room. It has a fridge and a sink, but no running water. Just a shitter out back.

I think two summers ago they reshingled it, but other than some basic, basic maintenance they hardly touch the place. And they live in the Twin Cities! I'd be in Fargo. It would be nothing to zip out on a weekend in the summer to do some basic maintenance and just enjoy the quiet of country Nodak in the summer. Have a fire in the fire pit. Drink adult beverages. Let the dogs lay around or jump in a slough somewhere.

Then when it's hunting season, have a place to eat breakfast, take a siesta after the morning flight, cook up some birds from the day's take, and dry waders for the next day.

That would be sweet.

I probably won't be able to buy a chunk of land anytime soon but the goal for the next house would be close enough to the sand hills / outside of Fargo to shoot bow in the back yard, let the dogs run around the backyard without worry and have a tree stand within a few miles. Commute to Fargo every day or ideally work from home.

 

[3Roosters]

Long winded true story. haha
About 10 yrs ago, my hunting buddy and I would frequent the same area each hunting season a few hours from home. We would stay in the small town local motel 3- 4 times per rooster season. We happened to be equal opportunity spenders...be it the motel, local watering hole, café, c- store, etc. We put out the feelers each year that if something should come up for sale in town that we may be interested. Then..it happened..during a visit to quench our massive thirst one evening..a lead of a house coming up for sale came up in our conversations with the bar keep.
Well...we tracked down the owner before he listed it..it was not in very good shape...back lawn hadn't been mowed in like 5 yrs and the guy who had lived there before he died was a hoarder, I swear. Cement basement was full. Backyard had equipment hidden in the long grass. Price was indicative of the condition of the place.. Buddy and I decided to make an offer for the place at that low amount...knowing full well there would be a lot of sweat equity that needed to take place before it was livable..perhaps even delaying a hunting excursion a weekend or 2 until we got it ship shape. We fiddled around with the place pretty much anytime we were there, doing this and that.
That was like 6 summers ago when we closed on the place....we invited friends and wife's one weekend and did a number on that house...guys painting outside, recaulking windows and doors, shingle the mudroom. painting the garage..and cleaning up the yard and trees. women folk taking care of painting and organizing inside. We rented a roll off for the month to toss crap. Wasn't too many weekend trips later and that place was a nice little hunting shack!! We spent many many weekends using that place as our headquarters.
The local watering hole also produced friendships with the local folk...some farmers allowing us to hunt their land..one became such a good friend..not only did he let us hunt his land..he also went with us on more than one occasion..SHOWING us where he had seen birds earlier! Deer hunting..same thing..we would go hunting with him on his land or land that was posted but that he was ok to hunt on. We would bring packages of fish when we visited him..and others... I can't say that enough folks...IF SOMEONE ALLOWS you to hunt on their land..give them something either that time or the next time or whenever you are in the area.!! We really didn't need to buy land as we harvested good relationships with some of the local folk.
We even worked a deal with a neighbor...we would buy him a jug each month if he would do our lawn when he had his rider going..ahahaa..hey..saved us a trip.
Although we still hunt in that area from time to time..buddy and I decided to sell a couple years ago...first and foremost it was because of the housing shortage in that neck of the woods during oil boom and we were able to turn an excellent profit after only 4 yrs of ownership. We just hotel it now.
I'd say go for it if you find the right price and are wiling and able to put in the sweat equity.

 

[johnr]

Buying with a buddy is a risky venture. You never are truly "friendly" enough to weather some of the tidal waves that might arise.

I can honestly say, I don't have a friend that I think this would work out for me with. Not that I don't have good friends, but I like things my way.

 

[Duckslayer100]

I really have only two friends, and both are honest-to-God Eagle Scouts. On top of that, they are Type A organized and have a way of squeezing every second out of a 24-hour day.

If I went into a cabin, it wouldn't work because I'D be the loose link in the chain, not them.

 

[ndbwhunter]

pittance doesn’t’ exist anymore, however option B might be pick any handfuls of small towns through the central part of the state and pick up an actual livable home for less than a new pickup… will probably need work but most likely be 15 minutes from hunting and fishing
A real quick internet search came up with these:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/210-Main-St_Wing_ND_58494_M84956-02359#photo0
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/613-2nd-Ave-NW_Ashley_ND_58413_M81526-04301
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/836-Meadow-Ln-Harvey-ND-58341/115830032_zpid/
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/207-1st-Ave-W-Gackle-ND-58442/2099819057_zpid/
…not knowing were “home base is I tried to scatter the search

This is something that I've often considered. Just haven't had the time or the money to make it happen. There are plenty of small towns within minutes of WMAs and PLOTS land. On another note, the forest service still issues recreation use permits that will allow you to build a cabin on their property. I believe you have to pay a yearly lease, but it's not much. There are tons of private cabins on forest service property in MT. Not sure if the same could be done in the grasslands.

 

[3Roosters]

Buying with a buddy is a risky venture. You never are truly "friendly" enough to weather some of the tidal waves that might arise.

I can honestly say, I don't have a friend that I think this would work out for me with. Not that I don't have good friends, but I like things my way.

This!!! was another major reason we sold. Expenses were being split evenly versus fairly based on usage of said hunting shack. I was unable to visit shack as often and thus thought I was taken advantage of when it came time to fill fuel oil tank, hunting guests using my room ..etc...At the end of the day, I would not do it again. I would do it solo.

 

[Allen]

I have a share of a small house in a great little small town.

Since kids came around, it doesn't get used like before, by any of the owners. It's relatively inexpensive to own though, so I hope as the kids get to hunting age that its use once again climbs. We sure had a lot of great weekends spent using it as a basecamp for deer, grouse, pheasants, etc.

Just be realistic about costs and expectations.

 

[Kasey]

If you happen to find a house to buy in a small town and you get settled in, be sure to keep a few abandoned rusted automobiles in the yard, don't paint the shed, and maybe have a few dogs that run loose and shit in everybodys else's yard, but yours. It's better to blend in, than appear as a snob or outsider. I'm not there yet but I'm learning. haha

 

[johnr]

If you happen to find a house to buy in a small town and you get settled in, be sure to keep a few abandoned rusted automobiles in the yard, don't paint the shed, and maybe have a few dogs that run loose and shit in everybodys else's yard, but yours. It's better to blend in, than appear as a snob or outsider. I'm not there yet but I'm learning. haha

haha

 

[1bigfokker]

go to the county courthouse (website in some counties) and they should have a list of delinquent taxpayers. I think you have to wait until Oct.1 to purchase. I did that for my home lot 3000 now worth 80000. good luck