Author: Tina Marshall
While many buy recreational acreage primarily for the purpose of hunting, the pursuit of deer, pheasant, and other game is far from the only reason to consider purchasing such land.
Owning recreational property can be rewarding on many levels, and with it hunters and non-hunters alike have a rich array of outdoor activities at their disposal (and to offer guests, perhaps of the paying variety). Let’s take a brief survey of some of these non-hunting opportunities that recreational land presents!
Hiking
Getting out and simply walking the countryside has ancient appeal. Whether you establish a network of well-maintained trails or go cross-country, hiking serves up all kinds of pleasures: beautiful scenery, fresh air, hearty exercise—and all of it enjoyed at the easygoing, primal pace of the foot traveler.
Trail Horseback Riding
Just as pleasurable as exploring your acreage on foot? Saddling up and letting a trusty horse cover the ground for you while you bask in the views and the ambience. Owning recreational land gives you your own private equestrian paradise, whether you’ve already got existing roads or tracks to use or you establish a new trail-riding circuit.
Biking
Another way to appreciate woods and fields firsthand while getting that heart rate up. For those in search of some thrill!
Skiing & Snowshoeing
A nice winter snowpack gives you the opportunity to cruise around your property in snowshoes or cross-country skis.
Wildlife Watching & Nature Appreciation
Whether you’re a hunter with a passion for critter behavior that extends beyond the season, a dedicated birdwatcher, a wildlife photographer, or simply a general-purpose nature enthusiast, owning recreational land presents year-round wildlife-watching opportunities. Set up trail cameras to monitor animals remotely, build a blind for those highly productive dawn and dusk stakeouts with binoculars and/or a spotting scope, learn to identify tracks and scat and scrapes, and keep a field journal to track species, migrations, phenology (the seasonal patterns of plants and animals), and other nature nuggets across time.
Fishing
Pond to stream, lakeshore to backwater swamp, your recreational acreage may come already well endowed for angling, or rife with possibilities for adding or enhancing fish habitat.
Boating/Water Sports
It’s no secret that with over 15,000 lakes, WIsconsin is home to fantastic canoeing and kayaking, rafting and tubing, boating, swimming and so much more! Whether you enjoy being on the water, in the water, or under the water, there’s a fun-filled option for you and whoever you bring along!.
Logging
You may be able to harvest merchantable or otherwise usable timber from your property. Just remember to do so as part of a rigorously thought-out forest management plan, ideally seeking input from professional foresters/ecologists.
Farming
Similarly, part of your land may lend itself to farming or gardening, offering the potential for growing food or commodity crops.
Recreational Property: More Than Just Hunting Land
The above are, of course, only some of the activities besides hunting you can explore on recreational acreage—whether you pursue them alongside whitetails and turkey, or if you aren’t of the hunting persuasion at all!