What do you want to do with your land? Before we can recommend how much land you might need, it’s important to identify how much land you want and why you want it. For some, escaping the city is the primary motivation for purchasing acreage. These folks typically have no plans for the land other than seclusion, so the amount of acreage is completely up to their preference. Others are venturing to start or expand a working farm while others still are just looking for a prime spot to hunt.
So, let me ask you again. What do you want to do with your land?
Hobby farm – 15 to 40 acres
When starting a farm, first ask yourself what your goal is. This will dictate how much land you really want. If your goal is to have small garden and a coup full of chickens, you may only need a few acres. For an aspiring, self-reliant homesteader, purchasing the right amount of land is crucial. We recommend starting with anywhere from 15 to 40 acres. The 15 acres would allow about 10 acres of pasture, 2 acres for produce, 1 acre for an orchard, and the rest for buildings. If you’re going to have horses or cows grazing, it’s best to budget for no less than 1.5 acres of grazing land per animal. Chickens can thrive on about a quarter acre, and goats should be allotted about a quarter acre each.
Keep in mind that taking on too much land will stretch yourself thin but investing in too little land could lead to a failing farm fast. We highly recommend discussing your farming goals and plans with one of our qualified real estate agents to get an idea of how much land would be a good fit for you.
Hunting land – 5 to 60 acres
Acreage needs for hunting land varies greatly depending on the following factors:
- The type of wildlife you plan to hunt
- Your style of hunting (bow, rifle, etc.)
- The number of hunters
Deer
The ideal size land for rifle hunting deer is about 50 acres. If a person is hunting along, you could get away with as little as 10 acres, but this would present challenges. Unless you are a perfect shot, it’s likely that you would be tracking wounded animals onto other people’s property. Bow hunting, on the other hand, could easily be done on 10 acres.
Turkey and Whitetail birds
You don’t need as much land for hunting birds. A 5 acre open field would be about the minimum we’d recommend. The key to good land for hunting birds is woods mixed with an open field plus a water source. The combination of these three factors would make a 5-10 acre lot a perfect spot for hunting.
When purchasing hunting land…
Acreage isn’t the only thing to think about when scouting out the perfect hunting land. One thing to look at is the health and type of trees on the land. Any signs of dying trees or bugs might be a red flag. You also want to look at the trees on the surrounding property. If there are better trees right next door, the wildlife may just hand out on the neighboring property. Same goes for a water source. Be sure there is a water source on or near the property to give the animals a reason to pass through. Another factor to consider is how accessible the property is. Especially if you plan to lease the land to hunters, you’ll want to be sure the land is not too far from medical services, stores, and other conveniences. Lastly, ask about potential development in the area. This hunting land won’t be good for long if others are planning on building residential or commercial properties nearby.
We have a variety of rural property available in Southwest Missouri. If you’re interested in finding the right acreage to meet your needs, give us a call. We’d love to help you find the land you’ve been looking for. Contact one of our qualified realtors at 417-777-3300 or send us a message on our website.