Pros and Cons of WRP landowners.

The original owner received the payment 8 yrs ago. I get nothing in payments but the land reflects the value of the government payment which is significantly cheaper than typical farmland.

We went CRP instead of WRP when we went into trees. One day, we’ll have control again if we don’t sign back up for the program.
WRP is untouchable forever. Definitely pay less for WRP that the same place without it.

Re enroll?

I know a couple of large tracts of wrp sold in the area I hunt the last couple of years. These were 600+ acres in size geared for ducks and they only brought $600-700 an acre when they sold. The original landowner already essentially milked the government money so the only value left is recreational. The contracts are key as to what can be done with working the property.

It is a perpetual easement, so forever.

If the land can’t be managed, then it isn’t very valuable

W WRP u can get $ upfront or paid out over time... sounds like the landowner took the upfront lump sum.

Pros are its land and if hunting is good, great.

Cons are you can never manage the property. Just cut grass and let it be.

Depending on how much is WRP, should determine how much U should pay. If its 90% WRP, I wouldnt give $1000/acre for it, if its half and half - u can determine timber price for whats not, factor in hunting viability and how u can manage it for such, etc

Be very wary of making a large investment on land that is majority WRP (or CRP for that matter). Looks good now, but over time... u will want to make changes or manipulate the property and wont be able to do it, even tho u own it.

quote:

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If the land can’t be managed, then it isn’t very valuable

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Most WRP can be managed for wildlife. You can still put in food plots. You just cannot plant a crop for harvest. Most local offices will work with you to do everything possible for wildlife enhancement. You can put up tree stands and plant green fields. Just don’t expect to harvest timber or farm it.

We’re putting some property in WRP this yr. They visited last summer/early fall to grade it and it came in pretty high so we think we’ll get in this yr.

You can still manage for wildlife but I believe they have a food plot size restriction...so much area per acre can be planted. They gave us a plan for the moist soil area which will be around our existing pit and a bunch of the rest of the property will be planted in hardwoods. We’re going to cut some of the timber before it goes in but we were also told that the timber can still be managed once it’s in the program with their oversight. I’m sure that means no clear cutting but we don’t want to do that anyway.

You’ll see some wrp properties that have been well managed with respect to food plots, stands, blinds, water levels, etc...they’ll sell because they’re “turn key” hunting properties. Others will be tough to sell because the owners took the check and never managed anything. Once they’re all grown up it takes some serious effort to get them back into shape.