Hi everyone,
I have been scouring the internet (including this forum) and none to my surprise I have gotten a lot of different answers. This seems like a great place for some advice tailored to my specific situation so here goes:
My wife and I are about to close on 20 acres in Central Illinois. About 18 acres is timber and reclaimed overgrown pasture, and is bisected by an intermittent stream. 2 acres is open field and a pole barn. We are neighbored by 10,000+ ac of public but our land has basically never been hunted. I am looking forward to learning and managing the land for deer (and all wildlife), and eventually building a homestead. I have absolutely no prior experience.
I am still juggling the tractor/UTV/ATV debate but everything points toward tractor. Realistically the biggest I can afford would be the 24-26 HP range. Bigger would be great but just not an option. I figure with a FEL, flail mower, and a sprayer I could basically take care of everything I need to do. Initial Trail/plot clearing, food plotting, TSI, and grass mowing/trail maintenance. I estimate 2-4 acres of total plots and 700yd worth of trails to carve out. I am concerned about getting a tractor across the creek though. I haven't seen the year-round conditions yet but when I toured the property it was only inches deep at the deepest spots and the banks are only 2-3feet at the highest. My plan is to just shallow out the banks wherever I make my trails.
Alternatives would be a UTV or renting equipment. The UTV would be more maneuverable and better for carrying chainsaws, tools, and cut wood. And cheaper. But really not that much cheaper, especially because I would still have to buy either a tow behind mower or a separate riding mower. The greatest benefit of rental equipment is the lack of maintenance liability, I can get bigger and more specialized equipment, and I can drive it like a rental! But then I only have it at my disposal when I take the time and logistical effort to rent it, so the convenience factor goes way down, and over the long run (5-7 years) I don't know that I'm saving a whole lot.
I guess that's a lot of words without asking a question. I'm just looking for confirmation that I'm making a logical decision or that I'm an idiot and need to consider some other factors. Is 25hp really too small or can I accomplish my goals with enough seat time? Is UTV and hand tools the way to go?
I have been scouring the internet (including this forum) and none to my surprise I have gotten a lot of different answers. This seems like a great place for some advice tailored to my specific situation so here goes:
My wife and I are about to close on 20 acres in Central Illinois. About 18 acres is timber and reclaimed overgrown pasture, and is bisected by an intermittent stream. 2 acres is open field and a pole barn. We are neighbored by 10,000+ ac of public but our land has basically never been hunted. I am looking forward to learning and managing the land for deer (and all wildlife), and eventually building a homestead. I have absolutely no prior experience.
I am still juggling the tractor/UTV/ATV debate but everything points toward tractor. Realistically the biggest I can afford would be the 24-26 HP range. Bigger would be great but just not an option. I figure with a FEL, flail mower, and a sprayer I could basically take care of everything I need to do. Initial Trail/plot clearing, food plotting, TSI, and grass mowing/trail maintenance. I estimate 2-4 acres of total plots and 700yd worth of trails to carve out. I am concerned about getting a tractor across the creek though. I haven't seen the year-round conditions yet but when I toured the property it was only inches deep at the deepest spots and the banks are only 2-3feet at the highest. My plan is to just shallow out the banks wherever I make my trails.
Alternatives would be a UTV or renting equipment. The UTV would be more maneuverable and better for carrying chainsaws, tools, and cut wood. And cheaper. But really not that much cheaper, especially because I would still have to buy either a tow behind mower or a separate riding mower. The greatest benefit of rental equipment is the lack of maintenance liability, I can get bigger and more specialized equipment, and I can drive it like a rental! But then I only have it at my disposal when I take the time and logistical effort to rent it, so the convenience factor goes way down, and over the long run (5-7 years) I don't know that I'm saving a whole lot.
I guess that's a lot of words without asking a question. I'm just looking for confirmation that I'm making a logical decision or that I'm an idiot and need to consider some other factors. Is 25hp really too small or can I accomplish my goals with enough seat time? Is UTV and hand tools the way to go?
, brush hog and a drag, I do have a loader and it gets used more than I ever imagined it would. For seeding and fertilizing a hand seeder works great along with a backpack sprayer and it all makes for a good workout. The loader works for picking up the deer we harvest with less effort than lifting it on a back transport rack or in the UTV box, it could also transport the firewood. I would also assume that if you wanted to upgrade down the road there would be less depreciation on the tractor. I also confess to loving the sound of a diesel while driving it! To me the UTV is basically a recreational vehicle that could be purchased down the road when money starts burning a hole in your pocket. Congratulations on the land purchase, if you're like everyone else on here you'll find yourself sitting in a stand during hunting season being distracted by your thoughts of planning out more habitat projects and when you can get to work on them, ( been tempted to get down from the tree do some) thankfully the habitat list never ends...
