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Spots are still available for Marion Academy's annual fundraiser deer hunt. Contact me today for more information!

We have spots available for the hunt this weekend. We would love to have you and a friend come on down and hunt with us. The weather is cold, the bucks are coming out and chasing the does, and our ladies are making plans to cook some really good food. Just let me know, and we'll reserve your spot. Orientation and the first meal is at 6:00 on Friday evening.

Jonathan Goode   334-247-2005

Marion Academy is hosting its annual charity deer hunt January 14-16, 2011.

Our annual event is a great opportunity for you to hunt some outstanding whitetail deer in the world-renowned Black Belt of Alabama. Local landowners invite you into their best stands to enjoy deer hunting in the peak of the rut. This is your opportunity to meet some of the nicest people, savor some of the tastiest Southern food, and enjoy some of the best hunting the Black Belt has to offer.  

When? January 14-16, 2011. Check-in is from 12:00 CST to 6:00 pm at the Gateway Inn on Friday. Check-out is 12:00 after the morning hunt on Sunday.  

Where? Marion, Alabama. Accommodations are at the Gateway Inn.  

How Much? $900 includes your lodging, meals, and 3 semi-guided hunts. Additionally we provide transportation to and from the hunting spots (or you can drive), and cleaning and quartering of the game. A portion of this is tax-deductible because Marion Academy is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. You will be receipted for tax purposes. Non-hunting guests may attend the weekend for $300. Private rooms at the Gateway may be reserved for an additional $50.

What should I bring? You should bring a weapon, ammunition, flashlight, binoculars, hunting clothing, a cooler, and rain gear is recommended.

What can I shoot? Alabama law allows for one buck and one doe per day. Landowners may have additional guidelines to follow. There is also the possibility of seeing coyotes, bobcats, or wild hogs.

What about a hunting license? Each hunter will need to secure a 3-day hunting license and may need to present proof of completion of a hunter's education course.

How do I sign up? You can register by contacting Marion Academy directly by phone at 334-683-8204 from 8:00am to 3:00pm Monday-Friday. You can contact Jonathan Goode for more information at 334-247-2005 or by email at jonathan@alalandco.com.

You can pay by credit card or by personal check. If you choose to pay by credit card, please call Jonathan Goode at 334-247-2005. If paying by check, with your registration information you should mail a check for $450 to Marion Academy Deer Hunt, 2002 Prier Drive, Marion, Alabama 36756. The balance is due upon arrival.

What is the best airport nearby? Birmingham International Airport (75 miles) and Dannelly Field in Montgomery (75 miles) are both good airports. Private planes may fly into Vaiden Field 10 miles south of Marion.

Are you beginning your search of rural land for sale in Alabama? This article is aimed at providing some helpful resources to move your forward in your selecting the right property.

I deal with many first-time land buyers who are in the early stages of their search. As with many other things that you do for the first time, you have to learn as you go. Sometimes you don't even know the right questions to ask. So this piece is aimed at helping you have a decent starting point from which to begin your search.

1. What type of property you are looking for, and what features should it have? Sit down with a pad and paper and think through the reasons you are buying the property. Is it an investment for retirement? Is it primarily for recreation or hunting? Do you intend to build on the property? What features are non-negotiables? (ie… water, power, road frontage, timber, joining National Forest) It is frustrating for you and an agent to take you to several different properties before you even know what you want.

I had a prospective buyer call asking about land that was nearly 1000 acres in size. After we walked over a 78 acre parcel of timberland, he told me he would ideally like about 10 acres near a big lake. Well, nothing we talked about or looked at fit that bill. I could have helped steer him in a completely different direction if he had communicated what he wanted.

2. Who loans money for rural land, and what terms can I get? Typically we point people toward two companies that specialize in land loans: First South Farm Credit and Alabama Ag Credit. For specific loan information you should contact them directly. Generally they will finance property with 20% to 25% down and they can amortize a property out to 20 years. Interest rates are generally slightly higher than residential mortgage rates. You might also check with local banks or credit unions.

3. How can I educate myself on buying land before I actually go look at properties? There are lots of wrinkles to buying rural properties, and it is better to avoid getting an education in the school of hard knocks if possible. I would recommend visiting landthink.com to "Get Land Smart". This site features scores of articles devoted to providing information to buyers and sellers on a wide range of topics. These articles are written by professionals in many different disciplines pertaining to rural land.

Additionally, you should find a land professional in your area who can give you some good advice and steer you in the right direction. I would caution you to be aware if you call a listing agent on a particular property, that generally that agent is already working for the seller. This means that often the agent has the best interest of the seller in mind, and may not be able to provide the professional advice you desire. It is possible to enlist the help of a buyer's agent who will exclusively represent your interests. This is not required, but might prove to be helpful. In Alabama, a real estate agent should disclose to you at the first meeting how they will be working with you. (ie… seller's agent, working with you as a buyer's agent, dual agent representing both parties, or working with you as a transaction broker) This disclosure is required by Alabama real estate law.

General Advice about buying rural land:

1. Shop with an "exit strategy" in mind. Buy a property that you can re-sell if you need to in the future. Find a tract with features that others will find desirable. Many landowners I am representing today were not expecting to need to sell five years ago.

2. Educate yourself as before going to preview rural land; then while you are looking at land listen to what the agent has to say.  Don't feel pressured to impress the agent with how much you know about buying rural land. Ask questions, listen, and learn from the agent you are spending time with. If it sounds like the agent is "puffing" or trying to pressure you into something, find another agent you feel comfortable with.

3. Get your ducks in a row at the start. Abraham Lincoln once stated, "If I had eight hours to cut down a tree, I would spend the first six hours sharpening my axe." If you will do your homework early in the process, you will be ready to make the purchase when presented with the right property. You can avoid pitfalls that can be frustrating or costly down the road.

If you are searching for rural land in Alabama, contact me to see how I can be helpful. AlaLandCo has over 400 different pieces of rural land for sale across the state, so we can certainly help you locate the right tract.

If you know that someone is using your property without your permission, and you don't want it to become permanent go stop them today. See how the Alabama Supreme Court handled the boardwalk in Point Clear, Alabama, citing adverse possession laws.  Read more from al.com here.

Alalandco recently listed many new parcels of intensively-managed timberland in south Alabama. Many of these tracts have power, road frontage, creeks, good internal roads, and vayring ages of timber. These new properties are well-priced, and we are excited to help you find your perfect piece. Please check out the newly available properties:

• 62 acres in Crenshaw County for $133,300
• 109 acres in Crenshaw County for $228,900 (planted in 2001)
• 83 acres fronting on Harrison Road in Crenshaw County
• 57 acres in Covington County for $133,950
• 34 acres on Covington County Road 89 for $79,900
• 40 acres on Dry Creek Road near Opp $90,000
• 38 acres near Opp for $97,850
• 29 acres near Andalusia with good hunting, creek, and timber $58,000
• 27 acres on Covington County Road 45 for $54,000

If you would like more information about any of these properties or would like to see others, please contact me. We have over 420 tracts of land across the state of Alabama, and I would love to help you find the right property for you.

Deer hunters often wonder what is the best time to see a trophy buck. Having been an avid hunter for years and spending countless hours in the woods honing my skills, I hope to share some insights into when and under what conditions you can expect to see the biggest deer of your life.

1. As soon as you lower your gun from your treestand, and it is dangling from a rope 25' below.

2. When you get up from your ground-blind to go relieve yourself, and leave your gun behind because you tell yourself, "I'll only be a minute."

3. About 3/10 of a second after you realize you forgot to power off your cell phone.

4. The only time in your life you have ever felt the uncontrollable urge to cough, sneeze, or toot in the woods.

5. At the exact moment your hunting buddy walks up to meet you at your treestand. (This happened to my brother last week.)

6. After watching and listening to a gray squirrel scamper around beneath you for 30 minutes you decide to throw a stick at it to scare it away. Only this time when you look down, it isn't the squirrel.

7.  Immediately after you convince yourself it is too dark to see, and you need to come down from your stand. Stand up, turn around, and he will be 10 yards behind you.

8. You want to practice poking your gun out the window of the shooting house just to see what it will be like when the big buck comes out.

9. After not seeing a single deer on the coldest day of your life, the noise of your vehicle door opening spooks him out of his bed 10 yards from you.

10. October 14 and February 1 (if you are in Alabama).

11. In the back of a truck that is carrying any 7 year old girl who is out hunting for the first time or a city-slicker who doesn't understand why people like deer hunting, but decided to go with a friend anyway.

12. While you are checking that pride-swelling button buck you just downed.

13. Other notable times include: when your scope or binoculars fog up, just as you try your new game call, in your neighbor's back yard, if the chamber on your rifle is empty, or on the day you forgot to bring the release for your bow.

Perhaps you were expecting some information about barometric pressure, moon phases, ideal temperatures, or perfect scent conditions. None of that stuff really matters unless you want to film a hunt for the Outdoor Channel. All you need to do is be prepared when you least think you will see a big buck, and he will appear. It seems counter-intuitive, but here is the real nugget from this article: When nothing exciting seems to be happening in the woods around you, that is probably when "old mossy horns" is going to walk past your stand. Reflect on that next time you're in the woods instead of getting up to stretch. You'll probably see more deer, and you're less likely to drop your binoculars from 30' to the cold ground below.

Most of these "tips" are based on personal experience or on stories related by some of my other "field pro-staff" friends and relatives. The point of hunting is simply spending time in the woods. I learn or see something new almost every time I venture outdoors. Get out there and make some memories with your kids or so that you'll have your own tales to add while sitting around the campfire. Feel free to add any other "tips" you've learned in the comment section below.

Last week during my visit to Wisconsin, I had a conversation with two managers of manufacturing facilities. The conversation turned toward deer hunting and eventually the topic of living in the country came up. The manager from Alabama said, "When I was buying my house and land, I gave my Realtor only one requirement. I told her I wanted to be able to "pee" off my porch." The manager from Wisconsin said, my house is in the woods and I can "pee" off my porch."

Please understand I have wanted to write about this for a few months, but figured my wife would never let me actually post it online. My aim here is not to be uncouth, but to address one of the most important aspects of owning rural land: privacy.

I love living in the country. I am writing this article from a shooting house on our land overlooking several hundred yards of food plots we planted back in October. It is my expectation that no other hunter will show up during my time in the woods today. I grew up hunting public land and wildlife management areas, and it was not uncommon to encounter other hunters while afield. Now that I live on my in-laws' farm, I do not have to share my good hunting spots with everyone.

One of the most essential elements of land ownership is the right of quiet enjoyment. This covenant is generally made when land is transferred from one owner to the next. The right of quiet enjoyment is the promise that you will be undisturbed or that there are no hostile claims against your property. Simply, it means that the property is now yours and you may do what you like within the confines of the law.

Quiet enjoyment is foundational to freedom in our society. Rural land offers the best atmosphere for privacy. Each week I see scores of vehicles drive down to Perry County where I live with four wheelers or UTV's in tow; each driver trying to escape the clamor and cramped cities where they spend their week. As schedules allow they migrate out to the countryside where one can really soak up the quiet and let their hair down.

I get the sense that people enjoying being in the country for the same reasons I do. The countryside is much more relaxed when it comes to dress code or social etiquette. This seems to be instinctive, and even when I am showing land a spark appears in a prospective buyers' eyes as they walk a piece of property. My customers often have a moment of privacy while they are on the land. This isn't limited to men; two of the prettiest women I have ever shown properties asked to be excused while previewing a rural tract. Most people would not venture this in their neighborhoods. Out in the woods you have more freedom from social restraints.

John Eldredge makes the case that men (and many women) are "Wild at Heart". There is an innate sense of freedom that we experience in the country. Private land ownership affords us the option of escaping and excluding others and quietly enjoying what belongs to us. Privacy is a rare commodity in large cities and certainly not found in a TSA line at some crowded airport. Maybe a trip to your piece of the country is just what you need to recharge your spiritual, emotional, and physical tanks. Now get out there and make your mark on your piece of the countryside.