Cabelas Land

[obert1]

Tony Dean Outdoors Issues

Should Cabelas (or similiar operations) be involved in real estate? Are they hurting themselves or does it matter with their involvement in hunting properties? Thoughts?

[Kevin B]

Good subject!

Whether these operations should be allowed to buy land is really not worth discussing as I doubt there is any legal means of stopping them. Heck, Japan owns 1/2 of California (exaggeration of course).

I still don't like it though. Not sure what Cabela's is doing with theirs, but I suspect it is not open to the public. If it is, then my apologies. Hunting rights are probably purchased/leased. Every day, hunting is becoming more of a rich man's sport. Land owners see their neighbors making money on hunting leases and so they jump on the band wagon. Hunter numbers are decreasing and will continue to if we are forced to compete for space on public land or shell out big $ on a lease. When hunter numbers decrease, anti-hunters gain the advantage. So, in my opinion, businesses that operate in this manner will inevitably hurt hunters and themselves. It may be 10 - 50 years down the road, but it is bound to happen.

[tjm]

It's not good for them from a public relations standpoint, but I don't think they are doing anything that wouldn't happen whether they are involved or not. I've looked at their trophy properties on thier web site before. They are just using thier name to help sell the property. In all likelyhood we are talking about property that is going to be sold for recreational purposes whether cabelas is involved or not. But I do think they may be shooting themselves in the foot, becuase people will begin to look at them as the Walmart of outdoor companies.

[hunter1370]

I agree with both KEVIN B and tjm. It hurts the hunters out there that hunt for meat and recreation but can't fork out huge amounts of $$$. They are just working themselves out of a job and destroying the future of hunting for the rest of us. But you can't blame cabelas, they are just trying to further the interests of their company. I'ts gonna be sold anyway they might as well get something out of the deal. Now Ted Turner buying up land left and right that's a different story altogether. He's got more money and land than he could spend in 3 lifetimes. I'll bet he doesn't open that up so that average joe can hunt it for free or even at a reasonable cost.

[wolfer 1]

In another thread they ask what outdoor store do you buy your gear from, my response was pretty much any where but cabela's,2 yrs. ago I lost some of my best hunting ground because it was leased too, I'll give you 1 guess. For what they paid for that lease they sure don't any more of my money, I guess I feel now like the more I spend with them the more ground they can lease and make off limits to me.

[Wildfire]

Cabelas bought some land by Fort Calhoun. They were selling it. It seemed like pretty good hunting land. They were asking around 100K just for the land alone. I believe it was 15 acres....could be wrong. But what I do remember is that the land was expensive.

[future pro]

a mile of river ground we used to hunt is possibly goin up for lease with them...needless to say they are giving 4000 for it and theres no way ill give out that money for a place that doesnt even have running water at the moment