After you’ve decided to purchase hunting land, the next step is a tough one: finding it. And not just finding it, but seeing and touching the place that’s most suitable for you in that it’s affordable, accommodates whatever needs you have and is a short drive from home if it’s not going to be your primary residence. Once the paperwork is complete and the money transferred, the place is yours to do what you will. If it were up to us, we’d quickly start thinking up a good name.
We all have different names to describe our property. Some simply call it "the farm" or "the ranch" whereas others incorporate proper nouns like "Turkey Trot" or "Harold's Hideaway." The name could be known only among your group of friends or shown to the public by way of a stand-alone or gate sign.
In naming a piece of land you’re afforded the opportunity to learn its layout, figure out the particulars, and study what makes it unique. Most people, for whatever reason, name their children weeks in advance of birth. (Perhaps our society should consider giving little ones a few days to squirm around to help us pinpoint a name, but that’s neither here nor there.) But with land, it can be yours for years before the right name comes along. Heck, we know some folks who simply call their property “the land” and always will. If you want to give your hunting land a proper name, there are a few factors that may just help you out.
The Region
Many places acquire names that are region specific. Typically, any plot of land in Texas (or further west) larger than 100 acres is called a ranch. In the lower Midwest/upper Southeast you’re likely going to find “farms.” From the deep south up the eastern seaboard you’ll find a lot of “hunting clubs,” even if it is privately owned. Listen to what others are saying. If you’re in farm country, fill in the blank. ______ Farm
The Landscape
Perhaps it’s a river dividing two sections of the property that inspires a name. Maybe it’s a hilly tract or something so flat you can see beyond the horizon. It could be laden with cedar groves or oak ridges. What is it about the landscape that makes your property unique?
The Animals
What kind of game animals dominate the property? Or what kind of animals do you wish to hunt the most? Combined with the landscape, is your new hunting paradise a “Deer Valley” or “Turkey Ridge?” Perhaps at an earlier time it was a cattle farm or maybe draft horses were raised there. The history can also play into the naming process.
The End Goal
What’s the property used for? Will you do more hunting, farming, socializing or all three? Identifying its main uses can help clear a path to the proper name. And, luckily, names can change over time. It’s not like you have to get it a birth certificate.
