Hunting Land Leases - AFOA

AFOA (Alabama Forest Owner's Association) runs the state's largest hunting club directory—connecting individual hunters and families with established clubs seeking new members. Instead of negotiating a land lease solo or starting from scratch, joining an existing club cuts your costs, eliminates setup work, and gives you instant access to managed habitat.

Hunting clubs solve three major problems:

• •Cost sharing: Split expenses for food plot planting, stand construction, equipment, and habitat management across multiple members. Typical annual dues run $605–$10,000.
• •Proven land: No scouting needed. Each club comes with established shooting houses, food plots, trails, and years of management data.
• •Learn from others: New hunters get mentorship from experienced club members. Most clubs explicitly welcome family participation.

• •Best for Trophy Hunters: Lowndes club (4-year-old, 120-class minimum) or Marengo (Tombigbee River, Blackbelt Region).

Best for Families: Chilton (120 green fields, campground with hookups) or Chambers (full 4-bed house with amenities). :::

Most AFOA clubs cover:

• •Hunting and fishing rights year-round
• •Food plot maintenance and planting (warm and cool season)
• •Mineral and feed sites
• •Liability insurance
• •Trail systems and road networks
• •Shooting houses and stands
• •Skinning sheds and cooler facilities
• •Bunkhouses or lodge access
• •Game management and habitat work

Nearly all AFOA clubs use QDM—a system that protects young bucks and manages harvest to grow the herd.

Common QDM rules across clubs: - Minimum buck ages (typically 4.5 years old) - Minimum point counts (8-point or 120-inch minimum) - 2:1 doe-to-buck ratios for herd health - Selective harvest of mature bucks - Controlled burns every 3 years on many properties - Harvest data collection and cooperative management

Clubs like Petrey Farms (Crenshaw) and Clarke have been under strict QDM for 20+ years and produce mature bucks in the 140–170 class.

• •Deer: Primary game at all clubs. Most allow 2 bucks and unlimited does. Some limit doe harvest to bow season or off food plots.

• •Turkey: Available at most clubs (2 gobblers typical). Some clubs offer turkey-only memberships ($1,300–$1,500) for hunters focused solely on spring season.

• •Feral Swine: Offered year-round at several clubs, no limit on harvest.

• •Dove: Separate season-specific hunting at some properties.

• •Fishing: Many clubs stock lakes with bass (10–13 lb range), bluegill, and crappie. Some include fishing in dues; others charge daily rates ($75).

• •Monthly payment plans: Some clubs offer flexibility. For example, Sumter clubs accept $2,850 upfront plus $150/month to spread operating costs.

AFOA clubs range from primitive to full-service:

• •Minimalist: Primitive campsites, basic stands (some day-hunt-only clubs)

• •Standard: Bunkhouse, shooting shed, 20+ food plots, multiple stands

• •Full-service: 4-bed houses with kitchens and washers/dryers, RV hookups with power and water, walk-in coolers, commercial grills, fishing lakes, and 100-yard rifle ranges

• •Example—Southern Sportsman Lodge (Sumter): 18 hotel-style rooms (sleep 4 each), RV park, 100-yard rifle range, bow range with 3D targets, skeet range, 7-acre bass lake, and walk-in cooler.

• •Step 1: Browse AFOA's hunting club listing at afoa.org

• •Step 2: Contact the club coordinator by phone or email

• •Step 3: Visit the property (most clubs allow pre-season tours)

• •Step 4: Review membership rules (buck minimums, harvest limits, guest policies)

• •Step 5: Submit membership application and pay dues

AFOA maintains two hunting communities for general questions and networking:

• •Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/AFOAHunting (hunting techniques, gear advice, member connections)
• •MeWe Hunting Group: mewe.com/join/afoahunting (hunting tips, safety, harvest reports)

• •Address: P.O. Box 361434, Birmingham, Alabama 35236

• •Phone: (205) 624-2225

• •Email: [email protected] (general inquiries) | [email protected] (club advertising/membership questions)

• •Website: afoa.org