Why are there homes and land INSIDE Kenai Wildlife Refuge for sale? (to buy)

[rhbj03]

Zillow shows there are homes and land there for sale. Some are very cheap because they are very remote, like around the edge of the inlet. But the raw land can be just thousands for acres. I am interested.

But I am wondering:

1. How can there be properties for sale inside a wildlife refuge?
2. There seems no roads in most parts (just a few main highways). How do people get into the remote areas?
3. Will some property be "boxed in" by other properties?
4. Can one hunt animals on his/her property inside a wildlife refuge?

[rhbj03]

For example, here is an offer of 42 acres for 82K:

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...69_rect/15_zm/

This is like 2000 per acre of forested land. Seems pretty cheap to me for such fertile land. Is there something negative about that area?

[Metlakatla]

Looks to me like OTC state land that someone's trying to flip. Don't have time to look into it right now, though.

ETA this is fly-in land, which means you'll either need a float plane or the ability to charter one. It's probably mostly spruce swamp.

Some of this land can be pretty good for hunting/fishing/recreational cabins, but you've got to have the money to access and develop it.

You can buy land like this directly from the state, although it's usually not a good idea to do so until and unless you've actually walked the property.

[AKStafford]

Originally Posted by rhbj03

For example, here is an offer of 42 acres for 82K:

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...69_rect/15_zm/

This is like 2000 per acre of forested land. Seems pretty cheap to me for such fertile land. Is there something negative about that area?

The Zillow listing says this "great hunting as its close to the wildlife refuge." So it's not claiming to be in the refuge, just close.

[arctichomesteader]

Many national wildlife refuges, national forests, national parks, etc., have private in-holdings for a variety of reasons. There's nothing unusual about it. Whether or not you can hunt there depends on the specific regulations applying to that area (federal and state, normally only state for your own land unless you're talking waterfowl). National parks are generally the most restrictive places as far as that goes.

[Haolejohn]

Originally Posted by rhbj03

Zillow shows there are homes and land there for sale. Some are very cheap because they are very remote, like around the edge of the inlet. But the raw land can be just thousands for acres. I am interested.

But I am wondering:

1. How can there be properties for sale inside a wildlife refuge?
2. There seems no roads in most parts (just a few main highways). How do people get into the remote areas?
3. Will some property be "boxed in" by other properties?
4. Can one hunt animals on his/her property inside a wildlife refuge?

1. close is different than inside.
2. They fly and pay a lot of money, or they take snowmachines in winter, or if a river is close, they boat. Basically it ain't cheap. Might cost you $2k for a RT, and if you bring supplies in, it quickly adds up.
3. Possibly, but I believe you can always have access, and power is a little interesting if it becomes available.
4. Wildlife refugees can allow hunting, and in order to hunt on your land, there are resident requirements that still need to be met.

[akpls]

Most in-holdings exist by virtue of what we call "prior existing rights." Private ownership of those parcels existed before creation of the federal reserve. Most federal agencies (NPS, USFS, etc.) don't like them at all and will often try to buy them out or make it a hassle for the private owner to access their parcel.

[6.7traveler]

The zillow listing is not an in holding as previously mentioned. It's just "close" which is a very subjective term. I'm not impressed with that listing because of having just one horrible overhead picture and a very vague description. Leads me to believe the seller has never actually been to the property. I also wouldn't describe the land as fertile .

There's a pretty sweet in holding in wrangell st Elias national park for sale right now. I believe it's about $80k for 6 acres.

[Haolejohn]

Originally Posted by 6.7traveler

The zillow listing is not an in holding as previously mentioned. It's just "close" which is a very subjective term. I'm not impressed with that listing because of having just one horrible overhead picture and a very vague description. Leads me to believe the seller has never actually been to the property. I also wouldn't describe the land as fertile .

There's a pretty sweet in holding in wrangell st Elias national park for sale right now. I believe it's about $80k for 6 acres.

My thoughts too (AKStafford, for you).