Toby Stay - IL LandGuys Broker

08/10/2026

Another western Illinois property officially closed.

It was a pleasure working with Shane Yearian Illinois Land Specialist, Trophy Properties, who brought the buyer for this exceptional 120-acre Jersey County property.

Like a lot of real estate transactions, we had a few bumps in the road along the way. But through open communication, flexibility, and a willingness on both sides to keep working toward the same goal, we were able to get this one across the finish line.

That’s an important part of this business that doesn’t always show up in the listing photos. Getting a property under contract is one thing. Helping everyone navigate the details all the way to closing is another.

Congratulations to the new owners. I’m sure they’re going to enjoy this property, and I’m looking forward to hearing how their 2026 deer season turns out!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling hunting or recreational land in western Illinois, I’d be glad to visit about your goals.

Toby Stay | LandGuys, Broker, helping people sell, buy, and steward the land they love.

08/09/2026

A Sunday Scroll I hope you take the time to read!
If you're thinking about selling a hunting property, start running trail cameras NOW. 🦌📸

One of the most valuable marketing tools for a quality hunting property isn't something your broker can create after you decide to sell.

It's history.

For many serious hunting-land buyers, the potential to consistently hunt mature bucks is one of the biggest reasons they're making the investment in the first place.

Good habitat, food plots, access, water, timber and neighboring management all help tell that story.

But when I can show a buyer recent trail camera pictures of mature bucks AND several years of history showing the caliber of deer the property has produced, we're no longer asking that buyer to simply take our word for it.

We have proof.

In my experience, that can move a hunting property toward the top of a serious buyer's list.

That's why I tell landowners: don't wait until you're ready to sell to start thinking about marketing. Save those trail camera photos. Keep them organized by year. Document improvements. Photograph your food plots. Keep harvest history when appropriate.

You may be building the marketing story for your property years before you ever put a FOR SALE sign in the ground.

LandGuys' latest article does a good job explaining why marketing rural land requires a completely different strategy... and why understanding what your particular buyer values matters more than simply generating clicks.

Read: Marketing Rural Land Is Different — Why the Right Strategy Matters

Every Property Tells A Story. Make sure you have the history to PROVE yours.

Toby Stay | LandGuys, Broker, helping people sell, buy, and steward the land they love.

Marketing rural land is about far more than placing a property on the MLS and waiting for buyers to find it. Every rural property has unique features, a different audience, and a story worth telling. Clicks don't sell a property, but the right marketing strategy will.
https://landguys.com/marketing-rural-land-is-different-why-the-right-strategy-matters/

08/07/2026

If you're searching for a premier western Illinois hunting property with proven habitat and the potential to consistently produce quality whitetails, this 90+/- acre Hancock County farm deserves your attention.

Located just south of LaHarpe, this property offers an outstanding combination of thick timber, rolling ridges, established food sources, and excellent access. The mature timber provides exceptional security cover, allowing deer to spend daylight hours on the property while the rolling terrain naturally funnels movement throughout the farm.

Strategically positioned, secluded food plots have already been established and serve as ideal staging areas for mature bucks during the rut. Combined with approximately 18 acres of tillable ground, you'll have the flexibility to leave standing grain for late-season hunting or continue managing the farm to maximize its wildlife potential. The combination of food, cover, and water creates the type of habitat serious hunters are always looking for.

A year-round creek winds through the property, providing a dependable water source for wildlife, while an extensive internal road system allows easy access to nearly every part of the farm. Whether you're checking trail cameras, refreshing food plots, or heading to a stand, the well-maintained roads make travel by golf cart or electric bike both convenient and quiet.

One of the property's biggest strengths is its recent trail camera history. The quality of deer using this farm is impressive and reflects the strong genetics found throughout this part of Hancock County. It's the kind of property that gives you confidence every time you pull a camera card.

Beyond its recreational appeal, the property also offers hardtop road frontage, utilities at the road, and several attractive locations for a home or hunting cabin. Whether you're looking to build now or in the future, the accessibility and infrastructure are already in place.

Properties that combine proven habitat, quality access, build-site potential, and a location in a well-known western Illinois whitetail neighborhood don't become available often. If you're looking for a farm that's ready to enjoy this fall while offering long-term recreational and investment value, this Hancock County property is well worth the trip to see in person.

Toby Stay | LandGuys, LLC - Broker, helping people sell, buy, and steward the land they love.

08/05/2026

07/27/2026

The western Illinois land market continues to move.

Over the past three months, I've had the privilege of helping buyers and sellers with more than 2,600 acres of land that are now sold or pending across western Illinois.

Those properties have ranged from hunting farms and recreational land to investment properties, and one thing has remained consistent...

Serious buyers are still looking.

Many people ask me if now is a good time to sell.

The answer depends on your goals and your property, but today's market continues to show that quality land attracts qualified buyers.

Whether you're thinking about selling next month or next year, the best time to start the conversation is before you actually need to sell. Planning ahead gives us time to build the right strategy for your property.

If you've been wondering what your land might be worth, I'd be happy to visit.

Thank you to every buyer and seller who trusted me over the past quarter. I truly appreciate the opportunity to help people buy, sell, and steward the land they love.

Toby Stay | LandGuys, Broker, helping people sell, buy, and steward the land they love.

07/24/2026

If you're shopping for hunting land in late July, there's one question everyone asks first...

"What kind of bucks are using the property?"

This Fulton County 80 answers that question pretty quickly.

But here's what I always tell buyers: trail camera pictures are only part of the story.

The deer you're seeing are a result of good habitat, quality food sources, strong cover, smart access, and a neighborhood that consistently produces mature bucks.

There's another advantage to this property if you're hoping to hunt it this fall.

The current owner has agreed to allow early access so the new owner can begin food plot work and hang stands before Illinois archery season opens.

With deer season only a couple months away, that's a tremendous opportunity to get the property ready before opening day.

If you're serious about owning your own hunting farm this season, I'd be happy to show you around.

Toby Stay | LandGuys, Broker, helping people sell, buy, and steward the land they love.

07/22/2026

Some opportunities are worth trusting.

This 84-acre Schuyler County hunting property is officially SOLD, and this closing came with a story I'll always remember.

The buyer was a first-time land buyer who purchased this property without ever seeing the property.

That wasn't because the property didn't matter—it was because they had confidence in the information, the process, and my evaluation of the farm. We spent a lot of time discussing the habitat, access, layout, neighborhood, and long-term potential before they made the decision.

Buying land is a big investment, especially your first piece. Being able to help someone take that step with confidence is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
My goal isn't to sell someone a property—it's to help them buy the right property!

Congratulations to the new owner, and thank you for trusting me to help make your dream of land ownership a reality.

If you're looking for hunting land in western Illinois—or thinking about selling—I'd be glad to help you build a plan that fits your goals.

Toby Stay | LandGuys, Broker, helping people sell, buy, and steward the land they love.