Hunting rights on my rental property?

I have a home/apartment in town that I've rented for the past 15 years. The last 12 years have been to single guys (about 6 years each) the last one was an avid hunter so I just let him hunt for no charge. The property is about 20 acres and maybe 3 acres are out of town on the edge of a creek and wooded---an easy place to bag a deer or two.

I've just fixed up the place and raised the rent (the previous tenant bought a home and moved). I am considering including in the ad free hunting as part of the lease (for the lease signer only). This might help speed up the process of finding a new tenant? What do people usually pay to hunt? This is located in NE Indiana.

Not sure you find too many hunter/renters. I'd do the opposite. Exclude the hunting rights in the lease saying that is separate. Can't say how much but a lot of land is being bot by companies that just set up hunting leases. Pays more than raising crops depending upon the location. Limit the renter to use of the house and make sure it is written that others will have access to the property for hunting including yourself.

I agree with BC.

Me too, advertise the place and state that hunting rights are available if desired.

Check with your insurance company before you do anything.

We rent a couple houses on a fair amount of acreage the house rental gets the tenant the yard only.

(quoted from post at 23:54:57 12/14/20) Check with your insurance company before you do anything.

Click to expand...

Yes, that is on the agenda. I do have a rental policy it would be a good idea to check with my agent.

I’m a mechanic not a lawyer.

. Seems like Im always hunting wrenches.

Yes talk to your insurer and check state law. MN if you include hunting rights in a rental agreement you can be held liable for any hunting accidents. Now if you let someone hunt for free you are protected from liability.

Rick

Not to call anyone out, but you're getting some very wrong "advice" in this thread.

I'd get to know the new tenants first, then decide whether to allow hunting privileges.

I'll add a couple things. Make sure everything in writing says you are the sole person (plus wife if you want) who can give permission to hunt on the property. Some renter/tenants think they can so you need to be specific in the lease agreement. Same applies to a landowner lease agreement with a farmer as the farmer may think he can let anyone hunt on your ground and some may think you don't have any more rights to the land and they are in sole control.

Also make it clear that no one field dresses, cleans, leaves guts, etc. on your land. Guts from field dressing just attracts coyotes which will chase off the rest of any deer around. Those coyotes may then go after the renter's dogs, cats, etc.

Also check your state hunting laws. In KS, no trespassing signs don't work anymore for game wardens to write up hunting/fishing violations. Same for no hunting signs. KS by statute states that signage must must say "with written permission only" such as "hunting, fishing, or trapping with written permission only". If not carrying written permission then the warden can write them up.

KS also has the Purple Post law. Paint a purple stripe at least 8" tall with the bottom being at least 3' off the ground and the top being no more than 5' off the ground. Do this on fence posts, trees, stakes, etc. wherever someone may enter. The purple posts carry the same effect as the hunting with written permission only sign and a warden can write a violator up.

With all that, KS still allows a hunter to pursue wounded game on private property whether posted or not.

i will give you my advice for what its worth. i have been land lording for 20 some odd years. residential, commercial and ag. i would not give the tenant hunting rights or access to the property other than the the yard in the residence. way too much liability, and if the renter damages the property, you will probably not collect a dime and it will cost you a chunk of out of pocket expenses. have a legal written lease. have an application form filled out by the prospective tenant. run a credit and criminal background check. most services do this for around 40 dollar. the tenant pays that in the application fee. perform your due-diligence, check all the references. get a big liability insurance limit on the property. then get a liability umbrella for 3-5 million over that. that policy is cheap, 3-400 year. if the tenant does stiff you, turn the bills over to a collection agency. you probably wont see a dime, but it will show up on their credit report. study your states landlord laws and follow them to the letter. if you dont, and the shinola hits the fan and you end up in court, they will side with the tenant unless you have all you eyes dotted and tees crossed.

(quoted from post at 11:35:23 12/15/20) Not to call anyone out, but you're getting some very wrong "advice" in this thread.

Click to expand...

Why post at all if your going to leave us guessing what "advice" is "very wrong"?????