Hunting leases ??

JDemaris · Oct 25, 2010

Anybody ever leased their land out to hunters? Just got thinking about it as a way to off-set taxes a little. For years I've let anybody hunt that asked . . . for bear, deer, turkey, grouse, etc.

I have no idea what rates are normally charged. I've got woodlands and wetlands in many areas of New York and northern Michigan. Some attached to large State and Federal forests.

NawlensGator · Oct 25, 2010

6 of us lease 1200 ac in Tx for $9000 / yr.

We get along well with the ownwer who ran off the last bunch because they were tearing up his property. Be selective who you lease to and talk about what to do and not to do up front.

kyle.fenstermaker · Oct 25, 2010

Some in this area are getting 3-5 per acre, but some are getting as much as 10 per acre depending on location. Word of caution, be careful who you lease too and have a legal document drawn up, signed, notorized, the whole sh-bang. You need to be able to legally throw them donkey butts off your property if they don't comply with your rules. Trash, disregard to your property, and wildlife management rules are the biggest problems with most leasee's.

John T · Oct 25, 2010

Yo JD, sounds like a plan to me. My nephew just called last week concerend with the liability issues when hunting or leasing property for hunting purposes and I told him the main issues were that the lessee hunter assumes all risk of personal injury and property loss and agrees to hold the Lessor harmless therefrom WHICH IM CONFIDENT YOURE ALREADY WELLLLLLLLLL AWARE OF. The lessor still retains some duty of care, but its not all that much, maybe warn of any known hazards and dont have any booby traps and, of course, Id want it in writing so long as its not overly complicated so the old "meeting of the minds" doesnt become an issue as Courts construe contracts strongest AGAINST the party who prepared them ya know.... The simpler the better and absent any lawyers mumbo jumbo is better yet so BOTH lay person parties fully understand it.

Maybe you can open up a working Dude Ranch so all the rich city yuppies turn out and line your pockets???

Take care JD, I wish you would get to the 2011 NY State JD Expo (Canandaguia) sometime where a bunch of us meet up for a cookout and adult barley soda beverage party at my RV????

John T

Anonymous-0 · Oct 25, 2010

I lease 400 acres for $3000.00. This will be the 5th year and I am very happy with this setup.

A group of 5 guys hold the rights to hunt. In return I get some income, know the place is being looked after and get some meat I dont have to drag out of the woods.

Its a great setup for me.

Bryan inIowa · Oct 25, 2010

I belong to a group that leases 600 acres in NE Iowa . 2500 year we have old trailer house there , year round use . Camping , fishing trail riding , deer hunting . We pay our electric . We can cut firewood. We keep the place clean and mowed up around trailer. Real nice owners . $2500 year .

bison · Oct 25, 2010

Here in Canada it is against the law to charge anybody for hunting on owned land.
One can't even charge a hunting outfitter/guide,who himself makes good money of the customer.

So i said,p"ss on you all,buy your own land if you wanna hunt.

VaTom · Oct 25, 2010

I keep my lease real cheap, have the same guys every year who are always ready to lend a hand when I need it, hunting season or not. As we live here, the most important factor for me is for them to run off anybody who doesn't belong here. Plus they're happy to give me a share. They don't get many turkeys, so I only ask for 1 deer and half a bear.

Next farm over, the hunt club is restricted to taking minimum 16" antler spread. There, you pay a $500 membership fee plus $500/yr. Additional $300 if you want spring gobbler. 2000 ac, 10 hunters (no guests), with a waiting list. They require participation for does.

Va does an excellent job of protecting landowners against liability. You only need to charge less than your annual tax bill.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 25, 2010

WOW! That's an infringement. Are you allowed to charge someone to farm it to make money? I don't see any difference. The landowner is the one who feeds the deer that the govt. owns.

Warren Bult · Oct 25, 2010

One way around it would to not LEASE the land, but just charge an access fee. Might get you around a lot of legal issues.

Spook · Oct 25, 2010

I've heard it is about $10 per acre in Michigan.

400D tractorman · Oct 25, 2010

John T you better check with a lawyer about a lease. Sometimes when you do things for money your insurance changes. And having someone take responsibity for damage etc doesn't mean a neighbor or someone else maybe gets shot or hurt won't sue them and also you. Just make sure your covered.

John T · Oct 25, 2010

Youre exactly right, Im an attorney myself (BSEE, JD) and I alwayssssssssssss tell people to consult with an attorney and not hang their hat on tractor chat board opinions......You're also exactly right, if say a neighbor was injured his attorney would indeed sue everybody in sight (subject to law of course, looking for deep pocket and/or insurance carriers) and Id consider it malpractice if he doesnt. Also in any such lease I would prepare for a client, after researching my states laws, I would have the hunter assume all risk of loss and injury and agree to hold my client harmless, thats pretty standard ya know and I believe what I posted below.

Hope this helps

God Bless n yall take care now

John T The Country lawyer

Gun guru · Oct 25, 2010

Be prepared for the mess that will likely follow if hunters are on your land. Like......Mcdonalds wrappers, beer cans, trees cut, etc.

JDemaris · Oct 25, 2010

I didn't get to hardly any tractor meets this year. Basically, I've "taken on more then I can chew." Building a cabin in the Adirondacks, and doing extensive repairs on a house I own in northern Michigan. And inbetween that, working on my house where I actually live - and cutting this year's firewood.

An old friend of mine - an ex New York dairy farmer has been inviting me and my family down to Punta Gorda, Florida every winter. My wife has never been down south in her life (she's a Michigan native), and my 7 year boy has never been down there either. So, we're considering maybe going down this winter - to the Florida Flywheelers tractor place, the Everglades, and some big mud-racing place in Punta Gorda that we saw on TV. We'll see. I said the same thing last winter . . . but once it got cold and snowing, I was chicken about leaving the house alone with no wood furnace going.

NY 986 · Oct 25, 2010

It seems in all the years we have had people ask that it seems very few are of good character in the end. With a lease comes obligation on the part of the landowner and that is where someone of poor character may burn you bad. The money that comes in to cover property taxes may pale in comparison to what you may have to spend if a lawsuit is leveled by the hunter, a member of his hunting party, or somebody they negatively affect. They may cause tremendous property damage to you or they may damage a vehicle or other personal property of theirs they may expect you to cover.
I would not be bothered if it were me but if you feel the need I would ask for references as though this hunter were trying to obtain a high level corporate or government job. As I write this I am in the late stages of putting up a gate on one of our farms because the people who hunt the neighbors seem to think our property (clearly marked and posted) is some kind of entry point to the neighbors (and I plainly think they have other mischief in mind).

John T · Oct 25, 2010

I stay at the Florida Flywheelers allllllllllll week each show woooooooo hooooo

Look me up John T Cell 812-606-1121

Dblair · Oct 25, 2010

they will cover the taxes on the acreage they hunt in Va.

RwEny · Oct 25, 2010

Jd i second johh t's wish for you to attend the ny state expo. we had a great time at the last one.
ralph

Tom-TX · Oct 25, 2010

I would not lease; not worth the potention problems. But if you do lease, be double sure to LIST, by NAME, each person authorized to be on the land in any capacity, hunting or not. Do not allow any "guests". Name not on the formal list in the lease, then that person is tresspassing. Hunters always want to bring their kids, their neighbor kids, their kin, their buddies, etc, etc. You lease to say 5 persons and about 25 will be on the property. Be specific UP FRONT, not later. Tom

Tom-TX · Oct 25, 2010

I would not lease; not worth the potention problems. But if you do lease, be double sure to LIST, by NAME, each person authorized to be on the land in any capacity, hunting or not. Do not allow any "guests". Name not on the formal list in the lease, then that person is tresspassing. Hunters always want to bring their kids, their neighbor kids, their kin, their buddies, etc, etc. You lease to say 5 persons and about 25 will be on the property. Be specific UP FRONT, not later. Tom

TomH in PA · Oct 25, 2010

Unless you know them personally you can assume they'll treat your land as a private hunting preserve, state game laws don't apply.

Around here the "sportsmen" who lease ground put salt blocks out where they can sit in their lawn chairs drinking beer and taking pot shots at whatever happens by. Cripples that run off are cleaned up by coyotes.

JR Frye · Oct 25, 2010

My good friend: I can tell you that a lease is
on you ground for hunting or any thing is a train
wreck waighting to happen: I know, I leased one part of our ground out two years ago,I told them I had it down on the lease DO NOT USE THE TREE STANDS: Guess what, one did , he sliped got his cought between the rungs and broke a leg: Guess who paid the DOC BILL:
NEVER AGAIN WILL I DO THAT:

It is a shame that some people can not be resopnable for there own stupid action. Now you know why it is getting harder and harder to find ground to hunt on.

Money is not all ways every thing. I know it helps, But who needs the BS.

JR FRYE

Anonymous-0 · Oct 25, 2010

20 acres of prime hunting land [swamp]180 acres of crop and some high land woods one guy deer and turkey 500.00.just reading some of the post looks like some of you live a sad life and can't get along with anyone not all people are sue happy and have respect for things that they don't own. i have 200 acres and don't even put up no hunting signs and have NO trouble with trespassing.

randy47 · Oct 25, 2010

If I remrmber right your Michigan property is in or near Posen Mi. I live not far from there less than 10 miles.. with the TB issues in NE MI i think it would be hard to lease hunting land.

ASEguy · Oct 25, 2010

I've been working on an older farmer's tractors for several years. I never asked him for anything. He'd give me blackberries in season. It was never any major work. Tune-ups, oil and filters, John Deere no start in a hay field once. Mainly just enjoyed his stories and insight while I helped him. One day he asked if I'd like to hunt on his ground. He told me his son would show me where. Shot a very large buck there last year. It's worked because of respect. Not money. If they want to hunt have them earn the right by helping you take care of the land BEFORE deer season. If they say no let them go. Gerard

camju · Oct 25, 2010

I know in Manitoba Canada people are paying good money to hunt private land.You can't have a written agreament but many are saying $500 cash and you have acsess.Wildlife is considered owened by the goverment not the land owner,so you can't charge for hunting only for acsess.

I personally don't like the pay or no hunt attitude of people.I own 160 acres and no deer due to high coyote pop. and slewes that make an X on my property that deer sink and stay so coyotes get them real easy.Use to have acsess to good hunting,not no more can't aford the big cities $2000 he can hunt fee.

Dean Olson · Oct 25, 2010

I've never leased land to hunters but I have leased land to hunt on for years here in TX. The better landlords have a lease and spell out the rules. One clause you want is that if the tenant breaks the rules the contract is cancelled and tenant loses all privledges, without refund, immediatly and at your discretion. You'll also want to get a waiver and release of liability signed. Collect a refundable deposit to cover any damages to your property. Example: If it's wet and I choose to rut up the roads I know I had better figure on paying a road grader to fix it. Or if I leave a gate open and the rancher has to chase livestock etc.
I would get an attorney to draw that lease up.
Go for it!

Crem · Oct 25, 2010

John,
We hope to stay at the Flywheelers site again next year for both the January and February shows.

bison · Oct 25, 2010

Wildlife is considdered crown property,free to hunt with the proper permit.Only thing one can do is post"no hunting" signs(some people just rip them off).
if violated one can charge for tresspassing only.
carries max $10 fine up here(that is if you catch them in the act).
Owned land beyond 2 mls from home quarter is aparently free game,posted or not.

msb · Oct 25, 2010

Think the going rate here is $30 an acre.

Knoxcityfarmboy · Oct 25, 2010

We let three guys from Independence hunt on our farm for over twenty years. They would show up the day before deer season and would spend the afternoon helping me cut wood and every year they would bring me chainsaw chains and homemade wine and bring my dad pumpkin rolls. They always treated our land very well and if it was muddy would have us pull their trailer out with a tractor so they wouldn't cut ruts. There are good and bad hunters out there, we had good ones, so not everyone is a nightmare sue happy bunch as these people on here make you think.

John A. · Oct 25, 2010

Guys, We have been leasing for over 40 yrs at out place. Hunting leases can be an excellent source of income to pay taxes and have some Christmas money in your pocket. We usually average about 100 acres/man we get $1250 at one place my sister has. But her guys hunt hard,
I prefer hunters that are more concerned about getting away from the rat race of their lives,Work, cook steaks, drink an adult beverage or two, let their hair down, and throw their lives in Neutral, maybe, just maybe shoot shoot a deer if thy really feel like it..... I get about $1000/man.
The usual responsibility of a contract, with a Hold-Harmless clause. Most of my hunters have been here 10 yrs or longer, Kind of like family.
They do not shoot up the place, nor leave trash around, they take care of it like it was theirs.
If you court problems, You get problems, it is all in your selections process. And CYA with a good contract. Hope this helps!
Feel free to hollar at me and we can visit about it, if you like My # is 512-577-3837
Later,
John A.

bc · Oct 26, 2010

Guess I'd also recommend having specific insurance for it along with an umbrella policy. Part of doing business. Hold harmless clauses become harmless themselves when the signor is a judgment proof turnip. It still comes back on the landowner.

And then some enterprising lawyer is going to claim there is a specific "reasonable standard of care" for maintaining hunting leases. Someone might claim that not filling that gopher hole or allowing a drunk Dick Cheney hunt violates that standard of care. It would considered "forseeable" that allowing or not enforcing drinking on the lease could result in someone getting shot in the face. In fact it's forseeable that someone could get shot even if alcohol and drugs wasn't being used.

Contract and insurance with the person paying enough for the lease to cover the insurance and deductible. Never rely on a contract where someone else is supposed to buy the insurance. You will be lucky if a hold harmless clause works so you can get your deductible back.

Then you have the guys who don't want to wear safety orange on a hunting lease.

Hunting leases ??

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