Anyone lease land to deer hunters?

[Elizabeth2]

We have 20 wooded acres we're thinking of leasing to hunters for a time, but have no idea what to charge. I'm sure it must depend on a variety of factors, but I'd like some input. There are lots of deer there; we've surprised any number of them when we've gone for walks. There is a spring and a pond, where deer come to drink.
Thanks,
Elizabeth

[big rockpile]

Thats not very many acres to hunt.Thats what I got but I have thousands of Public Land around me.

I really doubt if you will have much luck.

big rockpile

[js2743]

i would charge at least the amount of your tax that way you get it paid. wouldnt hurt to ask a lil higher you could always come down on the priceif you had to.

[agmantoo]

In the less populated (people) I get $6/acre. In highly populated areas where land is less available I get $12/acre. I can easily rent small tracts to a father/son combination provided there are deer on the tract.

[HeavenHelpMe]

My dad did that once, and the people that leased it tore up everything with their ATVs, which dad told them specifically NOT to take up there, and they left garbage all over the place. It wasn't enough to warrant a decent law suit, but boy-was he ticked off!

[BillHoo]

To head off any problems it's best to have the leasers sign an agreement to follow your list of rules. I would also include a map of the property and indicate safe fields of fire.

Rules like:
- No ATVs
- No cutting Trees
- Must bring back all garbage with you
- Specifically note what species they are allowed to hunt
- No shooting of pets, cattle or farm animals

In addition to your fee, you should take a safety deposit that they get back once you walk through the area and feel satisfied.

If you really want to get detailed, loan them a GPS that records their tracks (make the cost part of their deposit) and use the GPS to follow their trail when you do the inspection.

[tamsam]

Aso list how many may hunt. If you allow Billy Bob to hunt he may bring 8 or 10 cousins with him. Good luck leasing it. We have 23 acreas and it is plenty for dw and myself to hunt. Sam

[dlwelch]

Anyone who leases land for hunting in Texas is required by law to
have a state lease license (unless the law has changed recently).

I'm sure you can find more but this overview might be helpful
to read regarding the lease itself.

http://www.huntingpages.com/hunleasag.html

We had leased 50 acres to "hunters" but it was for target practice,
hog hunting and photography purposes. I don't think I would
lease small acreage for deer hunting unless I had additional
acreage adjoining.
(Just my personal opinion)

Linda Welch

[Ken Scharabok]

I lease out 710 acres to a hunting club at $3.00 acre (have been offered at least double that by other folks). Long hunting lease. Club required to carry $1M insurance policy. Essently the $3.00 acre covers the property taxes on it.

Seems like there is a standard ratio, such as it takes 100 acres to support one hunter.

Small tracts though can be quite productive if there are deer attractrants (sp?) on it, but likely won't support more than two hunters working together.

[Jolly]

Where to start?...

1. Price. Depends on location, game available, and tract size. I've seen everything from $3/acre to $30/acre, and up. Unless there is something special about your twenty acres, expect to be at the lower end of the scale in your area. (I do know of one place in Mississippi, smaller than yours, that goes for almost two grand a year. OTOH, it's a natural funnel between two very expensive hunting clubs under intense management. One or two wallhangers come off of that tiny piece, every year.)

2. Contract. Hunting leases are fairly standardized, I'm sure you can get a copy of one from a neighbor who leases out property, or from someone who works for a land or timber company. Addin anything specific that you feel you may need.

3. Liability. You should require the folks you are leasing to, to have hunting liability insurance. The NRA used to have the cheapest rates I've seen, and they would be a good place for anybody to shop rates.

4. ATV's. Sorry, but they have become an integral part of hunting for many people, especially big game hunters. You can stipulate when and where they may be used, but IMO to ban them is simply an unworkable solution. If I've got a good buck down half a mile from the nearest road, you think I'm going to drag him when I've got an ATV available?

[Kevingr]

The Potlatch Corporation leases land out in several states. Check their website for a sample contract and rules. They get a minumum of $300 and I don't think they lease out less than 40 acres. You definetly want them to carry liability insurance. If they accidently shot someone you're on the hook since it was you're land and you allowed them to hunt there.

[jross]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth in E TX

We have 20 wooded acres we're thinking of leasing to hunters for a time, but have no idea what to charge. I'm sure it must depend on a variety of factors, but I'd like some input. There are lots of deer there; we've surprised any number of them when we've gone for walks. There is a spring and a pond, where deer come to drink.
Thanks,
Elizabeth

In New Jersey 20 acres is enough, in Texas, I wonder if it is. In any case that is barely enough for one person to hunt. On 20 acres, once deer detect the repeated presence of humans, they vacate the area quickly. I would also insist they carry their own liability insurance and sign a waiver absolving you of any responsibilities that might occur at their cause. Check with hunting organizations in Texas. I insist the fellow who we allow to hunt here has membership in the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen, which provides one million dollars of liability insurance as part of the membership.

[BillHoo]

Originally Posted by jross

In New Jersey 20 acres is enough, in Texas, I wonder if it is. In any case that is barely enough for one person to hunt. On 20 acres, once deer detect the repeated presence of humans, they vacate the area quickly. I would also insist they carry their own liability insurance and sign a waiver absolving you of any responsibilities that might occur at their cause. Check with hunting organizations in Texas. I insist the fellow who we allow to hunt here has membership in the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen, which provides one million dollars of liability insurance as part of the membership.

In Long Island NY, 5 acres is what people are hunting on and getting some really big bucks too! (because very few people hunt there - not socially acceptable by the neighbors in the McMansions)

[Shadow]

When you get paid for hunting rights you are entering a commercial area and your home owners insurance does not cover you. Anything happens you get sued and you have no insurance to pay it it comes out of your pocket and if there is not enough you lose your homestead. Its not worth it. I have one friend that hunts free of charge. I am not going to not be insured for a few hundred dollars a year.,

[FreeRanger]

What a timely post...I am considering leasing my 24 acres to a bow hunter this season. He's offering up to $500 in his Wanted ad on Craig's List.

Location location, location...I live just West of State Park, the North half of which is closed to all hunting and near my place. Only six McMansions in a culdasac between us.

My land has almost no trees, just a 25' strip all along the fence line. There are woods from next to my place all the way back to the State Park. I never have any trouble shooting enough deer. they have to cross my property when traveling East-West. I rotationally graze sheep so the deer are use to seeing (smelling) me out in the field. I assured him he will have no problem since there are so many deer this close to the village and few hunters left. I saw and heard no one hunting last gun season in my valley. I spent two hours out with a gun last season and shot two nice does.

Instead of taking his money I might take him up on his offer to do chores. My health is not so good. He said in his ad he would help make hay and cut firewood. Just so happens we are making hay this weekend and haven't started making firewood yet for this winter. I also need help cleaning out the sheep manure once I sell all the sheep this Fall.

[Elizabeth2]

Thank you all so much for the information. The land is surrounded by unused wooded acreage, owned by people who live 100 miles away (i.e. no residences) and I think it would be enough for two hunters, but from what many of you say, it seems the hassle and liability wouldn't be worth the money.
Thanks again,
Elizabeth

[texican]

O 20 acres is way plenty enough land to hunt on. I'm in E Tx too, and in the past, we had an absentee neighbor that would lease a tiny tract, in the middle of ~3500acres, and they put trailer loads of corn in feeders, planted every deer attractant known to man, etc....... and they wiped out our deer population in three years... after trying to play nice with them, to no avail, we took 'measures'... basically ringed em with stands and our own feeders... the following two years they killed nothing.....last year they declined to lease it at all...

I don't lease my land. I lease others.... and if huntin is poor elsewhere, I can always hunt my own.

[Jolly]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth in E TX

Thank you all so much for the information. The land is surrounded by unused wooded acreage, owned by people who live 100 miles away (i.e. no residences) and I think it would be enough for two hunters, but from what many of you say, it seems the hassle and liability wouldn't be worth the money.
Thanks again,
Elizabeth

You make them carry the liability insurance, not you.