How to Set Up Land for a Deer Hunting Lease
Leasing land for deer hunting is an excellent way to generate an income or profit for large tracts of natural lands without having to develop it or parcel it out, unless the landowner wants to set up lodges or cabins. Landowners can lease to individuals, clubs or groups for daily, weekly, monthly or seasonal time periods, depending on the level of activity the land owner desires to be responsible for.
Some landowners are able to run their deer hunting leases absentee, by contracting seasonally with one group or club, while others hire a manager to handle operations that run daily. Some owners lease lands that allow the hunters to set up mobile trailers that the hunters keep up, which minimizes the expenses for the landowner. Other landowners might seek to set up a full camp or lodge with their own cabins and services.
There are both legal and physical steps that will need to be taken to set up the lands and establish the deer hunting lease. It takes minimal preparations to set up land for a basic lease that allows hunting access.
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Instructions
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Legal Steps to Set Up Land for a Deer Hunting Lease
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Research the applicable land management and firearms laws. Some areas are not allowed to have firearms used at all, and some have separate bowhunting and firearms seasons. Each state has unique firearms laws, land management laws and wildlife management laws. Some states require a license for fee hunting or a license for operating a hunting lease operation.
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Write a lease agreement and seek the services of an experienced attorney to formalize the lease. Or, an experienced attorney could construct the entire lease agreement. The lease agreement will need to be written up specific to local state, city and county laws. It will need to be signed by all parties, the lease owner(s) and the lease holders. In the case of a hunt club, all members may need to sign, but this can vary by state.
The lease can also address issues including how many people are allowed on the property at one time, responsibilities that the leaseholders agree to in maintaining the property, types of deer hunting allowed (firearm, muzzle loader or bow) and if leaseholders can bring their own trailers to set up a camp. -
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Advertise the deer lease to potential hunters, hunting groups and hunting clubs. Advertising can include word of mouth, direct mail, fliers, newspaper ads and Internet ads.
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Interview the interested parties to select the best fit. Keep copies of the licenses and information on the vehicles and tag numbers that will be allowed on the property. This will help make tracking of trespassers easier. Consider issuing a "permission to hunt" card and "hunt pass" vehicle stickers for the leaseholders' vehicles to help with management and reduce trespassing.
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File and store the signed lease agreements in a safe, secure place. Some people choose to leave an extra copy with their lawyer or accountant with other business-related records and files.
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Consider hiring an accountant and bookkeeper, if necessary, for handling the monetary aspects, such as recording and filing the financial receipts and for calculating the taxes due for the deer hunting land leasing operation. An accountant can also assist with projections as well as profit and loss statements, balance sheets and income statements, which might be requested by a banking institution if the operation ever seeks credit or financing.
Depending on the profitability and amount of revenue created, as well as any managers or employees hired, it may be necessary to have an accountant handle payroll responsibilities, budgeting, projections and forecasting. -
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Purchase the appropriate insurance to cover an injury on the property. Though some landowners have the leaseholders sign a waiver, special liability insurance will still be needed in case of an injury. This is different from farm insurance. If the deer hunting lease is being leased to a hunting club, it is possible to require the club have its own liability insurance as well.
Practical Steps to Set Up Land for a Deer Hunting Lease
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Fence in the property that will be leased to establish clear boundaries for the lease owners while they are hunting. Some states require a specific marking of the trees and fences, such as a specific color of paint or height. Check and obey state and county laws and guidelines.
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Hire the crews needed and have the buildings, cabins and restroom facilities constructed if the deer hunting lease will have these amenities.
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Install a system at the gates or entrances for hunters to be able to have access to the property. This can include a lock-box system, a lock and key system, a keypad with codes or a small office for a manager if the deer hunting land will have daily operations.
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Construct basic roads and a few pathways through the land for the hunters, if you desire. Some hunters, hunt clubs and hunting groups, if given seasonal access, will be willing to do this work themselves.
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Install tree stands and blinds for the hunters, if desired. This step will be necessary for running a daily or weekly operations; however, seasonal hunters or a hunting group or club can establish this themselves.
Set up deer feeders, if desired, in states where it is legal. There can also be laws regarding the distance and use of baits. These laws can change yearly, sometimes due to the infiltration of chronic wasting disease in an area. See Resources for information on chronic wasting disease. -
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Put up "No Trespassing" and other signs to clearly mark the boundaries. "Hunting By Permission Only" signs warn trespassers that they must have permission to be on the property as well as informing potential trespassers that hunting takes place on the property.
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Install video surveillance at the gates and around any buildings or restrooms. This will reduce vandalism and theft.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember that generating an income, profit or even a loss can have an effect on taxes that will needed to be accounted for and addressed. The price for video surveillance has come down, and some systems can be wired directly to computers, eliminating the inconveniences of needing tapes to record on. There are wireless options available too.
Always seek the advice of a qualified attorney and the proper authorities in your area, city, town, county or state when setting up a deer hunting land lease to ensure that you follow all pertinent laws and regulations.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Deer drinking © Allegretto | Dreamstime.com
