David Long via Wikimedia Commons
Leasing your land out to hunters can be a great way to make some extra cash. Many landowners can cover all of their property taxes this way. Yet, as with any business, you have to know how to compete, and you must prepare for certain risks.
Only Offer Hunting Leases if You Have Productive Land
Don’t assume that because you have some woods on your property, people will enjoy hunting there. You must have quality land. Ask yourself the following:
- Do you regularly see game animals on your property?
- Have you performed any wildlife management (such as planting food plots where legal) to encourage the population to grow?
- Can hunters safely fire their weapons without putting your neighbors in danger?
Learn what makes good hunting land and find out if your property meets those needs. If you don’t hunt already, consider giving it a try. Hunters love it when landowners can speak their language and point out the best places for them to set up.
Remember, you’re running a business. Customer satisfaction is your top concern, followed immediately by . . .
Liability
Anyone who pays to hunt on your land qualifies as an invitee. That means you have to take steps to keep them safe, and the law may hold you responsible if they are injured while using your land.
The safest ways to deal with these problems are to form a limited liability corporation (LLC) and to purchase liability insurance. By incorporating, you can generally protect yourself from getting sued for more than would bankrupt your company. That keeps your personal bank account safe. Buying liability insurance will stop it from ever going that far.
You can also have the hunters sign an agreement stating they will hold you harmless if anything happens during their hunt. If you plan to rely entirely on this, hire a lawyer who knows your state’s laws by heart. Local laws can render a generic agreement void.
Advertising
Every successful business puts time and effort into marketing. Luckily, you don’t need a team of suits to get the word out about your hunting leases. You can rely on word of mouth and the occasional newspaper ad if you only plan to work with two or three hunters a year.
Creating a more serious business will require a Web presence. Plan accordingly.
Decide How Your Business Works
Protect the hunt: Lay down some ground rules. How many hunters will you allow to use your property? Will they hunt at the same time, or at different times? If they do hunt at the same time, who gets which spots? Balance your need to make a profit with the hunters’ need to have a good experience and a successful hunt.
Protect yourself: Keep yourself and your family feeling safe and comfortable. Don’t be afraid to establish no-shooting zones near your house, your barn, or any other places you want to keep safe. Be upfront about these details when signing a lease with a hunter.
Protect your land: Finally, remember that some hunters may want to alter the land. Establish whether you will allow them to do things like set up permanent tree stands or blinds, dig out fire pits, and so forth. Never assume that they won’t do something just because you wouldn’t.
Revenues vs. Costs
Make sure that you charge enough to make up for your expenses. If you spend more on starting an LLC, paying for liability insurance, hiring a lawyer, maintaining your land and advertising your service than you earn from your hunters, you would have spent your time better by using your wallet for target practice.
Look at the competition. Find out how much other landowners charge for similar properties and do the math. Could you take home a nice profit by charging the same amount? If you said “Yes,” then this business is right for you.
After you climb over that first hill of setting up a profitable business, leasing your land for hunting quickly becomes an easy way to make extra money. Why not give it a try?