More than a handshake
A guide to successful hunting leases
By Jana Owen
Documented correctly, a hunting lease can be beneficial to both landowner and hunter. Lessors generate additional income, while lessees hunt without the pressure from competition. It seems like the perfect deal, but there are several factors to consider before signing your name on the dotted line.
September marks the start of one of the most anticipated times of the year — hunting season. Hunters are preparing their guns, bows, and camouflage in hopes of harvesting a trophy animal. One of the most important factors when setting up any hunt is finding the land. For those who need additional acreage, that opportunity comes by temporarily leasing private property on which to hunt. Documented correctly, a hunting lease can be beneficial to both landowner and hunter. Lessors generate additional income, while lessees hunt without the pressure from competition. It seems like the perfect deal, but there are several factors to consider before signing your name on the dotted line.
Ronnie Cowan, University of Tennessee Extension outdoor recreation specialist, is a certified wildlife biologist who works to increase participation in hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other outdoor activities. Through recruitment, education, wildlife conservation outreach, landowner engagement, and organizational partnerships, he frequently helps lessors and lessees navigate the benefits, challenges, and best practices of hunting leases.
For landowners, hunting leases offer several advantages beyond additional sources of income. Hunters can serve as wildlife managers, especially for row crop farmers struggling with wildlife that’s damaging their crops. Landowners can more easily specify who can have access to the property. Establishing a clear agreement with a trusted individual or group can mitigate dealing with frequent calls, letters, or door knocking from other hunters requesting permission. Property that is abandoned may be better cared for by the lessees because its quality directly impacts their hunts. Therefore, tenants are often willing to report trespassers and help protect the land throughout the year.
Hunting on private property is also beneficial from a hunter’s perspective. Leasing property provides dependable access to land without the crowds and competition often found on public areas. It also allows hunters to become more familiar with a property over time, increasing their chances of a successful hunt while creating a more enjoyable overall experience.
“Harvesting mature animals has always been a big factor, too,” Ronnie says. “Hunters want land that produces big bucks or has a lot of waterfowl on it, but they’re also trying to achieve an experience. On public land, hunters must put in more time scouting, and there’s more pressure from other hunters.”
Before landowners lease their property, Ronnie offers these suggestions: Define Goals Have goals defined for leasing your property, whether you want to improve habitat, have a supplemental income, manage game populations, or reduce trespassing. Landowners should also determine their acreage for the lease, establish property boundaries, and consider the type of wildlife on the land, along with the respective hunting seasons. The timing of those seasons may impact whether to lease or not. Particularly with row crop operations — you don’t want to be in the field operating machinery during a hunt. Matching your goals with the right tenant is essential. For example, if your goal is to manage your land’s deer population, find a hunter who intends to harvest multiple deer rather than the average hunter who takes one or two deer a year.
Drew, left, has worked closely with United Co-op Agronomist Bill Brooks to aggressively implement precision agriculture and advanced fertilizer management to reduce nitrogen use and minimize overlap.
Put it in Writing The most successful hunting leases are established with more than a handshake. Have everything listed in a contract. This needs to include guidelines such as property boundary maps, price, payment schedule, and length of agreement. It is also important to note the number of people allowed on your property, as well as what is permitted, including planting food plots, cutting timber, putting up tree stands, or driving ATVs. The biggest conflicts arise when parties leave these expectations unwritten, and hunters unknowingly violate rules. Even when leasing to a close friend or family member, the lack of guidelines can quickly and easily lead to a large headache down the road. “At least if you have it written down, you have proof of what the expectations were, the amount of money, and you have a reference,” Ronnie said. “It's kind of like a receipt.” Build the Relationship Finding the right hunter is just as important as creating the lease itself. If you don’t already know them very well, Ronnie recommends asking for references or conducting a simple interview. In screening, you can determine if they will be a good fit for your property by evaluating hunting goals. Some hunters are focused on harvesting mature trophy animals, while others simply want a quality outdoor experience. Understanding those motivations can help ensure both parties are working toward the same objectives.
“Relationships are the most important thing,” Ronnie emphasizes. “So having that lease agreement with a clear outline of your goals and expectations is more important than just leasing it to anybody.”
How much to charge for a hunting lease is one of the most common questions. Unfortunately, there is no standard statewide price for hunting land. Lease prices vary depending on key factors such as wildlife quality, acreage, location, and available amenities like lodging. One acre could be anywhere from $10 to $100 for a season. High-demand hunting spots, particularly for waterfowl hunting, can cost up to thousands of dollars for a single weekend. Some landowners choose to offer 1-day experiences, while others prefer seasonal or year-long leases that allow time to scout the wildlife, plant food plots, and improve the habitat.
If you want to lease your land but are unsure how to find the right person, most recruitment happens through word of mouth. Therefore, it is important to get connected with local hunting clubs or agricultural organizations. Even your local Co-op can work with you to find interested people! Some websites can help you market your lease to a broader audience.
“The best hunting leases that I know of are built through relationships rather than advertising,” Ronnie said. “I would rather have a good sportsman that follows my rules, goals and expectations rather than sign my lease away to the highest bidder.”
When a hunting lease is built on a relationship and clear communication, both landowner and hunter stand to benefit.
“When leases are handled correctly, good sportsmen can improve the habitat, plant food plots, and manage the property,” says Ronnie. “That’s going to allow for better stewardship for the landowner and also offer a better hunting experience for the lessee.”
Are you interested in starting or finding a hunting lease? Various wildlife agencies and Extension services have lease templates or other resources and contacts to help you get started. By establishing your goals, outlining clear expectations in writing, and building a strong relationship, a hunting lease can become a long-term partnership that benefits the land, wildlife, and everyone involved. Happy hunting!
Story by Jana Owen,
Contact jowen@ourcoop.com