Should You Lease Rural Land for Hunting?

Nov 20, 2023

If you own rural acreage and want to further monetize that asset, there are a number of options available to you. Leasing for farming, real estate development, and energy use are all viable and lucrative.

But there’s a problem with each of them: if your land hasn’t been cleared or developed for those use cases, you have to invest to make it happen. This, of course, can still result in an upside, but the investment—and risk—is still there.

Another alternative is to lease rural land for hunting. Private hunting land can bring in a good income without the need for transitioning. If that’s intriguing to you, read on to learn more about the benefits of leasing rural land for hunting.

Why lease rural land for hunting?

First off, out of all the possible uses for your land, why choose hunting? One obvious advantage is that, unlike farmland or development, you can lease the land as-is—no need for costly transitioning.

Here are some of the tangible benefits that come from leasing rural land for hunting.

High-ROI cash flow

Because you don’t have to invest in clearing or transitioning the land for hunting use, you can start realizing cash flow immediately. There may be some minimal investments required, but often the required upkeep can be passed onto hunters and included in the lease (more on that below).

So how much revenue can you get from your hunting land? The going rate depends on your state and locality, as well as the quality of your land.

Sure, that’s a fraction of a farming lease. But consider that you don’t have to invest in transitioning or maintaining the land over time. Plus, it requires little lead time to take advantage of it—in most cases, you can start doing it immediately.

Some of the factors that go into hunting lease rates are:

Annual vs. multi-year vs. short-term lease
Type of game available on the property
Expectations of hunters—requiring land maintenance can reduce the lease rates

Conservation & land enhancement

It’s common practice to require habitat conservation and enhancement as part of a hunting lease. Especially for hunters who want multi-year access to your property, they’re jumping at these opportunities to ingratiate themselves with you—so give them the chance to do so.

These conservation practices can include cover crops and wildlife food plots. Additionally, land enhancement can include fence repair, property upkeep, and other practices that reduce maintenance costs.

Multi-use leases

Leasing land for hunting can be combined with other land uses to have robust, highly profitable leases. Fishing, hiking, camping, and other recreational activities can take place on hunting land.

It’s important to plan and communicate clearly with all parties if you’re going to lease the land for multiple activities. Hunters and hikers, for example, shouldn’t occupy the land at the same time due to safety concerns.

Protection against trespassers and unauthorized hunting

When you have hundreds of rural acreage, monitoring it for trespassers is a major undertaking. For most landowners, it’s too unwieldy to be practical. Leasing land to hunters can help monitor the land for trespassing by ensuring there’s a constant presence on the land, so long as you set clear expectations as to how such situations should be handled.

Local traditions and culture

Leasing your land to hunters can help develop deeper relationships with people in your community, especially where hunting traditions are strong. In a time of high migration to and from rural communities, any effort to maintain stability and goodwill can be of great value.

Risk factors of leasing rural land for hunting

Of course, any business arrangements come with risks, and it’s important to go into your arrangement with eyes wide open. Here are some that to keep top of mind:

Liability concerns. Landowners can be held liable for accidents and injuries that occur on their property. It’s important to protect yourself with liability agreements in your hunting leases to mitigate this risk.
Property damage. Hunting activities can sometimes lead to property damage—structures, fences, crops, or the land itself. It’s important to spell out rules and expectations in plain writing to avoid unwanted problems.
Wildlife management challenges. Overhunting or mismanagement can negatively affect the ecosystem, which not only is bad for its own sake, but can hurt the land’s usefulness as a hunting ground. As such, it’s important to include sustainability expectations in your lease.
Property destruction. Leasing land for hunting may limit the landowner's own use of the property for other recreational activities or purposes. It's essential to strike a balance between generating income from hunting and retaining land access for other needs.
Environmental and regulatory compliance. Depending on local regulations and environmental considerations, leasing land for hunting may require compliance with certain environmental regulations. Landowners should be aware of these and ensure they and hunters adhere to them.
Invasive species and disease concerns. The movement of hunters and their equipment can potentially introduce invasive species or diseases to the property, which may have adverse effects on the ecosystem.
Market fluctuations. The demand for hunting leases can fluctuate based on factors like local hunting regulations, the abundance of game, and economic conditions. Landowners may face challenges in finding and retaining hunters in a competitive market.

How to make the most of your hunting leasing project

Now that we’ve looked at the benefits and risks of leasing land for hunting, here are some practices that will help to mitigate those risks and maximize the benefits.

Screen and select lessees. Take the time to gauge lessees’ hunting experiences, practices, and intentions. You want people who have a history of responsible and ethical hunting.
Spell out details in the lease agreement clearly. Miscommunication is the source of most land lease problems. Specify hunting rules, boundaries, and responsibilities in detail, including and especially liability concerns, insurance requirements, habitat management, and land maintenance expectations.
Insurance requirements. Hunters should carry their own liability insurance with a minimum coverage amount. Additionally, you should consult with an insurance professional to ensure adequate coverage on your end.
Communication expectations. Clear, open communication is key to ensuring compliance with your agreement. You should address concerns, problems, and changes promptly and, most importantly in writing.
Clear conflict resolution. Establish procedures for resolving disputes and make sure all parties agree to them in advance. Consider mediation or arbitration to help settle potential disagreements.
Enforce the lease. This may seem obvious, but if you’re not willing to enforce the standards you put into writing—like unauthorized activities or rule violations—then it does no good for them to be on paper. You should have a clear process to enforce and, if necessary, terminate the lease.
Adhere to local regulations and permits. Make sure you’re intimately familiar and in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as violations can result in costly fines.
Remember to maintain neighborly relationships. If concerns arise, be sure to address them and be considerate of their needs. A bad neighbor can cause a world of hurt, and it’s best to simply avoid these misunderstandings in the first place.
Educate new hunters. You should offer education and orientation to your hunters and familiarize them with the property, hunting rules, and any unique features. You can also require training on responsible hunting practices.

Final thoughts on leasing rural land for hunting

Key to success at leasing rural land for hunting is making sure you have good, solid lessees. Often, however, landowners limit themselves to the small pool of local hunters—meaning they have to take what they can get.

Expand your horizons by listing your hunting ground on the CommonGround marketplace. Not only can we connect you with a wider pool of hunters, but we can help you pre-screen potential lessees to ensure you end up with a relationship that could last for the long haul.

Learn more about the CommonGround online marketplace here.