4 Cost Reduction Strategies for Leasing Private Hunting Land

Apr 11, 2024

Hunting private land is often a better choice than public. There’s more control over land use, reduced competition, and often leads to a better hunting experience. But there’s one hurdle to hunting on private land that dissuades many tenants: cost.

Thankfully, if you want to realize the benefits of a private hunting lease, there are several strategies to alleviate those costs.In this article, we’ll walk through these strategies to help you figure out which best fits your hunting situation. 

Why hunt private land? 

There are a number of reasons for hunters to lease private ground. Public land, while a more accessible alternative, has some drawbacks: crowded conditions, limited control over the hunting area, and various state and local regulations.

That’s why private hunting ground is attractive to many hunters. Common benefits of private hunting ground include:

  • More control of the hunting experience—set your own rules, manage wildlife populations, etc. 

  • Less competition, as fewer hunters have their sights set on the land, increasing the odds of a successful hunt

  • Managed wildlife populations, which provide a more predictable and higher quality hunting experience

Although hunting private land often comes with additional responsibilities, like conservation and wildlife management, for many hunters the benefits outweigh the risks. 

4 strategies to make private hunting land more accessible

Despite the advantages of private hunting land, one of the major challenges of this approach is cost accessibility. Private land requires a private lease, which often lies outside of most hunters’ budgets. 

Fortunately, there are many ways to make this option more accessible and cost effective. Here are four of the most common. 

1. Hunting clubs

Hunting clubs are a popular approach to sharing hunting expenses, including private land leases. These members-only organizations offer specific perks and incentives to their members, including exclusive gatherings, activities, dinners, meetings, and events. 

Often landowners will lease their land out to particular hunting clubs, granting them exclusive use of the land. This means that members only have to pay dues to gain access to certain plots of land. In other words, hunting clubs have built-in cost sharing mechanisms. 

But the benefits of hunting clubs go beyond cost sharing:

  • Access to land that may otherwise be restricted, as many landowners lease exclusively to certain clubs

  • No insurance costs for shooting on property, as these costs are covered by the hunting club

  • Built-in opportunities to make lasting friendships with like-minded individuals 

  • Additional support in creating a safe hunting environment, accessing and maintaining quality land

A key consideration with hunting clubs is that often they will have their own land use restrictions. That’s why it’s important to understand those restrictions and choose a hunting club accordingly. Some common areas to examine are:

  • Pet restrictions

  • Check-in/out policies

  • Game diversity

  • Club meetings and communication expectations

  • ATV and other vehicle or equipment usage

  • Overnight accommodations

2. Group hunting trips

In addition to formal hunting clubs, hunters have the option of banding together with friends to share hunting costs. Group hunting trips are a great way to split costs without making the time or monetary commitment often required by hunting clubs.

That said, there are some logistics you’ll have to handle yourself if you and your friends organize a trip on your own:

  • Finding and leasing the land, including negotiating with the landowner on the rental rate and other elements of your contract

  • Handling lodging for all members of your party

  • Looking up state and local laws and regulations to maintain compliance, including safety laws and shot requirements

  • Carrying necessary insurance and ensuring it applies to all members of your party

All of these will be considerations when you lease hunting land individually, but become more complicated when you’re trying to handle a group of people. Upfront planning and clear communication among all members of your party are key to making this work. 

3. Hunting outfitter

Another option is to work with a hunting outfitter. These specialists organize and facilitate hunting trips for both individuals and groups, offering services such as guiding, lodging, meals, transportation, and, in some cases, equipment rental. 

Hunting outfitters are most common in areas with abundant wildlife populations. Like hunting clubs, they’ll sometimes have exclusive access to private land or partnerships with landowners.

In terms of cost savings, hiring a hunting outfitter may seem counterintuitive. While, yes, it can seem more expensive, in the end it can be most cost-effective for hunters who don’t want the long-term commitment of a lease. Most outfitters offer package deals for a fixed price, which can often offer cost savings

Some other advantages of a hunting outfitter include:

  • Guidance and expertise on local terrain, wildlife behavior, and hunting techniques

  • Access to private land in remote areas with high-quality hunting opportunities

  • Convenience in handling all logistics associated with the hunt, including lodging, meals, transportation, and permits

  • Game variety, as outfitters offer guided hunts without the need for multiple leases

4. Finding new hunting ground owners

Another way to reduce hunting costs is to find new landowners whose land may not be as competitive and, as such, will cost less to lease. This requires going outside established circles and finding new landowners looking to break into the hunting ground market.

To find land available for hunting, you can look at online marketplaces, like CommonGround, that offer instant access to listings across the U.S. this so you can plan both local hunting and trips.

Final thoughts on making private hunting land more accessible

Private hunting ground can be costly, but it doesn’t have to be. By adopting creative solutions to leasing private land, you can enjoy your next hunting trip without taking on a heavy financial burden. 

To compare the options listed above, you need information. It does no good to decide between an outfitter or splitting a lease with friends if you don’t know the costs. The CommonGround marketplace gives you a good baseline of land rental rates in your area, so you can start planning your next trip today. 

Check local hunting ground listings in the CommonGround marketplace here.