With land values reaching record highs in many markets around the country, land buyers are facing a significant financial barrier to entry. These high prices are leading many to look to other avenues to access and use land, one popular option being leasing.

Similarly, many landowners are realizing the lucrative potential of leasing their land. High demand for land leases has led to higher rates than in years past, making leasing an increasingly attractive option for generating passive income with land.

Whether you’re a prospective tenant looking for the perfect place to hunt, or a landowner hoping to capitalize on current lease rates, here are a few tips for leasing hunting land!

What to Know Before Leasing Your Land for Hunting

When thinking about leasing your land for hunting, it’s important to get specific about the uses the lease terms will allow for. Speaking to outlining lease terms during an episode of the National Land Podcast, NC Land Broker Aaron Sutton suggested landowners ask themselves a few questions, stating, “If you’ve got ponds on the property, are you going to allow your tenants to fish throughout the year? Or is the lease for deer hunting only? Or maybe only turkey hunting? From the landowner side, you need to ask yourself, ‘Do I have any use for this property, for myself or for my family?’”

Similarly, landowners will want to include insurance requirements in their lease terms and double-check that all tenants provide proof of proper coverage. If there’s a house or cabin with water/electricity, make it clear who pays for those utilities.

Explicitly laying out the terms of your lease will also help determine a fair rate for your lease. For example, a lease for only turkey hunting wouldn’t have as high a rate for a lease that includes deer hunting, fishing, camping, and more.

Consider the Length of the Lease

Another factor that landowners should consider before leasing their land for hunting is the length of the lease. Oftentimes tenants are more willing to go the extra mile and put work into improving a property if they’re going to be using it for the next 5 years. Everyone’s situation is different, but landowners looking to foster a more collaborative relationship with their tenants should consider opting for a longer lease term.

There’s a lot to consider when leasing your land, which is why it’s best to work with someone who’s going to learn and understand your property closely to make sure your lease is generating the most amount of money possible.

What to Know When Looking for Hunting Land to Lease

When entering into a lease with a landowner, it’s a good idea to sit down with them and ask a few questions. This process will protect you from signing a bad lease and winding up spending money on a piece of land that doesn’t fulfill your objectives.  

Sutton says, “A good question to ask, especially for hunting leases is ‘Why did the previous tenant leave the lease?’ If the previous tenant left their lease because they weren’t having any success hunting on the property, then it may be wise to look elsewhere.”

It’s also good to ask the landowner a few questions about the land itself before getting out and walking the property. Keep an eye out for whether their description of the property matches the current physical conditions. If there are discrepancies between what the landowner is saying about the property and how it actually looks, then that could be a red flag and warrant further investigation.

One of the main things prospective tenants should look for in a land lease is detailed and explicit lease terms. While a stringent set of rules may be off-putting initially, detailed lease terms will help keep everyone safe in the event of a dispute. Leases with vague lease terms leave room for tenants to get themselves into trouble with the landowner, which is much less likely to happen when all the rules have been laid out from the get-go.

Whether you’re a landowner thinking about leasing their land for the first time, or a tenant hoping to find the perfect place to hunt next season, we’ve got you covered! Get in touch with your local Land Professional today or learn more about leasing land here!