Negotiating and Signing a Lease
There are many things to consider before signing a lease or letting someone lease your land. The obvious factors to include are price and signee information. The lease also sets the rules for the hunters. Both parties need to go over the rules being laid out and discuss what they want out of the lease. A landowner may have a strong feeling towards a rule or may have just put it on the lease and could easily be talked out of it. They aren’t written in stone until all parties sign it. Even after signing it you can make addendums if all parties agree. You’ll be legally obligated to what the lease sets forth so don't sign it if you aren't in agreement.
Take into consideration the following items.
Number of Members
- Is there a limit to the number of members allowed on a piece of property?
Guest Rules
- Can guests of the lessor come hunt on the property?
Time of Access
- Can the property be accessed for the entire year or just during certain time periods?
Camp
- Can a semi-permanent camp be set up. This may include leaving a camper or some mobile buildings on the property year round or for the span of hunting season.
Species
- What species can be targeted? Some leases allow hunters to target anything that is legal as set forth by the state and others only allow certain species.
Firearms
- What firearms can be used. Will the property be bow only or limited to certain types of firearms.
Land Management
- Who holds the responsibilities for the roads or anything else on the property.
Activites
- Can the property be used for camping, ATV riding, target practice?
Hunting Styles
- Are there methods of hunting that are prohibited? Examples may be using dogs to hunt, spot and stalking, etc.