Hunting Leases

Hunting leases are agreements between landowners and hunters that give hunters access to the landowners' property for the purpose of pursuing wildlife. During the lease period, which usually lasts for a year or hunting season, hunters pursue wildlife listed in the lease agreement during seasons and following regulations established by state and federal authorities (the general hunting and fishing laws).

Leasing has provided hunters with high-quality access to wildlife in the Southeast for many years. The revenues produced through leasing have in turn allowed landowners to improve wildlife habitat and increase the numbers of many species. Below we have provided informational links on how to develop your farmland for hunting leases as an income producing enterprise.

Developing a Lease

UF/IFAS Publications

• Estimating the Profitability of Your Non-timber Forestland Enterprise

State & Federal Agencies

• Developing Recreational Enterprises on Private Land--Southern Regional Extension Forestry (pdf)

Other University Sites

• Earning Additional Income Through Hunt Leases on Private Land--University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service (pdf)
• The Hunters’ Guide to a Successful Hunt Lease--University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service (pdf)
• Hunting Leases--University of Georgia
• Hunting Leases and Permits--Alabama Cooperative Extension Service
• Lease Hunting--AgManager/Kansas State Research & Extension (pdf)
• Supplemental Income from Wildlife on Your Land--Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Supply of Hunting Leases from Non-industrial Private Forest Lands in Alabama--Auburn University (pdf)
• Tips for Hunting Leases (with Sample Form)--University of Georgia
• White-tailed Deer Kill Station Data--University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service (pdf)

Related Links

• Developing A Wildlife Enterprise: Is it for You?--National Learning Center for Private Forest and Range Landowners

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Liability

UF/IFAS Publications

• Florida Fence and Property Law: Visitors and Responsibilities to Visitors
• Small Farmer's Resources for Safety

State & Federal Agencies

• Hunter Safety--Florida FWC
• Introduction to Risk Management: Understanding Agricultural Risks: Production, Marketing, Financial, Legal, and Human Resources--RMA/USDA (pdf)

Other University Sites

• Landowner Liability for Hunters--Texas A&M University (pdf)
• Land Ownership, Liability, and the Law in North Carolina--North Carolina State University
• Southern Region Risk Management Education Center--Texas Cooperative Extension (pdf)

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Insurance

Organizations & Associations

• Hunting Leases and the Homeowners Policy--Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA)
• NWTF and Forest Landowners Association Promoting Hunting Lease Insurance Program

Most larger organizations have links for hunter liability insurance coverage for their members. Some of these include the following:

• Buckmasters Liability Insurance
  10350 Highway 80
  East Montgomery, AL 36117
  (or)
  P.O. Box 244022
  Montgomery, AL 36124-4002
  Phone: (800) 240-3337
  Fax: (334) 215-3535
  http://www.buckmasters.com
• Forest Landowners Association, Inc.
  Hunting Lease Liability Insurance
  P.O. Box 95385
  Atlanta, GA 30347-0385
  Phone: (800) 325-2954
  Fax: (404) 325-2955
  http://www.forestland.org/flash.html
• Maryland Forests Association
  Hunting Lease Liability Insurance
  P.O. Box 599
  Grantsville, MD 21536-0599
  Phone and fax: (301) 895-5369
  http://mdforests.org/davisgarvin.htm
• National Rifle Association Hunt Club Insurance
  Kirke-Van Orsdel, Inc.
  1776 West Lakes Parkway
  West Des Moines, IA 50398
  Phone: (800) 544-9820
  Fax: (515) 246-3043
  http://www.nra.org/
• Outdoorsman Agency
  8461 Turnpike Drive, Suite 110
  Westminster, CO 80030
  Phone: (800) 849-9288
  Fax: (303) 428-5900
  http://www.outdoorinsurance.com/
• Outdoor Underwriters, Inc.
  P.O. Box 431
  Wheeling, WV 26003-0055
  Phone: (800) 738-1300
  Fax: (304) 233-1732
  http://www.outdoorinsurance.com/
• The National Rifle Association of America
  1600 Rhode Island Ave., NW
  Washington, D.C. 20036
• The Southeastern Wildlife Federation
  P.O. Box 1109
  Montgomery, AL 36102

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Workshops

Check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Web site for upcoming workshops that may apply to hunting in Florida.

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