Whether you want to know how to lease land for hunting or your looking for a hunting lease, price is always a consideration.

Below I will discuss some basics of what I have learned over the past 30 years to help you consider what determines the price of hunting land. Also why you see prices for hunting land varying greatly, making it difficult to understand why this property is $4.00 to $10.00 per acre and this property is $30.00 per acre.

• Location of property always plays a factor, is it close to the major cities, is it to close, is it on the river, is it next door to public hunting lands, is it in a known area for trespassers or road hunters?

• Do they run cattle on the property, will the property owner understand peak hunting hours and agree not to do farming activities during these times.

• Is camping allowed on the property and if so does it have electric and water? Is camping locations somewhere close by, is their a cabin that can be used at an additional price?

• Do they allow feeders and deer blinds to be erected? Are electric fences allowed or fencing off around your feeder if cattle are present.

• Is there year round use of the land, is there fishing ponds, what does the habitat look like, does it have a good deal of cover or sparse?

• What animals does the property hold? What animals are missing and can they be drawn in with food plots or feeders? Any photos available?

• Is the property secluded, is the property around major road traffic?

• How strict is the landowner on getting into and out of the property, will they be tolerant of your pickup truck on rare occasions that your feet wont do the trick? Will you be required to use an ATV or can you even use an ATV?

• Is the landowner accommodating and seems like he wants to work with you. Did he give you his expectations in writing? Can you live with them?

I find the best relationships are with people who understands how a hunting lease works.

The landowner typically is a farmer who runs a working farm to put food on his table, he enjoys his lifestyle and loves what he does, he has a great respect for the animals and greatly values his property. Landowners who like to see the hunting heritage passed on to children are great to work with. Landowners typically try a hunting lease to decrease crop depredation, stop trespassers, etc… They rarely ever do it solely for money, that is a side benefit. It is hard to lease hunting land today because so many people before us have ruined the trust of the farmer.

The hunters need to put the shoe on the other foot. Understand they are a guest and landowners are always hesitant to let a stranger onto their property just as you are when someone shows up at your house. Act as a guest would in your home, this isn’t a 5 star resort where you paid and they owe you something. That’s the quickest way to ruin our future of hunting private lands. Follow and obey all rules, always respect the land and if you don’t know about something, call them and speak to them before you do anything. Over time when your honesty and integrity have been proven, you can create a lifelong friend as I have done many times in the past.

Don’t forget to take a kid into the great outdoors and always thank a veteran !