Leasing hunting land?

I understand that lease rates will vary depending on location. But what do typical season long hunting leases in MN cost? I am thinking about making an offer to a couple of landowners. But really have no idea what the going rate would be per acre. What do you guys think?

Jason Erlandson

Like you said, it really does vary by location. Depending on the size and the lay of the land and what would be mutually acceptable will determine the price. The owner may just want a set price per hunter. He may want a set price per acre. I’ve seen leases for $10/acre and some for $35/acre. Some owners may want just enough to cover their taxes.

As with anything that is real estate related, its all negotiable.

Sorry, I know I wasn’t much help, was I?

Yeah, I just wanted my offer to seem somewhat legit. I didn’t want to low ball the land owner. It is in the Mille Lacs are and I do not think that the lease rates would be on the high end. Do you guys think I should start with an offer of about $10 per acre?

Jason Erlandson

Jason:

I’d look at the ML county website, you should be able to see what the property taxes are for the chunk of land you’re interested in leasing. I’d make them an offer that’s comparable to other leases in the area, but it would be really nice if it came in and wiped out their taxes, plus gave them some spending money. Would aid in your favor when you negotiated as well.

As with any lease contract, I’d make sure to include a right of first refusal in the contract, such that your leased land isn’t leased right out from under you the following year. I’ve had this happen to a few buddies. They really put alot into the property, then get it taken out from under them from some guy willing to pay $5 more/acre without the landowner checking with them.

There’s a few other guys on here with more lease experience than me, so they’ll have good advice as well.

Joel

It wouldn’t hurt to see if they have something in mind. Sometimes, maybe helping cut some firewood for a weekend can be your in…. sometimes a big brown bottle has worked in the past… really, try to find out what they would want. Another thing to consider, land is going fairly reasonable right now. If you have to, find a couple of buddies who you get along with and see if you can’t pool enough to pick up a little acreage We found 120 wooded acres for $60K last spring !!!! Nothing like owning the property and if you want to build a taj mahal stand, you do it !!! Good luck and happy hunting

In my personal leasing hunting land experiences, most land owners lease their land by the wooded acre. They are able to charge more per acre if it’s for the whole season (bow and firearm) versus only bow or only for firearm. Not sure what leases are going for in the area that you mentioned above. However, I would say $10 – $20 per acre is a good starting point if it holds some mature bucks. Over in coveted QDM areas such as Buffalo Co WI , they are charging $30 – $50 per acre.

And remember, most land owners are more concerned with how you will treat their land versus the money you will pay them. Make sure you state how you will not drive on their fields, that you will shut all gates, obey all hunting laws, will not cross any boundries or neighboring fences, and that you will leave the property exactly how you found it.

Tell them exactly how many hunters will be hunting on their property and how many deer you intend on harvesting. Tell them how you hunt (some land owners do not like deer drives) and if you intend on using tree stands tell them that you will not harm any trees and that you wll not use screw-in tree steps and you will use climbing sticks or ladder stands instead.

Tell them that you are willing to sign a lease agreement that will protect them financially from any hunting accidents should they unfortunately occur. And if you are willing, provide them a copy of your necessary insurance documents.

They are also concerned what the neighbors may think by leasing out their land to you. So I always say that I will not tell anyone where I hunt out and that I respect their privacy.

If you can bridge a personal reference with the land owner – that helps a lot. Can anyone vouch for you that the landowner may know? Bridge it if you can…

All of these little things help when trying to talk that landowner into a lease. Good luck!