Landowner Liability Hunting Lease Insurance

The simple fact is that hunting leases increase revenue from other land income sources like row crops and timber cuts, while also generating its own source of income. Besides income, hunting leases also reduce property damage and trespassing by keeping reliable hunters involved in watching and protecting the property and its timber and wildlife resources. When it comes down to it, there is no downside to hunting leases. With the benefits clearly outlined, and the negatives non-existent, the only thing left to discuss is the perceived risks in landowner liability. These risks can easily be confronted through understanding landowner liability hunting lease insurance.

Cornerstones of a Beneficial Hunting Lease

Hunters jump at the opportunity to increase their hunting opportunities and experience through a hunting lease. They are eager in reaching a mutually beneficial relationship and agreement with the landowner, who is also excited to start generating revenue. During this process, it’s critical to establish peace of mind, meaning the landowner’s risk of liability clear and prepared for, and the level of safety hunter’s expect reached on the property. While many states offer landowner liability waivers, or hunting leases that have indemnity clauses or hold harmless agreements for hunters to sign to clear the landowner of any hunter’s personal injury or property damage, hunting lease insurance guarantees coverage for unforeseen scenarios. Unforeseen scenarios, while rare, can still hit the landowner with a lawsuit. Scenarios might occur involving neighbors or the hunter’s family, people that might not be covered in the waiver, indemnity clause, or hold harmless agreement and who can sue a landowner in a suitable occurrence.  In addition to these risks, most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover hunters or guests that have paid to hunt the property.  

These are all reasons why it is absolutely crucial for the cornerstones of the hunting lease to be established between both parties before the agreement takes place. There are two cornerstones for the lease to be built upon. Thorough liability coverage for the hunters and the landowners is the first, and the second is a well written and clearly worded hunting lease agreement.

Hunting Lease Liability Insurance 

The first cornerstone to establishing a hunting lease is hunting lease liability insurance. Look for a program that is designed to protect the landowner and the hunter as both parties can buy hunting lease insurance. For the landowner specifically, insurance is crucial to cover the scenarios that a liability waiver will not. Knowing that you have protection from hunting accidents, bodily injuries, property damage, and lawsuits and legal defense coverage gives you peace of mind to enjoy the source of income. While there are many options out there for hunting lease insurance, a great policy should offer benefits like:  

• Legal defense in court for insured parties 
• Bodily injury coverage 
• Property damage coverage 
• Medical payments for accidents unrelated to liability  
• Coverage of all members that the hunting lease agreement lists 
• Guest liability coverage 
• Fire coverage liability  
• Liability from tree stands and ATVs 
• A fully customizable hunting lease agreement 

Coverage and protection allow landowners to be comfortable with leasing and keeps them from being overly involved with the hunters. A constantly worried landowner that checks up on the hunter’s location, access, vehicle usage, and hunting tactics to protect his/her interests will ruin the chance of any future leasing. Liability insurance and a binding hunting lease agreement protects your interests as a landowner while at the same time creating a more attractive lease for a hunter.

Hunting Lease Agreement

When a hunting lease agreement is forming, both parties’ responsibilities should be laid out for the mutually beneficial relationship to function properly. This and several liability insurance components like rules, state and federal regulations, safety concerns, and hunting member details are laid out on a hunting lease agreement. The lease agreement should protect both parties involved by clearly outlining the following:  

• Price of hunting lease 
• Exclusive or non-exclusive hunting rights to hunter(s) 
• Number and Name of hunters 
• Game species listed for hunting 
• Tree stand safety, firearm safety, and state regulations 
• Damage and fire prevention agreement 
• Occupied residence shooting zones 
• Personal property removal upon lease termination 
• Vehicle access and vehicle usage rules 
• Crop production protection 
• Landowner and hunter obligations 
• Safety hazards (wells, holes, fences, and poisonous animals)  

The hunting lease agreement is a landowner’s chance to eliminate any causes for concern including hunting areas, firearm/hunter safety, vehicle/ATV access and usage, littering, and even game quotas within the state and federal hunting regulations.

Conclusion

Hunting lease liability insurance is not difficult to understand. It in combination with a hunting lease agreement takes care of any unsettling risks or doubts to leasing land for hunting. Sit down and discuss which polices are right for you and your land, what your concerns are, and walk away knowing you, your land, and your land’s revenue sources are well protected when producing additional income from hunting leases.

GET INFO ABOUT LEASING THE HUNTING RIGHTS TO YOUR PROPERTY

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