Why lease?  To purchase hunting ground in the area of the farm, you will need to spend between $1200 to $1350 per acre.  This means 40 acres of woods without any structures will sell for between $48,000 to $54,000, of course depending upon location and other factors.  Ownership of the land will incur expenses including real estate taxes, insurance, interest on mortgage, if any.  Leasing the hunting and other rights listed below on 379 acres results in a huge savings over a purchase of similar property.

Those who enter into the lease will have access to the land for the full calendar year even though hunting seasons are of limited duration. The lease may be for several years, with a provision to cancel at the end of the first year. Other benefits of leasing will include:

Use of the 50’ x 72’ storage shed for storage of equipment.

Camping site at the shed with electricity and water available. Cost of the power used to be paid for by camper. Camping elsewhere on the property will be permitted on a site by site basis and then only for one to two week periods. No facilities are available elsewhere on the property.

Gathering of wild fruit and berries except for Morel mushrooms.

Cutting of firewood from dead trees for on or off site personal use when specifically permitted.

In winter, with sufficient snow cover, use off snowmobiles may be considered.

Responsibilities of each party to the lease will be to extend their homeowner’s insurance to provide liability coverage for activities on the property.

Obligations of the lessee shall be:

Keep from littering the woods from their activities. "What goes in comes back out."

Avoid damage to the soil or living trees and shrubs, except for the removal of minor amounts of brush that may be advantageous for providing shooting lanes.

Restrict the use of tree stands to portable devices specifically manufactured for such purposes.

Activities shall be reasonable and responsible and shall respect the quiet environment of the rural setting.

To recognize that lease rights will extend only to those persons listed on the lease and a reasonable number of guests who may, from time to time, accompany them.

Equipment brought on the land to be stored in the shed when not in use.

To indemnify and hold harmless owners (lessors) from any liability in their use of the land and the requirement that the lessee carry appropriate liability insurance naming the owners as an additional insured.

 

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