Missouri Lease Hunting/Fishing Arrangements
(& Wildlife Watchers)
Joe Parcell
Department of Agricultural Economics,
University of Missouri - Columbia
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Lease Hunting
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Provides landowners the opportunity to
supplement their income while enhancing
wildlife habitat on their property
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Recreational Lease
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agreement between a person who controls access to
the property and person who wishes to use the
property for recreational use
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Hunting Equipment
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Hunting Coat
Hunting Pants
Hunting Hat
Dog
Gun
4-wheeler
Truck
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Note:
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Native wildlife cannot be leased or sold by a
landowner because it is publicly owned by the
state.
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The public owns it, but . . .
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private land managers control wildlife populations
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
The Leasing Process
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What sportsman look for in a hunting lease:
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Less competition from other hunters
Abundant game densities
An atmosphere in which they feel welcome
Safety
Convenience or close to home
Potential trophy quality game
Convenient, comfortable and dependable lodging
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Liability
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Landowner should:
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inspect property for hazards
inform lessee of hazards
adequate liability coverage
have lessee sign a proper written agreement with a
liability waiver
monitor actions of lessee
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Liability
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When landowner accepts a fee for hunting on
their property, they take on legal responsibility
for the safety of the hunters.
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The paying hunter becomes the “invitee”
Missouri law states that landowners have a “duty of
ordinary and reasonable care” to their invitees
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
The Liability Cost
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$1,000,000 Umbrella Liability policy
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It has been suggested that $500,000 is sufficient,
but . . .
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@$100/annually
the cost of $500 K and $1 mil may not be that much
different
Check with your insurance sales person
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Cost - Benefit Analysis
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Cost are generally minimal in a simple lease
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Legal fee to review the lease
Additional insurance premiums
Landowners time to:
• write contract
• interview lessee
• analyze harvest information
• monitor lessee
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Habitat Enhancement
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“The Better the Experience, the More Hunters
are willing to Pay”
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Habitat management through:
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brush control
choice of crops
timber management
weed control
planting perennial grasses
tillage
burning
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Fee Hunting Income Potential
Farm
Game:
Forest
Game:
Potential daily lease
Annual rental income
income with additional
with straight lease
services provided
Quail/rabbit $1 to $5 /acre
$150 to $465/person/day
Dove
$20 to $40 /acre
$5 to $20/person/day
Deer
$1 to $10 /acre
$200/person/day
Turkey
$1 to $10 /acre
$150 to $350/person/day
Grouse
$1 to $5 /acre
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Squirrel
Wetland
Game:
$1 to $3 /acre
Ducks
$30 to $300 /acre
--------------------------$50 to $150/person/day
Geese
$30 to $300 /acre
$100 to $200/person/day
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Cost - Benefit
Minimum cost - $200
 Charge $3/acre
 Conclusion:
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minimum 70 acres to breakeven
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Cost - Benefit
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Example
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$3.00/acre hunt lease, $100 insurance, $50 legal fee, &
$50 in landowner time
suppose you leave filter strip around 300 acre corn field
• 4 acres out of production
Corn price
$2.30 $2.50 $2.70 $2.80
Net return from corn -$44
$36
$116 $196
Lease net value
$700
$700 $700 $700
difference
$744
$664 $584 $504
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Marketing
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What game are you going to market?
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Who is your target market?
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How will you advertise?
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
What game are you going to market?
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Deer Harvest in Central Missouri
(10 districts reporting)
(percentage of total deer
harvest)
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1994
1995
1997
1998
1999
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Source: MDC
1.0 -1.9
0.0
0.1 - 0.9
College of Agriculture,
Food, and
Natural Resources
> 2.0
Not surveyed
Source: MDC
0-5
6 - 15
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
> 15
Not surveyed
Source: MDC
0.0 - 0.4
0.5 - 1.0
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
< 1.0
Not surveyed
Missouri Dove Density
Source: MDC
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Missouri Turkey Density
Source: MDC
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Who is your target market?
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Game Bird Hunting
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19,341 pheasant hunters in Missouri in 1998
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57,995 quail hunters in Missouri in 1998
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Turkey Licenses sold in Missouri
Source: MDC
150000
145000
140000
135000
130000
125000
19
86
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
120000
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
206,000 in age
group 25 -64
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
793,000 in age
group 25 -64
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
1,900,000 in age
group 25 -64
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Advertising
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Newspaper add
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Suggested beginning at 45 days prior to season
Internet
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
The Lease
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Types of leases
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Year-round
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Limited duration
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Most year-round leases convey exclusive rights to
specified recreational activities
Most seasonal leases convey exclusive rights to the
specified recreational activities during the term of
the agreement.
Day Hunting
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Types of leases
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Guided Hunts
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General recreational lease
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Activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, or
wildlife observation
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Every Written Lease Needs:
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Description of the recreational rights, services and
facilities being leased
Names of the lessor and lessees involved
Description of the property being leased
Species to be hunted
Terms of payment
Duration of the lease
Definition of who has recreational rights
Signatures
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Other Considerations
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Miscellaneous
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Owner retains hunting rights for family/friends
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Hunters record game harvest
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If lessee builds a shelter
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who provides the utilities?
who owns it?
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Care of Property
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Access to hunting areas/Parking/When vehicles
are allowed over fields
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Improvements allowed to the lessee
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Rules on opening and closing gates
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Care of Property
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Restrictions on fires and cook stoves
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Trash removal
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Use of buildings, toilet facilities and water
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Tree cutting
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Additional Benefits
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Allows landowner to have someone monitor
land for trespass problems
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Lessee may be willing to exchange recreational
rights for helping out on the property
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Example
• Given hunting rights for a year in return for helping
paint a building
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Conclusions
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Economic value
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Liability
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Market
College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources