Missouri Lease Hunting/Fishing Arrangements (& Wildlife Watchers)

1. Missouri Lease Hunting/Fishing Arrangements(& Wildlife Watchers) Joe Parcell Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri - Columbia

2. Lease Hunting • Provides landowners the opportunity to supplement their income while enhancing wildlife habitat on their property • Recreational Lease • agreement between a person who controls access to the property and person who wishes to use the property for recreational use

5. Hunting Equipment • Hunting Coat • Hunting Pants • Hunting Hat • Dog • Gun • 4-wheeler • Truck

6. Note: • Native wildlife cannot be leased or sold by a landowner because it is publicly owned by the state. • The public owns it, but . . . • private land managers control wildlife populations

7. The Leasing Process • What sportsman look for in a hunting lease: • 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

8. Liability • Landowner should: • 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

9. Liability • When landowner accepts a fee for hunting on their property, they take on legal responsibility for the safety of the hunters. • The paying hunter becomes the “invitee” • Missouri law states that landowners have a “duty of ordinary and reasonable care” to their invitees

10. The Liability Cost • $1,000,000 Umbrella Liability policy • @$100/annually • It has been suggested that $500,000 is sufficient, but . . . • the cost of $500 K and $1 mil may not be that much different • Check with your insurance sales person

11. Cost - Benefit Analysis • Cost are generally minimal in a simple lease • Legal fee to review the lease • Additional insurance premiums • Landowners time to: • write contract • interview lessee • analyze harvest information • monitor lessee

12. Habitat Enhancement • “The Better the Experience, the More Hunters are willing to Pay” • Habitat management through: • brush control planting perennial grasses • choice of crops tillage • timber management burning • weed control

13. Fee Hunting Income Potential

14. Cost - Benefit • Minimum cost - $200 • Charge $3/acre • Conclusion: • minimum 70 acres to breakeven

15. Cost - Benefit • Example • $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

16. Marketing • What game are you going to market? • Who is your target market? • How will you advertise?

17. What game are you going to market?

18. Deer Harvest in Central Missouri(10 districts reporting)

19. Source: MDC 0.1 - 0.9 1.0 -1.9 0.0 > 2.0 Not surveyed

20. Source: MDC 0 - 5 6 - 15 > 15 Not surveyed

21. Source: MDC 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 - 1.0 Not surveyed < 1.0

22. Missouri Dove Density Source: MDC

23. Missouri Turkey Density Source: MDC

24. Who is your target market?

25. Game Bird Hunting • 19,341 pheasant hunters in Missouri in 1998 • 57,995 quail hunters in Missouri in 1998

26. Turkey Licenses sold in MissouriSource: MDC

33. 206,000 in age group 25 -64

34. 793,000 in age group 25 -64

35. 1,900,000 in age group 25 -64

36. Advertising • Newspaper add • Suggested beginning at 45 days prior to season • Internet

37. The Lease

38. Types of leases • Year-round • Most year-round leases convey exclusive rights to specified recreational activities • Limited duration • Most seasonal leases convey exclusive rights to the specified recreational activities during the term of the agreement. • Day Hunting

39. Types of leases • Guided Hunts • General recreational lease • Activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, or wildlife observation

40. Every Written Lease Needs: • 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

41. Other Considerations

42. Miscellaneous • Owner retains hunting rights for family/friends • Hunters record game harvest • If lessee builds a shelter • who provides the utilities? • who owns it?

43. Care of Property • Access to hunting areas/Parking/When vehicles are allowed over fields • Improvements allowed to the lessee • Rules on opening and closing gates

44. Care of Property • Restrictions on fires and cook stoves • Trash removal • Use of buildings, toilet facilities and water • Tree cutting

45. Additional Benefits • Allows landowner to have someone monitor land for trespass problems • Lessee may be willing to exchange recreational rights for helping out on the property • Example • Given hunting rights for a year in return for helping paint a building

46. Conclusions • Economic value • Liability • Market