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Hunting Lease Dues Question

S

Smokingbarrel270

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Messages
359
Location
Winder GA
Got a question for those that have and pay for hunting leases. I am currently in a lease with 8 other fellas, we have had the property for several years and the past years the property owner increases our hunting dues every year by a few percent. My question is this: is increase dues normal every year?
 
I would say it depends on where you are at.. Are taxes jumping on a yearly base? have improvments been made to the land?
 
Our lease went up last year but we have a 5 year lease. It may go up again in a few years. Never know but it’s the gamble a leasee makes every contract term.
 
If you are signing single year leases, it's his right to reexamine the amount that giving up the hunting rights to his property is worth to him, and it's your right to determine each year if that amount is worth it to you.

A couple percent each year doesn't seem unreasonable to me. You could try to negotiate a longer lease with pre determined increases which would reduce the possibility of being suprised with a large increase one year.
 
To me it is best to sign a 3 or 5 year lease so you can lock in a price for a few years and then negotiate a maximum rate increase upon renewal. I know its a lease and they still own the land but I would also try to negotiate when the owner can be making changes to the property that you are leasing. Not sure how many acres it is but I would be ticked if they were clearing trees during the hunting season when I am paying money to be there hunting.
 
You can sign a longer lease, but then you are taking on a bigger financial obligation. A few % a year isn't crazy. But, if they're also clear-cutting your woods, I would move on. I don't think that's reasonable.

I've had farmers try to charge trophy rates on properties but then want to you to obliterate the doe herd. In my opinion, if they want to charge you to hunt, they can't do things that hurt your hunting. If he wants to clear cut, great...but its not fair to charge to hunt.
 
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