Hunting Lease Agreement Checklist: What to Put in Writing

Where2Hunt staff · Updated Oct 29, 2026

A hunting lease agreement should spell out the parties, property map, term, payment, game, guests, stands, vehicles, insurance and termination terms.

A hunting lease agreement is a written contract that spells out who can hunt a property, when, how, and on what terms. At minimum it should cover the parties, a property description and map, the lease term, payment, permitted species and methods, guests, stands and food plots, vehicles, liability insurance and indemnity, and what happens if the lease ends early or the land is sold. Have an attorney review it before anyone signs.

Why a written hunting lease agreement matters

Handshake leases are common, and plenty of them work for years. The trouble starts when something changes: the landowner dies, the farm sells, a guest gets hurt, a stand gets moved, or a neighbor complains about trucks on a field road. Without a written agreement, both sides are left arguing about what they thought was agreed.

A written lease protects the landowner and the hunter. It sets expectations up front, gives each side something to point to when there is a disagreement, and makes it much easier to deal with insurance carriers, heirs and buyers. It does not have to be long. It does have to be clear.

The checklist below covers what most hunting lease agreements address. Treat it as a starting point for a conversation with an attorney in your state, not as legal advice or a finished contract.

Parties, property description and lease term

Start with the basics, and get them exactly right.

• Parties. List the landowner (and every owner of record if the land is held jointly, in a trust or by a company) and the lessee. If a club is leasing, name the club and the person signing for it.
• Property description. Include the county and state, the parcel number or legal description, and the approximate acreage.
• Map. Attach a map showing the lease boundaries, any excluded areas (homes, barns, livestock pastures, a pond the family uses), gates, and the roads or trails you may drive.
• Term. State the start and end dates. Say whether the lease covers the whole year or only certain seasons, and whether there is an option to renew.
• Access hours. If the landowner wants limits on when hunters can be on the property, write them down.

Payment terms in a hunting lease contract

Money is a common source of friction, so be specific.

• The total lease amount and how it is calculated (per acre, per hunter, or a flat fee).
• When payment is due and how it is made. Avoid cash with no receipt.
• Whether a deposit is required and when it is returned.
• Whether any payment is refundable if the lease ends early.
• Late payment terms.

Lease income may be taxable to the landowner and may affect property tax programs for farm or forest land in some states. Landowners should ask a tax professional how it applies to them.

Species, methods, guests and hunting rules

This section describes what the lessee is actually paying for.

• Species. List what may be hunted: deer, turkey, waterfowl, upland birds, hogs, predators, small game. Say whether anything is excluded.
• Methods. Archery, firearms, muzzleloader, dogs, calls, decoys. Note any landowner limits that go beyond state law.
• Harvest rules. If the landowner wants antler restrictions, doe quotas or harvest reporting, put them in the lease.
• Number of hunters. State the maximum number of hunters on the lease and how they are identified.
• Guests. Say whether guests are allowed, how many, how often, whether the lessee must be present, and whether guests must sign a release.
• Compliance with law. The lessee agrees to follow all state and federal hunting laws, including licensing and tagging. Rules vary by state and change often, so check the state hunting regulations and agencies for the property.
• Safety rules. Many landowners require blaze orange where the state does not, require full-body harnesses in tree stands, or ban shooting near buildings and livestock.

Stands, food plots, vehicles and improvements

Improvements cause plenty of disputes too. Settle them before the first stand goes up.

• Stands and blinds. Can the lessee put up permanent stands? Can they use screw-in steps, which can damage timber? Who owns the stands when the lease ends, and how long does the lessee have to remove them?
• Food plots. Can the lessee plant plots? Where, how big, and who pays for seed, lime and fertilizer? Who owns the equipment?
• Feeders, minerals and bait. These are legal in some states and restricted or banned in others. The lease should say what the landowner allows, and the lessee must still follow state law.
• Cutting. Can the lessee clear shooting lanes or trim limbs? Most landowners want to approve any tree cutting.
• Vehicles. Which roads can be driven, whether ATVs and UTVs are allowed, and rules for wet weather when trucks can rut fields and trails.
• Camping and fires. Whether camping is allowed, where, and any burn restrictions.
• Gates and locks. Who gets keys or combinations, and the rule that gates are left the way they were found.

Liability insurance, indemnity and releases

This is where an attorney earns their fee.

• Liability insurance. Many landowners require the lessee to carry hunting lease liability insurance with the landowner named as an additional insured. The lease should state the required coverage and require proof before the lease starts.
• Indemnity. An indemnity clause says the lessee will cover the landowner for claims arising from the lessee's use of the property. How enforceable these are varies by state.
• Releases. Some landowners require each hunter and guest to sign a release of liability.
• Recreational use laws. Many states have laws that limit landowner liability for recreational use, but protection may be different when the landowner charges a fee. Ask an attorney how your state treats a paid lease.

Landowners should also call their own insurance agent. A regular farm or homeowners policy may or may not cover a paid hunting lease.

Termination, sale of the land and renewal

Every lease ends eventually. Decide now how that will happen.

• Termination for cause. List what allows the landowner to end the lease early: game violations, unsafe behavior, unauthorized guests, unpaid rent, damage to property.
• Notice. How much written notice is required, and how it is delivered.
• Refunds. Whether any portion of the payment is returned if the lease is terminated or the property becomes unusable.
• Sale of the land. Say whether the lease survives a sale, ends at closing, or ends after notice. If you are a hunter leasing land that could sell, this matters a lot.
• Death of the landowner. Whether the lease binds heirs.
• Timber harvest and farming. Whether logging or farming can happen during the lease and whether the lessee gets any adjustment if it does.
• Renewal. Whether the lessee gets a first right to renew and how the next year's rate is set.
• Assignment. Whether the lessee can transfer or sublease the rights. Most landowners say no.
• Dispute resolution. How disagreements will be handled before anyone calls a lawyer.

Once both sides agree on the terms, have it drafted or reviewed by an attorney licensed in the state where the land sits. Both parties sign and keep a copy, along with the map and proof of insurance.

If you are still looking for ground, our guide on how to find a hunting lease covers where to look. Landowners setting up their first lease can read how to lease your land for hunting, and anyone weighing a short-term option should compare day access vs a hunting lease. When you are ready to compare properties, Where2Hunt lists hunting leases and day access by state.

Frequently asked questions

Does a hunting lease have to be in writing?

It depends on state law and the length of the lease, and some short arrangements may be enforceable without one. Even when it is not required, a written lease is strongly recommended because it avoids disputes and helps with insurance. An attorney can tell you what your state requires.

What insurance does a hunting lease need?

Most landowners ask the lessee to carry hunting lease liability insurance that names the landowner as an additional insured. The landowner should also confirm with their own agent whether their policy covers a paid lease. Coverage amounts and terms are a question for an insurance professional.

What happens to a hunting lease if the land is sold?

That depends on what the lease says and on state law. Some leases continue after a sale, some end at closing, and some end after a notice period. Write the answer into the lease so neither side is surprised.

Can I use a free hunting lease template?

A template can help you organize the topics, but it may not fit your state's laws or your property. Use it as a checklist, then have an attorney review the final agreement before anyone signs.

General information, not legal advice. Hunting laws vary by state and change every year; confirm with the state wildlife agency. See an error? Tell us.