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Vicki Worthington

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
What could I expect hunters to be willing to pay to use my Michigan property for hunting. It is 45 acres of rolling pasture, a 2.5 acre pond, and 9 acres of an approximate 40 acre marsh. It has deer, turkey, ducks, geese, and pheasants.

I've never entertained this, so I have no clue about value, if any for a piece of property this size.
 
#2 ·
If you have any of those large Michigan whitetail deer on the property its worth a lot to hunters, the ducks and pheasant are a throw in...the downside is letting hunters on your property with guns,bows or rifles, it brings a safety factor in to play. dont know what the going rate per acre of leased land is up north but if you have the BUCKS (deer) it would be worth the Bucks $$$
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
There are huge whitetails on the property, especially going to/from the marsh. Turkey are plentiful in the area & we are constantly finding turkey feathers on the place when we train there--just stray feathers, not carcasses.
 
#4 ·
Having leased similar property down here, I would say $100. per acre is fair. Best to use a package price over a lease per acre or $4,500 per year. Heck, we pay that for one pit blind for duck/goose season.
 
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#5 · (Edited)
Why not let some of your RTF buddies hunt it for research purposes this year? Then we can give you an honest, educated opinion about what would be a fair price...
________
Big Dick Hairy
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
I have a lot more work to do on the property to make it a better place for dog training. The money received for the lease would help defray the cost of some clearing to make the marsh more accessible and put in another pond or two....
 
#7 ·
Sounds like there are no woods to speak of which makes bowhunting difficult. Not sure I know anyone that would pay 4500 for a field. you could get maybe 2 people in there with guns safely but 2 days after gun season opens you will not see a deer in the open during daylight.

I would tread lightly making access to the marsh. The DEQ is tough on that. better to ask forgiveness than permission.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
The property is all wooded near the marsh, hence the work to be done is clearing hardwoods and non-wetlands vegetation.

Looks like the deer season for bowhunting is October 1 thru November 14; then a later season from December 1 thru January 1. Non-resident bow license is $138.

Firearms season is from November 15 thru November 30. Non-resident bow license is $138.

A combo (firearms and bow) license is $276.

I think turkey licenses in Michigan are pretty regulated, even for private land, so the deer aspect might be the best. The deer season is also at a time when I don't use the property very much, so that is what I'd be most interested in leasing.

There are lots of deer traversing the property based upon the deer tracks we see every time we go up to train. Deer in this area are quite sizeable.

I think $4500 may be too high and would entertain a lesser amount...
 
#9 ·
Vicki you might save yourself a lot of headache if you lease the hunting rights to a licensed guide in the state, even though they will TRY and lowball you a property like yours that hasnt been hunted (for deer ) will still fetch top dollar, IMHO I wouldnt accept a dime under 3K
 
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Discussion starter · #11 ·
My first thoughts are that I would prefer to lease the property to someone in the retriever community for deer hunting.

At least that way the lease can specify who will be hunting the property, what can be hunted, and the term of the lease. Deer hunting, bow and firearms can only run from October 1 through January 1--a 3-month period.

I would definitely consider leasing the property to 2 hunters for the season at a reasonable price. About the only restrictions would be don't cut anything down; don't drive on the pond levee; and obey the laws. The property is restricted by cables across the access drives and would be exclusive to the lessees. ATVs are certainly used there now, so would be no problem.

There are plenty of deer processors in the area.

If any RTFers are interested please contact me via PM.
 
#12 ·
Vicki,

1. Check out whomever you lease to. Ask for references.
2. Make sure they don't use your property as a commercial guiding area.
 
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#13 ·
A call to your insurance agent or a trusted lawyer might be wise. In Pa a few years ago, some moron judge held a landowner partially liable for a shooting accident, committed by someone he gave permission to hunt on his land. The victim's attorney felt the landowner must have deeper pockets that the schmuck who pulled the trigger and caused the harm, so he sued them both and won. May be some simple liability waiver to protect your ASSets.
 
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#15 ·
Definately reguire anyone to leases it to write a Commercial Liability policy and name you as a payee. It will cost them around $600-$800/year, depending. They will probably be required to write Saftey Policies, and to have all users sign a Hold Harmless agreement by the insurance company.
 
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#16 ·
Check with your state fish and game agency. In Massachusetts, there is a law which protects landowners from lawsuits who allow hunting on their property.

Lease prices depend upon alot of factors. One main factor is how much public hunting property is available in the area. 40 to 50 acres is not a very big lease, especially if you try to put more then one hunter on it.


Good luck,

Steve
 
#17 ·
Vicki Worthington said:
My first thoughts are that I would prefer to lease the property to someone in the retriever community for deer hunting.

At least that way the lease can specify who will be hunting the property, what can be hunted, and the term of the lease. Deer hunting, bow and firearms can only run from October 1 through January 1--a 3-month period.

I would definitely consider leasing the property to 2 hunters for the season at a reasonable price. About the only restrictions would be don't cut anything down; don't drive on the pond levee; and obey the laws. The property is restricted by cables across the access drives and would be exclusive to the lessees. ATVs are certainly used there now, so would be no problem.

There are plenty of deer processors in the area.

If any RTFers are interested please contact me via PM.
Click to expand...
Man, if I only had the $! That and I'm already a member of a hunt club. :)
 
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Discussion starter · #18 ·
The property is located in Montcalm County, Fenwick, MI.

I would require a lease agreement to be executed and only the signatories on the lease would be able to hunt the property--no guests; no exceptions. The lease will contain an indemnity clause that would protect me from any and all liability--either to the hunters or to others.
 
#19 ·
Denver said:
Having leased some of the best whitetail land in the country (Buffalo County, WI) We have never paid over 50$/acre. It might be different in Michigan, but i doubt it.
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I was going to say $10.00 an acre to be honest, it is not a big chunk of land which limits the amount you can ask for it.

If it was a 300 acre piece you could push a hundred bucks an acre most likely.
 
#20 ·
steelheadfred said:
I was going to say $10.00 an acre to be honest, it is not a big chunk of land which limits the amount you can ask for it.

If it was a 300 acre piece you could push a hundred bucks an acre most likely.
Click to expand...
Roughly $15/acre per lease here in WI uinless you are in one specific county where the bucks grow large. (Buffalo). I'm sure Michigan is no different.
 
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Vicki Worthington
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