Sample Hunting Lease Agreement (Free Template)

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A good hunting lease isn't a stack of legalese — it's a clear, one- or two-page agreement that spells out who can hunt, when, for how much, and what happens if something goes wrong. Below is a plain-English template you can adapt for your own ground, plus a short explanation of why each piece matters.

This is a starting point, not legal advice. State laws differ — have a local attorney review your final agreement before anyone signs.

What every hunting lease should include

1. The parties. Full legal name of the landowner (Lessor) and the hunter or hunting club (Lessee), with addresses. If it's a club, name a single responsible point of contact.

2. The property. A clear description of exactly what's being leased — county, acreage, and boundaries (a simple map or aerial helps). Spell out any areas that are off-limits: the house, barns, a neighbor's adjoining tract.

3. Term and dates. Start and end date. Specify whether it's a full-season lease, a set number of months, or day access. Note whether it renews automatically or has to be re-signed each year.

4. Rent and payment. The total price, when it's due, and how it's paid. A written record of payment protects both sides.

5. Permitted use. Which species (deer, dove, ducks, hogs, turkey), which methods (rifle, bow, etc.), and how many hunters and guests are allowed. Require that all guests be named in advance.

6. Rules and conduct. Your house rules: no trespassing on adjoining land, no cutting trees or building permanent stands without permission, gates left as found, no leaving trash, blaze orange where required, and no subleasing. This is where you keep control of your place.

7. Liability, waiver, and indemnification. The hunter assumes the risk of hunting, releases you from ordinary-accident claims, and agrees to indemnify you for claims caused by their actions. Many landowners also require the hunter to carry liability insurance and name the landowner as additional insured. Our liability and insurance guide covers this in more depth.

8. Termination. What lets either party end the lease early (for example, a serious rule violation), and what happens to rent if they do.

9. Signatures and date. Both parties sign and date. Keep a copy each.

A simple fill-in-the-blank skeleton

HUNTING LEASE AGREEMENT. This agreement is made on [date] between [Landowner name] ("Lessor") and [Hunter/Club name] ("Lessee").

1. Property: Lessor leases approximately [____] acres in [____] County, [State], described and mapped as attached, for hunting only. 2. Term: From [start date] to [end date]. Type: [season / months / day access]. 3. Rent: [$____], due [when and how].

4. Permitted game and methods: [species]; [weapons]. Maximum [__] hunters; all guests named in advance. 5. Rules: [list — stands, gates, guests, off-limits areas, no subleasing]. 6. Liability: Lessee assumes all risk, releases and indemnifies Lessor for ordinary hunting accidents, and [carries / does not carry] liability insurance naming Lessor as additional insured.

7. Termination: [conditions]. 8. Signatures: Lessor ______ Date ____ · Lessee ______ Date ____

You don't have to wire this together by hand

The whole point of the template is to remove the guesswork and the awkward money conversation. The Hunting Exchange does the same job, built in. When you list your land free, you set your price, dates, and rules up front, you message and vet the hunter through verified accounts, and payment runs through the site — held in escrow on season leases until the hunter confirms the property. Every conversation is saved, so you've got a record without managing paperwork.

It's free to list and you keep 100% of your price — hunters pay a small 5% service fee on top. Use the template for your terms, and let the site handle the booking and the money.