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Developing a Wildlife Enterprise - Header Image with images of hunters and various wildlife.
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Getting Started

Before meeting with your attorney, have a clear understanding of what you want to occur on your property.  Following is a worksheet that will help clarify your wildlife enterprise plan and design of your hunting lease.

What are your goals for the property?
Are they in conflict with the goals of hunters who have interest in leasing the property? If so, describe:
Do you want to retain hunting or non-hunting (e.g. agriculture or forestry production) use of some parts of the property?  If so, what parts of the property? **
** Need legal description if the “use” is of certain identifiable property. If the “use” is for some specific activity, the worksheet needs to reflect that activity.
Is the wildlife population of sufficient size to allow hunting on your property? 
Do you want to limit the number of hunters or the harvest? 
For example, if there are too many deer, will you require that hunters harvest a doe before taking a buck?  Will you allow waterfowl hunters only on certain days and set aside some “rest” days for the ducks? Explain.
Do you want the hunters to help improve your property for wildlife in lieu of a larger payment?  How? What types of improvements? How will you determine “value” (may have tax implications in which case it is good to consult with a competent tax professional)?
How involved do you want to be in the lessee’s management decisions?
Will you provide lodging for lessees, or allow placement or construction of lodging facilities on your property?


Disclaimer:  This web site information is provided as an educational tool and is not a substitute for individualized legal advice.  Anyone wishing to implement a lease agreement should consult an attorney and insurance representative in your state, as state statutes and legal interpretations may differ from state to state.  Any information on this web site incorporates general information, but particular legal interpretations of statutes may be different in your state.  Utilization of these materials by any person constitutes an agreement to hold harmless the authors, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, and the University of Tennessee for any liability, claims, damages, or expenses that may be incurred as a result of reference to or reliance on the information contained on this web site.
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