| You would much rather forget about your previous | | | | protection agreements were missing. They have |
| hunting trips than remember them, simply because | | | | become wiser today! Your signature on the |
| too much time has been spent in looking for suitable | | | | document indicates that you alone are responsible for |
| hunting locations, traveling, getting hunting licenses | | | | any damage to property. Also, should any member |
| and equipment, and so on! You have planned | | | | of a hunting party get killed or injured during the |
| something different for this year. You are going in for | | | | event, the landowner cannot be held responsible and |
| hunting leases and get everything over and done | | | | dragged into a lawsuit. |
| with! | | | | (4) So if there is anything about the agreement that |
| This definitely makes things a little bit easier since | | | | you find difficult to comprehend, ask for clarifications |
| you have to deal only with the owner of the land | | | | and affix your signature only after you have clearly |
| that he is leasing out. The catch is that there is an | | | | understood everything. |
| official document that requires your signature before | | | | (5) Some hunting leases are very succinct while |
| you are allowed to do anything. Also, everything on | | | | others are more detailed. Never mind how much time |
| that paper is legal and binding to both parties. So, for | | | | it takes; if you have questions, get the answers |
| your benefit and for the benefit of all sports hunters, | | | | before signing the document. |
| here are a few things to be kept in mind while signing | | | | (6) To be fair, hunting leases are generally quite |
| hunting leases-- | | | | reasonable and the terms set down are not so |
| (1) Whatever be the length of the document and | | | | difficult to accept. This legal contract is actually meant |
| however much of a hurry you are in, READ the | | | | to avoid future litigation. Where a group of hunters is |
| terms of the agreement thoroughly before signing it. | | | | concerned, all the members are required to put their |
| This applies to both, individual hunters as well as a | | | | individual signatures. |
| hunting party. The trouble starts when people just | | | | (7) Additionally, a private landowner has the freedom |
| skim through what is written and sign blindly--no one | | | | to put in anything into his agreement, provided it is |
| is going to believe in your innocence later on should | | | | reasonable. So hunting leases can be very flexible. |
| unforeseen difficulties crop up. | | | | And terms and conditions differ from year to |
| (2) Why are private landowners going in for hunting | | | | year--what was absent previously may be present |
| leases? They are concerned about keeping | | | | today, and vice versa. |
| themselves and their properties safe. This is a | | | | (8) To conclude, hunting leases are legal and binding |
| method to avoid personal risk. | | | | agreements settled upon by both, private landowner |
| (3) Too often, landowners who leased out their | | | | and hunter/hunters. Ensure that you do nothing that |
| private lands for hunting got into trouble with the law | | | | will give the landowner a chance to sue you in court! |
| as well as incurred losses to their property, since | | | | |