How to Profit from Off-Season Farmland

Leasing land to a hunting outfitter can provide additional income, plus peace of mind when it comes to property oversight.

By Dale And Darcy Cahill
Published on October 2, 2018
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by Adobestock/altocumulus

Farming comes with myriad financial risks, from violent weather that destroys crops to unexpected drops in wholesale prices. For farmers looking to mitigate some of those losses, leasing their farmland for guided hunts can bring in additional income. Private hunting leases can provide farmers with a way to garner income from their land during the off-season, after the last crops have been harvested and the fields are dormant.

Leasing Land

Leasing land can be done in a number of ways, but many landowners choose to work with a hunting outfitter. Hunting outfitters operate as a go-between for farmers and hunters. They connect landowners with interested hunters, work with them to draw up a lease, supply hunting guides, and more.

Monetary gain from leasing land to a hunting outfitter varies widely depending on location, topography, and available game. Here in Vermont, it’s not uncommon for hunters to trade maple syrup or other agricultural goods or services for hunting rights on a neighbor’s farm. In Chazy, New York, Matt Martin, owner and hunting guide for Frontier Waterfowl Guide Service, leads fall and spring waterfowl hunts on local farmland. Each hunt lasts 2 or 3 days. Martin charges $200 to $250 per hunter per half-day. He says that farmers get a small revenue stream from their lease, plus the benefit of knowing that someone they trust is taking care of their property. While farmers won’t get rich leasing their land to an outfitter, they’re usually able to earn enough off-season revenue to offset taxes or update a piece of farm equipment.

duck hunter

Trust is Essential

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