April 28, 2025

Absentee Landowner? Safeguard Your Property Investment from a Distance.

Landowner standing in agriculture field that he inherited.

Audio summary

This piece, from the American Landowner Alliance, offers guidance to **absentee landowners** on protecting their remote properties. It emphasizes the **risks of liability** for injuries on vacant land and recommends strategies like regular property oversight and securing **sufficient insurance**, specifically mentioning **vacant land coverage**. A key suggestion is leveraging **hunting leases**, which can create a presence, deter **trespassing**, aid **wildlife conservation** and maintenance monitoring, and generate **passive income**.

Reasons Why Hunting Leases Contribute to Land Protection For Absentee Landowners

The popularity of hunting leases is increasing, with landowners across the country opting to lease their properties to hunters who seek outdoor recreational experiences. While any landowner can consider a hunting lease, it is particularly beneficial for absentee landowners. Here are several compelling reasons why this arrangement is advantageous, including the five discussed below.

Establishing a Presence on the Property

Absentee landowners are often not physically present on their land, which can make it vulnerable to various issues. For example, unoccupied structures may attract thieves or squatters. However, having hunters on the property creates a noticeable presence that can deter criminal activity. This added vigilance can be crucial in safeguarding the land.

Keeping an Eye on Trespassing

When a property is unmonitored, it becomes an easy target for trespassers. Hunters leasing the land actively watch over it, as they have a personal stake in maintaining its integrity. They aim to protect the area to ensure that both wildlife and hunting activities remain undisturbed. Hunters monitor the property in several ways: they spend time on-site, witnessing events firsthand, and they often set up SD and cellular trail cameras to capture images of wildlife. These cameras can also help identify any trespassing incidents, often revealing issues through photos rather than direct encounters.

Supporting Wildlife Conservation

Hunters are not merely individuals who pursue game; they are also dedicated conservationists. In fact, hunting provides a significant portion of funding for wildlife conservation efforts in North America. Leasing your land to hunters can have both direct and indirect positive impacts on conservation and the health of wildlife populations. Additionally, it’s essential to recognize that hunters have a deep appreciation for the natural environment and its ecosystems.

Their purpose isn't solely about the hunt; rather, they seek a profound connection with nature, which is integral to our human heritage and future. Allowing a hunting lease on your property ultimately serves to safeguard wildlife and our role within the natural world.

Monitoring Maintenance Requirements

Landowners who do not reside on their property may be unaware of necessary inspections or, even worse, when issues arise. This can include neighbors encroaching on property lines, fallen trees blocking roads, burst water lines, weather-related damage to structures, and more. There are numerous situations where landowners need to be informed. If they are not present, they may remain oblivious. Fortunately, a hunter leasing your land can monitor for potential problems. Should any issues arise, they can promptly reach out to you with updates. This provides added peace of mind when managing your property from a distance.

Boosting Passive Income

Lastly, the potential for increased passive income is a significant advantage. This additional revenue stream can enhance your financial situation, helping to cover land improvements, building upgrades, property taxes, and more. Extra income is always beneficial. Why Absentee Landowners Should Consider Leasing to Hunters In summary, don’t underestimate the benefits of leasing your land to hunters, especially if you are an absentee landowner. Take into account the reasons mentioned and more. Protect your land investment from a distance. Find out more on leasing your property.

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Frequently asked questions

Landowners can be held liable for injuries sustained by anyone on their property, including both invited guests and trespassers. This liability can arise from foreseeable hazards or even criminal activity. For absentee landowners who are not regularly present, potential hazards or issues might go unnoticed, increasing the risk of an accident and subsequent liability. Therefore, understanding and mitigating these risks is crucial.

Leasing land for hunting offers several advantages for absentee landowners. It helps establish a physical presence on the property, deterring potential criminal activity like theft or squatting. Hunters actively monitor the land for trespassers, helping to protect its integrity. Furthermore, hunters often contribute to wildlife conservation efforts, and they can also provide valuable assistance by monitoring the property for maintenance issues, neighbor encroachments, or weather-related damage, promptly informing the landowner. Finally, it provides a source of passive income.

Absentee landowners' properties are susceptible to trespassing due to lack of constant monitoring. Hunters who lease the land have a vested interest in its protection and actively watch over it. They spend time on-site and often utilize trail cameras, which can capture images of wildlife and also identify trespassing incidents, providing visual evidence without direct confrontation.

Hunters are often dedicated conservationists and are a significant source of funding for wildlife conservation in North America. By leasing land to hunters, landowners can indirectly support conservation efforts. Hunters also have a deep appreciation for the natural environment and its ecosystems, seeking a connection with nature that aligns with safeguarding wildlife and the natural world.

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