| Among the considerations hunters make during | | | | as the metric here when making comparisons. |
| the various seasons they choose to hunt is | | | | Sound research on comparable options, public land, |
| whether or not they pay for a hunting lease. If a | | | | and average game harvested from the land will |
| one is undertaken, valuing it appropriately is an | | | | serve to guide any hunter in the right direction |
| important part of the process. Whether it is for a | | | | when looking for a hunting lease. |
| one-week elk hunt, or a season of goose hunting, | | | | The primary intangible factor that must be |
| several tangible and intangible factors should be | | | | considered when finding a hunting lease is hunter |
| considered when valuing a hunting lease. | | | | motivation. Motivation and goals may serve to |
| Comparable leases, abundance of public land, and | | | | add value to a lease that other hunters may not |
| productivity of the land relative to the game | | | | find. If a hunter has only two or three solid days |
| hunted are all tangible considerations. The first | | | | to hunt, there may be an intangible value to the |
| step in properly valuing a hunting lease is to do | | | | hunter if private leases are already in place. If a |
| some research and find out what similar leases | | | | hunter knows the area well, when seasons are |
| cost. Be careful to make an "apples to apples" | | | | busy and when public land is crowded, there may |
| comparison here. The value of a lease for elk | | | | be value in a private lease depending upon when |
| hunting on a 500 acre parcel known for monster | | | | the hunt will take place. |
| bull elk, surrounded by over-crowded public land is | | | | Like any other aspect of a hunting trip, |
| not the same as the same 500 acre parcel if | | | | determining the need for a hunting lease and the |
| there is little game on the property and a good | | | | underlying value of such a lease takes some |
| mix of public and private land surrounding the | | | | thought, time, and planning. Taking time to |
| parcel. Similarly, one cannot reasonably compare | | | | compare options, examining land availability, and |
| the price per gun rate on a one-day goose lease | | | | researching harvesting trends will provide any |
| to a trespass fee associated with a successful | | | | hunter with excellent insight into the underlying |
| bear hunt. Logic and common sense should serve | | | | value of a hunting lease. |