Join the club. Leasing organizations such as Base Camp Leasing require that you become a member of their hunting club in order to lease land. Registration allows Base Camp to track those who get directions and visit land as a security measure. A required $65 fee covers a $3 million liability insurance policy that covers all members and Base Camp. For more information, call Base Camp Leasing at 615-406-4545.
Browse for the perfect parcel of land. Once you're a member, you can browse a statewide database of Illinois land available for private hunting lease. Base Camp Leasing and other operators offer hunting leases throughout the state. Base Camp currently has an inventory of 20,000 acres, in parcels ranging from 40 to 1,000 acres. A typical lease cost is between $15 and $35 an acre.
Inspect the property before you sign a lease. If you don't encounter wildlife when you visit, you likely won't later when you hunt either. Reputable leasing operators will provide directions and access via the landowner, as well as a formal permission slip.
Exploit the pricing model. Most hunting land for lease is offered at a single price for the entire property. Most impose a maximum limit on the size of your hunting party. But in order to make the venture as cost-effective as possible, divide the total fee by the maximum number of hunters and then collect and pay accordingly. Every member of the hunting group that will use the property must sign the lease. Hunters who do not sign the lease as official members of your party are not allowed to hunt the land.
Follow industry-standard procedures. Your lease will commence as of the date you place a non-refundable deposit and will remain in force for a year, reports Base Camp Leasing, which charges a $250 deposit. Your right to hunt begins once the lease has been signed and paid in full. Final payment is due within a week of the deposit at Base Camp Leasing, for example. In most cases, a lease can be renewed for the following year as long as the new deposit is paid at least two weeks prior to the expiration.
Study a real hunting lease. Like all leases, a hunting lease is a comprehensive, legally binding document. Familiarize yourself with one or more examples before you negotiate and sign one. Base Camp Leasing offers an example (see "Resources").
Find your own land. You do not need a third-party organization to lease land for hunting. Search out and identify land that looks good for hunting and contact the land owner directly. The same general terms and conditions and price range per acre will apply, whether you use a third party or do it yourself. If you do it yourself, you may be required to have substantial liability insurance coverage.
