16 VIRGINIA FORESTS For private landowners, often sharing with others who do not own property is a component of the decision to offer hunt leases. Yes, there are still plenty of good people out there! To be clear, hunt lease and recreational use license sale revenue pale in comparison to any timber harvest. That said, recreational use licenses can provide a steady and reliable income stream to help pay for operational and maintenance expenses, including land taxes. And frequently, trying to completely offset or somewhat offset taxes is a common landowner goal when selling hunt leases and recreational use licenses. While it is difficult to determine exactly how much revenue can be generated on your land from a hunt lease, there is a common value driver, and it’s the same one frequently circulated in the real estate market: Location, Location, Location. The closer you are to the demand originating from large metro areas (think Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Tidewater), the more you may expect to get. Dollars per acre per year is the benchmark value in the hunt lease world. Within 60–90 minutes of one of those large metro areas, a 100-acre tract with “average” features as described above should net you $19–$28/acre or $1,900–$2,800 per year. It all depends on what you have to offer. James Stacia is President of Outdoor Access, Inc. Working with landowners, he consults on how to achieve landowner lease revenue and management goals against a backdrop of what sells in the market. A lifelong outdoorsman and managing principal of a Tree Farm in Fluvanna County, James has overseen pine thinning, hardwood clearcuts, and a selective helicopter harvest in sensitive river bottomland. He is a retired USMC Colonel with service around the globe, and 23-year Board Member of Virginia Property Insurance Association. James holds a BS in Economics from VCU, and MBA from William and Mary. He can be reached at james.stacia@ outdooraccess.com or 804-338-2108. Finding a place to hunt becomes more difficult every year. The “over programmed” world we live in has shaped and changed how and when people are able to get outside. Land ownership patterns also have changed, resulting in more diversified ownership and smaller rural land blocks. The internet has brought transformation and opportunity to opaque markets. The hunt licensing or “hunt leasing” market is no different. Landowners remain necessarily concerned about potential liability from recreational licensing against a backdrop of the ever-increasing costs of holding onto land. These dynamics and others both challenge traditional land access methods and create opportunities to come up with better ways, both for landowners and hunters. Outdoor Access Inc., a Virginia-based company, offers an innovative alternative to the traditional hunt lease methodology: an online hunt lease marketplace that can help address these hunt access dynamics. For landowners, the company provides recreational value and licensing expertise, insurance to mitigate risk, user background checks, payment processing, and customer service. For hunt license purchasers Outdoor Access provides a transparent look at properties where landowners allow access and everything that a hunter needs to make a purchase decision. Compared to traditional access methods, this model can make it easier for landowners by providing them the services and flexibility they require that includes scheduling, payment, insurance, and more. There are also advantages and benefits for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. They can make reservations quickly and easily for a variety of hunting and outdoor experiences, from urban archery to river float-in camping and paddle sports. For those without a local network, like military members, they can quickly find available opportunities to join hunts. In addition to serving individual landowners and hunters, the company also partners with the Virgina DWR by providing the DWR Hunter Mentor network exclusive access to private property. Additional large organizations using the online system to manage access and licensing of their properties include North Carolina State University, The Conservation Fund, and the Shanandoah Council of BSA. Online tools can give landowners a new way to monetize the recreational value of their land assets. These tools allow landowners the flexibility, control, and confidence to offer their land for recreational use however they choose. This, in turn, offers hunters and outdoor enthusiasts new ways to find and access private property for compelling recreational experiences. For more information about using the Outdoor Access platform, visit www.outdooraccess.com. Hunting Airbnb Style for Landowners and Hunters NON-TRADITIONAL HUNT LEASES AND RECREATIONAL USE LICENSES KEY PRODUCT ACTIVITIES BY COMPANY (0A) LANDOWNER (L) AND USER (U) OA Markets, acquires and vets properties and users U Pays user and admin fees; undergoes background check L Maintains property, sets property rules, conditions, pricing, and availability (no up front costs to landowners) OA, L Builds compelling listings with attribute, location, and wildlife photos OA, L Activates and maintains listing on website OA Promotes listing U Makes reservations and pays fees to OA OA Sends booking notification and user contact info to landowner; sends permission slip and parking pass to user; provides digital check-in and check-out OA Maintains $4 million insurance for landowners as named insured U Enjoys exclusive access to property for rental term; writes listing reviews OA Pays landowner monthly reservation income sum net OA fee of 15%
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