Hunting - An underutilized revenue source for NIPF landowners

Hunting and related wildlife management activities represent a relatively untapped revenue source for non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners. In 1998, Mississippi landowners were surveyed to determine hunting and wildlife management activities permitted on their land and related revenues and expenses. Most respondents (77%) allowed hunting on their property, primarily to family and friends. Less than 14% of all respondents charged for hunting privileges. Annual hunting-related revenues averaged $3,844 per respondent ($4.63/acre). Season-long hunting leases between hunting clubs and landowners were the most common method of conveying hunting rights and generated the greatest revenues among payment arrangements. Fee-hunting respondents generally did not experience serious problems related to their fee-hunting operations. Respondents who did not sell hunting rights ranked liability concerns as the primary reason for not selling hunting rights on their property. Property damage, loss of privacy, and loss of control also ranked high. However 24% of these forest landowners would be willing to sell hunting rights if these concerns were reduced. Thirty-four percent of all Mississippi landowners managed for wildlife.