Company Aims To Pair Hunters With Private Landowners In N.y.

A program meant to open more land to hunters and to provide some income to landowners is now operating in New York state.

Called the Hunting Lease Network, the privately-operated program is based on the Internet � something like an eBay for prospective hunters and landowners. The Hunting Lease Network is a national firm that sells franchises to people around the country. In this area of New York, Tom Dziekan, of Phelps, owns the franchise and helps bring landowners and hunters together.

"We started in January and it's catching on," Dziekan said Friday. "A lot of people are looking for good plAdvertisement aces to hunt and fish, and landowners are often looking for a way to way to make some money." Landowners who want to participate offer one-year leases, and the leases are auctioned off to hunters who have been screened by the Network, he said. The landowners pay $100 to have a webpage of the land designed, he said.

"We handle the lease-writing, accounting, wildlife harvest reports, hunting liability insurance carried by hunters, and lease renewals," Dziekan said. "Basically, we serve as the liaison between the landowner and the hunter." Landowners may set a minimum amount per acre that they will accept, then the lease is sold to the highest bidder during an Internet auction.

"In New York State now, leases are going for anywhere from $8 to $14 per acre," Dziekan said. "A lot of it depends on what the land is like, if it has a pond, woods, things like that." Leases for parcels of all sizes may be auctioned off, he said.

"We're handling anything from 10 acres to 10,000 acres," he said. "If you have a small parcel but it adjoins state land, that can be very desirable." Sportsmen and sportswomen may want to fish as well as hunt and will pay more for the opportunity. While landowners may not get rich from the program, Dziekan said, "It's something that can at least pay their taxes," he said.

The Hunting Leasing Network said it assures that all lessees carry at last $1 million in liability insurance, and the landowners are allowed to draw up contracts that specify how and when the hunters will hunt, he said. For hunters, the program allows access to private land that has been off-limits, land where wildlife is bountiful, Dziekan said.

Bradd Vickers, president of the Chenango County Farm Bureau, said Friday that he likes what he's heard about the program.

"We're going to offer it as a benefit to members, and I think some farmers are going to be interested in it," he said.

"I like the fact that the organization provides insurance; that removes an obstacle for the farmer." More information about the program is available on the Internet at http://www.nationalhuntingleases.com, or by calling Dziekan at (315) 491-9144.

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