Hunting Leases

• A lease is used to gain access to privately owned land for the specific purpose of hunting. Leases are legal agreements between a landowner (lessor) and hunter (lessee), requiring payment for the use of the land. The length of a lease is typically a year long or single season, but some landowners may offer shorter leases or multiseason deals. Leases are fairly common in all areas where hunting takes place, including Eldorado.
  
  

Safety Rules and Regulations

• You must complete necessary safety training to be fully certified to hunt in Texas. The Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife states that all hunters born after Sept. 2, 1971, complete their $15 (as of May 2010) hunter safety education courses online or in a classroom. In addition, all hunters must purchase a license to hunt game (big game and waterfowl), with added fees for certain types of animals. Nonresidents may incur added licensing fees.
  
  

Hunting Near Eldorado

• According to the Eldorado Game Association, the area boasts an impressive roster of available animals to hunt, including the "best deer and turkey hunting in Texas." Due to a lack of water habitat, duck hunting is less common in Eldorado than other fowls, such as goose. Overall, the Eldorado area provides good choices for the avid sportsman looking to bag a big buck or a trophy turkey.
  
  

Finding a Lease

• Leases near Eldorado can be advertised in the classifieds of the local newspaper, the Eldorado Success. In addition, the Eldorado Game Association also offers online classifieds for local hunting leases. Asking around at the hunting/outdoors store or chatting with other hunters in online forums can also turn up leads on available leases. Fee-based lease finding services are also available and can be useful if your own research turns up dry.
  
  

Cost

• Like other areas in the U.S., the cost for leases in Eldorado is determined by the landowner, based upon the types, quality and quantity of available game on the property. Some hunters prefer to form hunting clubs to save on the cost of an individual lease. By forming a club, each member pays a portion of the lease price and follows a schedule for hunting so each member has an opportunity to hunt without overcrowding.
  
  

Before You Sign

• Before committing to a hunting lease, be sure the landowner follows all laws for hunting game in Texas, such as types of kills allowed and standard hunting hours. Be sure to check the lease terms for added fees for hunting certain types of game or limits on the size or quantity. Good communication and respect for the land are key to a long and happy relationship between hunter and landowner.