Arkansas Hunting Leases

Hunting Lease Policies & Regulations

General Terms of the Program
General Policies
Lease Regulations

General Terms of the Program

Frequently used terms - Lessee (club); Lessor (Potlatch).
The term of the lease shall be one year commencing May 1 and ending April 30.
Lease will be exclusive (deer, squirrel, turkey, etc.). From May 1 to April 30, the club will have exclusive right to all recreational uses as defined by A.C.A. 18-11-402, subject to normal use of ungated Potlatch roads.
Nothing shall be construed as restricting in any manner the company forestry operations or as granting any rights others than those described herein.
Sub-leasing is not permitted in any form.
There will be no minimum size of lease, but there will be a minimum charge of $100.
Renewal notices will be sent out in March of each year. Payment must be made by cashier's check, money order or online by credit card, debit card or gift card and received no later than April 30.
The lease may be cancelled by 15 days written notice by either party. Lease will be prorated if cancelled by Lessor without cause, but will not be prorated for cancellation for cause. Cause is defined as violation of the General Terms, Lease Policies, Lease Regulations, Lease Agreement or violation of federal, state or local laws. Lease will not be prorated if cancelled by Lessee.
No permanent structures (roads, dog pens, water lines, wells, buildings, powerlines, etc.) will be allowed on lease.
No campsites will be allowed unless properly applied for, approved and designated by District Forester and Resource Forester. The cost of an approved campsite will be $100 per year with no more than one site per lease.
Campsite lease agreement will be a separate lease from hunting lease.
If campsite lease is approved, all temporary housing (trailers, camp shelters, tents, etc.) must be removed from Potlatch property by June 1 and should not be moved back before September 1 of each year. Failure to comply will result in cancellation of the campsite lease.
Campsites will have definite boundaries indicated by trees ringed with orange paint.
No gates are allowed unless properly applied for and approved by District Forester and Resource Forester.
Procedure for gate approval:
1. Gate locations should be marked on plat map and included in a letter explaining reasons for the gate.
2. Potlatch will consider the request for gate and notify club of decision.
3. If location is approved, it will be club's (Lessee's) responsibility to notify and obtain written approval from any landowners who will be affected by gate. It will be Potlatch's responsibility to make sure all necessary approvals have been received.
4. Gate and installation instructions will be furnished by Potlatch.
All gates that are approved can be secured by locks of club's choice, but each gate built must have a place for a Potlatch lock. Company personnel have the right to forcibly enter Company lands that do not have Company locks installed. All clubs must maintain gates in good working order and keep gates painted and locked at all times.
No permanent deer stands will be allowed (made where owner can move easily).
Movable or temporary stands are allowed; however, nailing or stapling movable or temporary stands to live standing timber is not permitted. Any metal devices (e.g., t-posts, other posts, weights, etc.) are to be removed from the property unless they are currently used for support/stability of temporary or movable stands. The company will not be held responsible for any damage to temporary structures which occur due to Company related activities.
Old stands no longer in use must be removed from the property
No stands may be placed between the tops of the backslopes on each side of Company roads. Lessor is not liable for damage to stands placed inside the backslopes.
All persons hunting deer with either modern gun or muzzle loader on maintained company roads must do so only from an elevated stand which places the hunter at least six (6) feet above the ground. No part of that stand may be located within the backslope of such road.
Lessor shall have no obligation to prevent trespassing, and Lessee, at its sole risk and expense, may post the premises against trespass in accordance with the laws of the State of Arkansas to the extent of the rights granted by this lease. All signs used for posting must comply with state posting laws and must contain the camp name. No paint used for posting may cover any paint existing on a tree.

General Policies

Safety is the highest priority. Lessees (including all members and guests) are expected to conduct all activities with safety in mind. Members are encouraged to attend a hunter education course.
Be a good neighbor and respect the rights of adjacent landowners and hunters. Lessee must obtain written permission from adjacent landowner before shooting onto landowner's property.
Each club will designate a person as the contact person. All communications except for payment and contact issues between Potlatch and Lessee should be made between the contact person and the local Resource Forester. Contact person is responsible for conveying information to all club members. Payment and contact communications should be directed to the lease administration office in Warren.
Lessee shall recognize that Potlatch owns land for the purpose of a natural resource business that includes growing, managing and harvesting forest products. Potlatch also reserves the right to sell the property at any time. Hunting on Potlatch property is a privilege. A hunting lease only grants Lessee rights for hunting and other outdoor recreational activities.
Every member of a hunting club is an ambassador for the sport of hunting. The future of hunting depends on how each hunter behaves in the field and how they present themselves in public. Consider how your actions reflect on yourself, your club and hunting in general. It is important to be an ethical and responsible hunter.

Lease Regulations

A completed application form
Articles of incorporation
By-laws
Current list of all officers and members

Lessee will use every precaution to protect wildlife, timber, trees, forest products and Potlatch property from poaching, theft, fire or other damage.
Lessee assumes responsibility to pay for any trees, timber or other forest products that may be cut, used, damaged, burned and/or removed from the lease by Lessee. The value of the damage will be established by Potlatch and fines will be assessed accordingly.
Lessee will comply and require compliance by each and all of its members and all persons to whom hunting privileges shall be extended with all laws, rules and regulations now existing or hereafter exacted by any county, state, or federal authority including, but not limited to hunting, fishing and game laws.
Lessee will report any instances of law violations, violations of Company policy as set out herein, road problems, theft, damage, poaching and fire on said lands and to assist and exercise every effort in putting out any fire that may occur on lease.
Lessee will comply fully with all state and federal laws, rules, and regulations with respect to hunting and trapping and the conservation of wildlife and natural resources.
Lease members are bound by this agreement.
There will be no commercial hunting, trapping, or selling of hunting rights.
Lessee is responsible for condition of premises.
Lessee is responsible for fires started by Lessee.
Lessee shall prohibit its members from shooting into adjoining ownerships adjacent to the leased premises.
There will be no littering or disposal of trash of any kind on the leased premises.
No nails, spikes, wire or other metal shall be imbedded in, or used to attach anything to any living tree. Signs may be attached to trees using only tape or string.
The use of trucks, automobiles, ATV.s, tractors, jeeps or other similar licensed vehicles shall be restricted to existing woods roads. Vehicular traffic outside of hunting seasons shall be minimized and no road shall be abused at any time.
Lessee agrees to familiarize its members and guests with the terms of the lease.
Use of dogs should comply with Arkansas Game & Fish Commission regulations.
Hunting club associations will be permitted.
The release of any hogs on Potlatch land is strictly prohibited. The hunting of hogs at night on Potlatch land is prohibited. Lessee shall have exclusive rights to trap, hunt, shoot, or take feral hogs (wild hogs) on the leased premises.
Lessee holds Lessor free and harmless from any and all claims.
At any time of the year, it may become necessary for the Company to conduct activities including, and not limited to, logging, controlled burning, and site prep anywhere on the leased premises. The Company will not be responsible for damages to temporary structure due to these activities.
Company roads will be maintained as time and opportunity permit. Roads may remain impassable for long periods of time without repair due to frequent Company activities.
At no time and under no circumstances will Company employees or others with company authorization be denied access to lease while on Company business (beaver control, boundary line maintenance, etc.).
The Lessor shall have the right to exclude from its property persons who violate the prohibitions of the lease.