Frequently Asked Questions
|
Potlatch is leasing its land to provide income, establish a more formal relationship with those who use our land, and reduce the amount of road damage, trash dumping, and timber damage. We know that those of you who lease our land will help take care of it. Back to TopNo. A new law, the Sustainable Forest Incentives Act, repealed the tree growth tax law beginning in the year 2002 for taxes to be paid in 2003. This law was put in place to provide an incentive to private landowners to help keep forests in forests. Any acres that Potlatch does elect to enroll in the new tax program will not be part of the lease program. Here is more information on the Sustainable Forest Incentives Act. Back to TopFor those interested in leasing land, you should: Reviewing lease applications can be a lengthy process so it could take a few months before you are notified. Both successful and declined applicants will be notified regarding their status. If we have questions regarding your application, we may contact you earlier to clarify the information. There is no need for applicants to contact Potlatch during this time period. Back to TopSubleasing, commercial hunting, or selling of hunting rights is not allowed. Subleasing will result in cancellation of the lease. Development of hunting camps is encouraged to accommodate multiple hunters or groups and is not the same as subleasing. Back to TopSince the inception of the lease program in 2002, over 99% of our leases prices have been based on a price that we set. That price is based on different attributes of the parcel and is the annual price a leaseholder will pay. These leases are awarded through an application process. From time to time, we will also have some bid tracts available. Back to TopEach non-bid tract is priced separately based on such things as habitat diversity, presence of all-weather roads, presence of open water, and adjacency to public land. Back to TopLease prices will be reviewed every year. Because the price of nearly everything increases with inflation over time, you can expect some lease price increase as well. Back to TopIn order to apply for a lease, you simply fill out the online application. Successful applicants will be notified by email and will be given a lease number and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). They will then use this to access their account online where they will submit a copy of their camp rules and a list of members. A Sample Camp Rules is provided; although not all rules need to be this detailed. Member information will include name, address, phone number, e-mail, and driver's license number. You must also indicate if the member has taken a hunter safety course. The driver's license number is included to allow Potlatch to cross reference state wildlife violator's information. Potlatch reserves the right to refuse to lease to anyone, including those with a wildlife violation. The membership list must be updated every year if changes occur. Back to TopPotlatch will determine the size of the tract to be leased, depending on property boundaries, roads, streams and rivers, rights-of-way, etc. We will not break up tracts of adjacent land into many small lease parcels. We encourage neighboring landowners, hunting camps, and others to work together as one group to apply for a larger piece of Potlatch property. You can then decide amongst the group (and include it in your Camp Rules) the guidelines for who hunts different parts of the property and other similar questions. Back to TopTypically, neighboring and local landowners or groups who have historically hunted a property will be given preference when making leasing decisions. Also, such factors as the number of hunter/gun safety graduates will also be considered. However, a group who has been known to abuse a property, or has a history of wildlife violations, will be excluded from consideration for a lease. Back to TopYes, but applicants are limited to three tracts. However, bear in mind that our selection criteria includes adjacent or local landownership and past history with the property. If a tract does not have any applicants with those characteristics, it is possible for someone without any relationship to the property to be awarded the lease. You can also indicate on the application that you are interested in a lease, but do not necessarily care where that lease is located. We will then attempt to match interested applicants with available leases, if available. Back to TopPotlatch land is open for recreation if it is not leased. Most Potlatch hunting properties that are leased will be posted, but it is up to the leaseholder to decide if they want it posted or not. Back to TopYes, if you pay the lease fee, you are free to decide whether or not you wish to hunt. Back to TopOur intention is to maintain access to public lands. However, this does not mean that every road that currently crosses Potlatch property into public land will continue to be open. Road access will be maintained through Potlatch leased properties where there is an established road and it is the only or primary access to public land. Potlatch will ultimately decide what roads constitute "only or primary" access. Access will also be maintained for natural resource management activities on other lands. Lessees do not have to allow others to walk through their lease or use non-designated ATV trails to access public land where other entry points are available. We do, however, encourage our lessees to work with others whenever possible. Back to TopYes, lease tracts may be posted. Lessee may post the premises against trespass in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota to the extent of the rights granted by the lease. Only Potlatch "No Trespassing" signs may be used for posting leases. Signs are available through the Potlatch Lease Manager for a nominal fee. Signs will only be released to the lessee once Camp Rules are submitted and the membership list is completed. Back to TopThe map available on this website should provide guidance to the location of the property. In addition, Potlatch generally uses pink or red paint to identify outside boundary lines. We also provide GPS points that identify the center point of the lease tract. Back to TopPortable deer stands are encouraged. Freestanding stands are allowed but must be no larger than 4 feet by 6 feet, one level, and no higher than 16 feet. At any time of the year, however, it may become necessary for Potlatch to conduct activities including, but not limited to, road building, logging, site preparation, or tree planting on the leased property. Potlatch will not be responsible for damages to temporary structures or inconveniences to lessees due to these activities. No stands will be nailed or stapled to any standing timber. Stands are also not allowed within 50 feet of a private property line without written permission from the adjoining private landowner. Back to TopNo. The recent identification of Chronic Wasting Disease in Wisconsin makes it very important to take a proactive stand against the potential spread of this disease. We therefore will not allow feeding on our land. For more information, see the Minnesota DNR website. Back to TopGates will be allowed only with Potlatch's permission on a case-by-case basis, and must be built to Potlatch specifications. Under no circumstances are cables, chains, or ropes to be used to restrict access. Use of cables, chains, ropes or other similar restrictions may be grounds for lease cancellation. Back to TopThe lease term will be for the entire year, normally beginning on May 1 and expiring the next year on April 30. On summer lease offerings, lease term will begin whenever the lease is paid in the summer or fall and will expire the next year on April 30. Also, even though summer lease offerings will be awarded after April 30, the full annual lease price will need to be paid. Back to TopLessees will be given the opportunity to lease the property each year as long as they abide by the Lease Policies and pay their annual lease fees. Back to TopAny size parcel can be leased, although there is a minimum lease fee to offset administrative costs. Potlatch will determine the size of the tract to be leased, depending on property boundaries, roads, streams and rivers, rights-of-way, etc. We will not break up tracts of adjacent land into many small lease parcels and thus encourage neighboring landowners, hunting camps, and others to work together as one group to apply for a larger piece of Potlatch property. You can then decide amongst the group (and include it in your Camp Rules) the guidelines for who hunts different parts of the property and other similar questions. Back to TopWe define a hunting camp as simply a group of people who wish to hunt together and pool their money to lease a piece of property. Potlatch requires the group to adopt and submit a set of Camp Rules to ensure a safe hunting environment. Camps are not required to legally incorporate, but are free to do so (Minnesota Secretary of State Nonprofit Corporations, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits "How to Start a Nonprofit Organization in Minnesota). Back to TopLessees have exclusive access to the land, but are encouraged to work with neighbors and others who have historically used the land for other recreational activities like berry picking, walking their dog, etc. You should contact the person identified on the posted signs to discuss access. Back to TopLessees have exclusive access to the leased tract, and do not have to allow any access to others. However, lessees will find it is in their best interest to get along with their neighbors, and are strongly encouraged to work with them to allow access for incidental activities that do not interfere with hunting. Back to TopBecause growing and harvesting trees is an important part of Potlatch's natural resource business, it is necessary to harvest timber or conduct other forest management activities at any time of the year. However, every effort will be made to restrict these activities during the deer firearms hunting season. Back to TopLessee, hunting camp members and guests enter Potlatch property at their own risk. Lessee, hunting camp members and guests shall hold Potlatch free and harmless from any and all claims. Potlatch will furnish a liability insurance policy that covers both Potlatch and the lessee. The cost of the policy is included in the lease fee. More information on the policy will be available on the My Lease Account page. Back to TopATVs are allowed, but only on existing roads. Building new ATV trails, abusing existing roads, or driving off roads causes erosion and damages the land, and will not be tolerated by Potlatch. ATV users should abide by the laws of Minnesota with regards to the use of ATV's. During the firearm deer season ATV's can only be used before and after legal shooting hours, and from 11AM to 2PM on Potlatch land. Access to leases through public land is continually changing and the MN DNR and many counties are in the process of reviewing ATV use on their lands. Be aware that new public agency policies may affect ATV use near and adjacent to Potlatch leases. Back to TopNo commercial trees can be cut to establish shooting lanes. Lessees will be allowed to cut brush, however, to open shooting lanes. If you are in doubt as to whether the plants in question are commercial trees or brush, do not cut! Back to TopCamping is allowed, but only in temporary camping structures. No permanent structures or buildings may be placed on Potlatch land. Camping is allowed year around but all equipment must be removed after each visit from January 1 through July 31. Temporary camping structures can be placed on the property after August 1 and must be removed before December 31. Potlatch does not guarantee a camping spot on every lease tract. Because of weather conditions and the nature of some roads, camping may not be possible on every lease tract. Back to TopA lease program manager will available to assist lessees and answer their questions. The program manager's contact information will be found on the My Lease Account page. Back to TopNo. No permanent structures or buildings may be placed on Potlatch land. Temporary structures can be placed on the property after August 1 and must be removed before December 31. Back to TopCall the Minnesota DNR @ (800) 366-8917, to receive this information. Back to TopYes, selling land that is leased can occur. If we determine that a tract of land will be listed for sale, the leaseholder will be notified of the listing and in some cases, pending sale. When the notification is of a listing, it is not a “first right of refusal” to buy the property, but simply a notification that it will be for sale so that the leaseholder can pursue a purchase if interested. Back to TopYes. Potlatch purposely held back from leasing all of their offered tracts in an effort to be fair to individuals who have used our property in the past but did not know we were leasing the property. That changed in 2005. Through increased advertising, notification reminders to adjacent landowners, and word of mouth, most sportsman and women of Minnesota now know we are leasing. Furthermore, if you are simply interested in getting a lease and are flexible in the location of a lease, you can let us know that and we can work to match you with an available lease. Back to TopIt is important to note that we always have more interested applicants than we have leases. That said, if you are interested in a lease tract you can improve your chance of securing the tract by visiting and becoming familiar with the property. We will also attempt to match applicants with available open tracts regardless of their past history on the property. Back to TopSimply fill out an application on any one tract and at the bottom of the application you can notify Potlatch of your interest. We will then attempt to match interested parties with open leases. Back to TopHas your question NOT been answered? |
