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Hunters insurance

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MickeyD

MickeyD

Member
Dec 3, 2022
87
124
Punta Gorda Fl USA
Going hunting on public lands is OK, but private land hunting is much better, IMHO. Getting permission can be frustrating. One of the biggest impediments is liability. A landowner will worry about the idea you might have, or cause, an accident which they may be liable for. After all, the best accident attorneys will sue everybody in sight just to see what sticks.

I've seen some companies offering special hunting insurance policies that alleviate this worry. Anybody here have such a policy? Does it help you find places to hunt? Is it worth it?
 
I think the OP was specific regarding accident liability, not criminal conduct. I have a $1M personal liability policy, which I would mention if the subject arose. I'm not sure you could have coverage to protect the landowner if he was found liable. But unless he was found negligent in some way, I doubt that a plaintiff would prevail over an innocent landowner. That doesn't mean he would not be named in a suit, and have some attorney fees. The only sure way to avoid any landowner liability, is to not allow hunting.
 
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Personal liability would only cover damage you inflicted. In this instance the land owner would much rather you just paid for it. They won’t want to deal with your insurance company.
Personal injury liability is a big issue for land owners. Your personal liability policy most likely would not shield the landowner from that liability.

Years ago I had access to a very good property for quail hunting.
The third year we were going to hunt the landowner refused us access because two people had come to hunt the place late the year before. Late in the day the two showed up at the rancher‘s house and one had shot the other in the face. Luckily the wounds were bad but not life threatening. Mr. rancher and his wife administered first aid, and got the local sheriff to escort them to the nearest medical facility. The next day the rancher found 12 empty beer cans where they had parked.
Six weeks later the poor rancher is served with papers and is being sued by the victim of the accidental shooting even though he had no part in the shooting. He was forced to defend himself in court even though he had no part in the accident. It simply happened on his property.
This should clearly illustrate why land owners are loathe to allow access to their land.

As elh0102 said the best way for land owners to protect themselves is to not allow access to the land.
 
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Chukar60 said:
Personal liability would only cover damage you inflicted. In this instance the land owner would much rather you just paid for it. They won’t want to deal with your insurance company.
Personal injury liability is a big issue for land owners. Your personal liability policy most likely would not shield the landowner from that liability.

Years ago I had access to a very good property for quail hunting.
The third year we were going to hunt the landowner refused us access because two people had come to hunt the place late the year before. Late in the day the two showed up at the rancher‘s house and one had shot the other in the face. Luckily the wounds were bad but not life threatening. Mr. rancher and his wife administered first aid, and got the local sheriff to escort them to the nearest medical facility. The next day the rancher found 12 empty beer cans where they had parked.
Six weeks later the poor rancher is served with papers and is being sued by the victim of the accidental shooting even though he had no part in the shooting. He was forced to defend himself in court even though he had no part in the accident. It simply happened on his property.
This should clearly illustrate why land owners are loathe to allow access to their land.

As elh0102 said the best way for land owners to protect themselves is to not allow access to the land.
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I can almost guarantee, the injured guy had no idea at all of suing the landowner, until a bottom fisher personal injury lawyer talked him in to it. I can hear it, "it's just his insurance company, don't worry about him, it'll be fine". The legal profession is an honorable calling, too bad it's tainted by lawyers who, although licensed, are not themselves honorable.
 
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otis1016 said:
I suspect any lawyer with some sense is only going to sue someone with something to take. Landowners have that while many sport shooters and idiot drunks don’t.

Rick H.
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Exactly, and true culpability for the event isn't in their criteria, shameful. It usually doesn't pass the sniff test for a judge or jury, but that's after legal fees have piled up. The only justice then, is if the case is considered frivolous, in which case the plaintiff has to pay the defendant's fees. But a sharp plaintiff attorney can often weasel out of it.
 
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As a landowner I can tell ya it is a big fear to allow some unknown to hunt your property..to have protect myself and my family that live on the same property because of some unknowns ignorance... This is exactly why I do not allow a stranger or most family members for that matter to hunt my property... I wouldn't trust anyone showing me they had insurance to protect he, she, it, they.... For nothing! I don't wanna come off as some ass but I've worked too hard for my land to have some fool who doesn't wear a safy belt in a tree stand to fall then I wind up in court....
 
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Jason, I don't think anyone finds fault in your position. In NC, written permission from the landowner is required for hunting on private land, if it is properly posted. I think some landowners draft the permission slip to include a liability waiver for the landowner. That might help with one part of a potential problem, but it is a complicated issue, and many landowners choose the safer tactic of avoiding the risk altogether by not allowing access to the land. It makes me very appreciative of owners who allow me to use their property, and I respect those who choose otherwise.
 
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elh0102 said:
Jason, I don't think anyone finds fault in your position. In NC, written permission from the landowner is required for hunting on private land, if it is properly posted. I think some landowners draft the permission slip to include a liability waiver for the landowner. That might help with one part of a potential problem, but it is a complicated issue, and many landowners choose the safer tactic of avoiding the risk altogether by not allowing access to the land. It makes me very appreciative of owners who allow me to use their property, and I respect those who choose otherwise.
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I had been told...in my state the law had changed that the landowner is not held responsible for ???... I haven't personally investigated it... As in paid to consult my lawyer if this hear/say is true.. I just take the safe bet. . Don't allow it to certain people.. heck I had one son-in-law (I have 3 of those) mutter the words once jokingly
"If I fall out of a tree stand you hung I'll just see ya in court" now those words did not set well with this old man...not one bit ! Just because he married my daughter doesn't mean he's entitled to anything I have worked for...(sorry my small rant)
After some exchange of words. I showed him how all us local landowners ( we do communicate with each other at the local watering hole) can and do stick together.. aaaand poof just like that he hunts public ground...


Good on you showing respect to a land owner and appreciating the risk involved with his/her decision to allow you to hunt.. if more people were more like you landowners would be more actable in granting permissions.. 98% of hunters/sportsman are good people.... Infact great people. But it only takes on bad apple..
 
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I owned a 120 ac hunting paradise in South central Tennessee for over 20 years...I had no end of trouble with people pestering me to hunt even bosses at work when word got out not to mention poachers...in addition to liability insurance I always had a million dollar umbrella policy...about 200. a year...anyone with a new worth should have one of these
...VERY CHEAP for piece of mind....I made it a point to get to know the Wildlife Officers even shot my Rapid 12 together...one of them ended up building a house on a piece of land joining mine....about the time I sold out and moved to Florida.
This property was located 30 minutes from Airgunwerks and RAW...Great neighbors!
 
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