Bringing a Guest on Your Hunting Lease? Guest Hunter Liability Explained

Most guest hunts start the same way. A buddy, a coworker, or a kid’s friend asks to tag along, and the answer is an easy yes. Nobody thinks about liability until someone falls, gets shot, or rolls an ATV.

Most writing on this topic is aimed at landowners. This guide is for the other side of the deal: the hunter who did the inviting.

Who Is Liable If a Guest Gets Hurt on a Hunting Lease?

Liability for an injured guest usually depends on who was careless and what caused the injury. Any of these people can face a claim:

• The member who invited the guest. If the member loaned a faulty stand, drove the ATV, handled a firearm carelessly, or skipped a safety step, the guest may claim the member was negligent.
• The hunt club. If club-owned stands, trails, or rules played a part, the club as the lessee can be named.
• The landowner. If a hidden hazard on the property caused the injury, the landowner may be pulled in, even though they never met the guest.
• The guest. A guest who ignored safety rules may carry some or all of the blame. How shared fault affects a claim varies by state.

In practice, an injured guest's attorney often names everyone at once and lets the facts sort it out. That's why the hunter who made the invitation needs to think about protection before the guest arrives, not after.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state, so talk to an attorney licensed in your state about a specific situation.

Can I Be Sued If My Guest Gets Hurt Hunting?

Yes, a hunt club member can be sued if a guest they invited gets hurt, especially if the member's own actions contributed to the injury. Being a friend doing a favor doesn't stop a claim.

Claims don't always start with the guest. After paying the medical bills, a guest's health insurer may try to recover its costs from whoever it believes was at fault. The guest may never want to sue a friend, but the decision isn't always theirs.

A member's personal insurance may not help either. Most homeowner's policies don't cover hunters or guests who paid a fee to hunt, and a hunting lease is a paid arrangement. Before assuming any existing policy applies, a hunter should confirm it with their own agent.

For the landowner's side of the same question, see the American Hunting Lease Association (AHLA) article on whether a landowner can really be sued if a hunter gets hurt on their land.

Does a Recreational Use Statute Protect Me If My Guest Is Injured?

A recreational use statute generally won't protect a hunt club member whose guest is hurt. These laws were written to protect landowners who open their land for recreation, and they often don't apply when hunters pay for access.

According to the National Agricultural Law Center, all 50 states have enacted recreational use statutes that give landowners some degree of liability protection. The protection is aimed at the owner of the land, not the hunters using it.

Many of these statutes also carve out paid access. Georgia's statute, for example, doesn't apply on a date when the landowner charges a person to enter the land for recreation, according to the National Agricultural Law Center's Georgia compilation. Georgia's statute also excludes willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition.

The takeaway for hunters: a hunting lease is usually a paid arrangement, so don't count on a state statute to cover you or your guest. Each state's law is different, which is exactly why insurance matters.

How Often Do Hunting Injuries Involve Someone Other Than the Shooter?

Many reported firearm hunting incidents involve shooters injuring themselves, but a real share injure another person. State incident reports show both kinds every season.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' 2024 hunting incident report lists 14 hunting incidents, including 1 fatality and 13 non-fatal injuries. Eight of the 14 were self-inflicted. The rest involved someone other than the shooter, including a member of the shooter's own hunting party.

Firearm incident reports also don't capture every way a guest gets hurt. Falls from tree stands, ATV rollovers, and slips on rough ground can happen on any lease and may never appear in a shooting report.

Common Guest Injury Scenarios on a Hunting Lease

The table below shows how liability and coverage questions can play out in common guest situations. Every real claim depends on its facts, the policy terms, and state law.

How Does Hunting Lease Insurance Cover Guests?

AHLA's hunting lease insurance treats guests of the club and its members as additional insureds. That protection applies to liability arising from club activities within the boundaries of the leased land.

Here is what AHLA's hunting lease insurance includes that matters most when guests are on the property:

• Liability limits: $1,000,000 per occurrence on the Standard plan or $2,000,000 per occurrence on the Premium plan.
• Medical expenses: $5,000 for hunt club members and guests.
• No deductible on either plan.
• One policy for everyone on the lease: AHLA, the landowners, the club, roster members, and guests are all covered under the same policy, subject to its terms.
• Landowner protection: Up to 7 property owners included as Named Insureds at no extra fee.

The difference between a Named Insured and an additional insured matters here. AHLA's guide on Named Insured vs. additional insured explains how each role works on a hunting lease policy.

What Should I Do Before Bringing a Guest on My Hunting Lease?

Before bringing a guest, a hunter should confirm the club allows it, make sure coverage is active, and walk the guest through the property and safety rules. A few minutes of prep prevents most problems.

Use this checklist before every guest hunt:

1. Check the club's guest policy. Confirm how many guests you can bring, how often, and whether they need approval first.
2. Confirm the hunting lease insurance is active. Make sure the policy is current and the certificate of insurance lists the property you'll hunt.
3. Keep the guest on the lease. Show them the boundary lines, since coverage applies only to the scheduled locations on the certificate.
4. Have the guest sign the club's waiver and sign-in log. Paperwork won't stop every claim, but it shows the guest accepted the risks and knew the rules.
5. Inspect the stand they'll use. Check straps, ladders, and seats, and replace anything worn.
6. Require a full-body harness. AHLA's safety message is simple: wear a full-body safety harness, stay connected from the moment your feet leave the ground, and use a lifeline every time you climb.
7. Go over firearm and ATV rules. Cover safe zones of fire, where other members are sitting, and who's allowed to drive.
8. Confirm hunter education and licensing. Make sure the guest has the hunter education certification and license their state requires. The International Hunter Education Association is a good starting point for finding a course.
9. Stay with first-time guests. A guest who's never hunted the property shouldn't be dropped at a stand and left alone.

When Should a Regular Guest Become a Club Member?

A regular guest should usually become a club member once they hunt the lease often. Covered members under AHLA's policy are hunt club members on the active roster before a loss, so the roster should reflect who actually hunts the property.

If the same friend hunts the lease most weekends, talk to the club about adding them to the roster. Many clubs also cap guest visits per season. Limiting the number of hunters on a lease makes the hunt safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

For more on why each member needs protection of their own, read AHLA's guide on why every individual hunter needs their own liability coverage. Landowners who want the property owner's view can see AHLA's tips on ensuring the safety of guests on your property.

Frequently Asked Questions About Guest Hunter Liability

Protect Yourself and Your Guests Before the Next Hunt

Guest hunter liability rarely lands on just one person. The member who made the invitation, the hunt club, and the landowner can all be named when a guest gets hurt, and a recreational use statute often won't protect any of them on a paid lease.

AHLA has protected hunters and landowners since 2010, with more than 21 million acres and more than 300,000 hunters protected. AHLA hunting lease insurance starts as low as $260 a year for up to 499 acres, with no deductible, next-day coverage, and certificates emailed instantly.

Bringing someone this season? Get an instant hunting lease insurance quote from AHLA and make sure your guests are covered before they climb a stand.