Ohio Agricultural Law Blog--Hunters on the land? Recreational User's Statute protects landowners from liability

 A question we often hear from landowners is "will I be liable if a hunter is injured on my property?"  Ohio's Recreational User's Statute is an excellent risk management tool for farmers who so often have hunters stopping by and asking for permission to hunt on the farm.  The law provides immunity for landowners of non-residential land who allow people to engage in recreational activities on the land without charging a fee for the activity.  The law states that by granting permission, the landowner is not extending any assurance to a recreational user that the premises are safe for entry or use. 

To receive the law's liability protection, it's important for a landowner to meet the following requirements:

1.   Grant permission to a person to engage in a recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, or other recreational activities.
2.   Don't charge a fee or benefit for the use, except that the law does allow a lease payment fee.

Read more about the law in our new bulletin,  Okay to Play:  Ohio's Recreational User Statute Limits Liability for Hunters, Snowmobilers and More.   The bulletin is available here.