BBears Land Co

Rural Acreage

Selling Timberland And Hunting Land In Georgia

Georgia has one of the largest private timberland bases in the country, and much of it is owned by families who planted pines decades ago or simply hunt the property each fall. Selling this kind of land comes with questions a house sale never raises: what is the timber worth, what happens to the conservation use covenant, and what about the hunting lease?

Common Species
Planted loblolly and slash pine, mixed hardwood bottoms
Tax Program
Conservation Use Valuation (CUVA), 10-year covenant
Covenant Breach
Can trigger a penalty — check before selling
Leases
Hunting leases should be disclosed and reviewed

Standing Timber Is Part Of The Value

Merchantable timber can be a meaningful part of a tract's value — or very little, if it was recently cut or is young regrowth. Pine plantations are valued very differently at 8 years old than at 25. We look at stand age, species, recent harvest history, and access for log trucks when we price acreage.

If you have a recent timber cruise from a forester, share it. If not, you do not need one to request an offer. Some owners choose to sell the timber separately and the land afterward; we can discuss whether that makes sense for your tract.

CUVA Conservation Use Covenants

Many Georgia owners enroll timber and farmland in the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment program, which taxes land on its current use rather than market value in exchange for a 10-year covenant to keep it in that use. The savings can be significant.

Selling land under covenant is allowed, but if the new owner does not continue the qualifying use, the covenant can be breached and a penalty assessed — generally a recapture of the tax savings plus interest. A buyer who continues the covenant can often avoid that. We review the covenant status with the county tax assessor before closing and tell you plainly how it is being handled.

Hunting Leases, Food Plots, And Improvements

Hunting clubs commonly lease Georgia acreage year to year. Tell us about any lease so the purchase agreement can address whether it continues or ends, and on what date. Deer stands, cabins, and gates can be included or removed — just say which.

We buy hunting land as-is: no need to clear trails, remove stands, or survey boundaries before you sell.

Wetlands, Creeks, And Floodplain

Hardwood bottoms along creeks are prized by hunters but may include floodplain or wetland areas that limit building. That does not prevent a sale; it shapes the offer. We check FEMA flood maps and aerial imagery as part of our review.

How We Handle It

  1. Step 1

    Tell Us About The Tract

    Acreage, county, timber age if you know it, and any leases or covenants.

  2. Step 2

    Timber And Covenant Review

    We review aerials, harvest history, access, and CUVA status.

  3. Step 3

    Written As-Is Offer

    One price for the land and timber unless you prefer to sell them separately.

  4. Step 4

    Close With A Georgia Attorney

    Closing costs are on us, and you can choose your closing date.

Closing typically takes 7–14 days after signing the purchase agreement, subject to clear title and attorney availability. You can choose a later date.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Selling to a buyer who breaks the CUVA covenant without understanding the penalty.
  • Signing a timber deed and land contract that conflict on harvest rights.
  • Forgetting to give hunting lease holders proper notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. It helps if you have one, but we can make an offer from aerial imagery, harvest history, and what you tell us about the stand.

Yes. The key question is whether the buyer continues the covenant. A breach can trigger a penalty, so we confirm the covenant status and how it will be handled before closing.

The purchase agreement spells it out — the lease can continue to its end date or terminate as the lease allows. We just need to know about it.

This guide is general information about Georgia law and practice, not legal or tax advice. Bears Land Co is a land buyer; consult a Georgia attorney or tax professional about your specific situation.