Written by Justin Park|
Last updated
Heath Schubert didn’t set out to disrupt the hunting industry. He just wanted to help people find a better place to hunt.
A wild idea almost a decade ago sparked the creation of HLRBO (Hunting Land Rentals by Owner). Today, it is a thriving online marketplace that connects hunters with landowners across the U.S.
This week, we sat down with Schubert to hear how the platform works and why he believes it’s a win-win for both sides of the lease.
Q: What made you want to start HLRBO?
A: It started when my brother lost access to the land he used to hunt. He didn't have other options besides public land, which can be crowded and less rewarding. We thought, “There’s got to be a better way to find places to hunt.”
I am a software engineer, and it felt like a real problem I could solve. Turns out a lot of people were in the same boat. Our goal was to make leasing land and finding hunting locations easy and seamless for both hunters and landowners.
Q: Why do you call HLRBO a win-win?
A: For hunters, it’s simple: you get access to private land through an easy-to-use online platform, without needing a personal connection to the landowner. For landowners, it’s a way to earn passive income while bringing in someone who’s often invested in the long-term care and improvement of the property.
Q: How does the platform work?
A: HLRBO connects hunters with landowners who are leasing property. It started as a free service, but landowners were getting overwhelmed by unqualified inquiries. So we introduced a tiered subscription model that helps filter for serious users. It’s similar to how dating apps moved to paid subscriptions, where better matches equal less noise.
There are four subscription tiers. Each unlocks added features: Silver gets you access to trail cams, Gold adds HD maps, and Platinum includes exclusive property listings with tighter restrictions on inquiries.
Q: What are the key advantages for landowners?
A: The biggest one is reach. Listing your land locally to friends or family limits your options, and likely your lease rate. HLRBO gives you access to a national user base. We also offer custom lease agreements by state, insurance options, background checks on hunters, and easy payment tools, all designed to make leasing more secure and professional.
Q: And what’s in it for hunters?
A: If you try sourcing land on your own, you’ll hear “no” a lot. Most landowners aren’t comfortable leasing to someone they don’t know because there’s no vetting, no agreement, no insurance. HLRBO makes the process safer, faster, and more successful for everyone involved.
Q: What impact does HLRBO have on communities?
A: We’re expanding access to land and creating new income opportunities for rural landowners. It opens up the hunting economy in a way that benefits everyone. As we build out new tools like a mobile app, trail cam integration, drone imagery, and satellite data, the platform keeps getting better.
Author Bio: Justin Park is a Colorado-based writer, editor, and avid hunter with a passion for the outdoors. He contributes to leading publications such as GearJunkie, Popular Mechanics, Powder, and Men's Journal, and serves as Editor of Wild Snow. Park is deeply involved in conservation and recreation advocacy, serving as Chapter Chair of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) in Summit County. He also represents RMEF on a state recreation committee focused on proactively addressing land use conflicts.
