Which statement is true about a landowner’s duty to maintain premises for recreational activities such as hunting or hiking?

• A. Landowners have a general duty to keep premises safe for all recreational use.
• B. Landowners must warn about every hazardous condition on the property.
• C. Generally, there is no duty to keep the premises safe for entry or use for recreational activities.
• D. Landowners are strictly liable for injuries incurred during recreational use.

Answer: (C)

When land is opened to the public for recreational activities without charging a fee, New York law gives the landowner broad protection from liability for injuries that occur during those activities. This means there is generally no duty to keep the premises safe for entry or use for hunting, hiking, or similar recreation. The idea is to encourage landowners to allow public access without fear of lawsuits over every hazard. The immunity has limited exceptions, such as if the landowner acts with willful or malicious disregard for safety or if a fee is charged for access, but in the usual free-access scenario there isn’t a general duty to maintain safety.