Gaining Hunting Access

[HoosierHills]

I'm not sure if this is the correct location for tis Thread. But I am about a month out from season here in Indiana and I was curious what others have found successful when it comes to getting permission on private landowners properties. I grew up in this area, its a small town where everybody knows everybody. I have some decent ground now but, could use more. Also I have a land owner that owns half the county, and he seems to be hit and miss about letting me hunt. It is a year to year basis with him and you have to catch him in the right mood, it seems. I don't get the impression trading permission to hunt for work interests him at all. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[870BkWht]

What about getting a gift of something that the landowner likes (spirits, gift cards, etc) and maybe a thank you card for just saying thanks for the times in the past that you have been able to hunt.

I know you said the interest might not be there but what about offering to post the property with posted signs?

[Marc]

When you do get permission:

• Write a thank you letter.  This is appreciated more than you realize.
• Send a Christmas card, and a small gift (especially if you can find a gift meaningful to the owner).
• Make sure the ranch is cleaner when you leave, than when you got there.
• Do not invite people to come with you, until you clear it with the owner...  Invite only people you trust, and I usually keep it to one person.
• Close gates that were closed, and do not touch gates that are open...
• Offer the owner a bird that you kill, and when you do so, make sure the bird is properly cleaned and dressed out...  The first bird I kill on any ranch is always, always offered to the owner.

In California, most people will say no when I ask.  I suppose I have been more successful than most at procuring permission to hunt, but I have a buddy who is a pro at it...  Here are things I do.

• I clean up, and wear decent clothes (a polo shirt and jeans) when going out to procure permission...  No need to look like white trash when asking people permission to hunt their property.
• I introduce myself, and tell them what I do for a living as I offer my hand to shake...  Always with a smile.
• When I explain that I am seeking permission to hunt, the answer is always initially NO.  I engage them in conversation, and if I can get any clues as to their interests, I inquire about them and show interest.  As I am leaving, I always ask if they might have any suggestions of where I might procure permission...  This has helped me two-fold, as it makes them feel a bit guilty, and it has also lead to some good leads...
• When someone is friendly, and engages me in conversation, but still says no, I make sure to visit them the next year...  The best ranch I currently hunt took my 5 years to gain access to.
• As my oldest daughter is 4 years old, and extremely cute (I might be biased), and as she goes hunting with me, I often take her along when trying to procure permission...  I might not help, but it sure as heck does not hurt to have a cute 4 year old saying "HI!" and waving...

The main thing is common courtesy...  Show it to the owner when asking permission (although they will often be either rude, or dubious, or both)...  And make sure you show gratitude and respect for the land once you do get permission.

.

[Mike Honcho]

The reply by Marc is well written and right on the money.  I am in the agricultural equipment business and that is a big help to me in talking to farmers and ranchers.  I like to take my grandsons hunting and I always mention that and that it is hard to find places for me to take them hunting.   I hunt a lot of agricultural fields and many times over the winter large tree limbs fall over into the fields and I drag them off into the field edges out of the way of the farmers planting and tillage equipment...when you are running a $ 200,000 tractor and a $ 150,000 planter no one wants to stop and get out of the tractor and move these. I usually tell the farmer I have done this and it really pleases them that I understand their cultural practices and want to help them out.  I don't do this unless I know the farmer well.

[Cut N Run]

There are two horse farms less than 10 miles from my house that the owners were shy about letting anybody hunt.  I started spending some of my free time keeping the trails clear, removing downed limbs and trees, and opening up new trails at both farms.  I also help with repairing fences and whatever mechanical work I can.  Most of the riders are women who don't really want to mess with trail work. By working at each farm throughout the year, I get to learn the land and find where the deer and turkeys prefer to hang out.  By proving my dependability and work ethic, each farm owner never had to think twice about giving me exclusive rights to hunt.  I also built a few low, brush blinds on both farms, so I can quietly slip around through the woods on horse trails and pop right into a good set up to get closer to a bird.  Plus, the farm owners don't have to pay somebody or spend their time working the trails, which means they get to ride more.  win/win!

I also drag bigger limbs & logs to a pile where we have a bonfire party and invite the borders who keep their horses at each farm for a Lookout For the Cookout party.  It is great fun and I have gained access to hunt other land just by my reputation as a safe hunter and a hard worker.  It is definitely worth some of my time and effort to get to hunt both farms and the work helps me stay fit.

Jim

[darron]

In my experiences if one person will let you in, use their name to gain other access. Hi, Jon smith your neighbor allows me to hunt, however, this year I'm not seeing many turkeys on his place. Do you care if I hunt your property a TIME OR TWO? I also think that is the key..telling people just a few times a year. That way they know you won't be hunting on their property every single weekend.

In Ohio it is getting tougher and tougher to gain access. I picked up an additional 500 prime acres this winter. I am a teacher, so I always start off my conversation with that. Most people think teachers are good people and have good morals (although if you watch the news anymore not so much). One of the best spots I picked up this year was a 104 acre property, wife was a former teacher. They haven't allowed turkey hunting for 10-15 years.

Be creative!

[FullChoke]

I believe that everyone agrees that things are considerably different today than in the past. Used to be that you could pretty much guarantee permission to hunt a place if you just asked nicely. One area that I know is foremost on a landowners mind when considering allowing someone to hunt their property is liability. They certainly don't want to be held financially liable for any accidents that a hunter suffers while on their property. Offering to provide a notarized liability release to the landowner will show them that you are prepared to handle your own problems and keep your problems out of the court system. I have found that approaching a landowner with this offer can help turn a "Well, I don't know, probably not" into a "Now that you put it that way, Sure." The message that they get from you will be that they have nothing to lose.

Use this along with the other great advise that other have posted here and watch your success rate go up.

Good luck.

FC

[TRG3]

The farmers that I hunt on let me do so because deer and turkeys eat their crops and they see them as pests. When talking to a farmer with the hope of getting permission to hunt his ground, I ask him how bad were the deer and/or turkey on his crops last year. Generally, the response was that wished that someone would shoot them all! At this point, I gently volunteer to help him out by reducing the deer/turkey population. If given permission, I will offer some of the deer or turkey should I get one. Most people are glad to get some free meat and it helps to further secure your relationship with the landowner. I'm fortunate in that I've got 10-12 area farmers that will let me hunt, all because every deer or turkey killed is more money in their pocket because of reduced crop predation. Does this approach always work? No, but it often does and the farmer may even call you later as he notices more and more deer/turkeys in his crop fields. 

[wisconsinteacher]

I am very active in the Learn to Hunt here and by telling the land owner that it is for a kids first hunt helps a lot.  After you show them you are a good person they are more open to future offerings.  Another thing I do is send a thank you with a few pictures. 

One time I walked up to the door of a land owner who had family over and when the grandchild opened the door, he yelled, "the guy who's picture is on the mantle is here."  The land owner said that his family was upset with him because he had a picture of me with a bird and no pictures of them in frames. 

I have 6 land owners to visit tomorrow.  I just called 3 and they said yes and that they have seen birds this week on their land!!!!

Lastly, expect to hear the two worst letters in the world N O.  On day I went 0/9 on deer hunting land.  The next day 5/5 on great land.  It is like talking to the cute girls.  Sometimes they say NO but every once and a while, you get a YES.

[HoosierHills]

Thanks everyone for the great advise. It's much appreciated!