I looked at the location of the people who have replied so far to your post. I don't see anyone from Michigan who has identified themselves in their profile. Being a lifelong Michigander, maybe I can offer some insight. I can't explain why certain individuals have denied permission, this is more from an overall perception I have of people here in this state.

First of all, deer hunting is BIG in Michigan. Sometimes I think it is way too big. I have heard more than one person say that the reason we can't find new places to hunt on private land is because almost every inch of huntable land is already being hunted by someone. This may seem hard to believe, but it has been my experience in asking permission long before I bought my own land (specifically for hunting) that others had already been given permission....sometimes multipke hunting parties everywhere I went. This first reason is probably the single largest factor why finding private land is so difficult. I have even watched as those who post adds in the local newspaper classifieds to lease land go away with their heads down because they could not even find land to lease.

The second reason may not be as big a factor, but worth at least knowing about. Liability! Our great state has caved in to lawyers and lawsuits. Even if I post my property and do everything I know to keep people off, if someone like a kid comes onto my property and hurts themselves (like climbing one of my stands and falling out) I can be held liable. It is always argued that the landowner didn't do enough to keep someone out. Until you put up barbwire and someone hurts themselves on that and then you're sued for doing too much. If you are on a person's land...even with permission, and fall out of a tree and are hurt or killed, you or your family can sue. And I know you probably say you would never do that...and probably wouldn't, but the family still might. So you see, the landowner gets screwed when it comes to laws here in Michigan. Trespass laws are a joke and enforcement (if it ever happens) leads to a slap on the wrist.

I wish you good luck. Don't quit knocking on doors. Offer to help out a landowner somehow...volunteer a portion of your kill. At all times continue to show your positive side and you may be successful. But if you're not, just keep in mind, there are thousands of resident hunters who are ( and have been for a longggg time) just like you. We are fortunate that we do have a lot of state land available...even if it is not as good as private land!