I live not far from you at all! Just a few miles south, actually. I have a good friend who is living outside of town (I think he said northwest) and he might be able to help you out. Well, me too, for that matter. Or maybe both of us!

Anyhow.... as usual, put yourself in the landowner's position: how would you react better? I bet you'd say "face to face, of course!" And this is a good time of year to make the contacts, they haven't gotten out in the fields yet so the landowners should be around when you stop by. Obviously bow hunters get a better reception than gun hunters, too. I'd tell them whether you're thinking of a climbing stand, or ground blind, too. I know it's intimidating to just drive up and knock, it's definitely intrusive. But just remember, this IS Wisconsin, where deer hunting is a given.