When I'm hunting a new to me area, I always stop in the Mom and Pop gun stores and chat awhile. Same thing I do when fishing a new to me area, I check out the small tackle shops.

One way these guys stay in business is to be helpful. All it usually costs me is the price of a couple of boxes of ammo or some fishing stuff.

If the tips pan out I make it a point of buying from them on a regular basis.