Permission letter?
 

I just moved to a more rural area recently,and see a few wooded lots and farms around that look like good areas to deer hunt.Anyhow I was wondering if any of you ever have wrote letters to local farmers/landowners to get permission,and if so had any success.I don't want to bug any of the local farmers right now while they are out working thier fields,but thought a letter with a return envelope (and stamp)would be an option.I figure asking now with an offer to do somee electrical,or some labor work would be good timing.What are you all's thoughts about this?Thank's for any replies.

RE: Permission letter?
 

Not very personal, and they will likely toss it in the trash. Reverse it, what would you think if someone sent you a letter asking to hunt on their land......heck, he doesn't even know who you are.

You are right about not bothering them right now. They are very busy. Wait a month and it will calm down. Print up a business card listing all of your credentials...bowhunter education, hunter education, and whatever else you may think relevant. Present yourself in a professional manner. If you happen to see them outside messing around in the yard or whatever, that's usually a good time.

Stay away from the letter, though. IMO

RE: Permission letter?
 

Sounds like a great idea. Many guys around our part of the woods do that, with a nice result.

RE: Permission letter?
 

Yea, offering to help a farmer or landowner is the key to getting in.

RE: Permission letter?
 

Mobowhunter I think if someone sent me a letter asking permission and offering to work I would seriously consider it.If and when I do write these letters and send them out I will be sending many of them out,and my address,as well as phone number will be on the letters,offering them to call me collect and a return stamped envelope inside.Many of these farmers when theey see my address on the letter will probably recognize me,cause many drive by my house daily,and wave.I just don't know where many of them live that drive by.I may also use a local farmer as reference that lets me hunt on a limited basis.

RE: Permission letter?
 

Hey, if you like it, go for it. You won't get permission if you don't ask.

RE: Permission letter?
 

Hey, you and I think alike. I was thinking about writing a letter just yesterday. The only difference in our situations is that the owners of the property by me live one state over. It's kind of impractical to drive all the way over there. I was thinking of writing them a nice professional letter listing my credentials and other important facts. I think it sounds like a good idea in that aspect.

However, if you have the means to talk directly to them, I would just ask them face to face. This way they don't have to be bothered with a letter or anything else. I thought of sending that same letter out to some other properties in the area, but then decided to go talk face to face so it seems more personal.

So, if I were you, I would try just talking to them, that seems like the best option in my book.

RE: Permission letter?
 

ok first thing i would do is just go see him and see if anyone else is hunting them and then offer to do work around the place and i mean just aobut anything they want that is not really expensive and then ask him in return if you could hunt it for your work. Then give him deer meat or fish or any other peace offering regularly about every month to stay on his good side alswo tell him if you dont come he can hunt the stand if he really wants to

RE: Permission letter?
 

A personal approach is better i think. Fill out a card with your information on it and go see the man meet him talk with him let him know your intentions. Give him the card afterwards and let him think it over.....all the while let him know youd be willing to help with fences and such. I actually help one of the guys i hunt on harvest his crops i drive the grain wagon for him to speed his process up it works really.........try it.

RE: Permission letter?
 

its been my experience that face to face is the best way to ask someone to use their property. By writing a letter the home owner doesnt get to meet the person and make a generalization about the person on if the person is trust worthy. So I would do it face to face when the farmer is on a day off if he has one

RE: Permission letter?
 

Well I don't know about where you come from but if I recieved a letter asking me permission to hunt my property I would put it in the trash. If a man or woman don't come up to me shake my hand and look me in the eye I don't want them around. You can sure tell a lot about a person from their hand shake and the look in there eye. A letter seems like a cowards way who don't want to look you in the eye. Thats how I'd do it. Mike

RE: Permission letter?
 

I have received letters asking permission, and they don't get consideration. I vote for the personal approach - dress conservatively, don't interrupt any work going on, tell him a 20 second bio on how you (a stranger) are NOT the slob hunter this farmer has dealt with in the past (afterall, there you are there asking permission),limit the scope of permission (yourself only would be a good start or you would hunt only on weekdays - get the idea?), and offer to do work will help your case. Seeing is better than reading, imho...
-fsh

RE: Permission letter?
 

That's all fine and dandy Mike,and I respect that.I come from a couple areas here in Illinois and both places are quite a bit different.Do I apreciate a hand shake ,a look in the eye and honesty ,you bet, but my hunch is some of the folks in this busy part of Illinois would rather be left alone to tend to their fields.Down state my kin folks and others will give you the time of day and share a few words with ya,but up here it's a bit different,it's like the old saying "time is money and money is time".And another old saying that I will throw out there too,is this"it's better to try andd error that to not try at all"or Nothing ventured nothing gained.Not to mention too if some of these folks saw a big ole ugly sasquach like myself walking up their drive I'd probably get a bullet in me or bitten by a rotweiler:D

RE: Permission letter?
 

Well here are the results of my sending out letters and stamped return envelope...out of twenty,5 returned no such address(PO Box),)1 a phone call from a local that stated he had a animal friendly farm and doesn't allow hunting,2 or three stating that they already have hunters,one letter stating they didn't allow hunters at all,1 that said that they where renting from farmers,and one that owns a apple farm that wants me to hunt and kill coyotes, and will entertain the idea of me hunting (for a fee)deer this fall.He took me around his properties and also invited me in,I couldn't believe the monster bucks that he had taken from his property over the years.One reason he wants the coyotes gone is that he had chickens eaten by them,and he has released pheasants on the land.Also I wanted to add,most or all of these folks really liked my letter ,and liked my non intrusiveapproach,I was pleasantly suprised.This weekend I will check many other properties around here and mail out some more.I also am sending out thank you letters to all that responded with my phone number and adddress again and inviting them over any time and offering my labour again.Just thought I would share.

RE: Permission letter?
 

Man, that's great. At least you got your foot in the door with one guy. Start out with the yotes and get familiar with the guy. Maybe he'll let you hunt for free eventually (even if you are a hideous beast :D). And even if he wants to charge you something, sounds like it could be worth it.