How do you find places to hunt?
 

For the guys that aren't lucky enough to own their own plot, how do you go about finding land that you're allowed to hunt on?

I've heard that farmers are sometimes looking for help, whats the best way to find the ones that want your assitance?

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

Where i live if you go to the court house and buy a plot map it tells you who owns what and just go around and ask thats what i did

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

Plot maps are good and so are maps that show where public and recreation areas are.
When ever you find a public hunting area take the time to check it out by driving around the area.
If it looks good then find a place to park and take a walk look around.

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

I prefer residential areas. I'm always scouting while driving around in my car. It's a wonder I haven't rear ended anyone lately. I have a list in my head of areas I want to hunt and while I'm socializing at work, job sites and at bars, I work the deer problem up in a conversation. You'd be amazed how many people know someone who needs them killed.

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

For locating public ground I use aerial photos and topo maps , this helps me to find the smaller and less well known plots , and it also helps with terrain evaluation so that I don't waste time on plots that are unlikely to produce .

For private land access I either network with friends and aquaintences or knock on doors and ask for permission . Carrying a written letter of introduction and a liability release waiver is a good idea too . It really greases the skids if the landowner knows ahead of time what kind of person you are and that he won't be sued if you have an accident . Once you secure their permission get it in writing , this will protect you if there is an access challenge by someone else or if you're questioned by a game warden . Know the boundaries of the property and stay well within them to avoid trespass accusations by the landowner's neighbors , get their permission in writing to retrieve lost game if possible .

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

I knock on doors where only women are home;they can't refuse my good looks and always let me in to their property. HCH

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

Well up here in Northern New England you drive around till you find a likly looking place, park and check it out and make sure its not posted if you like it you hunt it. Its that simple, I just checked out a new farm in Stow Maine yesturday and man did I see some of those Big ol bucks Maine is noted for over 300 lbs easy and I counted 8 points on one side and only got to two on the other when he took off before I could count the rest. And the best part about it is I will probibly be the only one hunting him this fall. I hope we never loose out freedom to hunt like they did in the South and West. When we do thats when I'll quit hunting because it just won't be the same to pay to hunt. I don't mind working I would bust my butt for any farmer in my area but to have to join a club and be told how and when I can hunt or pay some one hundreds of dollors just makes it loose my taste for it. (Good luck Live free or die)

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

i am lucky enough that i have a few friends that have some land and one of them has 4000 acres so i guess you can say im really lucky. that not includeing all the land my other buddys have.

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

I'm pretty lucky as well. My father-in-law owns some ground and I hunt that, plus I have known the guy that owns a couple hundred acres that borders that my whole life and we have exclusive rights to all of that.

If I ever lost that I would just do what some of these guys said and find out who owns some land and knock on his door.

One important thing to rememveris ask theland owner lots of questions that way you can always "play" by his rules. Some landowners don't want a bunch of hunters, so ask how many he will allow? Some will let you hunt bow only, so only use your bow. Some will not allow you to nail or attach tree stands, climber or ground blind only. I have buddies that say finding land isn't the hard part, sometimes the hardest thing is keeping it!


Good luck!

RE: How do you find places to hunt?
 

Wish it was that easy :( I have knocked on at least 100 doors in past 3 weeks since losing my lease and got a straight up no on all for my troubles. Well it is there property and I can't blame them. Unfortantly all the leases I have found in this area I just can't afford right now and I don't have many freinds around here and those that are my freindsare can't afford even a part ofthe moneyto get a lease since they got other freinds they can hunt off of. The 1 guy I really hunt with got all his money tied up in a Africa hunt in sept. so he can't afford it. But I got fliers out and keep checking the web and hopefully I find something soon or maybe I will not be hunting in Ohio this yr :(

Trytan