Hi, I was curious on some of the different ways to approach land owners, to ask for permission to hunt their land or farm. I am a somewhat shy guy, and have a little trouble walking up to a strangers front door while he is trying to relax to ask if they mind if I use the land that they work so hard on and also pay the taxes on.....I know some people have that knack about them that they can talk to anyone...and usually get them to accept....was just wondering how some of you hunters approach these people. Thanks, Jay

I had to ask a few people for permission to hunt on their land this year and i would call and explain who i was and then just say, "I was wondering if it was possible for me to hunt on your land?" It seemed that if they didnt already give permission for someone to hunt the land they were pretty easy to say yes.

Buy Chris and Jon Eberhart's 'Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails' and/or their 'Precision Bowhunting'. The books are available on Amazon.com.

They're great bowhunting books and these guys have asking permission down to a science.

Socialize with friends and neighbors. I don't really care to hunt NC but will be doing it more this year because of my schedule. I've picked up so much land I could hunt practically everyday in a different spot all season long.

I always use the... Hello sir, my name is ______ I was driving by and couldn't help but notice what a beautiful piece of property you have here.(If down south, most landowner will then volunteer info about there land) You just say I am actually looking for a place to hunt ____ (always tell what animal you plan to hunt) volunteer meat if need be... I was wondering if there would be anything I could do for you in order for you to let me hunt here. (First and foremost listen to what they have to say) The best 2 places I have ever hunted in my life were places I just pulled over and asked. Don't get discouraged if they say no.

I don't have to ask anymore. There was a lady several years ago who was complaining about the deer eating her garden up every year. I talked with her a while and she was somewhat against hunting but said she would ask her husband about me hunting there. A few days later I got a call and her husband wanted to meet me. We talked a while and I found out he was a preacher and his big plans were to clear a lot of his land to put a house up for his son. They didn't eat venison, so that didn't help me out but he was tired of the deer eating everything in site.
He agreed to let me bow hunt there only and on a "trial" basis.
I bow hunted there that year and got a couple does. Never did stop by his house to show them to him or his family, (figured they wouldn't like to see that.) Everything went well. I put up a box blind just to show him I wouldn't be damaging his trees or anything.
I asked him if I could clear a couple trails and he agreed so while I was there with a chainsaw I cut a couple trees for him and eventually brush-hogged for him and fixed his 4-wheeler, etc etc.
Long story short me and "anyone I see fit" can hunt there. Any season, any weapons. I've been there about 7 years now and every year I offer to pay taxes for them or bring them meat. They always decline and actually told their son he would have to find another location for his house because that was my "hunting spot."
I did have a waver drawn up for them to sign that released them from all liability and gave me permission in writing in case I got checked by the game warden.
Since hunting their land and taking care of it I have received several offers from their friends and family to hunt their land.
Some are good spots, some ain't that great, but I'll go look at each one and tell them what I think and very kindly tell them "no" or "yes."

By the way I got my biggest buck from that spot and hope to get a few more.

I think it's simple and there are a few ways that I have been successfull.

Knock on 10 doors and you will get at least one place to hunt. I really think you will get 2. Look presentable and be polite.

Always start with Bowhunting... Don't bring up firearm season untill you get to know the landowners a little better. If they don't really mind they will offer it to you.

ALWAYS.... Carry a fill in the blank permission slip in your vehical. You never know when you might meet a person at a party or a social eventof a friend of a friend or whatever that is complaining about the deer. They will most likely sign it right away.

I've got 2 spots that I hunt.....exclusively (meaning....I'm the ONLY person allowed to hunt there).

The first one was the hard one. It's directly adjacent to my land.....and it's only a 24 acre tract. The land owner is my neighbor....and a HUGE animal lover. We had a talk one day.....and I talked about how much I loved animals, too. I told him about my hunting past.....and then I just asked him. "Would you consider letting me hunt on your property?"

Here's the key to it......and I think you got some great advice before.....

I quickly chimed in with...."My son and I ONLY hunt bith bows and arrows". That makes it sound VERY tame.

He declined. But.....I thanked him for the conversation.....and I went back to my office and hand-wrote him a letter. I told him I appreciated our conversation.....and that it was nice to get to know my neighbor, better. I reiterated that my son and I are good stewards of the land we own (but he knows that)....and the land we hunt on.

4days later he comes to my houseto give me permission to hunt....w/ conditions (that I TOTALLY agreed to....and would have done, anyways). I cleared all the debris from his pasture fence this Winter......(although I wasn't asked to)......and this year I have 2 feeders up......and trail cams.....and a key to the gate of his property (His old home place). It's absolutley beautiful....and a deer corridor (175 acres of parks land behind us....that hunting is not allowed on).

The second piece of property is kinda like the first.....but 3 times as big.....and 30 minutes away. Again....I think the fact that I mention that I hunt with "bow and arrow"....makes it sound more appealing to these landowners (I just happen to be hunting on land that is owned by 2 VERY good men.....and 2 VERY picky land owners). They happen to have some NICE hunting land, though. ASK!

Jeff