eatsleephunt, I see what you were getting at. Come to think of it there is a large factory dairy farm going in not to far from my college and i have seen a lot of signs at the small farms protesting it. I come from a small family farm so i know how that feels. The next time i go out i think i will wear my Farm-Aid shirt.

I looked at the location of the people who have replied so far to your post. I don't see anyone from Michigan who has identified themselves in their profile. Being a lifelong Michigander, maybe I can offer some insight. I can't explain why certain individuals have denied permission, this is more from an overall perception I have of people here in this state.

First of all, deer hunting is BIG in Michigan. Sometimes I think it is way too big. I have heard more than one person say that the reason we can't find new places to hunt on private land is because almost every inch of huntable land is already being hunted by someone. This may seem hard to believe, but it has been my experience in asking permission long before I bought my own land (specifically for hunting) that others had already been given permission....sometimes multipke hunting parties everywhere I went. This first reason is probably the single largest factor why finding private land is so difficult. I have even watched as those who post adds in the local newspaper classifieds to lease land go away with their heads down because they could not even find land to lease.

The second reason may not be as big a factor, but worth at least knowing about. Liability! Our great state has caved in to lawyers and lawsuits. Even if I post my property and do everything I know to keep people off, if someone like a kid comes onto my property and hurts themselves (like climbing one of my stands and falling out) I can be held liable. It is always argued that the landowner didn't do enough to keep someone out. Until you put up barbwire and someone hurts themselves on that and then you're sued for doing too much. If you are on a person's land...even with permission, and fall out of a tree and are hurt or killed, you or your family can sue. And I know you probably say you would never do that...and probably wouldn't, but the family still might. So you see, the landowner gets screwed when it comes to laws here in Michigan. Trespass laws are a joke and enforcement (if it ever happens) leads to a slap on the wrist.

I wish you good luck. Don't quit knocking on doors. Offer to help out a landowner somehow...volunteer a portion of your kill. At all times continue to show your positive side and you may be successful. But if you're not, just keep in mind, there are thousands of resident hunters who are ( and have been for a longggg time) just like you. We are fortunate that we do have a lot of state land available...even if it is not as good as private land!

Thanks Jackson i go to Adrian college right down the road here so we are talkin about the same area. Thanks for the insight.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

I understand your pains..

I too have been looking for farms to call home for the last couple of seasons. I have not gotten a single "yes" yet. And I've asked about 100 folks.

I've tried every way you can imagine. I am as polite as anyone I know. But around where I live their are FAR greater hunter numbers than available land. I keep trying though because all it takes is one. And a couple of the "no's" I have been able to purposely befriend over the past year. I have earned some of their trust while speaking a little about what I do while bowhunting. I see good things with them in the future.

Around here in my area I think to many people are moving into the country and buying land a leasing it to farmers, not alot of small farms around here any more. Then they stop all hunting together since they do not want to have people on there land. Not a bunch of woods here in NW Ohio, all small woods scattered over the country side. But all the permission I have ever had was through someone I knew, that knew someone and such. Never had much luck going door to door.

duke it is nice to be abl to talk to someone from this area that knows how hard it is to get permission in this area.[:@]When i arrived here in August i went west of Adrian to try and obtain permission and got three doors slammed in my face has this happened to you?

Well, while I've had all "no's" I still have not had a door slammed in my face. You just have to keep at it. Build a conversation with them and try to earn a little trust before you ask. I will be returning for round 2, asking the same farmers once again this year. I'm just starting to build a little relationship with them.. hopefully it blossoms from then on.

Good luck pope.. I hope you get at laest one "yes".

i have the same problem here in MD. I have sent lettes, emails, phone calls, knocked on doors, drove about 2 hours in both directions of my house to put up flyers in hunting stores, feed stores, etc. and nothing. Its actually kind of mind boggling that its so hard to find. but , like others, i will keep trying becuase it only takes one, good luck to yal