Roll in there in June or July and ask to hunt groundhogs with your weapon of choice. Go on a regular basis, every other week or so, for a couple of months and show them that you are responsible. When fall gets near ask about deer hunting. They will know you by then and will have formed an opinion already. Good luck.

I ask my wife ... if she says I can go hunting I go.<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

Getting past her is the hard part. Obtaining land hasn't been that hard.

Couple of my tricks...
I start AFTER deer season is over and start with asking permission to hunt coyotes or rabbits or both. Rabbit hunting is percieved as harmless and the coyotes here are seen mor and moe as a scourge. One farer told me I could take as many deer as I took coyotes!

I explain I am an honest, ethical and respectfull hunter. I leave only footprints and gutpiles<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>. I also make it a point to drop by occaisionally to relay any information. IE trespassers, fallen fences, anything pertaining to the land.

I also get EXPLICIT instructions as to boundries and borders and ask who the neigboring landowners are. I then approach them and tell them that Mr X has given me permission to hunt his property and if by some misfortune I wound an animal would it be OK to track it if it goes on their land. This is much better than after the fact I assure you.

Good luck!

Trushot }}------>

Thanks for the info guys, it's encouraging.

Brandan

Show up in person,have a hunting resume with you.Leave your number with them. And if they are not ant hunting freaks,but just are not sure if they want anyone to hunt wave some money around.

I use the approach mentioned here - polite, clean, responsible, and ready to take &quot;No&quot; for an answer. I'm in Mass., the hotbed of the anti's, so it's a bit of a challenge. One woman denied me, saying she was &quot;awfully fond of my deer.&quot; I declined to point out that, in fact, the deer belonged to the Commonwealth, not the landowner. I offer venison to those who give permission. Those that want it get generous portions along with several printed recipes and a good bottle of wine.

yep like davidmil, I forgot, I do need a &quot;kitchen&quot; pass from the wife!<img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Der Jagd Meister
aka [email protected]

In Texas, what's generally required is sharing a good percentage of a very well stocked bank account.

Well you have gotten some good advice, I will tell my methods which are a mixture of all of the afore mentioned with one big difference which has gotten me permission where others have failed.

1. Go well before the season opens.

2. Dress neatly and clean.

3. If you have a child take them, even if they are not going to hunt it shows that you are a family person.

4. Introduce yourself and child and simply ask permission.

5. If they simply say no, thank them very much and move on.

6. If they say something like &quot;Well I used to let people hunt, but I am afraid of being sued&quot; I show them my two part permission form! This is my secret weapon, I show them that on thier half of the form I not only fully release them from any injury my child or I may incur on thier property, but I also accept full responsibility for any damage I may cause to thier property. That form has gotten me permission to hunt quite a few places over the years.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog

Alot of good tips have been given, so I'll add a couple to use after you have been successful at getting permission.

1 - Leave the property the way you find it. And I add to that:

Usually in the early spring, I'll go out to scout properties and carry a garbage bag. Wind, slob litter's and such will leave trash along the roadsides. I pick it up and take it out with me. Not only can I find where deer are crossing the road, the landowner doesn't have to waste their time collecting garbage.

I had one farmer come out to where I was and asked me what I was doing. He said that I didn't have to, but I replied that yes, I do.

2 - I go back each year and ask permission for each year. Just because you got it once, doesn't mean situations wont change. Talk to the owner and keep in contact with them.





Shoot often - Hunt always