Anyone Got any Tips?
 

So does anyone have any tips about asking permission for hunting private land? I've stopped at 9 different places now and still noone has said yes.. So I'm looking to get help from anywhere I can. Anyone got any tips?

Ryan.:D

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Keep looking.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

offer to do some worl for them if its a farm. or even help around there house. free labor and share the meat with them.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Just keep asking. Maybe ask one of the landowners you have already asked in a nice and respectful way the reason why you can't hunt. People sometimes give reasons that can be overcome with a little discussion. Dont give up. Nothing beats a failure but a try....

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Dress professional, show up with a clean vehicle showing pride in yourself and that you take care of things.

Be polite, courteous and like was mentioned, offer compensation in chores etc... I already think your prepared for being turned down but keep asking. PM Jeff (GMMAT) or hopefully he'll stop by cause he has the best knack for getting permission than anyone I've ever met. That's the side some of you morons don't know....LOL ;) [8D]

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Give them a copy of the new Brett Favre / goat video :D

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

If your only going to be bow hunting be sure to stress that. I have learned that most people assume that you are gun hunting when you ask if you can hunt deer on there property. Just be polite and a good listener.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Find a farmer's daugther and marry her!:)

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

I've had fairly good success at this myself; just last week I secured permission to hunt one of the largest apple orchards in Illinois.

Rob hit on some of what I was going to say...

First off... I go in June or July at the latest. Hunting isn't as much on landowner's minds at that time, and they are prone to being more receptive. You'll separate yourself from the masses by not just being another of the herd.

I dress what's called "business casual" when I go knock on doors (pressed khakis or dress slacks and Polo-style shirt, nice dress shoes), and I usually go on Sunday afternoons. (Around 1:30 or so ... just after the family has finished their lunch upon getting home from church.) I don't drive my Jeep with the BOHNTR license plates and my sponsor's stickers on the side glass, either; I take the car. I haven't done it yet, but I plan on taking my wife along on trips of this sort in the future...

I STRESS that I am a bowhunter ONLY, and that I will NEVER bring a gun on to their property; that way, they never have to fear a stray bullet at any time (yes, I go ahead and explain that reasoning to them), and that I won't be on their property at all during gun season (because they may want to gun hunt themselves or have others in the family who do).

I offer to bring back some meat from what I kill off their land if they'd like some, and ask them what their favorite cuts are. I also offer to help with any work they may have lined up.

Thank them no matter what the answer is; you may want to come back and ask again next year. Offer up referals from area farmers. If you can't gain access on the farm you're trying for, ask if they know of any other property owners that may be willing to let someone bowhunt.

Follow up with a thank you card -- handwritten. In fact, I just got through mailing off all my thank-you cards to the landowners on whose properties I hunt; some of them have become so close over the years that I included a recent pic of my two boys along with it.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Well, I wore my nice Khaki shorts and my nice black polo shirt (it was 93 degrees) anyhow, I went up to the house the lady was sitting outside doing her flowers I was in my moms car nice red tarus washed on monday still sparkling, I wore my good cologne, walked up to her said hello my name is Ryan McConahy, I live in Altoona, I had noticed that this was the backside of the area I usted to hunt when I was a kid, and I was wondering if you let anyone bowhunt. She said ohh, we dont usually let anyone hunt on our property I'm sorry. I said well okay then Thankyou for your time and would you know anyone who I might be able to ask for permission? she said no so I said Okay thank you Ma'am have a nice day smiled at her she smiled back got in the Tarus and left..... That was one of the better ones that one went real smooth sorta shorter than I hoped But maybe its just the way I walked or talked to her? maybe because I havent shaved??

Ryan.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Or maybe it's because it's a numbers game, and even when you put everything in your favor you're not going to geta "yes" all the time. ;)

Keep going after it... your next three houses may all be "yesses".

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

We can only hope :-D

Ryan.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Don't forget to offer to do some work around the place to help them ... I have gained access that way in the past... Also , look for KEY words like USUALLY, that could give you and in road...They say ... we don't usually let folks hunt here....andYou could say ....

I understand, but If I am allowed , I would be bowhunting only, I could share the meat with you and I could possibly do some chores for you to help you out.... and make sure you let them know that you would most certainly be respectful of their property and not bring others hunting with you , or at least not without their permission.

The words Usually, or I haven't in the past ,can lead to open doors.... listen to their words.... But if they then say no, smile and tell them thank you for their time... and the owners may talk about you after you leave and decide totell that nice young man he can hunt, the next time they see you....

You have to come and leave on the best of terms.... make a great impression.

MET

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Very interesting thread. TTT!!!!!!!

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

WOW GREAT INPUT ... seriously.. these are really all great ideas. i'll keep these in mind myself.
thanks!

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Does anyone have a "mock" letter written from there years of experience, that you could send to potential land owner wishing to gain hunting permission?
Then follow it up 1-2 weeks later in person on that Sunday afternoon ride.
Or this letter could be used for far away properties?

Some people like GMMAT;), may be better at writing a letter than others and this info could be very valuable to some frustrated hunters.[:@]

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

I own a farm and I was thinking about whatsomeone coulddo to get permission to hunt my place. Because I am part of my state's cooperative hunting program, my address is on a published list. I get several letters a year from people I don't know asking to hunt. Letters get ignored by me. Personal visits get my attention though. It's much nice to meet someone in person. A letter followed by a visit would be ok. The problem with securing permission on my farm is that right now I have 5 people that I have given permission to bowhunt plus my spouse and I, so we are pretty full there.

BUT, if you asked to take out some raccoons or coyote, well I would probably give someone permission for that. If someone offered to hunt varmits, then visited periodicallywhen I was home so I got to know them, and helped with a little work around the farm, I would say there would be good chance of getting permission to hunt deer in a couple of years. Maybe that is too many hoops for most people to jump through, I don't know. I've given people permission to hunt varmits and then I usually never see them again. Just some ideas thrown at you from a land owner who has lots of people hunting deer already.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Greg, what's your opening line?

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

You remembered that!!??

Hre's what I do......

I pull up to the house, knock on the door and when they answer I say, " Where do you want me to park, because I'll be hunting here this fall".

It helps if you arrive on your bike looking like this...

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Oooooook then

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

I always try to find somebody that I know, that knows the landowner. This can help. It also helps you build a network of people that will keep an eye out for you. If you ask 5 co-workers if they know the owner of a particular farm, only one of them might know him, but all 5 now know that you are looking for land to hunt on.

I also make sure that the person I'm asking knows my name. I tell them my name when I introduce myself, and then again when I leave, whether I gain permission or not. I've had good luck getting permission to hunt, mostly because of networking.

The few times that I've been denied on the 1st attempt, I ask them if they'd mind ifI asked again next year, just in case anything changes. They always say they don't mind. Show up the next spring to ask if you can hunt turkey. In doing this you show them 2 things. You show them that youwould really like to hunt their land, and you show them that you're a responsible hunter willing to take the proper (legal)steps to hunt their land. Many time land owners don't let hunters on their land because they've had experiences w/ tresspassers in the past.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Sending a letter sends a message that you are too busy to stop by. If I got one of those, it would go in the shredder immediately.

Cold calls to the home and hit the local cafes are the best. I have gotten permission by walking up to the door and speaking to the male by being polite. I have noticed here that in 90% of cases if I spoke to the woman, I would be turned down. On the other had, when I spoke to the man after a little conversation, I was approved. Build a report with them.Talk about their crops, how their looking pretty good/bad. Talk about growing up in the country. Talk about nuisances such as deer and turkey. Usually they will open up and feel comfortable then. Then ask to bowhunt their property to help alleviate those nuisances. Offer part of the meat. In local cafes around breakfast time, sit at the bar (if they have one) and start a conversation with the waitress about all the deer in the area. Talk to her about being a bow hunter and looking for a place to hunt. Either she'll know a farmer with deer problems, or one of the other patrons will have a problem with deer and approach you.

A classic example was years ago while muzzleloader hunting, we stopped at a local cafe for lunch and were talking about the morning's hunt. A man walked up to us and asked if we were deer hunting and he seemed quite upset. One of the guys said "Yes, we just stopped for lunch". He said, "I'll wait until you are done eating." We sat there eating lunch wondering what crawled up this guys sphincter. When we were done, he said get in your vehicles and follow me, I want to show you something. We followed him out of town and got to his farm. He told us to wait at the top of the hill and then drove down to one of his cattle feeders. He dumped several bags of corn in the feeder and drove back to us. By the time he got to where we were waiting, the deer had come in and were shoulder to shoulder at the feeder to where the cattle could not get close to the food. He looked at us and said "kill 'em all and if you run across any turkey out there, kill them too!"

Another approach I learned from the guy who got me into deer hunting is when approaching the farmer, if he looks like a down to earth person, is to walk up and say "Hi, my name is ........., got any deer you need killin'?" I about crapped my pants the first time he did that, but he always gets permission.

Another thing to check is the assessors site. You'll find land that is owned by people who don't live in the general area. Find where they live, find their phone number, and call them to ask. But always chit chat first.
I guess what I am trying to say is do your homework and read the landowners body language and make the appropriate approach.

Sorry for the lengthy response.

Good luck.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Many of these "morons" get their impressions from what they read here on HNI. Good or bad.You know, first impressions last?;)

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Rick, I don't remember having anything set... I probably just wing it. I have made a pretty good living in sales, after all. :)

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

EI this post doesn't have anything to do with me. Let it go, please.;)

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Bring a kid along, it helps, I charge 15 bucks for every property I gain you. I dont have a problem flying so mail me my borading pass. J/K

But really bringing a kid helps.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

OK here's a good question, Do you think since i'm only 18 that they have a Bias against a "young Punk"??

Ryan.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

One thing that I would add is just don't pack up and leave once you have been told no. I always stick around and chat for a while. If they tell me they don't allow anyone to hunt because family hunts it etc. I make sure they know that I bowhunt only. If they tell me about people littering on them or not putting gates up etc. I tell them I understand exactly how they feel and I don't blame them one bit and then I point out that in every group you have good ones and bad ones and the bads one usually spoil it for the rest of us. I then steer the conversation back to small talk and give them a chance to get to know me a little better and get a feel for the type of person that I am. If appropriate I tell them I have a liability release that I have had drawn up by an attorney. If you keep the conversation going, at the very least it may improve your chances if you stop by to ask the next time and sometimes during the conversation they will change their minds. I have started with no and ended up with permission on more than one occaision. As far as sending letter's goes, I think it's a good idea. But, only as a follow up after the initial meeting. Most, of the time I will send a letter thanking them for taking the time to speak with me or thanking them for letting me hunt.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

I will say that age is NOT your friend in these endeavors.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Ya, well now we know that, no wonder you cant get land, thats like having 0 cards in your favor.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

tell tehm your willing to work for them, what good will come for them by letting you hunt, and youll clean up the property some

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

Being you doesn't usually help. But being 18 also doesn't mean you're a "young punk".

If you're done asking for permission and they still think you're a "young punk", then you probably are. From your posts, I don't think your a "young punk" so niether should a landowner. The purpose of all of these tips people are providing is to help the landowner form an opinion of you. It's your job to make sure that opinion is a good one.

I think your best bet is to build a network, ask old high school classmates, co-workers, friends of your parents, friends of yours, neighbors, anybody, if they no somebody that owns the piece of land you want to hunt. Don't ever be afraid to name drop, just make sure the landowner knows and likes the name you use. A good approach might be:

"Hi my name is __________ I'm a friend of _________ and he/she suggested I come introduce myself to you".

Don't get too discouraged with the rejections, all you really need is one farm for now anyway.

RE: Anyone Got any Tips?
 

I would have to say that while age may not be your friend, it most certainly does not have to be your enemy. Any preconceived notions about scoundrel youth can be negated by your appearance and how you carry yourself when talking to the land owners. If you speak clearly , no grunts, yeah's, uh huh's, nope's, but instead speak intelligentlywith yes's , no's, yes maam or sir,etc... and be polite.... it will help to separate you from the masses.

And when you are going to go see an owner, don't just offer to work a day or two during the season, or a couple of hours here or there ..... be prepared to start helping the next day and work many days before the season to build up a " credit " of " good will " with the owner. I workedfor two or three weeks,a couple of afternoons a week, before I ever went and utilized a property I had gained access to.

Even offer to help now, even if they say no ..... they might soon change their mind....

Show them you are different..... it will help tremendously.

MET