I have located a couple of farms loaded with deer and have found the land owners name and contact information. I have never had any luck getting permission to hunt on private land.

I am not sure if I should drop by and talk to the land owner, call them on the phone, or send a letter. Can anyone suggest an approach that has been successful for them in the past?

-Rick C.

Talk to them in person. Wear normal clothes.

definetly talk to them in person and be polite and curtious. I have even brought them a photo of my truck so if I am granted permission I give them one so they know it is me there if they see a truck parked nearby. If your successful in both getting permission and a deer, offer them some venison. It will help for the upcoming years if you want to hunt there again.

I too would think that talking to him in person would be a good idea. Also you may want to mention that you would be willing to give him a weekend of help around the farm. One thing that always needs to be done (if he has cattle that roam) is to walk the fence and look for breaks. This will help you with the lay of the land, scouting and score points with him. Also even if he says no be sure to follow up with a thank you card for his time. It may be just the ticket to getting permission the next year. Good luck.

One more thing I have done in the past if he does give you permission is to take him a nice 12 to 14 pound store bought turkey about the end of October. You tell him you wanted to get him his thankgiving turkey as a thank you for hunting. It seems to mean a great deal to the farmer and will only cost you about $10.

You have to talk to the land owner in person, or you will be told no almost all the time. Start out the conversation by introduceing yourself, and breifly talking about who you are. Never interupt the land owner and listen closely to what he says. If you have something in commen with him or can do something for him, that will likely look more favorablely towards your return. I have been told NO and turned it into YES by being polite and offering alternatives. 1 land owner told me I could not hunt becuase he had relitives who would be hunting every year during the rut, When I said, how about just opening week? He agreed. later I was welcomed to come hunt with the relitives. I also got permission at one farm while walking up to the land owner who was working under a pc of equipment trying to fix it, I asked what the problem was and tryed to help fix it. Then we found the part to be cracked and unoperable, I said let me run that over to my work, where I made him a new pc and welded it for him. When I came back, he asked what I was doing there in the 1st place, while we were reassembleing the parts. I told him I was looking for bowhunting permission. He said I should of asked before I did all the work for him cause he don't let no one bow hunt on his land. I told him that was Ok, I helped a neihgbor, and would help him again if he needed it, and that had nothing to do with wether he gave me permission. I asked why he didn't give permission, he said he let some guys hunt there years earlyer and they did all kinds of unethical things. I told him there are bad people in every group, but not to judge us all based on one or two guys actions. I told him I too would have been very mad if those guys did the things he discribed on my land. I gave him my card and told him if he ever needed a hand again to give me a call, and that i would help wether or not he granted permission. A couple days later he called me and invited me out to hunt. We have been good freinds ever since.

Bukmastr that is an great story. I know very few guys who would have gone as far as you did. Your actions have done a great deal to help bowhunters in your area as I am sure he has told others what you did for him. If guys like you would get as much publicity as the bad hunters do nobody would have a problem getting permission.

Ask in person...!!!!!!..I've never told anyone "NO" when they've came and asked..although I've thrown alot of hunter's off my place that I've found hunting without my premission. The one's who ask...at time's I'll tell them to hunt a certian section cus I've got hunter's in the other one's...or I'm full today...come back tomorrow or next week. I've never asked for anything...nor will I of a hunter.cept respect my land. And trust me....it's a big plus for getting permission for the following year if they give my better half flower's. She's alway's going out of her way to make hunter's feel comfortable here...and generally will even fix em lunch.