Getting permissionn to Hunt

[WhoDat]

I have had a gret start to the hunting season but am driving 60 miles one way to hunt when I am surrounded by agricultural fields and see many deer on fields within a mile of my home every morning and evening. I have been considering asaking permission to hunt on some of these farms in my area but have never approached a farmer to ask permission to hunt before and am unsure of how to approach them. I have driven around the last couple days looking fo a farmer in the field not wanting to impose or intrude on them by knocking on the door to their house. Any tips on how to approach this or what youve done that has been successful would be appreciated. I need a game plan.

[Scorpion8]

When we owned a farm in PA folks used to come up to us all the time. The key is the conversation: be friendly, don't rush it like it's a yes-or-no right now answer. Strike up a conversation. Make small talk (he knows what you're there for anyway but it's a game). Ask him if he hunts and offer to share. Most importantly, follow their rules exactly! If the farmer says "don't hunt that field", then don't hunt that field. We had bozos shoot at our horse during the season.

Oh, and show up looking like you work for a living, not in a suit. We snickered at "the suits" that used to come by and they never got permission. But also don't show up looking like your NYC Runway show was put on by Cabelas. Look like an average Joe, ask him the hp of his tractor or combine, and be a regular guy....

[gfdeputy2]

one point I have to make too is offer to help them
if they are cutting fire wood, or painting a barn, working on a tractor offer your labor for a while remember they are going to possibly let you use their land so do something for them also little gifts help too
we will bring maple syrup with us if they say no we will give them a pint & tell them thanks anyway & leave our phone # in case they change there mind if they say yes we will give them a pint & thank them when we return to hang stands or set out camera's we will bring them a gallon. It goes a long way we have gotten calls back from people who originally said no most important TREAT THEIR LAND AS IF IT WERE YOURS you pack it in you pack it out. If I see trash I pick it up mine or not.
As Scorpion8 said respect & follow their rules to the "T"
be up front with them let them know whether you will just bow hunt it or gun hunt it
If you Bow hunt it & loose an arrow in one of their fields Let them know about where you lost it.

[Scorpion8]

All good points, plus another: Don't be a "blaster". We had two kids pull up once and get out excitedly saying they just saw a huge buck in our field and "go they go get him!" In other words, they were going to head into the woods and blast away. Nope, sorry Charlie. You're wanting to go hunting, not killing.

Be and act: Courteous. Polite. Friendly. Respectful. Honest. Hey, all those things we should be doing everyday anyway!!!

[tator]

I'll throw in my 2cents too. Make sure you don't spread the word that you are hunting Farmer Smith's land to everyone on God's green earth. Believe me, many farmers DO NOT like being talked about in a way that makes them look like they are being taken advantage of. If you get a YES, be happy and just hunt. Don't show-boat about it.

Also- DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT bring 15 of your buddies along for the ride. Most times when a farmer gives you the rights to hunt his property, it's for YOU and ONLY YOU... and maybe your son. That's it. If the farmer doesn't bring that up, assume the permission is for ONLY YOU, no one else.

Also last point... if you put up a stand for season, take it down after season- NO MATTER what the farmer says. Take it down and bring it home. By doing this, you are in a way, respecting that farmer's land- he has the right to tell you each and every year yes or no. By leaving your stands up you put him in an awkward position to allow you to do it every year. Remember it's truely a privledge.

Good luck to you

[Kansasdoe]

I think just talking to people is a good way to find places to hunt. I was picking apples a while back and the neighbor and I got to talking about why I was picking up the apples off the ground and that lead to him telling me we should hunt his property. His land is just right outside of town and there's some nice does out there. For what I'm after right now its perfect.

[tator]

Very true KD, it seems like when I'm NOT trying to find hunting places they land in my lap. Church is a good place to start! I've had 5-6 people at church tell me to come hunt their land b/c they have deer eating bushes, flowers, etc....

[WhoDat]

Originally Posted by tator

Very true KD, it seems like when I'm NOT trying to find hunting places they land in my lap. Church is a good place to start! I've had 5-6 people at church tell me to come hunt their land b/c they have deer eating bushes, flowers, etc....

Yes the land I hunt now(other than public land) is 160 acres of CRP fields that I was given permission to hunt (with out asking) by a lady at my church. Problem is , and not to sound unthankful I love hunting the land, it is 60 miles from my house.

Issue is in asking to hunt a specific piece of land a cold call if you will. I have my eye on a specific piece of land that has no posted signs on it perimeter.and I do not know who owns it. I am asking about Approaching in that way.

[Kansasdoe]

If the issue is finding out who owns it, you need to get ahold of a plot map with the landowners names. We get these at our county courthouse. Then I know exactly who owns what.

[tator]

Originally Posted by Kansasdoe

If the issue is finding out who owns it, you need to get ahold of a plot map with the landowners names. We get these at our county courthouse. Then I know exactly who owns what.

and just hope and pray it's an actual individual not a trust or family owned piece of land- b/c if it is,,, GOOD LUCK!