The Power of Asking…. Gaining Access/Permission

I started thinking about all the places I get to hunt deer with a bow around my house and to my surprise in the past 4 years I have gained access to at least 1 new property per year. All because I wasn’t afraid to ask and knock on some doors.

I have actually been given permission to bow hunt (5) properties in the past 4 years and out of those just 1 owner said he didn’t want me hunting the following year. Long story short, he knew that I have shot some good bucks over the years and went with to show me his property lines and helped me put up a stand. When he told me he wasn’t going to allow me to hunt the following fall, I thanked him and asked “why”? He said; “he had built a new box stand in that location and wanted to save it for gun hunting.” Of course, he had used me for my knowledge. I appreciated his honesty and didn’t let it bother me. I still get along great with him and hope to be able to hunt his property again someday.

Properties, distance (as the crow flies), acres:

4 yrs ago: 7 miles from my house (160 acres)

3 yrs ago: 6.5 miles from my house (320 acres)

2 yrs ago: 3.5 miles from my house (40 acres)

*this is the one that only let me hunt for one year

Last year: 3 miles from my house (40 acres)

Today: 2.7 miles from my house (20 acres)

I can’t say that I do anything special when asking permission. I just give it an honest approach and mention that I am willing to sign any waiver of liability they may want, tell them that I would put a camera or 2 up on the property and share all pics of nice bucks with them, and offer venison.

So far I haven’t shot any deer on these properties and elected to pass up smaller bucks and does/fawns.

My questions to everyone is simple: What are some things that you do when asking permission to hunt new property that works? Doesn’t work?

I’ll share my 2 favorites for both:

What works:

1. Shaking the landowners hand when greeting them

2. Explain that I only hunt with a bow and stress “NO GUNS”

Doesn’t work:

1. Telling the landowner that I hunt the property next door

*I had a landowner explain to me one time; “why do you want to hunt on my property when you can already hunt next door?” He went on to tell me that I would’ve had a better chance without mentioning the “neighbor” because there was some type of feud between them. (Makes sense now that I learned this valuable lesson)

2. Wearing nice clothes. I always make sure I have work/construction type boots on maybe a small rip or 2 in my jeans and an older/dirty/used hooded sweatshirt or light jacket of some type. DO NOT WEAR CAMO, it’s just as bad as wearing nice clothes. Most of the time I’ve dealt with farmers or shop owners when asking and the second I pull up wearing a nice pair of khaki’s and polo shirt, (9 times out of 10), I don’t even get a handshake.

Just thought it would be interesting to hear what others have for pointers when trying to gain access to some new properties??

Great post Ricco! There’s alot of detail there that most people overlook when haphazardly stumbling out to drum up some hunting land. However, your permission or denial is all about those little things that add up to you getting on or not.

I think the maintenance factor is something that’s harder and harder these days, and I could do a better job of myself. I end up being pretty good friends with alot of these folks and just need to take the time to go out there and shoot the bull more. That’s something that needs to happen if you want to stay on the land you already have. If you value it, let them know. I have never found a landowner that would turn down walleye fillets or some venison summer sausage, and those are also little things that go a long way.

Joel

This is the best post Ive seen a long time! I will say that making some kind of nice gesture during the hloidays helps a ton as well!

I knock on a lot of doors myself and I have learned a thing or two over the years.

1) I fully agree with the clothing thing that Gobbler mentioned. Camo is never a good idea as instantly most landowners know why your there and it seems to put a bad taste in their mouth right off the bat.

2) Never start off with asking for permission. Make some general conversation to start off with and let them know you’re a nice guy. The longer I can talk with a landowner before I have to ask for permission I will. Rarely does it work to just roll in their yard and be granted permission right off the bat. If that does happen, he has probably let every guy that asks hunt, there for the hunting probably isn’t that good there.

3) I always offer to help them work calves, do farm work, make hay, whatever it looks like the rancher would need help doing. This might be a little different here in the west where a lot of the places I’m asking for permission to hunt are thousands of acres. Rarely does a landowner actually take you up on helping them, it’s just a good gesture to do. I’ve had a few ask for help and I’m more than happy to help them, but it doesn’t happen very often.

4) I always leave a business card with my contact info for them. It makes them feel better knowing they have a way to get a hold of you if something comes up. Plus leaving a business card does two other things. I work in the “laser manufacturing” world so just the word laser always strikes people’s attention and usually leads to conversation. Also my last name is unique so they often remember the name when I call, visit or send a thank you card.

5) If I am granted permission I almost always find their address and send them a thank you card. In the card I will tell them thanks and that I appreciate the opportunity to hunt on their place. I will also mention I’m willing to lend them a hand if they need it. Also throw in another business card.

6) Ask in the off seaon if possible. Often times land owners are tired of the hunters everywhere during the season. Ask for permission in the summer and you have better luck getting access.

7)Last but not least. If you have a kid take them to the door when you ask. If your like me and don’t have a kid….borrow one from a buddy. LOL

This is great stuff guys. As we all know, finding hunting spots continues to get harder and harder!

Excellent post Ricco! And some great tips from Joel and Lucas too!

I think the day and the time of the day also matters when you stop and talk to them. Try and avoid meal times and work days. Sat mornings are best because they most likely will have time to talk with you.

Build a relationship by asking them something about their land or their home. Point something out and ask them about it. Build a bridge before you talk about hunting.

Tell them that you are a responsible hunter and will leave the land as you found it. Land owners are worried about several things such as driving across their fields, shutting gates, not monkeying with fences, not using screw in tree steps that may harm their trees etc…

Having been lucky enough to have come from a rural area and worked on a farm or two, the knowledge of those subjects are what farmers might be interested in talking about when you are stopping to visit.

I was hunting when I was asking permission in IA, but always made sure that I was wearing a seed cap. And it probably doesn’t hurt if it some other farm industry advertising hat…

I was lucky enough to build farm silos when I was growing up so if the farm I was asking on had silos, I talked to the farmer about them.

I also use to hunt with a dude from the Twin Cities during those college days and he got so frustrated at not getting very many yeses, so for you guys that are more urban, get into that country feeling…

How many acres??? how many head of cattle, beef vs. dairy or even hogs, turkeys or chickens… Are they farming primarily grain vs. any livestock at all… Tell them they have beautiful place, even if it doesn’t look very nice.

Tell where you are from or if you have rural history get that out there, if you have relation that works in the ag world, learn about your relations business, so you inject anything rural into the conversation.

Things to offer in return: part of your harvest, your strong back, other skills that pertain to them, cheese or brats or other pass out gifts. Always offer to leave the place cleaner, look out for trespassers while you are out there, etc… Tell them them that you always stop by to let them know you are out there. I had people tell me to go ahead even if they weren’t there, you’re answer: thank you, but I’ll always try to stop on the way in or come back later if you’re not home, but my preference is to talk on the way in.

Maybe you have a cabin in the north, where you know a place they can stay and you can trip swap with them (snowmobiling, fishing, other types of hunting/fishing you can only find where you are at.

Just some other thoughts to ponder…

Mark

A good time to bring this to the top!!

Yep Good time.. and Now is the time to get out! I stopped by a farmer last week to deliver a gift card (I shed hunt out there) and had no intentions of asking for this season’s permission while I was delivering. Just wanted to say thanks for last year. As I left he said go out there whenever you want.