Getting permission to hunt private land

[pcgoosehunter]

I am 21 years old and don't really have experience asking landowners if I could hunt there land. To you "seasoned veterans," how do you approach a landowner that you don't know and go about asking them if you can hunt there property? Do you offer them something the first time you go up to the front door? Do you not ask them right away? Can you help me out?!?!

[Michael Weiss]

JEFF, Just approach the landowner in a respectable way. You dont have to dress up by no means, but look like you take care of yourself. Ask politly if he/she would be apposed to you hunting their land. Make sure to specify when you will be hunting, the type of vehicle, and make sure you tell them you will be picking up EVERYTHING!!! Also, tell them you will only drive the field as long as no one could ever tell you were there. And finally, good solid handshake. This should secure a good friendly contact with the land owner. Good Luck,

-Weiss

[Shoot-n-Release]

If Goose 119 came to my door and said that in those words he would not hunt!!!! The way he said it would appear he thinks he has the right to hunt on my land [Would you be opposed to me hunting] Just ask permission and make small talk. Landowner, Bruce

[Shoot-n-Release]

Almost forgot the most important thing in our area if you have DU stickers on pickup better get rid of them and don't wear anything that says DU on it !!!!! The HATE runs deep!!! This is the BEST tip you'll ever receive. Bruce

[Mark Brendemuehl]

pcgoosehunter- Go early in the year. Dont show up on a landowners door the day you want to hunt and put him on the spot.
Ask for permission and if its granted, ask him to show you the property lines, where you can park, ask if you can drive on the field and under what circumstances? Nothing will make a farmer madder than you tearing up a field when you didnt ask in the first place. Thank him for the PRIVELIDGE. Tell him what vehcile you will be driving too. Shake his hand, and offer him part of your take at the end of the day. (CLEANED) Most will say no thanks, so stop by some day with something else, like maybe a pheasant or fresh fish. Its the thought that counts. At the end of the season, a Christmas card, or thank you card or whatever will go a long way.
If he says no, thank him anyway. I had a landowner tell me "no" 3 years in a row when asking to bowhunt. I asked about grouse hunting on year number 4, and he said sure, but not the week before the deer season- I never thought about him being a hunter himself!
Good luck.
Mark

[Michael Weiss]

Shoot-n-Release, This has gone on long enough! Listen, for someone who starting Grad school and plans on working fro DU as a biologist in the near future, I am VERY tempted to realy make you look like fool infront of a lot of people. So first lets begin with WHY you think my method of obtaining permission is not to your taste and WHY you feel DU is a unworthy organization? I am not going to make this into a big issue, cause if you want to whip em out and messure, lets do, it. This is not the place for this kind attitude. We all enjoy one common thing, waterfowling. Now if I sound off the wall to everyone else, let me know, please. But I think the majority of the people who understand this when they read it, get the overall jist of what I am getting at. I get on hear to give and get advice and tips and let people know what is happening in my neck of the woods. Feel free to contact me Shoot-n-Release, I am sure Avery would not approve of us arguing on this forum.
Enlighten me........please, MWEISSWATERFOWL19@hotmail.com

I appoligize to everyone for the long message I am just trying to support something I truely believe in, and hope you all do to.......

-Weiss

[Lloyd]

Are you hunting in the Port Clinton area? Having spent my share of time around there (during my misspent youth, usually coming to/from Put-in-Bay)I can't imagine the pressure on land owners is too great. Meaning I saw lots of farms and not that many waterfowl hunters. Regardless, I still have a few friends on the Island and in PC that may know or own some hunter-friendly properties. I'll PM you with more info when I get it. In the mean time, if you see a guy named Charlie Johnson at Bell Mell's, make him buy you a beer from his "brother" in Maryland!

[Shoot-n-Release]

Goose119 WOW, grad student, get back to me after you have some experience in life dealing with the public and private landowners!!!!! Also take sometime to research some of the stands DU has taken against private landowners!!!!!! Maybe do your paper on it. Bruce

[tealtom]

Alright I dont care who wins or loses this fight you too have going on but I think i speak for everyone when i say "Take that crap somewhere else". Ya'll two argue on your own time alright. Not here,this site wasn't set up for two people to go at it like a bunch of children. Thank You

[Shoot-n-Release]

Just telling you what the reality is in the "praire pothole region " of U.S. IS. Bruce

[ShortReed]

Guys... either PM or email each other if you want to get into it. Everyone has opinions and that's fine... you gave PCG yours so leave it at that and go on about your business. Thank you.

PCG... Mark's post was excellent advice, I couldn't have said it any better. Only thing I would add is that if you are declined, to ask them if they could point you in the direction of any landowners that might allow you to do some hunting. Good luck... I'm sure you'll make some connections.

[Brett Neffendorf]

Well, you cant get to know them unless you go start talking with them and ask. The first day of the year here we had a nice mallard hole scouted out. Had about 450-500 ducks in it. Mostly mallards and gadwalls with a few teal and widgeon. We asked and the farmer said of course go ahead, those ducks have been there awhile so go for it.

After shoot 1 duck in the first 5 minutes of the hunt, the farmer walks out so I go to talk to him, he says that he forgot his son wanted to come hunt it and didnt want me running all of the ducks off. At that time there was a few hundred mallards locked and coming in, but oh well thats how it goes.

Brett Neffendorf

[Shoot-n-Release]

HUNTERS Just s final word to let people know where some of the feelings come from. A few years ago allowed some DU hunters on my land. In a few weeks had the FSA [Farm Service Angecy] contact me saying they had a report I was doing illegal ditching on my land and had to ivestigate. Well the ditch had been there 30 years but still had to investigate and jump thru all the hoops. This was'nt an isolated case as the same bunch had reported others to the same office. Just want hunters to realize they're GUESTS so yes we are very careful who we allow on our land!!!!!!! Some people have a agenda and its not just hunting!!! I'm dropping the subject!!!! Bruce

[T.J. Owens]

After reading all the negative posts on this topic it bothered me. Please don't let this message board turn into a place where two people can argue about their difference of opinion. I enjoy this board and don't want to see it ruined by bickering. Everyone has their own opinion and feels strongly about it, but let's try to keep this board a positive one. Pcgoosehunter was looking for help and that's all.

[Michael Weiss]

GOOSIN', I agree with 100%.

I want to apologize to everyone........

-Weiss