Not having much luck getting land access permssion, anyone got tips?

I'm new to the region, so for the past 3 weeks I've been spending many mornings driving around WMU90 and finding populated spots.. It's been much easier finding wild turkeys than finding landowners willing to let me access the land come April 25...

I do my diligence as I've done before, find the landowner, call them and politely introduce myself and describe how I would like to walk the edge of their property lines to hunt / harvest a wild turkey come April 25, or at some point in the season.

I've had everything from a polite "no", to a landowner asking me to describe when and where the Toms were only to thank me for the info, that they themselves would go harvest them, and I couldn't access...

Needless to say it's been frustrating so far... Does anyone have tips on how to get past that?

Try in person i think it would be better than a call in my opinion .

Good luck on your search.

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I agree, in person would be best... but with the COVID restrictions, it's difficult to do!

Offer to hunt coyotes before you bring up turkeys or other game animals. Often landowners can be apprehensive about having them around, and even if you aren't successful in shooting any, the act of hunting them on the property can make them hang around somewhere else.

It might not be what you'd prefer to do right now, but it can lead to more open doors in the future. Landowners talk to each other too, and if one landowner has a trustworthy hunter on his/her property, they might recommend your services to their neighbours.

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Originally Posted by Neekto

I agree, in person would be best... but with the COVID restrictions, it's difficult to do!

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Not really if you have to knock at the door step back some. I deal with many customers that I need to talk to didn't wear a mask at all last year and visited 100s of homes. I work in their yard so keeping distance is the best option and can be totally done respectfully without a mask.

I knock and walk back 10 ft respect the distance you don't need to be close within 6ft to have a conversation with someone.

I helped an elderly lady finish shovel off her driveway when there was a 6 ft strip left I walked away and let her finish but we continued to talk after from a safe distance.



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Originally Posted by fishfood

Not really if you have to knock at the door step back some. I deal with many customers that I need to talk to didn't wear a mask at all last year and visited 100s of homes. I work in their yard so keeping distance is the best option and can be totally done respectfully without a mask.

I knock and walk back 10 ft respect the distance you don't need to be close within 6ft to have a conversation with someone.

I helped an elderly lady finish shovel off her driveway when there was a 6 ft strip left I walked away and let her finish but we continued to talk after from a safe distance.



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i usually do this covid or not , its kind of a way to let them step outside to talk as well. alot of the times they will step out and start pointing out when and where they see animals or just to point out where ive hunted before or a neighbor they know etc

I also do door knocks, respect the distance when speaking with them and offer to do some work on their property in exchange for hunting. I also offer up some game if they would like to try. I give them my full name, tell them where i live and provide a phone number. If i get permission, i also ask if there are any restrictions which they dont want me to do or areas to stay away from. Good luck!

The guy who might stand a chance of a positive response is the one who says, "I noticed part of your fence is starting to come down. I'd be happy to repair it for you if you'd let me hunt turkey on your land."

I think have better luck knocking on doors if you could say you belong to ccfr or ofha so you could say you have some type of liability insurance

I had to show OFHA card to a land owner last fall.

I think he was surprised that I had it, and in my wallet. He was like "oh, OK then, I'll write ya permission. Haha I wonder how many other people didn't have it and were declined.

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In WMU 90, both Oxford and Norfolk counties permit hunting in county forests. Do your research and you can find worthwhile hunting on some of these properties. FYI in Norfolk tick prevention is a must.

I would try everything you can think of. Post an ad on your local Kijiji. Tell all of your friends, wife/girlfriend, relatives that you are looking for private land to hunt. Never know where a lead might come from.
Always carry a form that you have created waiving the landowner from any injuries to yourself while on their property and accepting all liabilities for any possible damages caused by your actions ( as a direct result of your actions while hunting or scouting). Better to cover both your butts up front.

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Originally Posted by firedeptlt

I would try everything you can think of. Post an ad on your local Kijiji. Tell all of your friends, wife/girlfriend, relatives that you are looking for private land to hunt. Never know where a lead might come from.
Always carry a form that you have created waiving the landowner from any injuries to yourself while on their property and accepting all liabilities for any possible damages caused by your actions ( as a direct result of your actions while hunting or scouting). Better to cover both your butts up front.

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I second this. Best way above all is to find connections. Usually when you have a name to connect you to someone they're more likely if they know that person. Basically all the private properties I hunt on are in connection to someone we both know. Asking in person might be the best way otherwise but now people are freaked about this covid nonsense so even that has little chance.

What I found works best:

Waiting until the day you see the landowner outside, before going to talk to them, and never knock on a door and disturb them.

Having a young daughter or son with you, usually ensures that you receive a polite respectful response, more likely to be a yes.

Good Luck!