How do you approach a farmer for hunting permission

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum and this is my first post. I've taken up shooting again now that I've retired and would like to start small game hunting. I have a magnum air rifle, 22lr and a shotgun. Until the hunting season opens for rabbit, squirrel and other small game I thought I'd like to hunt pigeons and possibly crow.
Unfortunately I live in Essex county at the far south west end of Ontario. The county is totally farmed and private property. Many of the farmers here are fed up with irresponsible hunters on their property without permission and deny them that permission when asked out of spite.
I think they wouldn't mind if I were shooting their crop eaters but don't know how to approach them.
Are there certain things I should or shouldn't say that will give me a better chance of using their property? Should I leave a card in case they change their minds?
Thanks,
Ed.

1. Polite, honest, forthright.
2. Being retired, you're going to have an easier go than some younger folks.
3. Don't leave a card, salesmen do that.
4. If the answer is a "no", then be gracious.
5. If you have grandkids, or small children in the family, bring one along.....most folks appreciate if you're doing something to get kids away from the Xbox.

Hopefully you're a member of the OFAH. Remember to use the landowner's form from their website: http://www.ofah.org/wp-content/uploa...wnersForm1.pdf and explain that you're covered for $5,000,000 liability coverage as a member. Leave the camo clothing at home & see if they will allow small game as a door opener if they're a bit apprehensive, since most guys are trying to lock up turkey & deer right off the bat. I had luck offering to help mend fences or split firewood as a token of good will. Sometimes offering to share the harvest (cleaned and ready to cook) can help too. Good luck, the hardest part is summoning the courage to walk up the laneway and ask.....

1. Don't wear camo
2. Don't show up during dinner time
3. Be polite
4. If they say no say thank you and leave (if they are nice you could maybe ask them for a recommendation for another farm to hit)
5. If you get permission - always always let them know before you hunt until you have built up a rapport and they trust you

I've had good luck with this and always bring beer/scotch/part of the harvest as a thank you.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by Bluebulldog

1.
3. Don't leave a card, salesmen do that.

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When speaking with the landowner, I do give them a card made especially for hunting, has my name (and my waterfowl partner's name) our numbers on the front and on the back a 'thank you'. When handing them out, I have been given permission, then told thanks, they now have my name and number. The OFAH form is handy, been thanked for it as well; but more for the card with name and number. Plus when they have your contact info you may get calls for problem animals that they want dealt with.

Hi my name is ______________________ and I am a retired ________________________ that lives in ______________________... I have a few hobbies and one of them is hunting.... I was wondering if I might be able to do some small game hunting (insert game animals here) .
In exchange for some hunting privileges (since I am retired) I can help out with some chores....
.....then take it from there....
I too always leave a card encase they change their mind....

there are many great ways to ask and get permission. The secret is to get out and do it. Get your first no out of the way and shake it off. Then get right back to it. Ask, ask ask and you shall receive......

Really...very little to add here, all great advice. If I hadn't read all the replies, I would have said;

1. No camo
2. Don't expect to hunt the day you're there asking
3. I wouldn't do the door knocking thing on a Sunday, a good number of the farms (near where I hunt) are Mennonite
4. I'd have a piece of paper with your name, address, phone number ready to leave with them IF they're receptive to having you. If not, I'd simply say "thanks for considering, perhaps I'll stop in this time next year to say hello"
5. Weave into the conversation your experience level, your intentions, the fact that you know to close gates behind you, will report anything you see that seems out of place, etc. I also tell them that I'll stop in when I arrive, and when I leave. I often leave a note if they're not there when I leave.
6. Since I'm terrible at remembering names, I personally ask for their name...then enter it in my GPS as a way point when I'm leaving. :) Whenever I've asked for a phone number, I always hear back; "aaahh, don't worry about it~come any time!"

Where I hunt, farmers tend to be chatty...so don't be (and don't act) impatient. I've had plenty of hour-long chats in gravel lane ways, trust me! It's no hardship either, and I sit and chat each and every time if I'm able.

Lastly~in the week or two leading up to Christmas, I make a "Santa" run to all the farms I hunt, dropping off a bottle, baked goods from the over-priced bakery in my town (pre-order pies specifically)...that sort of thing. It's a great day that I look forward to, and you'd be surprised at how many more doors this is likely to open for you.

Once you have a farm or two in a given area, "getting" surrounding farms gets way easier. When you introduce yourself, mention that you hunt farms belonging to ___________ and __________, hunt small game, etc. Good luck, and remember~stories about responsible, appreciative hunters spread almost as fast as the stories about the bad guys. From farmers I speak to, they're mostly receptive to hunters unless they have a friend or family member already hunting their property. They resent guys who hunt property without asking, but tend to be very receptive to hunters who ask politely.

I always show up with the right clothes and right attitude, expecting to shovel for 2 straight hours. Because that's what I am willing to trade for a hunting permission.
Most places that have allowed me to hunt for years now, don't require I shovel , but they call during crop season and I give them a few hours of driving tractors to haul the crops back to the farm from the fields.
I also get the odd requests, from shooting Yotes that wander to close to the farm, climbing in silo's to assists with broken unloaders, to shooting a half dead cows.

I always mention pest control as part of my repitoire. Comment on crow control, pigeons in the barn, yotes, etc. One farm I hunt I hunted pests for a full season before getting the nod for deer and turkey

Lots of good advice here. For me, the hardest part is walking up to the door and knocking. Get use to hearing "no we don't like guns" and "no we already have given another guy permission" and "no, we used to let guys hunt but they left gates open, or they brought a friend without asking first, or they .... ". Despite all the "nos" most people are nice about it and the experience isn't bad .... occasionally someone will be nasty but that is very rare.

Twice after being told no, I just accepted it, thanked him and said I understood his position. I stayed around a few minutes and talked about his herd or crops, shared a bit about my childhood in a northern farm community etc, said good bye and as I turned to leave he said "you know what, you seen like a good guy, you can hunt here". Both situations turned into long term relationships because I was interested, respectful and appreciative. I drop in a couple of times a year, between hunting seasons, to visit and have a beer or coffee .... no agenda other than friendship.

Don't forget to ask if they have given other hunter permission if they haven't mentioned it; ...there are more than few old ladies here that tell every guy who knocks they can hunt there.

On opening morning there's no room left to park the truck, let alone sit without have someone if your field of view... 6-12 guys all told they could hunt there. ..LOL...

I just go shake them down tell em I'm a Huntin there, usually while I make my collection rounds kinda like the Mafia.:joker::ninja:

No but really as everyone says be polite, bring your kid if you have one (Looks Good)Chores are usually done between 9 and 2.

Asking for permission is quite frustrating. I had a very unproductive day yesterday. All my permissions are secure, but get getting new permission is a task! Many a people said no!!!!! I also noticed a lot more no trespassing signs in spots that were never posted before. Will be back at it again in the next few days. Good luck to you!

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Originally Posted by Frank16

Asking for permission is quite frustrating. I had a very unproductive day yesterday. All my permissions are secure, but get getting new permission is a task! Many a people said no!!!!! I also noticed a lot more no trespassing signs in spots that were never posted before. Will be back at it again in the next few days. Good luck to you!

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Sorry to hear that. I can't remember the last "no" to be honest. I don't want to assume that it's because of HOW you're asking, but perhaps it's a function of WHERE you're asking...? In my humble opinion, you really have to get WELL out of easy striking range of the Toronto area. Minimum 2 hours before you start reaching farms/farmers with better, more open attitudes towards guns/hunting. Sad, but true. The added bonus being that they also tend to be bigger, nicer, less-pressured spots.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Don't forget to ask if they have given other hunter permission if they haven't mentioned it; ...there are more than few old ladies here that tell every guy who knocks they can hunt there.

On opening morning there's no room left to park the truck, let alone sit without have someone if your field of view... 6-12 guys all told they could hunt there. ..LOL...

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^This is great advice. GREAT advice. I never think to ask this question, but have been caught in the same spot. The farmer told me "just watch out for the other guys". lol I should have asked that question WELL in advance. I politely said I didn't want to put myself at risk OR ruin their hunt.

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Originally Posted by Gregoire1960

Hopefully you're a member of the OFAH. Remember to use the landowner's form from their website: http://www.ofah.org/wp-content/uploa...wnersForm1.pdf and explain that you're covered for $5,000,000 liability coverage as a member. Leave the camo clothing at home & see if they will allow small game as a door opener if they're a bit apprehensive, since most guys are trying to lock up turkey & deer right off the bat. I had luck offering to help mend fences or split firewood as a token of good will. Sometimes offering to share the harvest (cleaned and ready to cook) can help too. Good luck, the hardest part is summoning the courage to walk up the laneway and ask.....

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Only big problem I've found is....anyone that may entertain the idea of allowing you to hunt on there property is once you show them this permission form to sign they become very apprehensive and stand offish to the point they change there minds...had this happen twice
I can only assume there mentality changes with whose held liable in case accidents etc...guess its not worth the risk/headache

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Originally Posted by FISH-ON

Only big problem I've found is....anyone that may entertain the idea of allowing you to hunt on there property is once you show them this permission form to sign they become very apprehensive and stand offish to the point they change there minds...had this happen twice
I can only assume there mentality changes with whose held liable in case accidents etc...guess its not worth the risk/headache

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I agree. Pulling out the permission form changes the whole discussion .... it is no longer a friendly, handshake deal but rather a bit of a legal, documented arrangement. Once verbal permission has been granted, I offer them a piece of paper with my name and phone number and mention that there is an official "form" if they want it .... only once has the form been taken. A handshake works for me, followed up with a couple of drop-in visits in the off season to do nothing but chat. I have spent many enjoyable afternoons sharing a beer or coffee and learning about their life and sharing a bit about mine.

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Originally Posted by FISH-ON

Only big problem I've found is....anyone that may entertain the idea of allowing you to hunt on there property is once you show them this permission form to sign they become very apprehensive and stand offish to the point they change there minds...had this happen twice
I can only assume there mentality changes with whose held liable in case accidents etc...guess its not worth the risk/headache

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I,too,have had that happen and I was caught completely off guard. I quickly reverted back to the friendly conversation and OFAH business card with my name,address and telephone approach,being sure to point out the insurance coverage that comes with membership. Keeping things friendly and informal always seems to work better than bombarding someone with a bunch of legalese. It really puts people off quickly.

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Originally Posted by GrouseWhisperer

Sorry to hear that. I can't remember the last "no" to be honest. I don't want to assume that it's because of HOW you're asking, but perhaps it's a function of WHERE you're asking...? In my humble opinion, you really have to get WELL out of easy striking range of the Toronto area. Minimum 2 hours before you start reaching farms/farmers with better, more open attitudes towards guns/hunting. Sad, but true. The added bonus being that they also tend to be bigger, nicer, less-pressured spots.

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Along these lines, a few years ago , my friend and I were following ducks out of Luther Marsh , when we found where they were dropping into, we found the landowner and asked for permission to hunt that particular field.
His first question was , "where are you from ? next what nationality are you ? and then what do you do for a living ? "
He said that he had problems with people from Toronto and a particular nationality, which he did not want on his land.
We answered his questions, and no we are definitely not from Toronto and about our nationality background, he was well satisfied , gave us permission and told us how to access that field and where to hide our vehicle.
For this we drove to the nearest Beer Store after our hunt, and bought him his favourite libation , and have been back there a couple of times since.

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Originally Posted by jaycee

Along these lines, a few years ago , my friend and I were following ducks out of Luther Marsh , when we found where they were dropping into, we found the landowner and asked for permission to hunt that particular field.
His first question was , "where are you from ? next what nationality are you ? and then what do you do for a living ? "
He said that he had problems with people from Toronto and a particular nationality, which he did not want on his land.
We answered his questions, and no we are definitely not from Toronto and about our nationality background, he was well satisfied , gave us permission and told us how to access that field and where to hide our vehicle.
For this we drove to the nearest Beer Store after our hunt, and bought him his favourite libation , and have been back there a couple of times since.

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LOL basically do the same as you. May have hunted the same farm too.
Just in my case I asked "The problems you had where they from guys that asked for permission? Yup there's a lot of fence jumpers that give all of us a bad name regardless of nationality or residence however If you ask for permission with respect its often given. Unless of course you ask for permission in certain areas and of those from certain nationalities.

I live in farm country so it is a bit easier, but I just go up usually with my son and introduce myself usually I ask if they know so and so and than pop the question. Kinda like getting Married but less stressful. Got some more land last week.

I farm 400 ac. I let family and their friends hunt our acreage. I've received a half eaten bag of pepperettes over the years for a thank you for allowing hunters on our property. I've kept my mouth shut over the years but damn.....all I can add is maybe do more than that lol

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Originally Posted by Jow

I farm 400 ac. I let family and their friends hunt our acreage. I've received a half eaten bag of pepperettes over the years for a thank you for allowing hunters on our property. I've kept my mouth shut over the years but damn.....all I can add is maybe do more than that lol

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Or say it as it is. You would like to charge for using your property rather than out of the generosity of spirit.

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Or say it as it is. You would like to charge for using your property rather than out of the generosity of spirit.

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Na,I have never felt the need to charge a fee for hunting my property. Maybe a bottle of whiskey at Christmas would be just a nice gesture. I know not all would want that.....with out a doubt it's more of a family thing here than anything. Some sort of entitlement maybe....not sure.

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Originally Posted by Jow

Some sort of entitlement maybe....not sure.

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It called a token of appreciation not a payment for a kind gesture. Kids used to be raised to understand that.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

It called a token of appreciation not a payment for a kind gesture. Kids used to be raised to understand that.

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Exactly Mike!! If I go over to my neighbors place and borrow his chisel plow and use it to rip up 50 ac of bean stubble,we take it back washed,greased tire inflation checked etc. In same condition or better than when picked up. And offer to pay the rental on it. Not much diff than someone wanting to use my property. Go above and beyond is the way my dad taught me and the rewards will be returned.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

It called a token of appreciation not a payment for a kind gesture. Kids used to be raised to understand that.

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Be it a card with expressed gratitude or what ever is offered should be accepted as is and not begrudged later on. If you want something specific or more than what was offered than request it at the door before entering. At least that's what I told the Farther after they pasted the plate the third time when donations seemed light.

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Be it a card with expressed gratitude or what ever is offered should be accepted as is and not begrudged later on. If you want something specific or more than what was offered than request it at the door before entering. At least that's what I told the Farther after they pasted the plate the third time when donations seemed light.

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Gonna have to bear with me here fins...I've got my grade 10... Lol What do you mean by pasted the plate? I'm not being a smart asshs here either. Never heard that before...

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Originally Posted by Jow

Gonna have to bear with me here fins...I've got my grade 10... Lol What do you mean by pasted the plate? I'm not being a smart asshs here either. Never heard that before...

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At the end of a Catholic mass the priest passes around a collection plate were the members donate to the poor and less fortunate. Its a give what you can thing. A gift given and warmly received. That day donations guess were light and the priest pass it around three times. Felt less of a generous gift and more like a shake down. Too which I told the Father If my gift is not appreciated the first time offered the next time charge admission before I enter. I might add haven't been back.

While growing up I recall going around with dad after the deer hunt was over. Him and my uncle would take me along to the neighbouring farms delivering a portion of the hunt,along with what I remember,a bottle of whiskey/rum. I also remember other hunting neighbors showing up here at the farm with their tokens of appreciation. It was a huge thing from what I remember. I'm 45 years old now and have taken over the farm. The groups that hunt our property do things different than days gone by. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that a simple thank you isn't enough for some people anymore. Boy have times changed.

Back to to the original posters question. Even something as small as a 25 dollar gift certificate for say Swiss chalet or something along those lines would be so appreciated in my neck of the woods.

and to add. I've never said no to anyone that has asked to hunt our farm. All the deer, turkey yotes, ducks that have been shot on our land...a half eaten bag of pepperettes!!!!! In 18 years of owning the farm. Never had an issue with a hunter either. Just sayin

Well a half eaten bag of pepperettes, just seems insulting.... Lots of ways to gain the landowners respect, that alone won't do it... just saying....