Asking for permission to hunt

I'm in the process of using geoOttawa to virtually scout land/farms so that I can go knock on doors to ask permission for hunting.

How do you introduce/break the ice with a land owner to ask permission?

Is it as simple as " Hi, I'm Rob and I was wondering if you have anyone that hunts your land or would be interested in having someone hunt?"

Should I drop a note in their mailbox and hope that someone gets back to me? Does bringing my son along increase my chances of having a conversation as opposed to a door being closed in my face?

Rob

The first guy I let hunt here on my farm, I called after seeing his ad (request) on the bulletin board at the grocery store. Worked out great.

I might suggest you start by asking if they have anyone removing coyotes from the fields. It's a big problem for farmers and not to many guys hunt them. See if that opens any doors and then build on that for more access once you have gained his trust.

Posting an ad is a great idea. I think the local grocery store and home hardware have bulletin boards so I'll do something up for them.

I haven't been too interested in hunting coyotes but if it gets my foot in the door then I can do that too.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

The first guy I let hunt here on my farm, I called after seeing his ad (request) on the bulletin board at the grocery store. Worked out great.

I might suggest you start by asking if they have anyone removing coyotes from the fields. It's a big problem for farmers and not to many guys hunt them. See if that opens any doors and then build on that for more access once you have gained his trust.

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This.......I wouldn’t be too keen on responding to a notice like that if I were a landowner. Like Mike says, start out looking to clean up some coyotes. Landowners around here are very receptive to yote hunting. Build on that relationship. Taking your young son certainly won’t hurt.

I usually just drive up and ask. I introduce myself and try my best to name drop "Beautiful spot you have here. I was talking to john farmer a couple miles over, he said he didn't know whether anyone hunted your property". If you get a "no", ask about the neighbourhood, if he/she knows any farmers that might be open to you hunting. Sometimes they'll tell you "so-and-so lets everyone in" or "you could try next door at the Jones's".

That way when you drive down the next laneway, you can say "Are you Mr. Jones? I was just talking to Mrs. Soandso and she said you might be willing to let a new hunter in on your property".

I do my best on recognizance to know whose door I'm knocking on but sometimes you just have to just wing it. These days I'm only asking for waterfowl in neighbourhoods I've hunted before so my success isn't terrible (I always specify I'm asking to hunt the field once or just for the season etc. so that they know I won't show up for the next 20 years without talking to them).

My best deer spot was a location where I asked the farmer every year for 5 years. On year 5 he says "and what do you want this time" I say I'm still looking to hunt that property and he says "oh yeah, the guy that hunted it died... come drive tractor for me this weekend and you can hunt it"

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

This.......I wouldn’t be too keen on responding to a notice like that if I were a landowner..

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He was away from home , last year at college and was then hired on with he RCMP...figured he was OK :)

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Originally Posted by MikePal

He was away from home , last year at college and was then hired on with he RCMP...figured he was OK :)

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Yea, I would say so !! When I get talking with various landowners, you hear some real horror stories of guys basically disrespecting the land. It happens every year here with guys gaining access to the lake to ice fish, then leave tons of garbage laying around. No wonder landowners are reluctant to give permission. My advice would be to treat the property better than if it was yours!!!

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Originally Posted by Ottawa_Rob

I'm in the process of using geoOttawa to virtually scout land/farms so that I can go knock on doors to ask permission for hunting.

How do you introduce/break the ice with a land owner to ask permission?

Is it as simple as " Hi, I'm Rob and I was wondering if you have anyone that hunts your land or would be interested in having someone hunt?"

Should I drop a note in their mailbox and hope that someone gets back to me? Does bringing my son along increase my chances of having a conversation as opposed to a door being closed in my face?

Rob

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Just be honest and up front from the get-go without the "smoke-blowin' ". People can spot a phony from a mile away with predictable results. I have business cards printed with my name,address, phone number and OFAH,CCFR and NRA affiliation listed. Even if they say "no thanks" leave the card with them in case they have a change of heart.

I generally just go ask. But the question is what time of the day. Since most of the land around me belongs to Dairy farm I generally go in the afternoon just before or after milking or I look to see if someone is around. Over the years I just got a feel for it. If you see them unloading straw or hay don't be afraid to get dirty and give a hand. Yeah and don't show up in a suit and tie, you will just look real silly. No how to talk the talk with a farmer. Some if it just comes naturally for me. I probably look more like a red neck than a computer programmer at least that's what they say at work. :)

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

Just be honest and up front from the get-go without the "smoke-blowin' ". People can spot a phony from a mile away with predictable results. I have business cards printed with my name,address, phone number and OFAH,CCFR and NRA affiliation listed. Even if they say "no thanks" leave the card with them in case they have a change of heart.

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Being a rural land owner myself, I agree with the comment above. Be honest, don’t be in a hurry, b3 polite and dress neatly but not in hunting gear. Mentioning that you have liability insurance as a member of OFAH can help. Having a business card is a great idea. When asking permission try to think of this as a long term relationship. Once permission is granted, make sure you ask how and when you can access their property. It’s also a good idea to find out if they want to be contacted before you hunt.
I regularly stop and talk to the owners of my one Waterfowl hunting spot, pretty much every time I hunt there. I also give them cards that I have made from photos of birds etc that I took on their property. Offering to put up nesting boxes for Wood Ducks is also well received.
Be open, honest and never go to the front door of old farm houses.

I have 3 great properties that I have hunted for over 10 years now.

I go and see or call the owners in late Aug every year. I bring them gift cards & meat treats to show my appreciation.

This year I almost lost my best spot. The farmer was afraid I would injured by dead falling ash trees. :(We compromised & I can still hunt it as long as I hunt the field edges only. :)

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Originally Posted by JMatthews

never go to the front door of old farm houses.

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Where should I go if not the front door?

Thanks for all the input. I'll be knocking on doors and putting up some posters in the next week so I'll let you know how it goes.

With older rural houses, the front door is rarely used. Typically you enter from a side door and this often leads to either an enclosed porch or the country kitchen. The other thing to remember is to be genuine.

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Originally Posted by JMatthews

With older rural houses, the front door is rarely used. Typically you enter from a side door and this often leads to either an enclosed porch or the country kitchen. The other thing to remember is to be genuine.

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ok, I thought you meant go to the barn or something. I always look to see where the pathways are and where cars are parked. Growing up in Newfoundland lots of front doors went to living rooms.

Sure wish Parcel delivery people knew to go to the side door. Had a Pizza Guy walk through 4 feet of snow and jump up my unfinished deck that had no stairs and known to deliver the Pizza.

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Originally Posted by JMatthews

With older rural houses, the front door is rarely used. Typically you enter from a side door and this often leads to either an enclosed porch or the country kitchen. The other thing to remember is to be genuine.

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So, I've been knocking on doors and think I have found one place with an older farmer who has given people permission before.

Also, I posted an ad to kijiji a couple weeks ago and got a reply last night from a guy who has coyotes coming right into his backyard. He's within Ottawa but discharge is permitted, so I'm talking with him about going out for a look.

Make sure you get permission from the land owner, not the renter. Get it in writing,signed, two copies. Make sure no other hunters have been given permission to hunt their property. Some landowners are now charging a fee to hunt their property. It's the thinking " what's in it for me ? " . If you are hunting in a County where hunting
is popular, most properties are locked up. Coyote hunting is popular now so getting permission isn't as easy as it use to be. Good Luck.

Usually in the Ottawa area it's not to hard to find land, very rarely is it locked up and very rarely do farms charge, they do want someone who is honest and a down to earth person.

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Originally Posted by tracer

Make sure you get permission from the land owner, not the renter. Get it in writing,signed, two copies. Make sure no other hunters have been given permission to hunt their property. Some landowners are now charging a fee to hunt their property. It's the thinking " what's in it for me ? " . If you are hunting in a County where hunting
is popular, most properties are locked up. Coyote hunting is popular now so getting permission isn't as easy as it use to be. Good Luck.

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For me, it's a quick introduction and I cut right to the chase. If I know neighbours, I try to name drop if I can when asking.

Before both the turkey and waterfowl seasons I take a few days and stop in and see every landowner to confirm permission and just to show my face. I turkey/waterfowl hunt on over 40 private properties, so I find it important to map these properties out and keep records of landowner names as to not get confused with who owns what.

-Nick