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Getting Permission

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Great time of the year to have this thread at the top of the page. Probably a bit late as season is nearly in, but it is better late than never.

One thing many don't consider is the importance of keeping existing property owners happy. I just spent an hour visiting with the owner of a property I hunt. Got my slip signed again. It was just a matter of going thru the motions, but it is now official. Permission slip signed or not, I enjoyed the heck out of the time spent visiting. We chat off and on. I send him pictures of deer. He gets a kick out of it. I help him when I can on projects. I think it is equally as important to keep the relationship with existing owners as it is trying to secure new properties. Even if they changed their minds about allowing hunting, I would remain in contact with them. In the busy world we live in, an old fashioned face to face conversation goes a long way. Shooting some groundhogs or just keeping an eye on a large property is appreciated by the owners. Taking the time to sit down and converse with them seems to be appreciated more.
 

OO2

Well-Known Member
2,566
111
In the Uplands
This year I would like to try to get a new property or two to hunt on. I am very fortunate and very grateful to have what I do now but I would like to have some options. Would you recommend sending stuff out now or giving it some time since season is winding down? I have sent out probably 12 letters about myself asking about permission and have only got 2 calls back. Both nearby neighbors that recognize name and call for courtesy I believe.i What do you all look for when eyeing potential prospect properties? I've scavenged auditors website and google earth.
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
I have Onx hunt maps. I've used it to gain shed hunting permission. What I do when I gain shed hunting permission is give it a year. The following year I'll either ask for deer or turkey permission, depending on the circumstances. But going that route got one big ass turkey killed last spring, I found turkey scratching while shed hunting and got permission. Asking to trap yotes first also works. Basically your developing a relationship with the landowner before you go balls out and ask to deer hunt.
 

OO2

Well-Known Member
2,566
111
In the Uplands
Hm that's an interesting point. Not very many people trust a college kid. I don't mind having to work for it. How do you go about asking for yote permission and such?
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
This year I would like to try to get a new property or two to hunt on. I am very fortunate and very grateful to have what I do now but I would like to have some options. Would you recommend sending stuff out now or giving it some time since season is winding down? I have sent out probably 12 letters about myself asking about permission and have only got 2 calls back. Both nearby neighbors that recognize name and call for courtesy I believe.i What do you all look for when eyeing potential prospect properties? I've scavenged auditors website and google earth.

Try offering help for a while. Every property I hunt has been offered to me. This has happened after offering my labor and conversation of hunting has come up. Just be honest with your labor worth...of all you can offer is grass mowing, don't offer to run a bush hog. Farmers will always take extra hands, just don't be a bad one and the rest will follow.

Trapping can be a touchy subject...plenty of shit trappers have done some bad things. Farm dogs often roam free in my area.

If asking for permission, single day permission seems to work better then seasonal. Once granted a full season, keep in contact the the owner. Personally, I let every farmer know a day in advance what my plans are. A couple of them tell me not to, but I still do. I would want to know if someone was coming to my place tomorrow, so I extend the same.

Just use your brain...how would you like some lazy punk kid knocking on your door asking for a favor? It's also amazing how far a cold water will go on a summer day... Treat them like family and they will often do the same. There's not a lot of good people left in today's world, but there's enough.

Also, don't show up when they are planting or harvesting! Odds are, that dude just had something break and it cost them money. Farmers HATE spending money! Kinda like asking someone to borrow their truck after they just put a new trans in it...that probably isn't going to work out. Lol
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Hm that's an interesting point. Not very many people trust a college kid. I don't mind having to work for it. How do you go about asking for yote permission and such?
I just introduce myself and flat out ask if I could have permission to trap coyotes, or shed hunt.
 

OO2

Well-Known Member
2,566
111
In the Uplands
Very good info guys thanks for the advice! Giles how do you find places to offer a hand? Not many operating farms near me. Most are leased to farmers. Would have to go out of P-town.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Use your brain...you'll find them. They are the ones with the barn doors open in the summer. Maybe add a power washer to your landscape trailer...cough cough... Dewalt makes a pretty good gas powered one that's 3,400 psi. That's enough power to knock the dirt off implement paint.
 

Joel

Senior Member
3,049
113
Centerburg, Ohio
I need to pick up a new property or two. I have one that's 30 plus acres of woods but I have to share it with two guys that are sloppy hunters and run everything off. Another is my back yard, permission to shoot in the neighbors woods. It's like 2 acres and I've shot a few back there but this year was unproductive. Another is only 3 acres of woods. I shot 2 there this year and there's lots around but it seems like cold weather and corn is the only way to get a shot at one there.

The other spot was in another county where I shot my buck 2 years ago. If anyone remembers that's where I was going to give the landowner a euro mount of the buck I shot there. I couldn't get ahold of him for a few days, got worried and went to check on him. Ended up calling the sheriffs office when he didn't answer the door but his car was there and they told me he died Christmas Eve.
 

OO2

Well-Known Member
2,566
111
In the Uplands
Hmm maybe some upkeep of landowners property/landscape would develop trust and foot in door. My ability to connect and hold a conversation with people much older than myself is a strong suit of mine I believe. Just hard to get to that point with letter.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Don't give your services away by any means. You still have a business to run at the end of the day. Just throwing out some food for thought here.
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Try offering help for a while. Every property I hunt has been offered to me. This has happened after offering my labor and conversation of hunting has come up. Just be honest with your labor worth...of all you can offer is grass mowing, don't offer to run a bush hog. Farmers will always take extra hands, just don't be a bad one and the rest will follow.

Trapping can be a touchy subject...plenty of shit trappers have done some bad things. Farm dogs often roam free in my area.

If asking for permission, single day permission seems to work better then seasonal. Once granted a full season, keep in contact the the owner. Personally, I let every farmer know a day in advance what my plans are. A couple of them tell me not to, but I still do. I would want to know if someone was coming to my place tomorrow, so I extend the same.

Just use your brain...how would you like some lazy punk kid knocking on your door asking for a favor? It's also amazing how far a cold water will go on a summer day... Treat them like family and they will often do the same. There's not a lot of good people left in today's world, but there's enough.

Also, don't show up when they are planting or harvesting! Odds are, that dude just had something break and it cost them money. Farmers HATE spending money! Kinda like asking someone to borrow their truck after they just put a new trans in it...that probably isn't going to work out. Lol
Same could be said about deer hunters, Dave. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think there's deer hunters that have done a lot worse.
 

OO2

Well-Known Member
2,566
111
In the Uplands
Yeah I know what you mean Chad. I was given that reputation because other guys that hunted same land I do wounded deer. I got the blame. Now it's just me and no wounded deer and I dropped second deer I've ever shot 30 yards from my stand. Reputation has hopefully been changing.