Permissions on private

[mschultz373]

How many of you have had or are asking permission to hunt or cross private this upcoming season?

I’m about to mail off four letters today asking for permission to cross private land in order to back door public that isnt accessible otherwise. this will be the first time I’ve ever done this, and it took a little bit of research to select what I felt were high-probability pieces. (I choose two parcels that have out of state landowners and no living structures on them, for example) I made sure to clarify I was not asking for permission to hunt those parcels (which I would like, but figured the easier ask was simply to cross), that I am open to only bowhunting when using those parcels to access public, and that I will leave no trace/not field dress any game on their property.

While I have fairly high hopes, I won’t be too surprised if I get no replies…

What experiences have you guys had in the past asking permission to hunt on private? What work when approaching landowners and what didn’t?

 

[NMSbowhunter]

It's a numbers game for the most part. You will probably have a low response rate with letters. That is not meant to dissuade you from trying. One idea that could help will be to offer to help keep an eye out for unauthorized use if they grant you permission. Also, you could offer to take some photos of the property and email them to the owners if they would like that. Many out of state landowners may never have set foot on the property before or have not been there in many years. I would also follow up the first set of letters with a second round in about a month.

Also, depending on the size of the tracts and your budget you might offer to lease the hunting rights to the property. If they are agreeable, ask for written permission to go look at the property. If you do, take some pictures and offer to send them the photos. Don't abuse this though. If they let you go look, do it one time and then call or email them. In all cases, be polite and professional. Even if they don't give you permission today, they could call you up out of the blue a year or two from now and change their mind.

 

[elk yinzer]

Working on their properties in exchange for access has worked well for me in the past. And being generous with gifts and sharing the harvest if they are interested. Back when I lived in the city I had a few decent properties in the outer suburbs where this worked. People are always looking for free/cheap good help, and it started with some aquaintances and word kinda spread and I had a few decent farms eventually.

I also had some luck just knocking on rando doors, but those properties tended to all have lots of other guys, usually more than public, and those properties seemed to dispproportionately attract drama llamas wanting to create these situations in their heads to gain exclusive access. I don't do drama, as much as I hate to let those turds win, efff that.

I tried a letter campaign once, I think I did about 4-5 dozen and got zero responses. Not even a no, not a yes, just no responses. So good luck with that. These were small urban properties most 10 ac or less. I know some of the youtubers make the urban game look easy, but I really, really struggled gaining legal access to those.

Several years ago I moved to a more rural area with lots of public land and I'm content with the public deer hunting, but the public turkey hunting sucks. I'm getting back into gaining access for that. In the interim I also started doing some habitat work in the woods as a side job (which started years ago helping LOs for access), but now I don't like to cross pollinate clients with hunting properties, I'd rather have the straight cash.

 

[mschultz373]

You will probably have a low response rate with letters.

is there another method that may be more effective, particularly for absentee landowners? obviously knocking on doors with them isn't possible. I dont remember seeing a phone # or email associated with their information via the county assessor information. I figured in those cases, letter was the only option.

 

[BTaylor]

is there another method that may be more effective, particularly for absentee landowners? obviously knocking on doors with them isn't possible. I dont remember seeing a phone # or email associated with their information via the county assessor information. I figured in those cases, letter was the only option.

I think you are on the right course with the absentee folks like @NMSbowhunter mentioned be prepared to send a follow up letter in 4-6 weeks. I might include a self addressed and stamped envelope for them to send a reply as well.

 

[elk yinzer]

is there another method that may be more effective, particularly for absentee landowners? obviously knocking on doors with them isn't possible. I dont remember seeing a phone # or email associated with their information via the county assessor information. I figured in those cases, letter was the only option.

A lot of absentee LOs (the investor types) have a local that watches out for the place and hunts there. Either finding that person or becoming that person are my suggestions. People have this perception tough that the grass is greener on private, honestly even around here, most of it gets hunted pretty hard one way or another. The locals know who the absentees are.

 

[gcr0003]

I think i may have dyslexia because I definitely read the title as persimmons on private.

 

[krub6b]

I think i may have dyslexia because I definitely read the title as persimmons on private.

Same

The SASE is a solid idea for your follow up letter in 4-6 weeks

 

[mschultz373]

A lot of absentee LOs (the investor types) have a local that watches out for the place and hunts there. Either finding that person or becoming that person are my suggestions. People have this perception tough that the grass is greener on private, honestly even around here, most of it gets hunted pretty hard one way or another. The locals know who the absentees are.

i suspect this is probably the truth down here, too. everybody and their brother, and their mommas, and their sisters, and their kids and nieces... they all hunt.

but the backdoor to public thing would be a boon to get a foot into some of the 26k acre tracts that are pretty inaccessible otherwise.

 

[Exhumis]

I do this every year as where I live parcels are constantly changing hands. I have a template I use that I change to suit the parcel whether it’s directly to the owner, a law firm, etc. I usually include a bit about my self that can be found on my linked in profile and a bit about how long I’ve lived in the area. I offer exchange for services or offer to lease. I usually have about a 40% response success rate with a 5% permission to hunt success rate. The answers I typically get are the parcel is already hunted, only family is allowed, the parcel is leased or no one is allowed to hunt. Of the ones I’ve been granted permission to hunt I’ve been told I was granted permission because I sent a respectful letter and didn’t blast them at home, exchange for assistance(usually predator control) because I am a veteran or due to being a govt employee. I’ve also been referred by letter recipients to other folks with parcels. Your success may vary based on where you live but in northern Virginia folks very much do not like people approaching them at home.
As far as getting permission to cross the property I’ve had about 90% success with that, usually it farms that won’t allow access because they’re worried someone will leave a gate open or the parcel is being hunted and they don’t want someone hurt. Can’t fault them for that.

 

[mschultz373]

Your success may vary based on where you live but in northern Virginia folks very much do not like people approaching them at home.

does that include letters written to home addresses or do you mean knocking on doors?

 

[Dmathews87]

Your success may vary based on where you live but in northern Virginia folks very much do not like people approaching them at home.

I havent sought out permission personally but i know folks around here generally dont like random people showing up at their house either so im not sure i would go that route without first establishing contact either with the letter route or email. too many bad apples have ruined the friendly neighbor thing and people ae going to think you're there casing the place or just generally up to no good and down south you know they strapped lol

 

[Exhumis]

does that include letters written to home addresses or do you mean knocking on doors?

My bust I didn’t word that very well, success in knocking on doors. I know some of the big names in hunting industry with tv shows advocate knocking on doors and I tried that at first being the country, hand shaking guy that I am but man I learned really quickly people here do not like that one bit, plus there’s always no trespassing signs posted.
I’ve had many people email or call me in response to my letter thanking me for not cold knocking and saying if they were to grant permission it would be to me. I had one fella call me three years after receiving my letter granting me permission. So you never know.

 

[BTaylor]

I think i may have dyslexia because I definitely read the title as persimmons on private.

Me too

 

[Dmathews87]

forget to mention....one year i made a post on my facebook that just basically said hey if anyone that can see this has property or know someone that has property and would be willing to let me hunt let me know. I did have somebody that was friends with my wife reach out saying someone they knew probably would let me....in the end it didnt work out but thats something kinda off the wall that might work...

 

[Glenn]

I'd add in that you are willing to get your own liability policy. That's the biggest thing around here is fear of being set up for litigation should you get hurt accessing/using/crossing their property. Even if you aren't hunting and just crossing it I'd still offer to get a policy in place to protect them and show good faith. Policies are cheap.

 

[Glenn]

Another pro tip.

If you have a kid, send the letter asking permission to take your kid small game hunting after deer season is over. Don't mention squat about deer, deer hunting. Just squirrels and the occasional opportunistic rabbit. And it's for your kid. If they say yes, send 'em a gift and a picture of your kid with a squirrel or two and the finished cooked product as a thank you. More times than not the permissions will fly open and you'll eventually get the whole place, deer rights and all, if you act right.

 

[Andrew920]

I’ve had some success with knocking on doors. Absolutely zero success with mailing letters. To be fair though the area I hunt has an overpopulation of deer and most of the people get irritated after they hit one or two with their car and watch their landscaping get bulldozed. The area that I get permissions is a suburb too. Not very many hunters.

Also, don’t sleep on areas that they’re putting in houses that used to be private acreage. I have established a good relationship with a construction company and they buy farm fields of around 100 acres to throw neighborhoods in. I have permission for 2 of their areas. They usually let their workers hunt there too, so I avoid weekends and am respectful.

I think it’s harder in more rural areas.