BobCo19-65

It's not too early. Ask if there is anything he could use your help with. If you have any special skill (ie welding etc.), offer your skills to help. I welded/repaired a farmers cutting deck on his lawn mower and we are friends for life. I helped another with reparing a drainage to a pond, and same thing. Don't be strangers if you do get permission. I've seen a lot of guys that just show up when the season starts, and people do not always appreciate it. Offer venision also.

From the other side, I had two guys post my land (something that I just couldn't get to for a few years). I was very happy with the offer, and they now have permission to gun hunt my land.

dogdr

Heres another twist to the topic. I am a veterinarian, and so i definitely have some skills to offer landowners in exchange for permission to hunt. However, I am just an associate at the clinic and not a partner. SO, I guess I feel like if i offer my time for free working cattle, vaccinating horses, hogs, whatever, I am taking money out of my bosses pocket. If I was a partner in the clinic I would have no hesitation at all, but my working time, truck, supplies, equipment is not mine- its my bosses. Right??? What do you guys think??

silentassassin

dogdr,

I see where you are coming from there. It sounds like you are in anenviable position though as you will be a partner one day. I would offer my services and offer to help them with anything that I could without using the bosses equipment. I would tell them if they could the medicine then I would give shots etc. and I would tell them if they ever need you to come look at a cow or horse or help with a delivery etc. that you would be happy to help. I would definetly try to benefit from the position though.

shhhh

I have made up a hunting resume'. I send it to farmers/landowners before I even
knock on the door. The resume' is professional and printed off a computer so it looks great. It is cheap to produce also.
Tell the person you are seeking permission , the highlighs about who you are.
Keep it to one page like a job resume'. Tell them your name, address, age, family info.,
contact phone #'s, including a cell phone if you have one. Give the highlighs of your hunting background and stress you are safe and ethical. I also include 2 copies of the liability permission slips for them to sign. (Ohio)
I also stress to them that no other person will hunt the property unless they are with me at the time. They like to hear this. Then they know you are not telling all your buddies it is o.k. to go there. If I am bringing a friend, I call and leave a message with the landowner each time letting them know who is with me.
This is all mostly common sense but it works. Hope it helps.

dkeener

Bounce the question off your partner's first. I would imagine they would say "go for it".

3 Shot

Great replies from all...

IL Rancher: That is some great unput from a farmers aspect, it is nice to know just what is the best way to ask someone. I have done it the past 2yrs with 100% success, and it does work, but you have to be ready for NO's, otherwise it is not made for you. Question though, this year I could not find those Permission/Liability Sheets, the year before I printed them off of the DNR website, but I could not find them this year. Do you know where I can find those?

Thanks

IL Rancher

I used to have it on my computer but I can't find it. Maybe, and this is just a guess, DNR pulled it becasue of the new liability regulations in Illinois. That is just a wild guess. I know the landowners around here were ticked off about it and I read an article in an Illinois farm journal but.... Again, just guessing.

neck4752

I live in Northeast Massachusetts, and there are'nt many farms here! But I do drive through one and had a big ol buck run in front of my Dad's car. I would like to ask this landowner for permission to hunt his farm.
Would it be nice of me to write a formal letter? Asking him if he needs the deer herd thinned? Or should I show up at his door? What do I say to whom ever answers the door. Hi im Jim where is the landowner? Thanks

Jim

jones123

Thanks IL Rancher. Good post, I am saving it.

I also am very timid about asking. I'm a purty aggressive individual, but not when it comes to blatantly asking for favors that I don't have a way to return, and access is a BIG favor. I don't know how many times a year these owners get bothered. It is easy to ask someone who I helped with something or who are acquaintances of friends, but not cold calls.

What I have found, however, once I get in, is that the smallest of thank you's seem to go a long way. I'll bet a lot of people don't bother. My sons make up thank you cards on the computer with their trophy photo on the front, and maybe a Christmas wreath or cookies or sausage from the deer, and it makes a big impression. If they don't get deer on the guy's property - hell with him. No, just kidding. Those people get thank you's, too.

It's much easier to ask for your kids than for yourself. Unless owners are anti hunters, they seem to love helping kids. I also tell owners that we pride ourselves in being respectful hunters. For all the owner knows, I could be lying, but just saying it lets him know I understand.

The other gift owners really appreciate is a bag of trash you collected from their property. I was camping with my sons two years ago in summer near a fence on state land. We're scouts; we always pick up more trash than we bring in. The bordering rancher watched us, then drove up on his 4x4, and told us we could camp on his land any time. My bold son says, "Can we hunt it, too?" He got a chuckle out of my son. We now have full rights on his posted land. Lucky day.

Wanted to add - thanks for all the posts, not just IL. All very useful.

BobCo19-65

That's still perfect. Let him know of what you do, and if he ever needs an opinion or there is an emergency to call you.