sureshot
The Hunt Never Ends....
I have been following the 'Outfitting' post that was started earlier this week and it sparked me to write this. Hope you enjoy;
As the years have went by most of us have experienced firsthand the changes in success rates of attempting to acquire permission on farms with a simple knock on the door and handshake. What once used to be a simple task, has now turned into a chore for many, and some even think it’s nearly impossible. Although getting permission in quality areas is much tougher in today’s world than 20years ago, it can still be accomplished with a little bit of hard work and preparation.
I am now going to discuss what has worked for me through the years. This is in no way, shape, or form a ‘know it all’ article, or the only way to acquire permission, so please don’t take it that way. I will give you a brief background on the area I hunt and how I have acquired and kept permission in what I feel is some of the best whitetail habitat in the country; I began bow hunting in 1999 when I was 13years old. Times were different then, and the ‘big buck craze’ was in it’s early stages in the areas that I hunted (and most of the state for that matter). Back then, most hunters in Iowa were told ‘yes’ more than they were told ‘no,’ so acquiring permission in good areas really wasn’t too difficult of a task. When I turned 16 (2002) I bought ‘old blue’, a 1987 F150. One day after class I decided to take her for a spin and headed south into what I like to call ‘God’s County.’ Little did I know that my decision to head south was going to have a huge impact on my hunting opportunities. I had no destination in mind, but the further south I went, the more beautiful the country became. Flat fragmented farm fields quickly turned into rolling hills of timber, CRP, and cattle pastures. I crested a hill, looked to my right, and noticed a farmer cutting alfalfa. ‘What the heck,’ I thought to myself. ‘I might as well ask to hunt and see what he says.’ After speaking briefly with the farmer I acquired permission, and was very surprised to find out that he owned approximately 3,000 acres. The first few years were incredible, as I had no shortage of property to hunt, and due to how ‘secluded’ the area was, there was very little pressure. However, around 2004 the farm that I hunted started to be sold off. A 400 here and a 250 there, and it wasn’t too long before I began to realize that I had to find a ‘plan B.’ Within two years (2003-2005), I had lost nearly 2,500acres of amazing deer hunting property, and due to my young age and financial situation, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to purchase my own farm anytime soon. It was time to sink or swim. I could go back north and hunt family/friend farms for mediocre deer, or work my tail off to continue hunting in an area that I knew would continually produce world class deer every year. I chose the latter of the two, and now have permission to hunt more property today than I did back then.
Here is a list of a few of things that I now do to acquire and keep permission in the areas I hunt;
· Start small; Often times, in quality areas, starting small is the way to go. By this, I mean acquiring permission on smaller parcels. One will notice in most well managed areas that there are a large amount of landowners who bought their properties strictly for deer hunting. Look for smaller ‘hidden’ properties that connect to the managed farms. This can be a simple task by just looking at a plat book, and if you plan accordingly, many of these farms can be found before you go ask. You don’t need a 400 acre farm to kill big deer (although it would be nice). On the right 40acres, a hunter who hunts smart can kill a big deer every year.
· Build Relationships; Once you have acquired permission in a well-managed area, build relationships with the neighboring landowners, especially those who bought their farms strictly for deer hunting. This is easier said than done, but should be something that you strive to accomplish. First off, you have to lose the mindset that deer hunting is ‘top secret.’ I know….I know….I’ve heard many people say that they have been ‘burnt’ so they will no longer tell neighbors what they have seen, show them trail cam pictures of bucks on their cameras, or tell them what they have killed, but for me, doing the opposite (being open!) has helped me so much more. Who wouldn’t like to look at trail cam pictures of big deer, or help you drag out the buck you shot? The farm that I have killed my last three bucks on is owned by a hunter, that’s right, a trophy hunter, who bought his farms because he loves to hunt! I first met him, and got to know him, by stopping by his shop and showing him pictures of deer that I had been getting on my trail cameras on the neighboring property. I am now good friends with him, and he lets me hunt a few different properties and introduced me to other landowners in the area, some of which allow me to hunt.
· Offer a helping hand; If you are down in the area you hunt and you see a farmer (even if it’s one you don’t have permission to hunt on) doing a task, offer to assist him. I have helped do everything from load hay, change a tire, fix fence, herd up cattle, mow, shovel a driveway, run trail cameras (for a NR landowner), shed hunt (give all the sheds I find to landowner), drag deer, take harvest pictures, carry in groceries, cut thistles, fix fence, keep an eye on property, take them out to eat, etc. Remember, little things can go a long way. For example, two weekends ago I was checking trail cameras on a farm and drove past an elderly ladies house who lets me bow hunt. It had just snowed the night before, and her porch and vehicle were covered in snow. I stopped by, talked to her for a short while (some people just want someone to talk too), and asked where her snow shovel was. At first, she was confused as to why I wanted to know such a thing, but I told her I was going to shovel off her porch to ‘give back’ for her letting me hunt. After shoveling off her porch and sidewalk, I scraped the ice/snow off the windshield of her truck, and asked if there was anything else that needed done. She asked if I would carry in the 40lb bag of dog food that she had bought a few days before, because it was too heavy for her to carry in. I did, and when I left she told me that I was always welcome back and that I could hunt anytime. Ironically, this was the same woman who had said 'no' to me the prior 6 times that I had asked for permission to hunt (I had finally gotten permission November 20th, after my bow tag was already filled).
· Stay persistent; Just because you are told no once, doesn’t mean no forever. When I am told ‘no,’ I thank them for their time and explain to them that ‘that’s why I ask, and I’ll make sure to stop by next year to see if you’ve changed your mind.’ Just like the elderly lady in the story above, persistence will pay off.
· Ask to hunt a different species; In many well managed areas, the property owner purchased the property solely for deer hunting. I have found throughout the years that in these areas acquiring permission to squirrel, coyote, or turkey hunt (or even fish) is often times a good way to go about initially ‘accessing’ the property. It’s hard for many landowners to just say ‘yes’ to someone that they don’t know when it comes to deer hunting, because that’s what they love to do. However, if you get permission to hunt a different species, and prove to that landowner that you are a good person (ethical, honest, trustworthy, dedicated, smart/safe), you will have a much better chance of getting permission to deer hunt, and even if you never do, you are still getting to know landowners and the area and ‘getting the word out’ that you are a good person.
· Spread the word; It seems that in many of the well managed areas across the state, everyone knows everyone. Landowners talk to each other, so don’t ever do anything that will jeopardize your chances of acquiring or keeping permission in an area. Remember, relationships are tough to build, but can be easily broken.
· What’s the worst they can say?; Don’t be scared to ask, after all, the worse thing they can tell you is ‘no.’
Again, these are a few of the things that have worked for me to acquire and keep permission on the farms that I hunt. It’s not easy, there is no doubt about that, but it’s worth it. Each and every one of us has our own way of going about gaining permission on the farms that we hunt. Some will work, some won’t, however, we have to keep trying. There is no doubt about it, in today’s world getting permission isn’t as easy as it used to be, but try not to let it get you down. If anything, it should make you fight harder. Don’t give up.
To end this I will say one thing; My main intent when asking for permission to hunt was one thing and one thing only; To gain permission! However, the results were more than just that. Instead, I have become a better person, acquired lifelong friendships, and made a pile of good memories that can never be taken away.
Hopefully you will find something in what I've written above that you can use to help acquire permission on a new farm. Also, I'd love to hear anything else that works for you to get permission! :way:
As the years have went by most of us have experienced firsthand the changes in success rates of attempting to acquire permission on farms with a simple knock on the door and handshake. What once used to be a simple task, has now turned into a chore for many, and some even think it’s nearly impossible. Although getting permission in quality areas is much tougher in today’s world than 20years ago, it can still be accomplished with a little bit of hard work and preparation.
I am now going to discuss what has worked for me through the years. This is in no way, shape, or form a ‘know it all’ article, or the only way to acquire permission, so please don’t take it that way. I will give you a brief background on the area I hunt and how I have acquired and kept permission in what I feel is some of the best whitetail habitat in the country; I began bow hunting in 1999 when I was 13years old. Times were different then, and the ‘big buck craze’ was in it’s early stages in the areas that I hunted (and most of the state for that matter). Back then, most hunters in Iowa were told ‘yes’ more than they were told ‘no,’ so acquiring permission in good areas really wasn’t too difficult of a task. When I turned 16 (2002) I bought ‘old blue’, a 1987 F150. One day after class I decided to take her for a spin and headed south into what I like to call ‘God’s County.’ Little did I know that my decision to head south was going to have a huge impact on my hunting opportunities. I had no destination in mind, but the further south I went, the more beautiful the country became. Flat fragmented farm fields quickly turned into rolling hills of timber, CRP, and cattle pastures. I crested a hill, looked to my right, and noticed a farmer cutting alfalfa. ‘What the heck,’ I thought to myself. ‘I might as well ask to hunt and see what he says.’ After speaking briefly with the farmer I acquired permission, and was very surprised to find out that he owned approximately 3,000 acres. The first few years were incredible, as I had no shortage of property to hunt, and due to how ‘secluded’ the area was, there was very little pressure. However, around 2004 the farm that I hunted started to be sold off. A 400 here and a 250 there, and it wasn’t too long before I began to realize that I had to find a ‘plan B.’ Within two years (2003-2005), I had lost nearly 2,500acres of amazing deer hunting property, and due to my young age and financial situation, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to purchase my own farm anytime soon. It was time to sink or swim. I could go back north and hunt family/friend farms for mediocre deer, or work my tail off to continue hunting in an area that I knew would continually produce world class deer every year. I chose the latter of the two, and now have permission to hunt more property today than I did back then.
Here is a list of a few of things that I now do to acquire and keep permission in the areas I hunt;
· Start small; Often times, in quality areas, starting small is the way to go. By this, I mean acquiring permission on smaller parcels. One will notice in most well managed areas that there are a large amount of landowners who bought their properties strictly for deer hunting. Look for smaller ‘hidden’ properties that connect to the managed farms. This can be a simple task by just looking at a plat book, and if you plan accordingly, many of these farms can be found before you go ask. You don’t need a 400 acre farm to kill big deer (although it would be nice). On the right 40acres, a hunter who hunts smart can kill a big deer every year.
· Build Relationships; Once you have acquired permission in a well-managed area, build relationships with the neighboring landowners, especially those who bought their farms strictly for deer hunting. This is easier said than done, but should be something that you strive to accomplish. First off, you have to lose the mindset that deer hunting is ‘top secret.’ I know….I know….I’ve heard many people say that they have been ‘burnt’ so they will no longer tell neighbors what they have seen, show them trail cam pictures of bucks on their cameras, or tell them what they have killed, but for me, doing the opposite (being open!) has helped me so much more. Who wouldn’t like to look at trail cam pictures of big deer, or help you drag out the buck you shot? The farm that I have killed my last three bucks on is owned by a hunter, that’s right, a trophy hunter, who bought his farms because he loves to hunt! I first met him, and got to know him, by stopping by his shop and showing him pictures of deer that I had been getting on my trail cameras on the neighboring property. I am now good friends with him, and he lets me hunt a few different properties and introduced me to other landowners in the area, some of which allow me to hunt.
· Offer a helping hand; If you are down in the area you hunt and you see a farmer (even if it’s one you don’t have permission to hunt on) doing a task, offer to assist him. I have helped do everything from load hay, change a tire, fix fence, herd up cattle, mow, shovel a driveway, run trail cameras (for a NR landowner), shed hunt (give all the sheds I find to landowner), drag deer, take harvest pictures, carry in groceries, cut thistles, fix fence, keep an eye on property, take them out to eat, etc. Remember, little things can go a long way. For example, two weekends ago I was checking trail cameras on a farm and drove past an elderly ladies house who lets me bow hunt. It had just snowed the night before, and her porch and vehicle were covered in snow. I stopped by, talked to her for a short while (some people just want someone to talk too), and asked where her snow shovel was. At first, she was confused as to why I wanted to know such a thing, but I told her I was going to shovel off her porch to ‘give back’ for her letting me hunt. After shoveling off her porch and sidewalk, I scraped the ice/snow off the windshield of her truck, and asked if there was anything else that needed done. She asked if I would carry in the 40lb bag of dog food that she had bought a few days before, because it was too heavy for her to carry in. I did, and when I left she told me that I was always welcome back and that I could hunt anytime. Ironically, this was the same woman who had said 'no' to me the prior 6 times that I had asked for permission to hunt (I had finally gotten permission November 20th, after my bow tag was already filled).
· Stay persistent; Just because you are told no once, doesn’t mean no forever. When I am told ‘no,’ I thank them for their time and explain to them that ‘that’s why I ask, and I’ll make sure to stop by next year to see if you’ve changed your mind.’ Just like the elderly lady in the story above, persistence will pay off.
· Ask to hunt a different species; In many well managed areas, the property owner purchased the property solely for deer hunting. I have found throughout the years that in these areas acquiring permission to squirrel, coyote, or turkey hunt (or even fish) is often times a good way to go about initially ‘accessing’ the property. It’s hard for many landowners to just say ‘yes’ to someone that they don’t know when it comes to deer hunting, because that’s what they love to do. However, if you get permission to hunt a different species, and prove to that landowner that you are a good person (ethical, honest, trustworthy, dedicated, smart/safe), you will have a much better chance of getting permission to deer hunt, and even if you never do, you are still getting to know landowners and the area and ‘getting the word out’ that you are a good person.
· Spread the word; It seems that in many of the well managed areas across the state, everyone knows everyone. Landowners talk to each other, so don’t ever do anything that will jeopardize your chances of acquiring or keeping permission in an area. Remember, relationships are tough to build, but can be easily broken.
· What’s the worst they can say?; Don’t be scared to ask, after all, the worse thing they can tell you is ‘no.’
Again, these are a few of the things that have worked for me to acquire and keep permission on the farms that I hunt. It’s not easy, there is no doubt about that, but it’s worth it. Each and every one of us has our own way of going about gaining permission on the farms that we hunt. Some will work, some won’t, however, we have to keep trying. There is no doubt about it, in today’s world getting permission isn’t as easy as it used to be, but try not to let it get you down. If anything, it should make you fight harder. Don’t give up.
To end this I will say one thing; My main intent when asking for permission to hunt was one thing and one thing only; To gain permission! However, the results were more than just that. Instead, I have become a better person, acquired lifelong friendships, and made a pile of good memories that can never be taken away.
Hopefully you will find something in what I've written above that you can use to help acquire permission on a new farm. Also, I'd love to hear anything else that works for you to get permission! :way:
:grin: But it is disarming to have your kids or wife/GF there.
