asking permission?

[Axis II]

Up until a few years ago i always hunted public land because i hated bothering people for permission. I always though of it as being rude to knock on someone's door and ask to use their land for my own gain until i met a friend who has over 10 large hunting parcels that he asked permission for. I have gotten slips signed the last few years and the landowners are always polite when i ask but this year i landed 2 large farms for the first time and want to go shoot woodchucks and do some scouting but i have to say I'm a little nervous about doing so. I don't know what it is but i cant shake this odd feeling. I have slips and spoke with the landowners for awhile but just feel odd going there without my buddy who was with me when we got the slips signed. the other farms ive had for a few years im okay with going there cause i feel they know me by now.

any of you guys get this way?

 

[horsey300]

Up until a few years ago i always hunted public land because i hated bothering people for permission. I always though of it as being rude to knock on someone's door and ask to use their land for my own gain until i met a friend who has over 10 large hunting parcels that he asked permission for. I have gotten slips signed the last few years and the landowners are always polite when i ask but this year i landed 2 large farms for the first time and want to go shoot woodchucks and do some scouting but i have to say I'm a little nervous about doing so. I don't know what it is but i cant shake this odd feeling. I have slips and spoke with the landowners for awhile but just feel odd going there without my buddy who was with me when we got the slips signed. the other farms ive had for a few years im okay with going there cause i feel they know me by now.

any of you guys get this way?

I would suggest that maybe asking the landowner spare some time on a rainy day or evening etc, to give me a quick tour of where exactly they're OK with me shooting to and from, and what the best routes are to such positions. We often do this for hunters on our lands and I think both parties come out ok with the arrangement. In this manner, I know you know exactly where I don't want you, I know you know which areas will require more care to avoid injuring my livestock, I know you know which paths will impact my ground the least, and it gives both of us a brief chance to get better acquainted with each other and formulate better expectations of the agreement.
During said tour, ask as many questions as needed. If I say don't shoot west from hill A, go ahead and (politely) ask what's west of hill A if I don't specify why. If I show you a good place to shoot from hill B, but you might want to try hill C 150 yds nw of B, just ask. This gives you a good idea of what kinda person I am, and shows me that you're courteous and at LEAST half attentative to details and your surroundings. I hope this helps.

 

[BigBore44]

No, I don't. If I get permission. I have permission. But I always call or text a few days before and ask permission again just in case the land owner has something going on and it's not a good time for them. I'm at there mercy and convenience and try to accommodate them first. Then when I get permission again, and everything is good to go, I'll give them a time I'll be there and what I will be driving. I'll also ask if anyone else has permission to be there. If not, and I see someone, I'll immediately report them to the landowner.

They obviously have put faith in you to give you permission to their property without payment. That says a lot about you. And it means a lot to the land owner to have your courtesy for their wants/needs put ahead of your hunting.

 

[Patocazador]

To Ohi Hunter:
I feel the same way you did. "Hi, I'm Joe Nobody and want a handout, Uh, I mean shoot the animals on your land, Uh, I mean get your permission to sponge off you."
The feeling is the same as if I'm selling encyclopedias door-to-door. The land owner pays taxes and has taken care of the land so it has game. Otherwise you wouldn't want to hunt there.

Leasing the land to hunt on would be paying the owner something for the intrusion. And there are going to be those that say, "Give him some of the game", or "Do chores in the off season." Unless a person has experience in working a farm, he is going to be more of a nuisance than not. It may show the owner that you're a good guy but he'd probably rather you don't help. He also can shoot any game he wants without your help.

These situations go through my head every time I think about asking permission. I almost always am too embarrassed to try but have asked a couple of people that I got to know in advance and it worked out well..

 

[Sav .250]

Unless your joined at the hip with your buddy, go !

 

[Axis II]

Unless your joined at the hip with your buddy, go !

its not that i just feel odd because he pretty much introduced me to these people so they know him and his truck. I only had one a few years ago say i had to be with my buddy to come out.

 

[Sunray]

You don't do sales either? Worse thing a land owner can say is no. There are some rules that can change a bit according to where you are, but basically its: No firearms with you. Do not go on Sunday or at meal times. No camouflage clothing. Be polite and if the guy(who is extremely busy this time of year.) or more likely his wife during planting time, says no, politely thank him/her and leave. Doesn't hurt to ask if he knows somebody who might let you, though. Those guys you know already would be good to ask that too. And do not act like you're doing him a favour by executing ground hogs.
"..."Give him some of the game"..." Not ground hogs though. Upland birds or rabbits etc., absolutely.
Up here it's law that you get written permission to be on somebody's land.

 

[Axis II]

You don't do sales either? Worse thing a land owner can say is no. There are some rules that can change a bit according to where you are, but basically its: No firearms with you. Do not go on Sunday or at meal times. No camouflage clothing. Be polite and if the guy(who is extremely busy this time of year.) or more likely his wife during planting time, says no, politely thank him/her and leave. Doesn't hurt to ask if he knows somebody who might let you, though. Those guys you know already would be good to ask that too. And do not act like you're doing him a favour by executing ground hogs.
"..."Give him some of the game"..." Not ground hogs though. Upland birds or rabbits etc., absolutely.
Up here it's law that you get written permission to be on somebody's land.

Its not getting the permission I'm having issues with i already have 5 slips signed for this year i can hunt anything i want. 2 of the slips i have had for 3yrs now and all is good. My buddy and I usually go get slips signed together cause we hunt together but this year he stopped at 2 different places that i have never gotten permission for. the farmer signed for both of us but something is telling me that they know him from years past and his truck and my truck pulling in the drive lane across the road from the house might throw up a red flag. I do have my slip for reference just wondering if I'm crazy or others feel this way. I guess its a new farm so I'm nervous. last year i had about 8 slips. 3 of the farms i never went to because he introduced me to the farmer and I just felt odd showing up without my buddy.

 

[Sav .250]

its not that i just feel odd because he pretty much introduced me to these people so they know him and his truck. I only had one a few years ago say i had to be with my buddy to come out.

Maybe ...just maybe it`s time you get permission on your own. That way you`ve got no hang up`s. If that happens , don`t be afraid to offer to "help" around the farm or where ever. Never hurts to.....offer.
I`ve done the above over the years. Had a lot of.....no`s as far as hunting their property goes but have gotten the go ahead
on others. Some lasted for years. Plus, my help card has been punched several times.
Hunted one property for 40 years plus!

 

[BigBore44]

Its not getting the permission I'm having issues with i already have 5 slips signed for this year i can hunt anything i want. 2 of the slips i have had for 3yrs now and all is good. My buddy and I usually go get slips signed together cause we hunt together but this year he stopped at 2 different places that i have never gotten permission for. the farmer signed for both of us but something is telling me that they know him from years past and his truck and my truck pulling in the drive lane across the road from the house might throw up a red flag. I do have my slip for reference just wondering if I'm crazy or others feel this way. I guess its a new farm so I'm nervous. last year i had about 8 slips. 3 of the farms i never went to because he introduced me to the farmer and I just felt odd showing up without my buddy.

Then....go intoduce yourself and get "your own" permission based off of you. It's already signed. But as a courtesy I would go say hello at least.

 

[buck460XVR]

Its not getting the permission I'm having issues with i already have 5 slips signed for this year i can hunt anything i want. 2 of the slips i have had for 3yrs now and all is good. My buddy and I usually go get slips signed together cause we hunt together but this year he stopped at 2 different places that i have never gotten permission for. the farmer signed for both of us but something is telling me that they know him from years past and his truck and my truck pulling in the drive lane across the road from the house might throw up a red flag. I do have my slip for reference just wondering if I'm crazy or others feel this way. I guess its a new farm so I'm nervous. last year i had about 8 slips. 3 of the farms i never went to because he introduced me to the farmer and I just felt odd showing up without my buddy.

Been there, done that. Felt guilty for 2 different reasons. 1). felt like the only reason they gave me permission was because my buddy was there and had he not been there they woulda told me no. 2)., felt because my buddy found the spot, I should not take advantage of it and hunt there without him. Both in my opinion, legitimate reasons....at least until know for sure the landowner is good with me being there by myself and that my buddy is okay with not being with me. Both of these are situations where once I was the buddy, and someone I thought was a good and conscientious friend took advantage of me letting them hunt with me on property I found and got permission on. Go to hunt and find them in my stand and their buddy in theirs. Show up to hunt and the landowner tells me no more thanks to something that friend did, like bring his buddies, wound/waste game, leave garbage, trim trees for shooting lanes without permission, etc. That friend had no other places to hunt so burnt out the spots I showed him making worthless to me. Don't be that guy. Be the guy that for every spot your friend finds, you find one two. Go by yourself and help out the landowner, buy them a Christmas thank you box, etc., just so you and your friend can continue to hunt there. Respect stands and favorite spots your buddy has shown you and don't over hunt/harvest them, so he too can enjoy them without you too. Sometimes permission s given with conditions, some implied, some direct. If you have doubts, make sure. Your hesitation to hunt these spots, tells me you are most likely not "that guy" already and you are probably being over sensitive to the feelings of the landowners and your buddy. But that's much better than being the other way around. Make sue the landowner knows your vehicle and it's license plate number. For the first few times make sure you stop/call and let them know it's you before you hunt. Ask your buddy if he wants to go with you before just going. After a while you'll know when it's okay to just go..

 

[Axis II]

Then....go intoduce yourself and get "your own" permission based off of you. It's already signed. But as a courtesy I would go say hello at least.

i did say hello. LOL. I went with him and we knocked and he said mr .... this just here to get slips signed and they signed his and then asked for mine and we talk for about 10-15min. they have seen me and talked to me idk I just feel weird.

 

[Axis II]

Been there, done that. Felt guilty for 2 different reasons. 1). felt like the only reason they gave me permission was because my buddy was there and had he not been there they woulda told me no. 2)., felt because my buddy found the spot, I should not take advantage of it and hunt there without him. Both in my opinion, legitimate reasons....at least until know for sure the landowner is good with me being there by myself and that my buddy is okay with not being with me. Both of these are situations where once I was the buddy, and someone I thought was a good and conscientious friend took advantage of me letting them hunt with me on property I found and got permission on. Go to hunt and find them in my stand and their buddy in theirs. Show up to hunt and the landowner tells me no more thanks to something that friend did, like bring his buddies, wound/waste game, leave garbage, trim trees for shooting lanes without permission, etc. That friend had no other places to hunt so burnt out the spots I showed him making worthless to me. Don't be that guy. Be the guy that for every spot your friend finds, you find one two. Go by yourself and help out the landowner, buy them a Christmas thank you box, etc., just so you and your friend can continue to hunt there. Respect stands and favorite spots your buddy has shown you and don't over hunt/harvest them, so he too can enjoy them without you too. Sometimes permission s given with conditions, some implied, some direct. If you have doubts, make sure. Your hesitation to hunt these spots, tells me you are most likely not "that guy" already and you are probably being over sensitive to the feelings of the landowners and your buddy. But that's much better than being the other way around. Make sue the landowner knows your vehicle and it's license plate number. For the first few times make sure you stop/call and let them know it's you before you hunt. Ask your buddy if he wants to go with you before just going. After a while you'll know when it's okay to just go..

thanks! We are on the same page. he has a lease he deer hunts on and takes me along but I'm not allowed there unless with him and would never think twice about going without him. these other farms are strictly coon, woodchucks, goose, squirrel hunting grounds for him. I text him today asking if he cared if I shot woodchucks today and he said of course not why would I you have permission too. all these farms are in agreement with a local hunt club but you seldom see anyone there unless its deer gun week and I stay the heck out of there during that week. we met a few years ago and began squirrel and coon hunting together then he calls one day and says lets go get slips signed for the new year so you don't have to hunt public land anymore. I went to 2-3 farms on my own and got the slips he just told me who to check with. the others we went together cause 90% of the time we are together. we ask where to park, drive, shoot, etc and everyone seems very happy we ask. I have offered to help but usually its a thanks but they got it or have kids to help. last 2yrs each farm got a Christmas card and thank you inside of it. when we ask permission we bring apple pies as peace offerings even if they say no.

I thought about this a little today and I just feel odd not going with him cause I have more time then he does and don't want to clear out all the woodchucks if he cant go. don't really like pulling down drive lanes right across from the farm even though they says its okay cause then they will probably be watching me. I guess I just worry too much.

 

[FL-NC]

You could always offer meat or help with projects on the land.

 

[SoonerMedic]

I think a lot of it is the relationship you develop with the person. How you two speak to one another and just how you vibe? To me it seems like people that have something you would like to use are pretty in tune with who they are talking to and can probably tell what they're up to and if they're good people.
I have permission from a member here who offered to let me hunt two of his properties. One property he has given me permission to hunt anything in season I would like to hunt. The other property he has given me permission to hunt turkey and hogs and requested I drop a line a day or two before I go out to that particular plot of land, which is not asking a lot. I'm more than happy to oblige him and keeping the cleanliness is a given. I would never trash somebody else's property. I would always pick up any casings, even on my family's land. The gentleman I'm talking about not only gave me permission but allowed me to bring my daughter and my wife, which I thought was more than generous.
I think if you keep in touch with these land owners you'll find that they're really good, down to earth people and you'll feel less and less uneasy.

 

[Choctaw]

What is a slip? Is this written permission from the landowner allowing you to hunt his/her land?

 

[SoonerMedic]

What is a slip? Is this written permission from the landowner allowing you to hunt his/her land?

Written permission. Some states require it.

 

[Choctaw]

Written permission. Some states require it.

Roger that, thanks.