Is it worth it to ask a farmer to hunt his land?

I ask all of the time, and receive a "yes" at least 95% of the time. At least. I think I now have access to about 60 different private fields, none of which I own, lease, or exchange labor/gifts for.

Approach, confidence, authenticity, and let's face it . . . luck . . . play a huge role in helping land owners become comfortable enough to let a 'stranger' on their land.

Over time, I'd like to think some refer to me as a 'friend' now. Day in and day out my actions help create this path.
 
Well hell of course its worth it! Whats the worst he/she can say? No???

I'm pretty successful in getting permision as well, My first trip to their door i don't normally bring anything with me (Ham/homemade wine etc..) Had that one bite me one day. Brought out 6 or 7 hams, THey gladly took them and didn't give me permission. lol It happens.

Now I just politely ask, sometimes I'll spend a half hour there just conversating. You'd be amazed at what some of those smalltown people will tell you if you let them. Seems a good deal of the farmers just want someone to talk to. I had one Farmer a couple years ago offer to ride around with me and show me all his land and some of his families land as well. Ended up being a 4 hour deal. He ate most all of my cookies and Jerky, took a few beers out of the cooler and now I make sure to stop and at least talk with him everytime I'm out there. I also make sure to go back and speak with the people that let me hunt their land and bring some sort of gift throughout the year.

Being Courteous and showing you care gets you a long ways in gaining access. and like i said the worst they can say is no!
 
Interesting post, KB. I'm glad I'm not the only one - I could have pretty much written that myself, as that's been my experience too. Add to it that I don't want to spend the time driving around trying to find the landowners' place to begin with, and I've pretty much given up asking. On the plus side, I do quite well on public land, if I do say so myself. In fact, the few times I've gotten on private in the last 10 years (and very good private land at that), I've faired worse than in my 1/2 dozen public land honey holes! So the farmers' doorbells are pretty much safe from me. That's just my way and what works for me!
 
nstric said:
I ask all of the time, and receive a "yes" at least 95% of the time. At least. I think I now have access to about 60 different private fields, none of which I own, lease, or exchange labor/gifts for.

Approach, confidence, authenticity, and let's face it . . . luck . . . play a huge role in helping land owners become comfortable enough to let a 'stranger' on their land.

Over time, I'd like to think some refer to me as a 'friend' now. Day in and day out my actions help create this path.
Click to expand...

:10sign::cheers::cool::D:) Bingo.
 
OK, OK, so this year the goal was to hunt some of the new Walk-in areas in Minnesota. Also to hunt close to the Metro area and at least find some rooster(s). Check. Next year the goal is to find some private land to hunt. Based on what I see here, I would be well off going in Jan. or Feb. and finding some folks who might be a: home and b: the actual landowners. That way they know I am now just parachuting in to bag some birds, but interested in a possible long term deal (sounds like a personal ad: Single hunter with two mostly agreeable Labrador Retrievers seeks farmer/landowner interested in sharing pheasants. Long term relationship a plus...) :rolleyes:
 
Back when I hunted Iowa exclusively, my ratio was pretty good.
Since I have been hunting South Dakota, it has gone down ... alot. and I understand why, The pressure on the birds out there is humongous.

I still try to secure one new spot on every trip, sometimes Im successful, sometimes not, but I'm not gonna quit trying. As of right now, I could hunt a full 5 day trip in SD without hitting any WIAs, but I still do hit public.

I intend on retiring in South Dakota, and because of that, I decided to try to set up my network of places to hunt early on, because when Im able to retire, I may not feel like banging on doors.

Bottom line, if you can find the owner, it doesnt hurt to ask.
 
Yes asking pays off, especially in the latter part of the season. Most farmers have relatives (and friends) that only hunt the first few weeks. Your best bet is to do the asking by just yourself. Having a dog increases your odds, because most farmers have dogs, and feel you might know what you are doing.

And absolutely don't knock on the door dressed like an orange pumpkin who just walked out of Cabelas!
 
Daisybuck said:
OK, OK, so this year the goal was to hunt some of the new Walk-in areas in Minnesota. Also to hunt close to the Metro area and at least find some rooster(s). Check. Next year the goal is to find some private land to hunt. Based on what I see here, I would be well off going in Jan. or Feb. and finding some folks who might be a: home and b: the actual landowners. That way they know I am now just parachuting in to bag some birds, but interested in a possible long term deal (sounds like a personal ad: Single hunter with two mostly agreeable Labrador Retrievers seeks farmer/landowner interested in sharing pheasants. Long term relationship a plus...) :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Exactly like a date... the worst thing is "no", but maybe "yes" will happen and new relationship begins:)
 
Makes me think of all the years of hunt and the things we learn the more we hunt. I started hunting Pheasants (Kansas)always after thanksgiving cause I knew a lot of folks had ken out sometimes hunt over the holidays, even though I have never had the pleasure of Hunt opening weekend in my 20 plus yrs of hunting Phes. I hardly ever was turned down to hunt and really only remember one time I was told no. But was my health has kept me away for 8 of the last 10. Had 2 great yrs the last 2. Hope I get to go soon this year. One time I kept seeing all these roosters in a field along a hwy and every post had a sign and painted purple ( Kansas) I decided what the heck he will just say no and found the owner, a nice o fellow , he said I could hunt one time and I got a few. Couple days latter after exhausting all else I went back and said Mr I just ain't havin much luck , he said go ahead again. Most folks don't seam to mind especially after the family has already hunted. But as the years go by a lot of ground in being leased it seems these days. I would always be willing to help a man if I could in return for sure. I see changes as it seems the older generation before me passing away , seems it will soon not be as easy to gain permission to hunt someday. Another time I kept seeing signs that said all hunters will be shot and buried , so I told my dad lets just ask what can it hurt. The man you could tell would be so pissed if ya did not ask, but he would always let us hunt half his land and save the other for his son, the kicker was seem he always let us hunt the good field. We have 700 acre farm in SW Mo and I have always been a avid wildlife person and never let anyone hunt because I did so much. One day I opened my eyes and saw life as another hunter when the first time I was denied permission to hunt phes on some land. I thought if a man was to ask me to hunt not having a army of men, I now let fellows hunt. I loved to hunt and I know others are just like me so I need to share the wildlife I feel belongs to all folks. It hit me one day that I am receiving government programs to aid in our farming here, and its all Tax Payer dollars just like mine. So I kinda feel its a small way to give back to those if they can have a little fun and enjoy life just like I want to also. So I try to let folks hunt most the time unless my son is hunt or we are out riding horses. Good luck to everyone.Dave
 
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