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

walk213

walk213

Active member
I have been hunting walk in land in Eastern Colorado. There have been times when I have asked farmers to hunt their land. I have even offered money for the privilege to hunt their land. I have yet to receive a "yes"....from anyone. I understand the reasons why....it is their land and their birds.

Have you had success knocking on doors?
 
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yes especially later in the year if its just you and another guy i never get turned down the only time i get turned down is when they have it leased or so they say, even if it has no hunting signs you would be surprised they will let you .but make sure you say your hunting birds! Deer on the other hand is a different story.Heres a little trick that i use once you get permission on a piece of property goto property close to there and say im hunting on smiths land do you mind if i hunt on you its just me and a friend presto your in!!
 
Keep trying

walk213 said:
I have been hunting walk in land in Eastern Colorado. There have been times when I have asked farmers to hunt their land. I have even offered money for the privilege to hunt their land. I have yet to receive a "yes"....from anyone. I understand the reasons why....it is their land and their birds.

Have you had success knocking on doors?
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I think the short answer is yes. I agree the less hunters in your group the better the odds of getting a yes. Also, think about your approach as though you are asking a girl on a date. Time of day (not too early or too late), how you are dressed, what your vehicle looks like, and don't be in a hurry. Also, the farmer that has roosters running all over the front yard, probably is going to say no, it is obvious he doesn't allow hunting (and I bet his wife considers those birds hers :)). Look for good habitat versus birds standing around that probably haven't been hunted. Try to put yourself in the landowners shoes and think about who you would let hunt on your land. I think many of them that would take money, probably have leased it out already (probably wouldn't offer the girl cash right, LOL!).

Good luck. I understand it does get old being told no...:eek:
 
I try to make it a point to ask when I'm NOT dressed as a hunter, try to call first (when I know the number)/select a time convenient for the landowner, and go solo when I do ask. A little courtesy goes a long way, as does a gift/token of appreciation for those who have let you hunt. If you ask politely you may receive access; if you don't ask, well . . . for sure you won't be hunting private ground.
 
It's like an interview. I let some people hunt and some not.
A responsible acting guy with a kid has a great chance.
Lone guy with his dog has a great chance.
Most all land owners don't like 2 vehicles, muddy vehicles, noisy vehicles and 4 wheelers. and more then 2 people.
 
Yep, it works if done right. I hunt on a 1200 acre ranch that is of the highest quality quail land around. I started off small, just wanting to hunt quail, and after the rancher got to know me he gave me free reign of the ranch. He even called last year to say a big 4 point had been hanging out behind his house, to bad it was the day after season ended. I have raised turkeys, quail, chukar, and pheasants for him. I've helped him build pens, mend fence, round up cows etc. He also calls me to thin out hogs when they're hitting his hay stacks. You better believe when he calls me for help I'm up there ready to help in a flash, and he and his wife get a nice gift basket for Christmas each year.
 
I hunt mostly in the Eastern half of Nebraska. A lot of the areas that are closer to the larger cities are know to be leased or strongly posted grounds.
That being said I have still had good success knocking on strangers doors and politely requesting to hunt pheasant.
I hunt solo and with a dog, so no doubt that is a plus, but I will agree that if you show respect and are able to hunt the field you will stand a good chance in getting access to the field again.
One thing I was taught that has served me well is when I am finished hunting a field. Go back to the farmer and THANK them for the privilege to hunt their land. I also offer some of the birds I may have shot in their field. (most farmers politely decline).
It has been my experience that most farmers are genuinely nice people, who if you show respect to are more than willing to be nice to you.
As a added bonus, when you do get access to a posted field, it is like having a leased field to yourself. ;)

One rule of thumb I use. DO NOT INTERRUPT A WORKING FARMER. IF they are obviously working (like during harvest or repairing a machine during harvest) you are better off just smiling waving and driving on. Come back another day.
 
All good points. I've also been known to forego my hunting plans for the day & pitch-in, helping the landowner repair his equipment. I also thin coyotes for those having problems with 'yotes killing livestock & pets and this has expanded my access opportunities over the years. If you're a Pheasants Forever member, wearing your hat, decals on your rig, etc is almost a sure thing when asking landowners who have PF signs posted.
 
koja48 said:
All good points. I've also been known to forego my hunting plans for the day & pitch-in, helping the landowner repair his equipment. I also thin coyotes for those having problems with 'yotes killing livestock & pets and this has expanded my access opportunities over the years. If you're a Pheasants Forever member, wearing your hat, decals on your rig, etc is almost a sure thing when asking landowners who have PF signs posted.
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Good points koja!:thumbsup:
 
koja48 said:
If you're a Pheasants Forever member, wearing your hat, decals on your rig, etc is almost a sure thing when asking landowners who have PF signs posted.
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I had a farmer politely refuse permission because I was a PF member last week in NE. Just like I have had farmers in Saskatchewan refuse permission because I was a DU member. Some landowners don't like the habitat groups telling them how to manage their property.

I still ask anytime I see good looking ground that I would like to hunt. 9 times out of 10 farmers grant access.
 
All about work....

Advice is greatly appreciated. I am happy to work on the farm for a few hours in exchange for a few hours in their field. As far as Pheasant Forever - all over my truck. I am persistant - in my nature as a sales manager. That said, I am very considerate of others. If their first reaction is a "no", I probably would not push as I do not want to insult the land owner.

Also, how do you determine who owns the land that you want to hunt? Many times the private land is no where near a house.
 
walk213 said:
Advice is greatly appreciated. I am happy to work on the farm for a few hours in exchange for a few hours in their field. As far as Pheasant Forever - all over my truck. I am persistant - in my nature as a sales manager. That said, I am very considerate of others. If their first reaction is a "no", I probably would not push as I do not want to insult the land owner.

Also, how do you determine who owns the land that you want to hunt? Many times the private land is no where near a house.
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Most counties in Nebraska have plot map books for sale, my first stop would be the county court house.
 
Anyone who offered to help me pull out fence lines, burn some ditches, or bale corn stalks could hunt our ground.
 
Man all you guys wanting to help us farmer out. I think I should start a farm,hunt and breakfast:thumbsup: My smart brother (not Blackcloud) Helped guys from Ill. hunting a few years back them kids loved the equipment and the room you have in the country. Everything was fun to them:thumbsup: Ask way guys whats the worse you going to hear no. I bet you hear more yes.
 
i remember a guy had some awsome quail hunting land who used to come borrow my mom and dads horse trailor well i went hunting on his land he pulls up and says i dont want you hunting here i just kind of laughed and said but you can come get my mom and dads horse trailor anytime you want ??? needless to say my mom and dad ripped that guys ass take your land and stick it where the sun dont shine !!!!!
 
Well it works very well for me no matter where I go it seems. It does make a huge dif, your attitude. As said it is an interview. You need the knack and smoozability. But I have done it since I was twelve, and deal with people every day selling our work. So it is a learning process. I went through many No's my self. You will figure out how to approach people in time. Some people you just catch at the wrong time. And yes if your alone or 2 of ya is best. Big groups rarely get in. And don't over do it, hunt once and leave it alone. Show appreciation and go back. Having the attitude that they are not the farmers pheasants will get you no where. Some guy's get no every time. I used to hunt with a guy like that, he just had a sower puss attitude all the time, they can read that quickly and say no bam!, I go there the next day and get a go ahead for the day. You need to be polite, and converse a bit, have a few opening moves lined up depending on situations, farmers working, older folks, Lady's of the house(Toughest):D In the tractors etc. Don't be afraid to take advantage of a quick hand"OH gheese Let me help ya with that" I have quickly been in manure, under campers, holding steel while being torched, lifting stuff, tossing a few bails, whatever. That works great, but not often do you get the chance. You need to read there attitude, and act accordingly quickly. Good luck and keep trying.:thumbsup:
 
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I agree that the person who posted "its not the landowners roosters thats why you have to buy a state license" will not get permission from many landowners. I almost always let 1 or 2 guys hunt if they stop and ask. It is pretty easy to spot someone with that type of attitude and they would get a quick NO. I had a local neighbor who has been hunting and fishing our farm forever tell me I shouldn't be inviting guys from out of state to my farm to hunt deer. He isn't setting foot on the place again ever. If you have a sour attitude towards landowner or private property rights, you need to get used to hunting public ground because thats what you will be hunting.
 
For the OP, as much as I'd like to give you an optimistic answer, I personally can't. Some guys have great luck gaining access. It only works for me if the person knows me personally b/c they know my character, morals, and values. Every person that knows me lets me hunt w/o hesitation.

I get rejected by nearly every single stranger I ask and it's not b/c of a sour attitude. I'm a pretty happy guy that has made a living with the little bit of charisma God blessed me with. I could've been a salesman, but I would have to truly believe in what I'm selling to be a successful salesman. What I've determined to be the primary cause of my dismal failure gaining new access is my lack of confidence. I've been told "no" by "strangers" so much I'd rather walk another 10 miles of public land than knock on another 10 doors. I remember stopping at 10 houses in one day just trying to get a shot at some turkeys (ya know, those big birds all the farmers complain about having too many of?). All 10 said "no" and my son and I politely went on to the next place. The 11th person we visited that day said, "I just don't let ppl hunt." Well, he happened to be working on a home project so me and the boy just started helping out while he was telling us all the reasons he doesn't let ppl hunt. 30 minutes later we had access to some great property.

Moral of this long story, confidence plays a role too. Good luck building any confidence when your first 10 stops yield "NO!":D Despite the fact I'm rejected so frequently, I still knock on a door from time to time. My success rate has improved slightly. Though I haven't developed confidence in that I'll be told "yes" I have developed a "nothing to lose" attitude. Getting the desparation out of my voice helped. I guess I should also note that I always go alone or with one of my young son's when asking and my truck is never covered in mud. I don't have long-hair or piercings. I speak well and carry myself accordingly.

Disclaimer: this is based solely on my experiences. I really don't want to hear anything from any of you about my character, understanding farmers, trying harder, blah, blah, blah. We've had a similar thread before and everyone wanted to tell me how my approach was flawed and that I just didn't give an effort:mad: "stop whining it works for me":rolleyes: I'm not looking for your feedback, just sharing my experience and opinions with the OP. I primarily hunt public land b/c of the above stated challenges/frustrations. Besides, I never get chased down the drive way by a mean dog when I pull out my WIHA map;)
 
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