Downtown Bang!
Member
The first three years I had my lab I did a fair amount of door knocking in SD & Southwest MN. Always did it by myself just me and the dog and was fortunate to get a couple landowners to agree and allow me a hunt.
Problem was I found it to be anything but a postive experience. Not that I was treated poorly (one exception) because those asked were typically polite and civil. The problem was the "here comes another one" body language, the fatigue in the voice when having to give there reasons for saying no one more time.
It was pretty clear to me that although I was asking as respectfully as possible I was still imposing on these people. Even the ones that said yes seemed to do so out of some strange sense of obligation. I never really felt like they were totally comfortable or enthusiastic to do so.
Bottom line is I don't want to make people feel this uncomfortable while they are standing in there own driveway or barnyard. It just wasn't right. Since then I have been a 100% public land freelancer.
I understand that in areas of the country that are less populated or less popular for hunting the landowners may feel a lot less bothered. Thing is I bet these areas are getting much fewer and farther between. Just my $.02.
Problem was I found it to be anything but a postive experience. Not that I was treated poorly (one exception) because those asked were typically polite and civil. The problem was the "here comes another one" body language, the fatigue in the voice when having to give there reasons for saying no one more time.
It was pretty clear to me that although I was asking as respectfully as possible I was still imposing on these people. Even the ones that said yes seemed to do so out of some strange sense of obligation. I never really felt like they were totally comfortable or enthusiastic to do so.
Bottom line is I don't want to make people feel this uncomfortable while they are standing in there own driveway or barnyard. It just wasn't right. Since then I have been a 100% public land freelancer.
I understand that in areas of the country that are less populated or less popular for hunting the landowners may feel a lot less bothered. Thing is I bet these areas are getting much fewer and farther between. Just my $.02.