Proper Etiquette on Approaching Private Land Owners

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torontorifle

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Good afternoon Team,


I conducted multiple scouting trips in an area I have identified as a potential space for my hunt this year. I noticed a flock of hens and gobblers come down here to feed during the late mornings. Some toms were even curious about my calls from the car.


Mind you this is my first time, and I consider myself lucky to have even seen these birds. Since this is a farmer's field, I would like suggestions from senior members on the right approach to meeting with/calling and requesting written permission.


All suggestions are welcome.

thank you


(p.s. I have a copy of the form from the OFAH.)
 
First thing is don' expect to get permission for hunting this year. You have to try to build a relationship. Usual approach is to offer help on the farm for the privilege of hunting on their property. Expect to get turned down a thousand time before you find someone that says yes.

If you are lucky enough to get a place, make sure you visit them even when you are not hunting. Again, building a relationship is the key.
 
Well as a rural property owner one thing to remember is a lot of us frown upon unannounced visitors, I wouldn’t be to excited at a stranger showing up at my front steps looking for permission to hunt. I’d rather find a note or card with contact info and a brief breakdown of what they wanted. Otherwise I’d be looking at you and noting the cut of your jib, first impressions and all that.

If I had acreage and was giving permission to hunt I would be expecting some annual sweat equity in return, there’s always chores to be done and a helping hand is worth more than a bottle of rye or a couple packs of meat. I can get those for myself lol.
 
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Excellent suggestion Yomomma! I found a fair few conservation groups in the area as well. Will get in touch with them as well.
 
Thanks ButcherBill. Perhaps a card followed by what help I could offer them? Driving/weed whacking/fence repair or tending to flock etc?
 
I quite often just drop in, however I do live in the area and no many farmers around here. I just mention where I live and the conservation takes off from there.
 
Well,it's a bit of an art. Whatever you do, don't just barge in and ask if you can go hunting. That gets a large proportion of NOs. I normally carry a map of the municipality with the landowners and property boundaries listed. Show up at a time when the owner is less likely to be busy. If they appear to be in the middle of something important, wait patiently before advancing to talk. Introduce yourself, I usually carry some "business" cards for that purpose. People know you are not trying to avoid responsibility if you hand them a card with your identification and contact information on it. Explain you are looking for the owner or renter of a property and ask if the property in question is correctly identified on the map. Most everyone will at least help you identify the property, and it gains you a few moments to build some rapport. Explain you are new to that particular area and are hoping to do some turkey hunting. It is important to keep a friendly, neutral discussion going before asking a question that requires a yes or no answer. After all that it may be be an appropriate time to enquire if it might be possible to obtain permission to hunt on some part of the persons land, some part that is far from the house and is not busy with current farming activities. Good luck and good hunting!
 
Longwalker said:
Well,it's a bit of an art. Whatever you do, don't just barge in and ask if you can go hunting. That gets a large proportion of NOs. I normally carry a map of the municipality with the landowners and property boundaries listed. Show up at a time when the owner is less likely to be busy. If they appear to be in the middle of something important, wait patiently before advancing to talk. Introduce yourself, I usually carry some "business" cards for that purpose. People know you are not trying to avoid responsibility if you hand them a card with your identification and contact information on it. Explain you are looking for the owner or renter of a property and ask if the property in question is correctly identified on the map. Most everyone will at least help you identify the property, and it gains you a few moments to build some rapport. Explain you are new to that particular area and are hoping to do some turkey hunting. It is important to keep a friendly, neutral discussion going before asking a question that requires a yes or no answer. After all that it may be be an appropriate time to enquire if it might be possible to obtain permission to hunt on some part of the persons land, some part that is far from the house and is not busy with current farming activities. Good luck and good hunting!
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Yup, might even work in the local coffee shop too.
Rob
 
Be complimentary of the property, make a tie in to the area with family or friends they're likely to know. Have a very specific, and at first very limited, times/dates laid out and don't leave it open ended. As noted it's about building a relationship and trust while minimizing burden or perceived obligation on their part.
 
Kinda like Butcherbill on this one.........but if I don’t know who you are, your chances are pretty slim.
If you are known by neighbors or a friend of a friend and after I speak with them....then maybe.
Everyone deserves a chance..... but at what risk???
Have had some trouble with unknown hunters in the past and have a bit of a guard up.
 
Royzo said:
Kinda like Butcherbill on this one.........but if I don’t know who you are, your chances are pretty slim.
If you are known by neighbors or a friend of a friend and after I speak with them....then maybe.
Everyone deserves a chance..... but at what risk???
Have had some trouble with unknown hunters in the past and have a bit of a guard up.
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Agreed, if there’s a connection somehow with locals you’ll find doors open up a bit easier. If someone can showed up and got my attention while I was out doing chores around the yard and they got my attention I’d happily chat. If they were a friend of a friend or someone I could contact easily to check them out I might be more open to the idea.

As to sweat equity, things like helping get or split firewood, help clean out the barn, work on fences etc. You gotta bring something to the table that’s of use to the landowner, which will vary from person to person.
 
You've left it a way to late, farmers in southern Ontario are working the land in preparation for planting season. Nothing annoys one more than an interruption at one of the busiest time of the year.

As others have stated unless you have some point of contact within the community you will have tough sledding to get permission. Most good places are already have been spoken for.

Besides my own farm I have 5 other properties that I can hunt on, all are either owned by neighbours or friends. I share hunting privileges with one or two others and we keep in communication with each other so we aren't overlapping.
 
Thanks Butcherbill, you're right - best to tailor the offering.. I'm going to take the earlier suggestions from Longwalker on leaving a note, making sure I bring cards, and just aim to be cordial with the farmer. A few friends have asked me to remove coyotes from their property so that may be a good starting point to relationship building. And, Lazyfarmer you've got a point... It's my first time out so I'll learn from my mistakes :)
 
torontorifle said:
Thanks Butcherbill, you're right - best to tailor the offering.. I'm going to take the earlier suggestions from Longwalker on leaving a note, making sure I bring cards, and just aim to be cordial with the farmer. A few friends have asked me to remove coyotes from their property so that may be a good starting point to relationship building. And, Lazyfarmer you've got a point... It's my first time out so I'll learn from my mistakes :)
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This is my strategy, I have been hunting coyotes for two years on some places and just felt this year that I could ask about Turkeys on one farm. It's a long game for sure, but we have built up a solid relationship over the years that it was kinda hard for them to say no ha.
 
You could try with a letter but most land owners and farmers such as myself prefer or already have deals with other locals who are around on a regular bases. They know other locals, know the land and are around to help police trespassers. And with one person already hunting one the land, I wouldn't welcome another, especially one from out of town.
 
It's all about the approach and even if you do everything right you will still be turned down most of the time. There are some good tips on here, say hello to the dog, make good eye contact and be mindful of how you dress and speak. Offer to help with the chores or pest control and if you do manage to start up a relationship make sure you strike up a friendly conversation whenever you are on the property but don't interrupt hard work or keep them from it, farmers are busy people. If you are turned down, do not show your disappointment, smile and thank them for their time and move on. You will likely be viewed with derision and suspicion every place you go, don't let that throw you off anyone in their right mind is going to be viewing an unannounced visitor in this manner. This will be a tough time to to this because of the pandemic and planting season like someone mentioned but good luck, if you try 20 properties and get access to 1 you are doing well.
 
Oh...just thought of one more thing.

Find out where they have their morning coffee. I ran into a bunch and shared one of those big tables at Timmies. Wasn't too long before I was included in the conversation.

This may be a long approach but you will get to know them before you approach them about hunting.
 
Butcherbill said:
Well as a rural property owner one thing to remember is a lot of us frown upon unannounced visitors, I wouldn’t be to excited at a stranger showing up at my front steps looking for permission to hunt. I’d rather find a note or card with contact info and a brief breakdown of what they wanted. Otherwise I’d be looking at you and noting the cut of your jib, first impressions and all that.

If I had acreage and was giving permission to hunt I would be expecting some annual sweat equity in return, there’s always chores to be done and a helping hand is worth more than a bottle of rye or a couple packs of meat. I can get those for myself lol.
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And that is fine where it's legal, but in some provinces, it's illegal to accept any reward or compensation for granting access for the purpose of hunting.
 
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