Hello. Looking for advice to obtain permission. I live in southern ontario and finding hunting properties is getting more and more difficult. Looking for advice on strategies cdn nutz hunters use. I am thinking of listing all the apple farms around my home and google mapping them and knocking on their doors. So how do you obtain permission. What tools do you use? Do you join gun ranges, hunting forums, shooting clubs. Any advice is appreciated. Really looking for deer hunting properties. Thanks, pbonura
looking for advice to find hunting properties
- Thread starter pbonura
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Take a drive on your days off with a pair of binoculars in the area you want to hunt... locate concentrations of deer and start knocking on doors. Dress well, clean shaven (or groomed anyway), start by introducing yourself, where you are from and what you do... speak respectfully, complement them on their care of their land, let them know that you are a respectful hunter, who will care for their property, will follow all game laws, and who understands safe, ethical shooting. If they decline allowing you hunting, thank them for their time and move on... if they say that they already have some hunters using the property, ask if they would consider giving you permission in the future, if the current hunters stop coming... then get their name and phone number, so you can check back next season. If they tell you that they have had problems with hunters in the past (this happens far too often)... ask them what sort of problems they had... be sympathetic to their experiences, point out where the other hunters went wrong and highlight how you would have done things differently, apologize on behalf of the respectful, ethical hunters for the wrongs of the previous slobs... this has gotten me access to properties that had been closed to hunting for years... be persistent, keep scouting and keep knocking... Once you have secured permission to hunt, ask the landowner for specifics about where to go and more importantly where NOT to go, ask where you should park your vehicle etc... and follow-up and thank them for the opportunity to hunt on their preoperty, whether or not you are successful... ask if you can come back next year. Once you have proven yourself, you can ask the landowner if they know of other properties where you might hunt... often they have a brother, uncle, neighbor that they will recommend... that recommendation will usually get you in the door... your demeanor, respect, and maturity will do the rest... I guarantee that you will find a place to hunt.
Excellent advice for hunters looking for property to hunt. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
Great post hoytcanon; I"ve heard the same advise but not as well worded or detailed.
What I did was looked for Crown Land, being a camper and aspiring backpacker I decided this year to use one weekend a month to go backpacking aka scouting and once hunting season starts I should be set.
First thing I started with was the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas:
http://crownlanduseatlas.mnr.gov.on.ca/clupa.html
I looked and found the area I wanted to begin with. Next I called the local MNR office to the area and explained what I wanted to do and if there were any restrictions I should be aware of. Than I called the OPP since I will have to park my vehicle along side or just off the road for a few days at a time and what they required from me. Just my plate so when or if they come upon it they know its not abandon.
Crown Land is free to use and permission is given when you pay your taxes. Only thing you need to be aware of is that there might be some restrictions from area to area.
What I did was looked for Crown Land, being a camper and aspiring backpacker I decided this year to use one weekend a month to go backpacking aka scouting and once hunting season starts I should be set.
First thing I started with was the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas:
http://crownlanduseatlas.mnr.gov.on.ca/clupa.html
I looked and found the area I wanted to begin with. Next I called the local MNR office to the area and explained what I wanted to do and if there were any restrictions I should be aware of. Than I called the OPP since I will have to park my vehicle along side or just off the road for a few days at a time and what they required from me. Just my plate so when or if they come upon it they know its not abandon.
Crown Land is free to use and permission is given when you pay your taxes. Only thing you need to be aware of is that there might be some restrictions from area to area.
Many hunting clubs offer hunting insurance. I am insured when I hunt not for myself, but I find it helps getting permission. I find they almost relax a bit when I tell them if there is an accident I'll take care of it. Also a case of beer doesn't hurt, just be careful though, I once gave a recovering alcoholic a bottle of whiskey. His wife didn't appreciate it, but understood the gesture.
Speaking of insurance, if you are a member of "Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters" you automatically get the following:
"$3,000,000 for Public Liability including defense and investigation charges ($250 deductible on property damage claims) $1,000 for reasonable medical expenses if you accidentally injure someone else. There is also $10,000 in case for forest fire fighting expense."
Mentioning this to the property owner while seeking permission to hunt may give the landowner another reason to permit you to hunt on their property. In today's litigious society, insurance is always a good thing to have! JMHO.
"$3,000,000 for Public Liability including defense and investigation charges ($250 deductible on property damage claims) $1,000 for reasonable medical expenses if you accidentally injure someone else. There is also $10,000 in case for forest fire fighting expense."
Mentioning this to the property owner while seeking permission to hunt may give the landowner another reason to permit you to hunt on their property. In today's litigious society, insurance is always a good thing to have! JMHO.
