Gaining access to private land

Unfortunatly, here in Oregon the best turkey habitat is off the public lands and in the oak/savanna valley floors. My buddy and I were scouting today and saw literally a hundred birds or so, but none on public land. We did find a couple promising spots, but you get the point <g>.

I am gutless when it comes to walking or driving those long country driveways to knock on someone's door and ask permission. Anyone have an hints with this? I'm good with people and a nice enough guy, but it's just a heck of a thing to do to someone. I own a country property and it would scare the hell out of my wife if some guy(s) came all the way to our house and knocked on the door if I was not home, for example...

Maybe try to catch people after work? Before work seems like they'd be irritated and in a hurry. Leave a polite note in the mailbox? How have you had success?

Get over it-Face to face is always the best. Don't show up in your hunting clothes and try to catch the owner before or after dinner. You may be shocked how many 'yes' answers you get. I have had lots of land owners say 'Because you ASKED. I'll let you hunt' After the hunt a card for the owner and a few flowers for his wife go a long way!

Good Luck I can only please one person a day. Today is not your day and tomorrow doesn’t look good either

Diplomacy is saying 'nice doggy' until you find a rock.

I take time with my computer to make up business cards. They list my name, address, phone number, automobile make, model, and license number. I want to make sure the land owner understands I will be responsible and leave them every method possible to let them know how to reach me. If they answer yes to your request take time to talk about any part of thier land that they don't want you to go on, where other hunters might be, etc. After the hunt,stop and say thanks and if you noticed something like a broken fence or an open gate mention it to them so they know you'll help keep track of their land.

Sorry for all the cross-posting (the rec.hunting.dogs and Hunting-Retriever folks have not seen this thread yet), but it brings up a question I have run into with some frequency.

How do you deal with land owners (mostly cattle ranchers) who, when you ask permission to use their land for *dog training* (I've got Labs), turn you down because they are afraid the dogs will be turned loose and will chase/harass their cattle? (wew, that was a long sentence).

I understand how this might be true for some other breeds of dogs (hounds mostly, but possibily also far-ranging pointers), but this simply is not a problem with retrievers. It would seem that they have the 'all dogs are the same' misconception. I was thinking of trying to write an article to get published in 'cattlemen's' magazines and newsletters, but I don't know of any (as I don't ranch myself). The article would basicly be one which would attempt explain what is involved in training retrievers, and show how the threat to livestock operations is not real.

Anyone have any advice or suggestions on how I might proceed?

Jeff,

If i see a good spot I always ask, but timing is crucial.

I usually dont ask during the season. i prefer to wait till mid summer. ranchers/and farmers arent quite as busy then. and remember even if they say no once, doenst mean they will say no the next year.

regards,

OT/ I have been hunting for along time everytime I meet somebody in life I ask them if they own land good for hunting. And they think I am a nut but through the years I have gained access to more private land than I can hunt.But I still keep asking looking for the honey holes

NRA Life Member

The main rule to gaining acess to private land is common courtesy. I am not a landowner, but I rent a farm place that has some excellent pheasant hunting on the land. Last year a pickup pulls into my place, two men get out. I am watching them out my kitchen window, when one of them whips it out and pisses in my driveway! The other came to the door, was very rude, didnt introduce himself, finished a smoke and threw the still burning butt into my lawn. He asked if he and his buddy(no names) could kill a couple of birds. Now dont get me wrong, I cannot give anyone permission, but I can call the owners and ask for them, If I want to. Needless to say these two will probably be asking for a long time. To sum it all up just be respectful, polite, use names, and most importantly DO NOT GET RUDE IF THEY SAY NO, even if they say no, they might be able to point you to some neighbors who will let you hunt.

Steve, It also doesn't hurt that when you are there in the fall, offer the owner half your take, and help out with the firewood, cleaning up, offer to take the landowner and spouse out to dinner (do this in the spring TOO)

Charlie (who isn't a land owner)

<snip>>So, now you know how to get permission. Start NOW. Don't wait until season opens.

You're right, Charlie. Courtesy never hurts whether it's spring or fall (or anytime in between). There are folks on here who are landowners and they have their way of doing things too. Some of them probably don't mind folks approaching them in the fall asking for permission to hunt. Heck, we don't 'mind' either. Our approach is what's worked out best for us. Others may (and probably do) take a different approach to granting hunting/fishing permission. I was just trying to help some folks find a way to GET that permission they are looking for. And the best way I know of is to start early in the year, offer to help, and take it from there. I'd be willing to bet permission would be a whole lot easier to come by if the responsible hunter starts looking NOW rather than waiting until a week, or even a month, before season opens.