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A few Novembers ago, I set out for a hang-and-hunt on my favorite piece of public land in North Carolina. After over an hour of wandering, I stumbled across a hot white oak that was surrounded by fresh deer sign. Shortly after I set up, a young buck limped up to the acorns and stood perfectly for a shot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I couldn\u2019t have been more excited as I walked up to that scrappy six-point. But reality started tugging on my sleeve as I field dressed him. My wandering led me nearly two miles from my truck, and I was totally unprepared to pack a deer out that far. I looked up at the lights from a small rural community nearby\u2014so close I could hear car doors slamming\u2014and decided to give it a shot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
One phone call later, I had permission from the nearest homeowner to drag my buck out through his backyard. The following season\u2014after requesting to drag out another deer\u2014he gave me standing permission to access public land through his property. Soon after, he offered me permission to archery hunt on his property. It\u2019s been five years since then, and I live more than 1000 miles from that spot now, but my dad still enjoys open access to that property every season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Private land permission can be a game changer for any hunter, but it\u2019s hard to get and can be easy to lose. With that in mind, here are a few things to consider before you try door knocking this spring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Permission is a tricky proposition. In my time as a hunter, trapper, and wildlife research technician, I\u2019ve interacted with hundreds of landowners to negotiate access. I can say with certainty that most landowners would rather not allow a stranger to set foot on their property at all, let alone to engage in a potentially dangerous activity where the goal is to harvest a desirable resource.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Some are definite no\u2019s. Many teeter somewhere in the middle, and your approach can sway them in your favor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
On initial contact with a landowner, I always ask if it\u2019s a good time and offer to call or stop by later if not. I want to make it abundantly clear from the start that I respect their time. Next, I explain what they really want to know: who I am and why I landed on their porch or phone line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In my experience, landowners like to see that you\u2019re putting in the effort to be successful and aren\u2019t just trolling for easy pickings. Before popping the question for hunting or trapping permission, I always mention that I\u2019ve been making good use of public land in the area but would love to hunt new ground or have a more accessible option when I\u2019m crunched for time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I\u2019ve faced plenty of denials. Most of them were due to existing leases or company policies prohibiting hunting. But I\u2019ve also scored access to some incredible land, and I\u2019ve never had a door slammed in my face. The key is to speak as if you\u2019re asking a favor from someone who owes you nothing, because that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Still, the game isn\u2019t over when you get a \u201cyes.\u201d If you want to hold on to that access, you have to prove to the landowner that you\u2019re not a liability. That\u2019s a long-term commitment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Your relationship with a landowner is an invaluable thing, but it can be incredibly fragile. One rule broken, one whiff of a bad attitude, and you might land permanently on their shit list. Remember, the landowner is taking a risk and doing you an enormous favor in letting you hunt. Show your appreciation by respecting their boundaries and behaving responsibly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I also always offer venison or a helping hand with grunt work on any permitted property. In the case of the landowner who let me drag my buck out through his property, he declined my offer of venison but gladly accepted a case of his favorite beer. My dad carries on that tradition, dropping by the house with a case of beer at the start of each season and a few times during.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
MeatEater’s own Tony Peterson explained to me how he’s maintained access to a farm in southeast Minnesota for over 30 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“I was in eighth grade when a fellow classmate mentioned I could hunt their family place, but he cautioned me against pissing his dad off,” he said. “I knew of his dad from football games and figured the best way to go about things was to try to stay off of his radar as much as possible and follow the rules.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
While that might seem like common sense, it\u2019s important to consider what \u201cfollowing the rules\u201d looks like for individual landowners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“Over the years, I’ve watched dozens of hunters get booted from that property for parking in field drives, leaving gates open, calling the landowner during spring planting or fall harvest, and just generally inconveniencing the landowner. Hunters forget that farmers are running a business, and it’s best to leave them to it,” Tony said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Tony said that farm \u201cchanged (him) forever,\u201d and he\u2019s maintained that relationship even now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“I’m super grateful to not only get to grow up and learn there, but also to be able to now take my daughters there. I call him up every year in March to ask permission, and every year he says yes. It’s honestly just a gift.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Tony\u2019s takes a long-term approach, and it\u2019s been fundamental to maintaining access. You have to follow the rules a landowner sets for you, no matter how unreasonable or arbitrary you might think they are. Ignoring them is the fastest way to lose permission and gain a bad reputation in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Landowners might not communicate all the rules directly, and that\u2019s dangerous territory. They might not outright want to tell you they\u2019re uncomfortable with you hunting in the woodlot behind the house or that they want you to stay out during the youth deer season when their grandkids will be out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But often, if you\u2019re a good listener, you can pick up on cues. The key is to pay attention and always err on the side of caution. This is the best way to prove your worth to the landowner, which can expand your access and opportunities over the years. Basically, if you show your appreciation and don\u2019t become an inconvenience, the glide path to multiple seasons is easy enough to follow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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