How to Get Permission to Hunt on Private Land
Any outdoorsman who has ever been forced to compete with 10 other hunters over a single deer knows the benefits of hunting on private land. The connection with the land, the quiet waiting and the thrill of success is enhanced by being alone on private land, not to mention the significantly reduced chance of getting accidentally shot. If you are not fortunate enough to own your own private land on which to hunt, try to get permission from others. It may not be easy, but if successful, it may be worth it.
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Instructions
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Research your state laws. Some states require written permission, signed by both hunter and landowner, before a hunt can take place. If you know this in advance, you can prepare the appropriate paperwork and make the process as simple as possible for the landowner.
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Familiarize yourself with the liability laws involved in hunting on someone else's land. Some private landowners turn hunters away because they (often mistakenly) believe they will be liable in the event of an accident. Be ready to reassure prospects.
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Start with friends and relatives. Ask your parents, siblings or cousins, as they might just remember a distant relative with a nice woodsy plot of land that can be used for hunting.
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Obtain some plat maps and figure out where you'd like to hunt. Plat maps can occasionally be found online. Otherwise, they can be purchased for a relatively inexpensive price from the county government.
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Go door-to-door and kindly ask whether you can hunt on the owner's private land. Be presentable, respectful and persistent.
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Contact the landowners adjacent to the land you will be using. You may want to cross over boundaries, and you should always know exactly what your limits are. Ask permission to hunt on adjacent land.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to think of a way that it can be beneficial for a landowner to allow you to hunt on his land. For example, if coyotes are a problem in the area, offer to hunt them first. Permission to hunt will be easier obtained from a grateful landowner.
Do not be too aggressive. Non-hunters sometimes have negative images of hunters, so being pushy will likely get you nowhere. Be polite, direct and courteous.
