How to Find Deer Hunting Locations

Once you pay for your hunting license, the only thing left to do is locate a good area to hunt. In many states, public lands are scarce and the only way to hunt is to find a private landowner who allows you to enter his property.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Travel to National Forest lands where you can hunt. Some National Forests allow hunting in specific locations but rangers regularly monitor the area and enforce the rules. Hunt on federal land only during designated hunting seasons. Call ahead to find out each forest's regulations. (See Resources below.)
2. Ask the rancher or farmer if you would like to hunt on his land. In states where private land comprises the bulk of hunting locations, this is the only way to determine if you can hunt in the area.
3. Visit the county courthouse and bring along the location of a remote area where you would like to hunt. Often, landowners live in town or a different state and you can get their address from the County Treasurer's office. They won't give you a phone number but you can copy down the mailing address used for sending tax statements.
4. Send a thank-you card to a landowner who allows you to hunt deer on his land to assure you have a good chance of hunting there again. Some hunters even send Christmas presents to show their good will.
5. Place an ad in the local newspaper in the area you want to hunt, asking landowners to call you if their land is available and offer to pay for the privilege. Large ranch owners in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and other deer-populated areas regularly lease out the use of their land to out-of-state hunters.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not enter private property to hunt without permission. You could face criminal trespass charges.