Go figure. I had just made the perfect setup at a local farm where I had taken several coyotes in the past. On this night, however, things were different. All the howling came from another farm down the road. I returned the following night and the same thing happened. I then knew what I had to do. The next day I visited the farmer from the “howling farm,” introduced myself and said, “I hunt coyotes at Smith’s farm down the road, but all the howling is coming from your place.” Before I could begin my next sentence, the farmer said, “Go get ’em,” and my anticipation ran high for my next hunt.
The art of acquiring and maintaining permission to hunt is a vital factor in the realm of predator calling. The most successful hunters believe in the slogan, “The more land access, the better.” These hunters feel that overcalling a location leads to “burning it out” and having admittance to a multitude of properties to hunt alleviates this problem.
So, let's take a look at the variables involved in gaining permission to hunt and how to maintain a healthy relationship with landowners so that future hunting continues.
Landowners Speak
Much of what is written about obtaining permission comes from the hunter’s perspective. Like other hunters who hunt on private land, I am aware of my own experiences with landowners. However, I wanted to explore a broader sample of opinions on the subject. The information presented here is derived from the results of a survey I presented to 51 landowners across the country. I also personally interviewed several landowners so I could probe deeper inside the survey data to find out what was on landowners’ minds regarding predator hunting.
Have you ever wondered how often landowners get approached by prospective hunters seeking permission to hunt? It turns out that 84 percent of the landowners indicated that they get asked three or four times a year. Twelve percent indicated that they get asked once a month and another 4 percent of the landowners indicated that they get asked once a week. Landowners who do allow hunting (84 percent of survey respondents indicated that they do) permitted a wide variety of game species as indicated by Table No. 1.
Table No. 1: What animals do you grant hunting permission for?
Option | Percentage | Total |
Deer | 76% | 37 |
Turkeys | 67% | 32 |
Ducks | 15% | 7 |
Woodchucks | 28% | 16 |
Foxes | 50% | 27 |
Coyotes | 76% | 40 |
Other | 35% | 17 |
A common belief is that landowners are more willing to grant permission to hunt for predators than for other game species. The survey results show that landowners are apt to grant permission for a variety of game species. While foxes and coyotes ranked high, landowners were still highly receptive to turkey and deer hunters as well. When the question was asked straight out (see Table No. 2 below), the responses showed that landowners were moderately more receptive to predator hunting than to hunting other species.
Table No. 2: Are you more willing to grant permission for predators than for other types of animals?
Option | Percentage | Total |
Yes | 59% | 30 |
No | 41% | 21 |
Individuals from the non-hunting sector often raise the question, “Why hunt predators?” It surely appears that landowners have several valid reasons for allowing predator hunting on their property. As seen in Table No. 3, the coyote’s reputation for devastating other game species has surely made it an unwelcome inhabitant on many properties. It should be noted that the responses that made up the “Other” option were frequently “All of the above.”
Table No. 3: Why do you allow predator hunting on your property?
Option | Percentage | Total |
Preservation of other game | 55% | 28 |
Protect family pets | 2% | 1 |
Protect livestock | 18% | 9 |
Just don’t want them around | 12% | 6 |
Other | 14% | 7 |
Tips for Gaining Access
The adage, “You get only one chance to make a good first impression” applies when meeting a landowner, and hunters can do a few things to make that great first impression. Be friendly, smile and display a positive attitude. Stand up straight to display confidence and competence. Be sure to make eye contact, because this will indicate that you are interested in the individual and not just hunting their land. The single best thing you can do to develop your rapport is to shake hands with the landowner! I once read a research article that stated that it takes three hours of interaction to develop the same amount of rapport that a single handshake generates.
Physical appearance also helps make a great first impression. Only 18 percent of the survey respondents indicated that a person’s appearance was not important. It only makes sense to dress nicely — which might mean leaving the Megadeth T-shirt at home. What about wearing camouflage while asking permission? Is this a mistake as is often read elsewhere? I am often curious about this so I included it in the survey. Fifty-eight percent of the survey respondents said it makes no difference if prospective hunters wear camouflage while seeking permission. Thirty-two percent of the landowners indicated that they believe it hurts their chance of saying “yes” and 11 percent said that it helps their chances of being granted permission.
One of the landowners I spoke to mentioned that it depends upon the type of camouflage the hunter is wearing. He was not implying a Realtree vs. Mossy Oak debate. Rather, he mentioned that if the hunter is wearing a tattered and old camouflage outfit it gives the wrong impression. Conversely, a hunter wearing a properly fitting and up-to-date camouflage pattern may be more welcome to hunt.
Table No. 4: How important is a person’s appearance?
Option | Percentage | Total |
Very | 41% | 21 |
Somewhat | 41% | 21 |
It has no impact on decision | 18% | 9 |
Another tip for obtaining permission is to present landowners with a predator hunting “business card.” The premise is that by presenting your personal information you are showing the landowner you are trustworthy. The landowners I interviewed all echoed this notion. Most folks are not keen on letting a total stranger use their land. By providing the landowner with your address you are saying, “This is where I live and you can find me here for any reason.” Hunters who are willing to provide a home address and any other personal information, such as job and family, are seen more as people and not simply as hunters who wish to use the land.
While seeking permission, I have had several landowners ask if I had a card to present and I always carry a few in my wallet for such occasions. Our survey data supports the notion of presenting a business card as seen by the chart below.
Table No. 5: Do you find it helpful when a prospective hunter supplies personal information on a business card?
Option | Percentage | Total |
Yes | 78% | 40 |
No | 22% | 11 |
The physical act of seeking permission is nerve racking for many people. It can certainly feel like an invasion of privacy to bother someone at their home. This is especially true if the landowner is inside and the hunter must perform the dreaded door knock! How about skipping this process and simply calling up the landowner on the phone? Our survey shows that a personal visit is much preferred over a phone call (90 percent vs. 10 percent). With such skewed data, it seems like all hunters should make a personal visit to bolster their odds of gaining permission.
When planning a personal visit, some thought must go into figuring out the best time to do so. Most landowners indicate that seeking permission is best done before the season starts. In my experience, this is especially true for deer and turkey seasons. When asking about coyote hunting, landowners seem to respond well at any time of the year. Nonetheless, by asking pre-season you are showing the landowner that you are prepared in your craft and you might also get the lead on other hunters who will seek permission after you.
I always prefer to seek permission when landowners are already outside. The best times to ask can be seen in the chart below. The after-dinner hour/early evening time slot seems to be the best option. The worst time to ask was said to be in the middle of the dinner hours or when landowners are busy taking care of business or family matters. These times, both good and bad, are something to take into consideration when planning to acquire permission.
Table No. 6: When is the best time of day to ask permission to hunt your land?
Option | Percentage | Total |
Mid-Morning | 12% | 6 |
After Lunch/Mid-afternoon | 27% | 14 |
After Dinner/Early evening | 43% | 22 |
Other | 18% | 9 |
Maintaining the Relationship
Once permission has been acquired, the hunter should conduct himself in such a manner that the right to hunt the land continues. Landowners all have established rules for hunters and following the rules is paramount for future hunting. The top rules as pointed out in our survey were:
- Be respectful of neighbors
- Don’t litter
- No shooting around houses
- Know the property lines
- Stay on driveways/laneways
These rules fall under the category of common sense and courtesy. They also involve hunter ethics. Hunters must conduct themselves properly if they want to remain welcome on a property. Following the specific rules of each landowner, because they will differ, is the first step to showing respect.
Beyond following the landowner’s rules, is there anything hunters can do to keep hunting privileges? It has always been a practice of mine to “give back” to the landowner who allows me to hunt. This is usually in the form of a gift certificate to a local restaurant where I know the landowner likes to eat. This is usually done around holiday time and I believe is a genuine act of appreciation.
An analysis of the survey shows that most landowners do not expect anything in return from hunters. Even though the sharing of game meat registered only 2 percent of the respondents, it seems to be a common practice in my neck of the woods. Since many hunters pursue game species other than predators, it might be a good idea to offer some venison or turkey breast to landowners. After all, I know of no one who wants to grill up the leg of a coyote! Remember, farmers might be too busy to hunt themselves so sharing meat taken from their land is a nice gesture.
The “Other” option ranked high for this question, so I’ll share some of the answers. A few landowners mentioned that it would be nice if they were able to hunt on other individual’s property. Landowners also mentioned that they would like to see the game taken or at least pictures of the game taken on their land.
Table No. 7: Do you expect anything in return for allowing hunting on your property?
Option | Percentage | Total |
I expect nothing | 71% | 36 |
Cash payment | 2% | 1 |
Gift of appreciation | 10% | 5 |
Sharing of game meat | 4% | 2 |
Other | 22% | 11 |
The final step to maintaining a solid relationship is to know the major concerns landowners have with hunters on their property. The survey pointed out two prominent concerns: safety and liability. Landowners want hunters who are safe on their property. This is for the sake of everyone involved: the hunters, landowners and neighbors. No property owner wants to deal with accidents, so do everything possible to prevent them. Landowners will get to know the hunters and their qualities as time goes by and that will form the relationship. Keep things positive by always keeping safety measures at the top of your mental list. It is a good idea to share your acts of safety when talking to landowners to remind them of your conduct. I tell property owners about coyotes that I call in but did not shoot because they were on the horizon of the hill or had maneuvered so that a barn was behind them. Stories such as this let the landowner know you are safety conscious.
Hunters need to be upfront about who’s going to be hunting when they first obtain permission. Landowners indicate that it is a bad practice to show up with other hunters that the landowner does not know. This was a prominent theme within the survey responses as well as in my interviews. Hunters should not assume that they can bring friends along for the hunt as landowners are not comfortable with others hunting on their land that they have no relationship with. Remember, the property owner has liability on his mind. While certain states have laws that shield landowners from civil liability for injuries to persons who use their land for hunting, others might not.
Conclusion
As an ardent predator hunter, your quest for more calling grounds will no doubt be an endless endeavor. It is a process that can be honed and perfected over time. You can shorten the learning curve by using the survey data and information discussed here. As a final thought, if you are denied access, always accept “No” gracefully. As one landowner pointed out … there is always next year!
Adding a Professional Touch
If you would like to get yourself some business cards to present to landowners you can easily do so with a few clicks on your computer. Several online companies print personalized business cards that will fit any hunter’s budget. In many cases, the cards are free! Check out these websites: www.vistaprint.com, www.123print.com and www.gotprint.net
