Guys who hunt private land...

[Caveman]

In your experience, when is the best time to go around knocking on doors looking for permission? 

 

I have a buddy that consistently waits until right before the season opens and is surprised he's having doors slammed in his face.  I've always made my rounds in the summer after the nightmares of recent trespassers have passed, but before every procrastinator and his mother is disturbing family dinner with a rifle in his hands. 

[sits in trees]

I would say right now weekend mornings nice days like this weekend when landowners are out and about. Not after work when people just wanna get in and eat and put their feet up. I tell you though state land opportunities are often overlooked in this state. Theres tons of state forest, get onto that NYSDEC.com site and go to the state land interactive thingy. I hunt my own land and have access to surrounding private neighbors land totaling bout 120 acres but after a while even that gets boring and I often head to the great expanses of available state forest we have here. During bow season theres hardly anyone there and after the first week of rifle you might only see a hunter or 2 a day if that..Just saying don't pigeon hole yourself into only hunting private land.  

[HuntOrBeHunted]

The sooner the better. But I think most people won't let just any person hunt their land. Land cost money to maintain and takes lots of hours of work to keep up. Unless their putting up some blood sweat and tears.. Or maybe some money lol its going to be hard.

 

But good luck.

[sidewinder]

there is never such a time like now. yes on a weekend mid day that is a great time. if the person has land and this time of year you stop by while he has 3 wagons sitting in front of  the barn and two kids and a man trying to get that hay up into the barn................ 2 or 4 hours of a whole lotta sweat and blood goes a long way as compared to a simple knock on the door............... just saying.

[Four Season Whitetail's]

there is never such a time like now. yes on a weekend mid day that is a great time. if the person has land and this time of year you stop by while he has 3 wagons sitting in front of  the barn and two kids and a man trying to get that hay up into the barn................ 2 or 4 hours of a whole lotta sweat and blood goes a long way as compared to a simple knock on the door............... just saying.

 

How right you are. I have had a couple guys earn their way on our 700 acres by lending a hand on the farm or helping with the deer.

 

 I also agree with Sits as far as state land. We have 700 plus acres of top hunting in our area but i still find myself driving 21/2 hours one way to Letchworth every other weekend and 2 full weeks during bow and late bow and muzzle. Just something about those big Mtn Goats that run that park that trips my trigger!

[asav2013]

I have 1000+ acres I JUST turkey hunt, and another 1000+ private for deer and a 410 acre lease and 200 acres family owned, it really comes down to who you know, so a good step in the right direction is making ALOT of friends, become friends with,farmers , alot of people now a days aren't so quick to jump to say,yes without knowing you, help with chores , become friends with people who know alot of people, good enough friends share land opportunitys,and may introduce you to important people, I hear people saying " I sent letters and emails, why wont any one let me hunt ??" no, land owners wanna put a face to that name, yeah ya might get lucky once and awhile and get a piece to hunt that,way, ya gotta know who's wore likely to let you and who's not, dont waste time on a piece chances are ,your not gonna get a yes, invest time into a few very likely yes's, my 2 cents at least I dont have almost 2500 acres of private land to hunt for no reason,

[sits in trees]

I have 1000+ acres I JUST turkey hunt, and another 1000+ private for deer and a 410 acre lease and 200 acres family owned, it really comes down to who you know, so a good step in the right direction is making ALOT of friends, become friends with,farmers , alot of people now a days aren't so quick to jump to say,yes without knowing you, help with chores , become friends with people who know alot of people, good enough friends share land opportunitys,and may introduce you to important people, I hear people saying " I sent letters and emails, why wont any one let me hunt ??" no, land owners wanna put a face to that name, yeah ya might get lucky once and awhile and get a piece to hunt that,way, ya gotta know who's wore likely to let you and who's not, dont waste time on a piece chances are ,your not gonna get a yes, invest time into a few very likely yes's, my 2 cents at least I dont have almost 2500 acres of private land to hunt for no reason,

With all that land maybe you should just invite the original poster over.

[Paula]

With all that land maybe you should just invite the original poster over.

 

or me

[NYLandowner]

The best time to ask a landowner is when there is time to do work that the landowner needs to get done before or during the hunting season.  I am a landowner and a hunter, but I have hundreds of fine deer/turkey acres more than I personally need for hunting in Rensselaer County, NY, and I have to pay taxes on it to support the nanny state, so I would consider leasing to those who would help me pay the taxes.  The State of New York has established a feudal land system in which the deeded "owners" are just tenants/renters.  If the nominal owner stops paying the rent/fealty (property taxes), the government simply takes the property title away without any compensation. That is the feudal system that people of New York tolerate now that the Georgists/Socialists have replaced the Allodial title system.  Thus, "taxes" equals base "land rent".   If the best use of the land is for hunting, then the value of the hunter's offer should be roughly equal to or greater than the value of the taxes.  That should be the general rule of thumb.   Most hunters don't even know how to ASK and negotiate for permission, and many think that the privilege of hunting on private land should be free just for asking.   But consider the high cost of buying and owning land (taxes, road maintenance, the expense of POSTING signs on the boundaries) mainly for the purpose of private hunting without others poaching or intrusions, and then think whether the owner would want to share that land for free with everyone that covets it?  There are many renegade hunters who simply ignore NO TRESPASSING signs and barbed wire.  There are others who aggravate their trespasses by bringing ATVs that tear up the roads or crops, who leave trash behind, cut fences, put nails and flimsy treestands (pallets) in good trees.   There are MANY landowners who have PROBLEMS with the trespassing types, who would be happy if someone showed up at their door and said: "We see that the deer have been eating your ....." or  "We were wondering if you were having problems with trespassers hunting and shooting guns on your fine property, and if so we wanted to help you out by Buying signs and POSTING the property in your name this year, and by confronting and arresting violators.  We just need you to sign this lease giving us exclusive rights to hunt this year, and the right to enter and occupy and to citizen-arrest the trespassers. We are happy to share the venison we take this year with you.  If we do a good job and if we can keep the bad guys out this year, we would like the Option to lease the property for $$$$/barter next year."  There are always opportunities like that for respectable hunters.

[CuseHunter]

I stopped at 6 houses this year, 4 were not home or didn't answer. One did and he was a hunter so I understood his "no", still had a nice conversation though. The other one I just said hi, and talked about stuff and asked for permission to hunt. They seemed like they could care less, even told me where to park. Can't wait to check it out as its right next door to my college campus

[Doc]

Is there any danger in getting permission so far in advance that the landowner forgets that they gave it? It may be important to obtain written permission just to be on the safe side.

I would also think that it should be important to discuss rules of use with the landowner. In other words, talk about where it would be appropriate for you to park and any areas that he might want you to stay out of and other things that he might want you to abide by.