Author: Michael T. Huff, CoyoteLight Pro Staff
Owner: masterpredatorhunting.com
October 20th, 2014
Tip 1: Be You
Farmers and large landowners are constantly approached by people trying to sell them products or services as well as men and women asking permission to deer hunt. Forget the old advice that suggests you need to dress up in polished shoes and fancy clothes when approaching a potential new land owner for permission. Have you ever seen a septic man working in a suit and tie or a doctor seeing patients in jogging shorts and a hoodie? You are asking to hunt and showing up as a banker or car salesman will not help your cause. Sure, it is important to be dressed neatly and conduct yourself respectfully. However, you are not a politician or car salesman so do not try to be one when you are asking for hunting permission.
Farmers and large landowners can detect insincerity as quickly as a coyote can detect a human’s scent. However, if you are ACTING like someone other than yourself, they will immediately notice the ACT and will be hesitant to give you permission. They want to know the real you and make their decision based on the real you.
Tip 2: Social Etiquette
Keep in mind that you are asking the farmer or landowner for something. They are the person doing you the favor. Before asking for what YOU WANT, have the courtesy to say hello and make some small talk. Allow the person to see that you care enough to establish a rapport with them. You do not need to become best buddies. However, if you’re the first words out of your mouth consists of asking for something before they know anything about you, your chances of receiving permission can be greatly reduced.
Tip 3: Provide Your Information
Provide the landowner with as much information about yourself in printed form as possible. As you begin asking for permission, prior to the landowner responding, provide him or her with a business card or a sheet of paper containing the following information: name, address, phone number, email, car or truck color, make, and model, etc. If you are asking a farmer, let them know you will not hunt until all their crops have been harvested, will never drive on their fields, and will park where they specify. Offer to call them prior to each time you plan to hunt.
Tip 4: References
If you hunt nearby properties, mention the names of the landowners and the addresses of their properties. Providing this information gives a certain degree of security to the potential new property owner. If they know that their neighbors trust you enough to hunt on their land, they are much more likely to take a chance on giving you predator hunting permission on their land.