|
|
Post by teenhunter00 on Nov 21, 2018 20:38:25 GMT -5
I have been thinking about trying to find private land for a while and since I will be on my own by this time next year I figured I might as well start formulating a plan for next season. i dont have much money since ive been saving for college. I was wondering if you guys had any tips and or advice on where to start my search.
|
|
|
|
Post by alduflux on Nov 21, 2018 20:56:46 GMT -5
Find a landowner with lots of land/hunting ground then marry his daughter.
|
|
|
|
Post by butlerj on Nov 21, 2018 21:28:30 GMT -5
Above would be easiest.
I've never built the courage to interrupt someone's day by door knocking at farm houses. Or write a letter to leave in mailbox (may be legal or illegal) but I'm pretty sure that's how some do it.
In Hancock county most of the farmers either hunt or have family that hunt or they're already in an initiated lease.
I like the public land I hunt there are a lot of memories tied in that I have with my Grandfather and Uncle's. The hour and a half drive is pretty old and further complicating now that I have young children.
Make friends with a property owner, offer labor for hunts as well as venison if they want it.
|
|
|
|
Post by firstwd on Nov 21, 2018 22:00:09 GMT -5
I had a big group of guys in for a weekend waterfowl hunt several years ago. I had been trying catch up with one farmer for several weeks to no avail. We took the hunting group to a tiny hole in the wall restaurant outside of town that is generally filled with farmers. I caught up with the farmer I hadn't been able to and discussed getting on some of his fields. Our conversation was overheard by basically the entire place. After answering countless questions, I finally sat down to order breakfast with permission on the two rields I had been after and 6 other farms I hadn't even looked at. A little over 4000 acres in the span of about 20 minutes.
Granted, this was waterfowl, but it's worked for deer, turkey, rabbit, coyote, trapping, and fishing.
It always makes things a bit easier if you have some sort of connection outside of hunting, but sometimes complete strangers will allow access.
|
|
|
|
Post by (Not Ronald) Reagan on Nov 21, 2018 22:11:26 GMT -5
I’ve gone door to door before, granted it’s alot easier having a buddy with you lol it can be a bit nerve racking. But you don’t know unless ya ask!
|
|
|
|
Post by squirrelgravy on Nov 22, 2018 6:32:23 GMT -5
I like to look at the county gis webpage to determine ownership. I had success on a property owned by an out-of-state owner. I looked up the owner via the contact info gained from the webpage and sent him a letter with my contact information and was able to secure access.
|
|
|
|
Post by span870 on Nov 22, 2018 7:53:18 GMT -5
Somehow, someway get a foot in the door. I work in a rural area and literally have land thrown at me to deer hunt. I'm in customers houses for several hours and usually talking to them about this and that gets them comfortable with you. I never have asked for permission. It's the foot in the door and them feeling comfortable. All depends on where you are asking too. Northern Indiana closer to the cities is going to be harder than southern Indiana. Some people have better luck than others. My dad could get permission in the middle of new york city from the president of Peta. He never took a no as a no. By that I mean he'd ask, told no, said okay but b.s. about this or that for a bit. Surprisingly it's worked quite a bit.
|
|
|
|
Post by salt on Nov 22, 2018 8:00:03 GMT -5
Find a landowner with lots of land/hunting ground then marry his daughter. This works! |
|
|
|
Post by featherduster on Nov 22, 2018 8:06:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by teenhunter00 on Nov 22, 2018 8:25:59 GMT -5
thats the funniest thing I’ll see this morning maybe even today |
|
|
|
Post by teenhunter00 on Nov 22, 2018 9:07:43 GMT -5
Somehow, someway get a foot in the door. I work in a rural area and literally have land thrown at me to deer hunt. I'm in customers houses for several hours and usually talking to them about this and that gets them comfortable with you. I never have asked for permission. It's the foot in the door and them feeling comfortable. All depends on where you are asking too. Northern Indiana closer to the cities is going to be harder than southern Indiana. Some people have better luck than others. My dad could get permission in the middle of new york city from the president of Peta. He never took a no as a no. By that I mean he'd ask, told no, said okay but b.s. about this or that for a bit. Surprisingly it's worked quite a bit. I havent done much work in rural areas since I am in Hamilton but I have thought about potentially offering to work for a place to hunt is that little to far out there? While I am good at working with my hands and do have some manual labor experience I feel that by offering to work i risk biting off more than i can chew. |
|
|
|
Post by schall53 on Nov 22, 2018 10:18:06 GMT -5
I will also add one other thing to all that has been said above. A sure way to get turned down is to stop and ask a farmer while he is working. I have been stopped while in the field and was not happy about it.
|
|
|
|
Post by span870 on Nov 22, 2018 11:59:23 GMT -5
Somehow, someway get a foot in the door. I work in a rural area and literally have land thrown at me to deer hunt. I'm in customers houses for several hours and usually talking to them about this and that gets them comfortable with you. I never have asked for permission. It's the foot in the door and them feeling comfortable. All depends on where you are asking too. Northern Indiana closer to the cities is going to be harder than southern Indiana. Some people have better luck than others. My dad could get permission in the middle of new york city from the president of Peta. He never took a no as a no. By that I mean he'd ask, told no, said okay but b.s. about this or that for a bit. Surprisingly it's worked quite a bit. I havent done much work in rural areas since I am in Hamilton but I have thought about potentially offering to work for a place to hunt is that little to far out there? While I am good at working with my hands and do have some manual labor experience I feel that by offering to work i risk biting off more than i can chew. To me it be a bit off putting. That may just be me. I'd be real careful about what you offer. Unless you cleaned a barn out in the spring after a long winter, I'm not sure you know what you'd be getting yourself into. Then hay season comes. 90° and several hundred bales. Now they have to go up in the barn, add 20 more degrees. Why not just hunt public? So much more easier and hundred thousand of acres. Private sometimes ain't all it's cracked up to be. |
|
|
|
Post by firstwd on Nov 22, 2018 14:09:53 GMT -5
Another consideration is where exactly you will be? Some small public places near college that allows plenty of time to explore may be much better than a private place hours away you only see a few times a year.
|
|
|
|
Post by teenhunter00 on Nov 22, 2018 18:20:24 GMT -5
Another consideration is where exactly you will be? Some small public places near college that allows plenty of time to explore may be much better than a private place hours away you only see a few times a year. I haven't exactly decided where I wanna go yet but they go all across from Trine down to University of Southern Indiana. While im likely to stay in state I have gotten accepted to go out of state and if i do get that “offer I cant refuse” i’ll probably take it. If i do decide to go out of state I will still hunt Indiana but only when im in state like around holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas. |
|
|
|
Post by johnc911 on Nov 22, 2018 18:38:35 GMT -5
I had a big group of guys in for a weekend waterfowl hunt several years ago. I had been trying catch up with one farmer for several weeks to no avail. We took the hunting group to a tiny hole in the wall restaurant outside of town that is generally filled with farmers. I caught up with the farmer I hadn't been able to and discussed getting on some of his fields. Our conversation was overheard by basically the entire place. After answering countless questions, I finally sat down to order breakfast with permission on the two rields I had been after and 6 other farms I hadn't even looked at. A little over 4000 acres in the span of about 20 minutes. Granted, this was waterfowl, but it's worked for deer, turkey, rabbit, coyote, trapping, and fishing. It always makes things a bit easier if you have some sort of connection outside of hunting, but sometimes complete strangers will allow access. Totally something I would have done. Well done |
|
|
|
Post by whitetaildave24 on Nov 22, 2018 18:51:54 GMT -5
Another consideration is where exactly you will be? Some small public places near college that allows plenty of time to explore may be much better than a private place hours away you only see a few times a year. I haven't exactly decided where I wanna go yet but they go all across from Trine down to University of Southern Indiana. While im likely to stay in state I have gotten accepted to go out of state and if i do get that “offer I cant refuse” i’ll probably take it. If i do decide to go out of state I will still hunt Indiana but only when im in state like around holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas. Well being an alum from USI, you can’t go wrong with that school. Really has grown since I left there too. Good luck in where ever you choose. Hunting will hopefully always be there. Focus on your school, set your path forward, and go from there. |
|
|
|
Post by duff on Nov 23, 2018 7:32:37 GMT -5
Best of luck in your search. I rarely deer hunted in college. Maybe 2 weekend archery then opening weekend gun. I was in Muncie so not great deer hunting access. I did fish and mushroom hunt quite a bit.
If I had gone to IU, pretty sure I would have flunked out with HNF and Lake Monroe right there.
In everything you do; work, marriage, friendships, hobbies etc...relationships matter. If you can develop a relationship you have a leg up on most. I have to trust you to allow you to sneak around my place. Get it by working for them, asking for small bits, talking to them, etc. In my heyday of waterfowl hunting I had more places to go than I could hunt in a year. I would ask for a specific day and then tell the owner that I would stop by or call if I wanted to return. Some liked that others just told me where to park and come and go as I pleased. Send thakyou cards and the real good spots got gift cards or some other Christmas gift.
With my specific requests I was successful. I avoided deer hunting requests for obvious reasons but many told me to deer hunt too, if I wanted to.
|
|
|
|
Post by steiny on Nov 25, 2018 13:11:31 GMT -5
Approach the land owner by yourself, nobody with you. Don't knock on his door wearing camos, wear routine country work clothes like he would be wearing. Make it clear that it will just be you, no buddies. Just be a gentleman and no hard feelings if turned down. If you do get turned down, ask for a recommendation of anyone around that may allow hunting, then thank him and be on your way. Never hurts to try again the following year.
|
|
|
|
Post by ms660 on Nov 25, 2018 20:21:52 GMT -5
Another consideration is where exactly you will be? Some small public places near college that allows plenty of time to explore may be much better than a private place hours away you only see a few times a year. I haven't exactly decided where I wanna go yet but they go all across from Trine down to University of Southern Indiana. While im likely to stay in state I have gotten accepted to go out of state and if i do get that “offer I cant refuse” i’ll probably take it. If i do decide to go out of state I will still hunt Indiana but only when im in state like around holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas. Don't know if you bow hunt or not but Sugar Ridge F&W has very little pressure during the archery season. Sugar Ridge is mostly old spoil banks, very thick heavy cover, but it has some nice bucks and it is free to hunt |
|
