(A) 14 Step Season Prep: Step 6- Talking to Land Owners

In the last article I briefly discussed how to start looking for properties to hunt. Now that you have your contact lists of property owners, it is time to talk to them. This can be uncomfortable or difficult for most of us. However, it is part of the game for those of us who can not afford to purchase our own hunting land. Be assured that the more you work at this, the better you will get at it. Don't be afraid of rejection. It is going to happen. If you know this will be hard for you, I have a tip that might help. When my co-workers are preparing for a promotion I always suggest that they video themselves completing a practice interview. This will help to show if you lack confidence, make eye contact, and are able to properly present the information that you want your receiver to understand.

What's in it for the landowner: There are some things that you will need to decide before you talk to a landowner about hunting their property. The first item will be if you plan to gun hunt or bow hunt. I have found people to be more open minded to bow hunters over gun hunters. Explain to them that deer populations are at an all time high and it is unhealthy for the herd not to keep the numbers in control. Secondly, what is in it for the landowner? Why should they let you hunt? How much are you prepared to pay to hunt the property? A couple of years ago I read the average cost to lease hunting rights on a property was a dollar per acre. Well that is no longer true in this part of the Midwest. If the land is good for hunting and that landowner knows it, you can expect to pay up to $1000 per person each season.

There are other options. Maybe you offer the landowner $200 dollars up front and another $200 dollars if you harvest a buck (this is wise if the farm is new to you because it may have a poor deer population). Most landowners want you to harvest does to reduce crop damage, so tell them you will take 2 does off the property and give the landowner the venison. If you have a certain skill set, offer to trade services. Maybe you are good at fence repair or building decks. Maybe you offer to drive tractor for the farmer over two weekends out of the year. Figure out what will help you secure the property but stay within your financial means.

On one of the farms that my Dad and I hunt has a landowner who also likes to deer hunt. So we offer to put in 13 acres of food plots annually and hang all of the deer stands. The first year we hunted that farm I let a 150" class mainframe 10 point walk twice. I took video of that deer at 20 yards both times and showed it to the landowner. He later harvested that deer (see picture) which was his biggest buck ever on his farm. I later shot a smaller 9 point but the landowner still thanks me for letting the deer walk so he could harvest him!

Leases: Not everyone is able to obtain exclusive hunting rights to a property especially during the first year that they hunt it. However, I strongly encourage you to do whatever you can to tie up the hunting rights on your hunting property. If a landowner tells you that you can hunt on his farm for free than why wouldn't he tell the next guy that came along the same thing. What is going to keep that guy from stealing your stand or spooking deer away? Worse yet, what if the next guy offers the landowner $800 dollars? You might get booted off a farm before you get to even scout it. This happens a lot with the growing number of hunting clubs. They are leasing up land quickly. So, try to sign a lease for at least 3-5 years on a property. Have an open discussion with the landowner discussing what your expectations are and what theirs will be. Make sure it is a good deal for them and that they won't regret your agreement later.

Making Contact: I have made contact with landowners by letter, phone calls, and in person. Most of my success has come from talking to the landowner in person. However, if you are not good at talking to people in person then pick another way to communicate. Contact these people and ask them if they would be interested in letting you hunt their property. If they say no, ask them if they would mind if you contact them again next year in case they change their mind. Regardless of their response, ask them if they know anyone who might let you hunt another property (friends, relatives, neighbors, etc.). I have stumbled on some good farms after someone told me I couldn't hunt their property but referred me to their neighbors. When making contact with the property owner, do the following:

Dress casual but nice
Properly introduce yourself, shake their hand and explain your purpose
Make eye contact and be polite
Smile and try not to seem intimidating
Talk to their level of communication
Don't act like a salesman
Have your contact information available to give them on a card that they can post easily

Additional things to think about: Okay, so the landowner has agreed to let you hunt on their property. Before you pay them a penny, ask them if you can scout the farm first to make sure it has good hunting potential. Ask the landowner where they normally see deer on the property. Ask them when it was hunted last or if they hunt themselves. Review the property lines with the landowner by using a vehicle or reviewing an aerial map. Does the property have any horses or grazing cattle? What gates can you drive through to make access (always close gates behind you)? Will the landowner allow you to use an ATV?

Another thing that you will want to do is protect your hunting equipment. Ask the landowner how they feel about food plots, game feeders, screw in tree steps, deer stands, ground blinds, and stand locations. Some landowners want to know where every one of your tree stands are located. Ask the landowner if he has the property posted. If not, will they let you post the property for them to protect your stands? How does the landowner want you to handle trespassers? Does the landowner want to see the animals that you harvest when you are leaving the property? Sometimes the wives of landowners ask that you don't show them a harvested animal because it bothers them.

Building Relationships: Let me stress to you that you need to go out of your way to build a solid trusting relationship with your property owner. Let them get to know you and the kind of person you are. Make sure that you always demonstrate appreciation for the opportunity to hunt their land. Keep constant communication with them. I call my property owners every couple of months to say hello and see if they need anything. Stop by their house periodically so they don't forget your face. Keep their land looking better than how you found it. Offer to give them venison sausage. Send them a Christmas card every year. Work to build a friendship and you will have better hunting! Show the landowner that you will care for their land as if it were your own.