Asking permission to hunt land

[Loworange88]

Morning everyone.  I want to ask a guy permission to hunt his land that butts upto my Uncles property.  The land owner in question lives out of state and to my knowledge hasnt been to this particular plot in a couple of years now.  
He has the land posted.  I found his info using rhe ONX mapper app.  I found him on Facebook as well.

My question is should I just message him on Facebook and ask permission or should I go through the process of writing a letter and sending it snail mail in the hopes he reads it and takes the time to respond?

Thanks.

[Robhuntandfish]

 a letter is def more personal and shows more effort.  if youre looking for next season I would do the letter.  if youre hoping for this season then probably facebook. 

added note - i always start with asking for bow as more people seem open to that before gun hunting 

Edited November 17, 2023 by Robhuntandfish

[Loworange88]

Yeah Im definitely behind the 8 ball this year with hunting in general.  Been out way less than I normally am, and also now trying to make plans to accommodate my son hunting too.  I meant to send a letter over the summer and just completely forgot about it.  Ill just write up the letter and ask for next year.  Thanks.

[Nomad]

When you get the “ I don’t allow people to hunt it “, your response should be,” out of state landowners almost always have people on their land “ but you being a responsible guy and hunting land right nextdoor can be his local representative. Along with maintaining posted signs ,removing old dangerous wood stands and so on .

Edited November 17, 2023 by Nomad

[mowin]

I would start by asking if he needs anyone to look after the property and to make sure all is ok.   Get in the door doing something other than hunting. Maybe mention you've noticed hunters on the property and would like to know if you could have permission to track on his property if needed, and should I contact the guys you have hunting to let them know. He might just say nobody has permission to be in there, and that might open the door. 

[JohnPlav]

You could start with discussing deer retrieval since anyone hunting your Uncles land may encounter that issue anyway.  Once that is granted it may open the door to hunting.  

[Swamp_bucks]

1 hour ago, Loworange88 said:

Morning everyone.  I want to ask a guy permission to hunt his land that butts upto my Uncles property.  The land owner in question lives out of state and to my knowledge hasnt been to this particular plot in a couple of years now.  
He has the land posted.  I found his info using rhe ONX mapper app.  I found him on Facebook as well.

My question is should I just message him on Facebook and ask permission or should I go through the process of writing a letter and sending it snail mail in the hopes he reads it and takes the time to respond?

Thanks.

Right a letter and it’s easier to get bow and Xbow permission over gun. I’ve had places hunted bow for a few years until they realized I wasn’t going to be reckless with a gun in my hands.

[Caveman]

You can likely get a phone number through a Google search. Personally, I would call. Introduce yourself and let him know that you are hunting adjoining land. You want to see if you can arrange retrieval rights in advance so you don't need to bother him later. Once you have a rapport, mention that you saw people hunting the property and wanted to ask about obtaining permission to bow hunt. Offer to maintain posted signs/police trespassing for him. 

 

I would not reach out and ask about gun hunting off the bat. Think of the the most slovenly, unethical, slob hunter you have ever seen/heard about, and realize that this guy doesn't know anything about you. He may be picturing that guy when he hears you want to gun hunt. Wait until he knows you are a good guy before you bring it up.

Honestly, I would use this year to establish recovery rights and a personal relationship with the guy and don't start thinking about hunting rights until next year.

[518BowSlayer]

I wrote a letter to the farmer behind me and he called me a few days later. Told me I could hunt back there all I want! Hopefully you have a similar experience! 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I would try to get a number and call. Easier to judge character over the phone. 

[crappyice]

"Steward of his land in his absence" sounds like a nice phrase.
or "Just making sure you gave people permission to hunt as I ran into some people while hunting my uncle's land" 

then " I can keep an eye out for you and do you mind if i access to recover"

Thats why i like the in-person or phone call. Too many details

[KungFu Tolkien]

I think you need to know your audience. Guys under 40 aren't going to care is it's an email, letter or facebook message. What's in the message and how it's articulated and thought out is what's important. I would be leery of a bunch of typos and misspelling. Offers to watch the property, how you plan to hunt it, your history with hunting, that you will be honest and ethical and even perhaps carry insurance would all be more important to me. And if you have kids, slip them in there. People always bend to a guy with kids a lot easier haha

[cas]

I've been kicking around how to do this now for a while.  There's land near me that used to be posted as owned by some hunting club. Though in my lifetime, I don't think I've ever seen anyone on it. The address shows as an irrevocable trust, with a Florida mailing address.  Which might make it ripe for the asking (permission wise), but I don't know who I'd actually be writing to, or if there are still any locally involved individuals. Could be no one still in the state, or it could everyone and the Florida address is just one entity or individual.  "Dear sir or madam..."  lol

[Spaceman Spiff]

13 minutes ago, cas said:

I've been kicking around how to do this now for a while.  There's land near me that used to be posted as owned by some hunting club. Though in my lifetime, I don't think I've ever seen anyone on it. The address shows as an irrevocable trust, with a Florida mailing address.  Which might make it ripe for the asking (permission wise), but I don't know who I'd actually be writing to, or if there are still any locally involved individuals. Could be no one still in the state, or it could everyone and the Florida address is just one entity or individual.  "Dear sir or madam..."  lol

To whome it may concern…

[Nontypical]

Do it over the phone if possible.