Shot down again !

[firenut8190]

I have been knocking on landowners doors for 2 months tring to get premission to deer hunt for the up coming firearm season for me and my 13 y/o son. It is getting hard to find a place to hunt. If you do not have money to lease or if you are not related to the owners you will not get any premission. I do not want to take my son to state land here in Lenawee co, because I don't want my son to see how a lot of these yahoo hunt and there bad habits. Just need to vent. It is fustrating.

[Liver and Onions]

Instead of asking for permission, why not ask how you and your son could earn the right to hunt their private land ?
Shouldn't be hard to find farmers who would be willing to let you earn the right to hunt late season does. Usually bucks & the early season are reserved for family or pay-backs to good friends.
If the roles were reversed, would you let someone you didn't know hunt on an investment that you have been working on and paying for most of your life ?

L & O

[fishunter70]

If it were me, I would check with your local dnr office and see who has federal,state permits and check with them. I watched a mich outdoors a month or two back and they did a show on that same deal. If i remember right by law they ( land owner ) has to let a certain % of people on there land to be eligable for these grants,permits or whatever they are called.

[BeWild]

:yeahthat:

Most farmers or landowners would love to have someone pitch in and do their dirty work if you are willing to do it for them. I helped out a friend a couple of years ago that had to split and stack a bunch of firewood before he could get out and hunt. The farmer was the nicest guy and was more than happy to oblige, all it took was some work.

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

thought.:idea: have you ever asked a farmer any of these questions?
1.:idea: if i were to come over in the spring some time would i beable to help you with some field work in exchange for some hunting rights?
this is the time of year we call STONE PICKING real hard work to!
2. :idea:do you need any help when haying time comes around? in exchange for some hunting rights. another hard work job.
3.:idea:do you need any help of any KIND around the farm in exchange for some hunting rights for me and my young son?
you may be surprised at what will happen when you do this. not to mention how much you may learn from this farmer. oh yes, i almost forgot you'll make a friendship that will last a lifetime!
2 months ago would mean you started in late august :sad:about 4 months to late, almost all the work is done that you could help with other than butchering hogs and pulling hair.:yikes::coolgleam

[Tru-N-Sea]

Check out this DNR link, click on where it says Hunter Access Program Guide. It lists private land owners who, in conjunction with the DNR, let the general public hunt their lands. I checked out Lenawee Co. and there's one listing. Check counties around you as well, there may be a few more.

Good luck!

DNR HAP Program (http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363_10913---,00.html)

Captn---

[firenut8190]

I have tried different approches to talk to the land owners, offering work for hunting rights. I have tried for premission during the spring time also. I just don't know. I wear nice clothes, only take my son with me to show that it is only me and him that wants to hunt. I had 300 arcers that I hunt for over 15 yrs but he sold the property to a developer. I still call him and speak to him on a reg bases.

[glockman55]

It's getting harder to find any farmer to let you hunt. Out my way they have had too many problems with hunters, or should I say Slobs leaving trash, knocking down fences, etc. :( It's not worth it anymore to let you hunt their land.. It's Too Bad.

[sullyxlh]

There's a great article on hunting public land in this month's MUCC mag,
sit all day,they people going to and from lunch kick up alot of bedded deer and the people that sit all day stand an excellent of taking deer.
don't get discouraged there's some nice deer on state land.

[firenut8190]

My son love to waterfowl hunt alot more action, I don't know if he will sit all day,time will tell. and a BIG THANKS to all how has replyed.

[Undertow]

Dont count out state land, get out early and do your best to avoid other hunters. If you do see other hunters and their bad habits then it will give your son a real life example of what not to do. It will also give you a chance to explain other hunters mistakes or whatever. Like others have said there are deer on state lands. A guy I work with just shot a beautiful 9pt off of state land.
Good luck
Undertow

[Banditto]

I mean I agree state land can be great, especially for youth season. That would be ideal, but some parts of the state are overrun. On the other hand I hunt state land for firearm and most years we maybe see 5-10 of the same people on sections of 640 acres. So if you are willing to drive a couple hours and tent camp it you will be facing the same thing most of us are. It's not that bad.

And I think knocking on doors is a thing of the past, not many farmers allow people to hunt on their land anymore without a LOT of leg work. Their liability is too great. They can easily charge people for lease rights... too many slob hunters have left the farmers with a bad taste.

I feel for you and your son honestly but you have to try doing what the rest of us do and hoof it up north.

[FISHMANMARK]

My wife and I bought our first home alittle over 2 years ago. The guy I bought it from owns 230 acres surrounding my house. During our negotiations he asked if I bow hunted, I said, "yeah", he said only 1 person bows hunts it, I should get with him and figure out where I can hang a stand. He then asks if I bird hunt, I said "yeah". He says, no one bird hunts, I can help myself. He then asks, Do you gun hunt? Now, I'm thinking I don't care what he wants for the house we are buying it.... I said "yeah". He says, we have got to many people during gun season.
Well, needless to say I was alittle "let down", but thankful I had the opportunity to do some hunting. So, I said, "no problem, I can find some other place to gun hunt".

If you remember correctly, 2 seasons ago, it rained on opening (I think we got a couple of inches), needless to say, they couldn't drive vehicles into the fields to pick up their deer.

I'm 30 years old, the youngest in this group is probably 50, they go up to 70 years old or so.

I spent all afternoon and evening of opening day, dragging deer (I think they shot 5 or 6). Last year, similar situation, however, not nearly the amount of work.

I did all of this, not looking for anything in return. I just helped, because they needed it.

Well, about 3 weeks ago, the former owner stopped by to let me know that they would love to have me start gun hunting with their group.

Firenut, I know this is a little different than your current situation. However, I think it is a good example of how no landowner wants to give up something for nothing. Maybe, you won't find any ground to hunt for this year, try to start fostering "relationships", now, that way in a couple of years you may have the opportunity to hunt some of their ground.

I think the key word is "RELATIONSHIP", not, some old guy lets me hunt his ground.

[part timer]

My perspective as a landowner:

I enjoy sharing access to hunting land with my friends. I don't ask them to help with chores or contribute financially. They do take care of the property when they are on it and are safe and conscientous hunters.

I don't believe I would allow someone who came to the door to have access. Too many opportunities for problems. I don't know if I represent the average landowner but in my experience others have the same general practices.

If you want access you may need to develop a relationship or be prepared to lease the land.

Good luck in your search.

[Backwoods-Savage]

I have been knocking on landowners doors for 2 months tring to get premission to deer hunt for the up coming firearm season for me and my 13 y/o son. It is getting hard to find a place to hunt. If you do not have money to lease or if you are not related to the owners you will not get any premission. I do not want to take my son to state land here in Lenawee co, because I don't want my son to see how a lot of these yahoo hunt and there bad habits. Just need to vent. It is fustrating.

firenut, I am certainly not trying to criticize at all but would like to only point out that one sentence you wrote. Those last words; you will not get any permission. Too often we get what we expect or what we say (or write). Perhaps you should phrase that sentence a little different because while it is extremely difficult to obtain permission to hunt someone else's land, it can be done.

Also, why are you so negative about hunting state land? Yes, there are some slobs out there but there are slobs no matter where you go or what you do. It is sad, but it is a fact and you can't hide these things from your son. You have been exposed to them and you seemed to turn out quite well. Perhaps you son can also deal with it. He probably has already seen slobs in action such as right in the school he attends! Ball games. Parties. In short, any activity where others are congregating. Even landowners who grant permission to others to hunt see slobs!

I also agree with others when they say it is probably more important to develop a relationship before expecting anyone to grant you permission to hunt their land.

Good luck in your quest.

[FISH]

i know what your feelin right now fire. i had to do ALOT of knockin on doors this summer. all i did as present myself nice, professional and a clean cut look. all i did was introduce myself, and tell them a little something about myself, and also try and start a conversation about hunting.. but don't beat around the bush. alot of landowners don't like that. remember they have things to do too. so make it worth there while to talk to you. it worked for me. just keep tryin. good luck. and also ALOT of farmers only let guys that work for them hunt there and.

[Slice]

I remember when I was growing up. My dad would take me and my 2 brothers out to Macomb Township/St. Clair county all the time rabbit, pheasant and deer hunting. All we would have to do is go up and knock on the door and access would be granted with nothing expected in return. The only request would be to not shoot toward their house or barn. We would at the end of the hunt go back and offer some of our success to the land owner as thanks.

Somewhere along the way it turned into what everyone is talking about, give me money to lease my property (but this does not give you exclusive rights) or spend your summers doing chores for me (again you will see all his friends and family out there). I could understand maybe helping with firewood, some household maintenance or helping mending fences (one weekend for a weekend). But some of the landowners want you to come and help them plant, do the maintenance they don't want to do, cut the lawn, and darn near anything else they can think of all summer long. At that point it is just pure GREED on the landowners part. Go ahead and blast away about how it is the landowner who pays the taxes and upkeep (yadda yadda yadda), they have to pay for it whether I hunt there or not.

There are a lot of true sportsmen out there that are willing to pitch in and help a landowner out. The only problem is the landowner is not willing to give the average Joe a chance.

[firenut8190]

Backwoods-savage) The reason I do not like to hunt state land is people do not look beyon there target,I have had bullet hit the trees around me.( I value my and my sons life way to much over that of a deer). They just see deer and shoot, they do not repect other hunters they will set right in your lap if you let them. Don't get me wrong I will hunt state land for other game but not firearm season. Yes you do see that stuff happen on private land but not as much as you do state land. We do not have alot of state land here in lenawee co so it gets hunt by alot of people, Might just have to start going north to big lands.

[Backwoods-Savage]

Point well made. I wish you luck.

[Banditto]

I hunt state land for firearm and most years we maybe see 5-10 of the same people on sections of 640 acres.

honest

[bigcountrysg]

Firenut8190, The problem you have is your in Lenawee County. I know I grew up there. If it was not for my nieghbors I would not have been able to hunt. Lucky for me they thought there was no deer in there woods. Well that is what they get for thinking. They had no problem telling me it was ok for me to hunt.

But back on topic. Lenawee County, if you do not know the farmer personally you most likely are not going to get in on his property to hunt. Because every relative that hunts will be at that property on Nov. 15. You would have better luck getting permission to hunt during archery season.

I disaggree with not having alot of stateland in Lenawee County. You have Lake Hudson state gaming area. You have Onsted State Gaming area. You have a bunch of little patches of stateland that is open to hunting as well.

If you can not find no where to hunt. Then take a couple days off work in the middle of the week and hit up Pickney/Waterloo state gaming area. Those are probablly the two biggest ones near Lenawee County. If those don't work for you. Hit up Sharon Hollow State Game, Lost Nations in Hillsdale County. I know you do not want to hunt stateland. But if you go in the middle of the week it is safer.

[mikieday]

Firenut8190, The problem you have is your in Lenawee County. I know I grew up there. If it was not for my nieghbors I would not have been able to hunt. Lucky for me they thought there was no deer in there woods. Well that is what they get for thinking. They had no problem telling me it was ok for me to hunt.

But back on topic. Lenawee County, if you do not know the farmer personally you most likely are not going to get in on his property to hunt. Because every relative that hunts will be at that property on Nov. 15. You would have better luck getting permission to hunt during archery season.

I disaggree with not having alot of stateland in Lenawee County. You have Lake Hudson state gaming area. You have Onsted State Gaming area. You have a bunch of little patches of stateland that is open to hunting as well.

If you can not find no where to hunt. Then take a couple days off work in the middle of the week and hit up Pickney/Waterloo state gaming area. Those are probablly the two biggest ones near Lenawee County. If those don't work for you. Hit up Sharon Hollow State Game, Lost Nations in Hillsdale County. I know you do not want to hunt stateland. But if you go in the middle of the week it is safer.

those are sure some good suggestions

mikie

[Belongtothewoods]

I just found out about this HAP (Hunter Access Program). I would look into it if I were you. Also, what I would probably do is try and build a relationship with the land owner over time, before asking for permission. Maybe see if you can small game hunt or see if they are willing to let you try and take some coyotes off their land. Not only will they be willing to let you hunt you might make some new hunting buds. Good luck!!

[chevyjam2001]

Slice I think the problem is when we were growing up people did not sue you for stubbing their toe on your property. I think that is the most common reason I was given for not being granted permission. Everybody nowadays is so worried about getting sued over the stupidest thing they are afraid to let anybody on there place. Think about how much we pay for car insurance. How much do you think a farmer would have to pay for liability insurance if some stranger he was kind enough to allow to hunt, fell out of a treestand and sued him for millions of dollars. I am sure they could tollerate quite a bit of crop damage and deal with block permits rather than having to fight a battle in court.

[Neal]

Just sayin'

If you do not have money to lease or if you are not related to the owners you will not get any premission.

" IF YOU THINK YOU CAN YOU WILL ! "
" IF YOU THINK YOU CAN'T YOUR RIGHT ! ";)

[firenut8190]

" If you think you can you will"
" If you think you can't your right"
I have not givin up yet. I will keep tring. I do not give up that easy.

[Slice]

Slice I think the problem is when we were growing up people did not sue you for stubbing their toe on your property. I think that is the most common reason I was given for not being granted permission. Everybody nowadays is so worried about getting sued over the stupidest thing they are afraid to let anybody on there place. Think about how much we pay for car insurance. How much do you think a farmer would have to pay for liability insurance if some stranger he was kind enough to allow to hunt, fell out of a treestand and sued him for millions of dollars. I am sure they could tollerate quite a bit of crop damage and deal with block permits rather than having to fight a battle in court.

I am sure this is probably the main reason. Society has turned into a bunch of vampires sucking the life out of what was once good.

Maybe there is a Lawyer on this site that could draft up a standard release form that would release the land owner of liability due to a persons own negligence. You know the main stuff like falling out of a treestand, shooting yourself in the foot, etc.