Check Out Our Fishing & Hunting Tips Below!

First, you must understand what type of landowner you're dealing with…

1.  The Farmer- a hard-working blue-collar guy who probably does not talk much. You’ll have to earn his respect and trust. Find common ground with him like talking farming or a topic all farmers enjoy, the weather. He’s a guy that usually loves to talk shop and politics. Show him you can relate to his struggles as an American farmer and you’ll slowly earn his trust.

2.   The LLC or Trust- this can be the hardest person to find and the toughest nut to crack. Getting “Free” permission is probably not going to happen as they look at their property as a commodity and they know hunters will pay to play. But one way to break ground with these types of landowners is to offer to keep an eye on things for them, help with cut shooting lanes and brush hogging. Helping to maintain the property will help you get in the door quicker. But beware, he’s also the kind of guy that will sell it to the next highest bidder next season. 

3.   The “Yes” man- beware of this landowner. As a hunter, you don’t want to be in a place that has too many people hunting it. The “yes” man tends to give everyone permission to hunt which can result in you putting in a lot of work and energy to get ready for hunting season only to walk into what appears to be a KOA Campground on opening day.

4.   The sweet old lady- most cherish and appreciate the fact that you are asking for permission to hunt. But don’t be fooled by her sweet demeanor as a sign of weakness. Show her the same respect you would a male landowner, be a good listener and use good manners. IF she gets offended or uncomfortable, she will shut down. But remember, once you’ve earned her trust, you just might have a place to hunt for a long time. The female landowners tend to be more loyal than her male counterpart. 

5.   Mr. Stonewall- These guys sometimes are unapproachable. They are the toughest landowners to get permission from. Be prepared, it may take a few years to make a breakthrough. But persistence will sometimes pay off as long as you are respectful and take interest in him as the landowner. You will definitely have to EARN his trust. Again, offering to clean up and maintain the property may go a long way to getting permission. He’s not going to give you something for nothing in return. He will make you earn it!!! 

When looking at photos of deer, check the:

Legs. Deer legs are disproportionately long for bucks under 2 1/2 years old. At 3 1/2, they hit proportional length and by 4 1/2, the legs look too short for the body size.

Rump-to-chest ratio. Bucks under 2 1/2 also have larger rumps than chests. 3 1/2-year-old bucks have larger chests, but by 4 1/2, a buck's chest will begin to look disproportionately bigger than the rump.

Neck size and position. The older bucks get, the larger their necks get. By 4 1/2 or older, the neck will blend into the chest and will look like one continuous line.

Stomach. Young bucks have tight stomachs and look athletic. By 3 1/2, they have tight stomachs and full chests. At 4 1/2, their bellies start to sag and give it the appearance of a gut hanging do.