Asking permission to hunt private property can provide access to low-pressure hunting areas. The best way to get permission to hunt private land is to ask. We cover five tips to improve your chance of success.
Knocking on a landowner’s door may work for some, but for a less intrusive alternative writing a letter to ask permission to hunt is recommended. The private landowner data in the onX Hunt App generally include a mailing address in addition to landowner names and boundaries. This is a great place to start.
Whether you’re driving through a potential hunting area and viewing public and private land boundaries on your phone or e-scouting with the Web Map, pay attention to any details you can reference in your letter to the landowner.
Here’s how to ask permission to hunt in your letter. First, introduce yourself. Include relevant background information, perhaps noting your place of work or familial ties to the area. Next, show that you’ve done your homework about the property and the landowner from whom you are asking for hunting permission. Begin to close the letter by explaining your hunting ethics and what you would like to hunt on their land.
End the letter by asking permission to hunt, what special rules or regulations they might have for their land, and when you can come by to personally introduce yourself. Be sure to include your mailing address, email, and phone number.
Anything you can do in return goes a long way with private land hunting. And once you get access to a property, keep it by doing what you said you were going to do.
Whether you’ve written a letter first and gotten a positive response or you’ve knocked on a landowner’s door, making a memorable first impression will help your chance of getting permission to hunt private property. Look presentable at the meeting. Some hunters favor bringing along their kids, especially if they plan on hunting with their kids on private land.
If you do not gain permission to hunt their land at this moment, don’t ask for an explanation but do thank them for their time. You can also ask the landowner if they would recommend someone else who might allow hunting access.
UNLOCK CONFIDENCE IN THE UNKNOWNThe most reliable source for private property boundaries and names, updated regularly. Try the onX Hunt App for free.
