Securing Permission to Hunt Turkeys
By Toby Trigger

Posted: April 19, 2015

Hunters across the nation are gearing up for one of the most coveted seasons in the outdoor community – spring turkey hunting.

Like coastal residents stocking up on groceries before a hurricane, sportsmen clear the shelves of decoys and ammo at local sporting goods shops. But in the midst of all the madness, many sportsmen forget to gain access to quality hunting grounds – a key component to successfully harvesting a spring gobbler.

Follow these tips to make obtaining landowner permission a breeze.

Visit in Person: When asking for permission to hunt, visit the landowner during times of sufficient daylight. Nobody likes a stranger showing up after dark. Wear clean clothes and explain exactly where you want to hunt and why. Contact landowners through the phone as a last resort.

Be Respectable: Make eye contact and use a polite tone when asking for permission; it can go a long way. Coming off as a kind and courteous individual can turn a “no” into a possible “yes.” Even if the landowner says “no,” thank them for their time. Your good manners may sway their opinions about letting you or others hunt in the future.

Share the Harvest: Landowners oftentimes enjoy the opportunity to consume wild game harvested on their property. Offer a few packages of processed meat in return for the chance to hunt a property.

IMG_20140425_091414Provide Contact Information: One of the keys to my own personal success in securing permission has been providing landowners with a business card that includes all my personal details, such as name, address, phone number and hunter identification number. By giving them this information, the landowner feels far more comfortable knowing they can contact me or our state’s DNR if an issue arises.

Offer to Help: See a broken fence when scouting the property? How about that dead tree branch on the lawn from last week’s storm? Trade physical labor or a skill in return for permission to hunt. The gesture lets the landowner know that you place value on using their land.

Take Them Hunting: Extend an invitation to participate in the hunt to the landowner. Many people have interest in hunting, but have never had the opportunity to do so. Teaching another person to hunt helps ensure the future of our outdoor heritage.

Send a Thank You Note: If you happen to get permission to hunt a piece of property, follow up with the landowner after the season concludes. Send them a handwritten thank you card or letter. A few years back, I sent one landowner a picture of my sister posing with her turkey after a successful youth hunt. That picture remains on their fridge to this day, and I enjoy an invitation to hunt year after year.

For more turkey hunting tips and information, please visit our friends at the National Wild Turkey Federation

Original article written by :

By Cameron Pauli, Digital Media Specialist at USSA http://www.ussportsmen.org/news/securing-permission-to-hunt-turkeys/

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