Cold "call" for permission?

[Darth-Baiter]

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

When I asked for permission to hunt private land the last couple of years in person, I kept that in mind.  Most of the people I talk to are older.  I simply took a couple steps back from the door and put a little more space in between.  So yes, that was on my mind too, you aren't the only one.

 

I would not visit someone if I knew I was sick.

I agree 100%

 

My brother and I once hunted near Marfa Tex.  we hoped to do this shortcut thru some guys property.  at the gate the guy had a very infamous nazi symbol.  lets just say we went around.  hahahaha... 

[Deleted account]

22 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

LOL. Aren't you the kayak hater anyway?

 

LOL. I don't hate them, I just find the folks sitting in them silly, and my response would apply to folks wanting to fish from shore or any other type of craft as well....

[Darth-Baiter]

thats why bass boats have pedestal seats..so you can look down at the unworthy....

 

you can't be expected to stand all day, or sit on the deck..not with all the rich food and pampering all your life.

[ol'crickety]

I accessed one pond by knocking on the door and baking pecan chocolate chip cookies when I fished it. With another, another door knocking and I thanked them with a gift bag. 

[WRB]

The 1st thing to do is look for posted private property or fenced. If it’s open land no signs or fences go for it.

Tom

[king fisher]

     Knock on the door of the closest house to the pond.  If the person that lives there isn't the land owner, they will probably no who is and where they live. Try to find out something about the land owner, without asking to many questions.  You never know, your kid may play on the same football team, as his nephew, or something else you may have in common, went to the same college etc.

        When you show up at the owners house to ask permission, make sure it is not at a time they would be busy.  Do not knock on a farmers door during harvest, or a ranchers house during calving season.  Don't drive up in a brand new expensive pick up or sports car, wearing expensive clothes.  Drive a vehicle that looks like what the local people drive, and wear the same kind of clothes that you expect the person answering the door to wear.  Make them feel like you are one of them, not some one from a different place.

      Pay attention as you drive up.  Do they have an antique car, an old motorcycle, boat, fruit tree, and what type of crop they are growing.  After introducing yourself, the first thing you do is ask them about something you have noticed.  Nice wheat crop, what variety do you plant?  Nice Herford cattle, have you always raised Herford's?  Is that a 36 or 37 ford, parked by the barn? etc.

       Once you have exchanged some pleasantries, such as your name, where you are from, the weather, crops, motorcycles, etc. then state your business.  Simply ask him for permission to fish his pond.  If he tells you yes, that is when you ask about something you found out while doing your home work.  Are you related to the Smith who has a son playing football for the local community college?  I saw a trophy at the local barber shop with your last name on it were you the one that won the county trap shooting title 5 years in a row?  You don't only want permission for one day, you want to try and start a friendship.  You never know he may own more ponds, that he only lets family fish, but would be willing to make an exception for a new friend.

      If he politely says no, than politely ask if he doesn't mind telling you the reason.  If he is wishy washy on the reason, or says he only lets friends and family, then it may be time to bring up the cousin you played football with.  I have had more than one no turn into a lifetime yes.  Be careful not to be pushy, and always ask if it would be ok if you stopped by an ask again another time.  He may need to check with a relative before giving permission, and the next time you stop he may say yes. 

     If the answer is a firm no, then thank him for his time, mention again, what nice cattle, car, etc. he has and say good by.  You always want to be appreciative, even if he is never going to let you fish.  He may have a neighbor that you want to ask permission someday and if you offend one person in the community you may offend them all.  I once had a man tell me straight up hell no, get off my property, but I kept my composure and politely thanked him for his time, while complementing him on his garden.  On my way back to the car, he yelled at me to ask his uncle down the road.  He said he some times lets people hunt.  His Uncle let me hunt, and the next year, I was able to hunt on the hell no guys place too.

     If you do fish the pond find out if you can keep fish and if they would like you to keep some for them to eat. When you are finished fishing, always stop and tell the owner thanks, offer them some fish, tell them something you noticed that you appreciate unique to their pond,( nice fountain, did you build it etc,) send them a thankyou card in the mail.  At Christmas time, send them a card, and a gift.  The gift should not be expensive, but represent something that they will relate to you.  When I hunted in Alberta, I always sent the land owners smoked salmon from Alaska.  I was from Alaska, connecting me with the gift, and who doesn't like smoked wild salmon?

      This may sound like a lot, or a little like a con man, but is really simply trying to become friends with the land owner.  I used to duck hunt in Alberta, and became friends with many family's I met there.  One family still sends me a Christmas card, even though it has been years since I was back.  They tell me about their kids, cattle prices, corn crop etc. and they always asks me to come back to hunt some time.  I actually feel bad that my life has changed and I don't have time to come hunt on their property.

      Basically you should knock on their door, but do some homework, be prepared and know exactly what you are going to say. 

 

      

[gimruis]

On 3/24/2023 at 10:04 PM, WRB said:

The 1st thing to do is look for posted private property or fenced. If it’s open land no signs or fences go for it.

Tom

Not necessarily. I don’t know what the specific state trespass laws are in the OPs state, but here in MN you cannot enter private land without permission, whether it’s posted or not.

[WRB]

If the property is obvious private like farm or ranch land you can’t trespass. Undeveloped land in California is 90% Forest Service or posted private.

IF you don’t know the property owner today it’s very difficult to get permission to fish, impossible to hunt because if liability laws.

Tom

   

[Cbump]

I was hoping wrb meant go for It like go for It and ask the landowner if there’s no posted signs. 
But obviously not 😳

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

     Knock on the door of the closest house to the pond.  If the person that lives there isn't the land owner, they will probably no who is and where they live. Try to find out something about the land owner, without asking to many questions.  You never know, your kid may play on the same football team, as his nephew, or something else you may have in common, went to the same college etc.

        When you show up at the owners house to ask permission, make sure it is not at a time they would be busy.  Do not knock on a farmers door during harvest, or a ranchers house during calving season.  Don't drive up in a brand new expensive pick up or sports car, wearing expensive clothes.  Drive a vehicle that looks like what the local people drive, and wear the same kind of clothes that you expect the person answering the door to wear.  Make them feel like you are one of them, not some one from a different place.

      Pay attention as you drive up.  Do they have an antique car, an old motorcycle, boat, fruit tree, and what type of crop they are growing.  After introducing yourself, the first thing you do is ask them about something you have noticed.  Nice wheat crop, what variety do you plant?  Nice Herford cattle, have you always raised Herford's?  Is that a 36 or 37 ford, parked by the barn? etc.

       Once you have exchanged some pleasantries, such as your name, where you are from, the weather, crops, motorcycles, etc. then state your business.  Simply ask him for permission to fish his pond.  If he tells you yes, that is when you ask about something you found out while doing your home work.  Are you related to the Smith who has a son playing football for the local community college?  I saw a trophy at the local barber shop with your last name on it were you the one that won the county trap shooting title 5 years in a row?  You don't only want permission for one day, you want to try and start a friendship.  You never know he may own more ponds, that he only lets family fish, but would be willing to make an exception for a new friend.

      If he politely says no, than politely ask if he doesn't mind telling you the reason.  If he is wishy washy on the reason, or says he only lets friends and family, then it may be time to bring up the cousin you played football with.  I have had more than one no turn into a lifetime yes.  Be careful not to be pushy, and always ask if it would be ok if you stopped by an ask again another time.  He may need to check with a relative before giving permission, and the next time you stop he may say yes. 

     If the answer is a firm no, then thank him for his time, mention again, what nice cattle, car, etc. he has and say good by.  You always want to be appreciative, even if he is never going to let you fish.  He may have a neighbor that you want to ask permission someday and if you offend one person in the community you may offend them all.  I once had a man tell me straight up hell no, get off my property, but I kept my composure and politely thanked him for his time, while complementing him on his garden.  On my way back to the car, he yelled at me to ask his uncle down the road.  He said he some times lets people hunt.  His Uncle let me hunt, and the next year, I was able to hunt on the hell no guys place too.

     If you do fish the pond find out if you can keep fish and if they would like you to keep some for them to eat. When you are finished fishing, always stop and tell the owner thanks, offer them some fish, tell them something you noticed that you appreciate unique to their pond,( nice fountain, did you build it etc,) send them a thankyou card in the mail.  At Christmas time, send them a card, and a gift.  The gift should not be expensive, but represent something that they will relate to you.  When I hunted in Alberta, I always sent the land owners smoked salmon from Alaska.  I was from Alaska, connecting me with the gift, and who doesn't like smoked wild salmon?

      This may sound like a lot, or a little like a con man, but is really simply trying to become friends with the land owner.  I used to duck hunt in Alberta, and became friends with many family's I met there.  One family still sends me a Christmas card, even though it has been years since I was back.  They tell me about their kids, cattle prices, corn crop etc. and they always asks me to come back to hunt some time.  I actually feel bad that my life has changed and I don't have time to come hunt on their property.

      Basically you should knock on their door, but do some homework, be prepared and know exactly what you are going to say.       

 

Is this pond in Langley?...  

[WRB]

37 minutes ago, Cbump said:

I was hoping wrb meant go for It like go for It and ask the landowner if there’s no posted signs. 
But obviously not 😳

No need to get permission to fish on public land is my point. 
Tom

[Cbump]

I’m not good at reading between the lines. 
I didn’t know anyone was talking about public land in this thread or that people thought you needed permission to access It. 
 

Although, since we’re talking public land now, depending on the state, you might need a permit to access It. 

You know, I just can’t recommend “going for It” Just because the land isn’t posted in hopes that it’s public. 
That would not go over well in Texas. 

[Functional]

Live in NC, no fences and no posted signs to keep off. According to GIS there is a small plot of land (few hundred square feet) that belong to the town for a small piece of machinery for the tiny dam the pond has. His property surrounds that piece so regardless I'd have to travel over his stuff (maybe 500ft) to get to that "public" piece. 

 

He (or someone) over the weekend just tilled the property but left that small section I'd plan to access open. I'm assuming to allow the town access to their equipment.

 

Aside from being the right thing to do, my main drive for getting permission is something I've found out about living here where hunting or fishing property is involved. Anyone who has access, or doesnt have access...will pretend its their land and be fairly hostile to run you off and I've heard way too many times guns being pulled out for intimidation. I want the guys permission and number weather this is for hunting or fishing so I can let that hostile person call the land owner up and let the owner deal with the ass hat they let roam their property, if they even did. I love my hobbies but not enough to get shot or have to shoot someone over. 

[flyfisher]

Here in Virginia there are GIS systems available to find the owners of properties for all the areas around me.  I have researched a few places and looked them up and reached out to gain access.  I am not one to walk up to a house and contact a person but I have reached out via phone and had some success.  Property tax records are public information.  I never rely on word of mouth for access as I know if it was my property I wouldn't want people on it without permission.  I also do not push the issue or try to sell my case if denied.  It is a simple thanks for your time and if you change your mind please let me know and I give them my contact info.  

[gimruis]

16 hours ago, Cbump said:

I didn’t know anyone was talking about public land in this thread or that people thought you needed permission to access It. 
 

Although, since we’re talking public land now, depending on the state, you might need a permit to access It. 

You know, I just can’t recommend “going for It” Just because the land isn’t posted in hopes that it’s public. 

This was my interpretation too initially when I was responding to Tom's post about entering it if it wasn't posted.  He's obviously now clarified that he was referring to it as being public land, not private.  My point was that even if the land isn't posted, and its privately owned, you cannot enter it without permission.  At least here you can't.  I know in some states like North Dakota you can enter private land without permission if it isn't posted, but there have been some problems with that recently so the laws may have changed there.

 

If I knew the land was privately owned, I wouldn't even consider stepping foot on it without permission regardless of whether it was posted or not.  That's trouble I don't need.

8 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

if it was my property I wouldn't want people on it without permission.  I also do not push the issue or try to sell my case if denied.  It is a simple thanks for your time

This is how I try to approach it too.  Put yourself in the shoes of the landowner.  Would you want a stranger there?  I know I wouldn't.  When I ask for permission to hunt on private land, some of them say no.  You just have to accept it and move on.  Its their land, they can do what they want with it.