Gaining varmint hunting access.

[alleyyooper]

There is a group (9 now)of us who love to hunt coyotes and probably now spend more time and effort hunting them than any thing.

We all own our own hunting land, friend John owns the most and raises beef cattle. About 8 years ago he went to get some feed ground at the mill. While they were doing it he went to the common area where some farmers were talking about a coyote problem. John volunteered us to take care of the problem. Since that first farm 15 years ago we have gotten permission to coyote hunt 22 other farms by word of mouth. We have permission to small game and bird hunt 18 of those farms. We have permission to bow hunt deer on 4 farms and gun hunt on 1 so far.


When we get a call about a coyote problem we go to the farm as a group (when it was only 6 of us, Today we carry pictures) and introduce our selves, explain all of us will not show up to hunt the coyotes. First thing we ask is where should we park to be out of your way? Second question is can they/he show us all his property lines. Once that is out of the way we ask about where they see the coyotes come from and go to, that gives us an idea of where to start searching for where we will set up.


When we go to the farm to hunt we always park where they told us to, Wave or say hello to any one we see when we are getting ready to go to our set. Any gates we open we close behind us, we do not climb over a fence even if a coyote might make it thru one to another field before dying, we will walk several hundred yards to use a gate instead, once in a while if it is dry we will shimmy under a barb wire fence. Never ever walk across a muddy wheat or other field. Have always stopped when we leave and thank them for calling us to fix their coyote problem and how we did that day. let them know we may be back again even if we got a couple, have always been told we are welcome.
Never ran across a farmer that refused permission to hunt varmints unless some slobs made a mess before we got there.


Al

 

[JRS]

A bit of diplomacy works wonders, Eh

 

[K22]

It's their land, respect it, respect the owner, hunt safely and always ask permission or let them know you're on their land. I have several farms where I have an open invitation but I always let them know when I there hunting. Dropping off a bag of donuts a few times a year also works.

 

[stretch257]

I can say that I don't like to tell people no if they ask to hunt, but I don't think that people respect my wishes as a land owner. We have asked hunters to not drive in places and it's like a magnet for them the biggest problems are the large Deer hunting groups 30 plus people.
But if you can do what I ask you would be welcome back any time.
The sad thing now is people are buying up ground for hunting and they let no one but themselves hunt and it's to a point that we have to many groups hunting. We have had conflicts between hunting groups. Rember you may not be the only one with permission.

 

[Schism]

Stopping out and saying hi or giving a helping hand OUTSIDE OF HUNTING SEASON goes a long way to show appreciation. Good on the OP for building and maintaining good relationships with landowners. Many others could learn a lot from him.

 

[alleyyooper]

We do not always let them know we are hunting their place. Many a full moon night with snow on the ground we will park in one of the field access points and go in to hunt.

Other wise they know we are there hunting because we park where they told us to. We normally are not there over an hour any way being we are hunting coyotes.

Al

 

[Gary in MD]

I know what would help my access to my good varmint hunting grounds....
People stop building houses on good hunting properties!!!
I get a tear in my eyes when I see my old hunting grounds filling up with houses and sub divisions.
G

 

[Texas Solo]

I know what would help my access to my good varmint hunting grounds....
People stop building houses on good hunting properties!!!
I get a tear in my eyes when I see my old hunting grounds filling up with houses and sub divisions.
G

I had a great relationship with landowner when I lived in Md. I was invited by a friend for a deer hunt one year. While speaking with landowner, he mentioned a groundhog issue eating up all his soybean crop, as well as his personal garden. I said I could take care of that for him. First summer/fall season, I shot 130 groundhogs. Owner has one happy guy. 15 years, hundreds of hogs and a few really nice later, I moved to Texas.

Hunting sucks here. Plenty of critters, but everyone wants to be paid. No lease...you ain't hunting.
I had folks complain to me about their feral hog problems. "their killing my property". I volunteer to dispose of them and their reaction is always the same..
"great, how $100 a hog sound?"
I said "no thanks, I'll do it for free"
"ahh, that's not I meant".
"Yeah, I know. But you're the one with a hog issue, not me".

Been here almost 10 years. Shot ONE hog that wondered into my coyote hunt.
The coyote landowner is cool. He has a problem and he's happy to have me shoot them.
10 years, about 80 coyotes.

 

[stretch257]

I believe as a land owner it is my responsibility to manage the animals. Just as I do my cattle. I enjoy coyote hunting above all in Iowa. So even though I like to hunt them I still let others hunt and trap to control population. The trapper caught 15 in about a square mile. That is much better than I can do calling. Especially the educated ones!

I find it sad that so much of the hunting has gone to pay to play. So sad for the youth of today.

 

[BrandonK]

For whatever reason I've never asked a land owner to hunt. I kinda feel like a used car salesman or something just coming out of the blue. I think it'd be different if I heard something or what not. I guess that's why I'm stuck hunting public. I will say one thing, if I ever did/do gain permission to hunt someone else's land, I'd treat it better than my own and anyone who doesn't respect said landowners wishes is foolish!