Where Can I Even Hunt Anymore?
By Tom Nelson
This is a common question I hear among my bowhunting buddies, and it’s a very real concern for all of us these days. In a recent survey conducted by the National Deer Alliance, hunters were asked what they perceived as the biggest obstacles facing them today. Not surprising, having access to property they can hunt was one of the main issues. Urban sprawl with its subdivisions and shopping malls are sprouting up in areas that once grew soybeans and corn. Small farmers are selling out as the price of property skyrockets. Moving out into the country seems to be the rage these days as more and more people want a piece of the country life.
One of my favorite bowhunting spots as a young novice bowhunter back in the mid 1970’s is unrecognizable today. Once rural farmland and woods, now there are large homes with extensive yards that stretch as far as the eye can see. The woodlot I arrowed my first buck in is now full of homes, black top roads and streetlights. The field I used to hunt pheasants with my dog is now a grocery store. Times have changed for sure and as a bowhunter I have had to make some changes also.
Forty years ago I had access to hundreds of acres of good hunting ground. Seldom was I turned down when I knocked on a door and requested permission to bowhunt. Perhaps it was the fact I was bowhunting and most landowners likely thought I was crazy and would be of no real threat to the local deer population with my 45-pound recurve and feather fletched cedar arrows. More than once I had a landowner or farmer help me gain access to another acreage without me even asking. They just did it. Looking back, I realize now just how blessed to have that kind of access. It was more land than I could personally hunt in a season. My life as a bowhunter couldn’t have been better.
Things began to change In 1980. First, one of my favorite small farms sold out to a big corporate farm that allowed no hunting, period. Only a few short years later, another great piece of my hunting access was sold to a developer. That property soon became a subdivision as did most of the adjoining farmland. I was slowly but surely being squeezed out of my hunting areas. Life as a bowhunter was changing forever, and not in a good way.
These days I have access to a few small local parcels, one as little as 7 acres, but I am still bowhunting and tagging whitetails every fall. I just adapted to the times, learned to hunt smaller parcels and hunt smarter. The same can be said regarding our local whitetail population. They too had to adapt and change as their habitat was altered and adapt, they did. With little effort whitetails quickly learned to live right alongside humans in what had become by far, a more confined area.
Gaining access to these small parcels of land that are often surrounded by homes and businesses takes a bit of time and some different techniques when asking permission to hunt. I have found that many of these small landowners are on the fence as far as hunting is concerned. They do not hunt and they do not know much, if anything, about hunting. In my opinion, it is far easier to get permission to bowhunt than to gun hunt. To the landowner it is perceived as far less intrusive having someone bowhunt on their property than gun hunting. I always try and keep a low profile and be sure to not be any sort of burden to the landowner.
When seeking permission to hunt, I generally have my wife come along. I do not wear any camo clothing or attire that marks me as a hunter. I wear normal street clothes and present myself as a normal, respectful guy. Having my wife along has always helped as I explain that the two of us bowhunt together. Honestly, I believe that its harder to turn down our request to hunt when you have your wife with you. The same can be said for children. Bring along your kids when asking for permission. Let the landowner see that you’re a good family man.
Gaining access is one thing and maintaining it is quite another. Keep in mind that the land you may have permission to hunt right now is being sought after by others. One landowner who granted my wife and I permission to bowhunt has told me that he is approached at least 2-3 times a year for permission to hunt his small woodlot. I make sure that every Christmas I take him and his wife a gift of some sort to thank them and to let them know how appreciative we are to hunt their property. Be sure and take the time to do this every year. Never take it for granted that you will have access next year.
I have found that it is best to not wait until the week before deer season to seek permission, so start knocking on doors in the spring or early summer. If you don’t have much luck, do get discouraged and keep searching for other potential spots. Personal, face-to-face meetings are best as it is far harder to turn someone down in person than over the phone. Even the smallest parcels of land can be gold mines for bowhunting if it is the right piece of land. Many parcels are overlooked as they appear small and yet they can be productive when it comes to hunting. Because these small parcels are often overlooked, they can be perfect for gaining access to.
Most important is that you are always respectful of the landowner and that you care for the land he allows you to hunt. Never cut trees or limbs without first seeking permission. If you are fortunate to tag a whitetail, extract it without the landowner having to witness the gory details.
Even though it’s mid-September, you might still find a decent spot to hunt if you stick with the game plan and keep a friendly and positive attitude. Take some time from your schedule and seek out some new hunting spots. One just never knows how long permission to hunt will last. Having multiple sites to hunt, albeit small ones, guarantees hunting access in the future.
Good luck this season and let’s be safe out there.
-Tom
Tom Nelson sets up a stand on a new hunting spot.