Advice for finding new private land?!?!?

Well my dad and I have been long time hunting partners and yesterday that all came to an end. Sunday night I had passed on several deer waiting on something bigger. This did not sit well with him because he could have sat in that stand and "put meat in the freezer." So I got a text yesterday telling me that I can no longer hunt either of the 2 properties that we hunted because I'm a "horn hunter" and I'm taking stands that he could be using to get meat.

I have waterfowl hunted most of my life so I know in order to get permission for private ground I will have to do a lot of driving, door knocking, and handshaking. But it seems to me that getting permission to deer hunt will be a lot more difficult than waterfowl hunting. Is that usually the case? Any other advice on how to approach gaining deer hunting permission?

By the way, I am well aware that deer season is probably over for me this year, as I am mainly a bow hunter and we only have 3 weeks left till gun season. I also know that public land is an option, but I want to exhaust my efforts trying to get private land first.

 

You have it all wrong sir and it is good to hear it from someone on the internet you do not know.

Many people on this website would cut off their left arm to be able to hunt with their father again.

Figure out how you can make it work with your Dad. I would suggest maybe filling the freezer then working on your antlers.

 

Frenchbritt123 has (THIS ONE) right! Patch things up with your dad! None of us on this earth forever. I wasn't all that old when I lost my dad. I wish I would have done a heck of a lot of things different. If ONLY I would have known what I know now back then! I'll carry it with me the rest of my life.

 

I completely understand what you are saying and I appreciate your advice. But I passed on a button buck and fawn, a doe in which I drew on but before I released I heard a grunt behind her. The grunt came from a little fork horn 1.5 yo deer so I passed him, then I drew on a basket 6 and passed him because I heard a snort weeze behind me. It ended up being a big 8 that I drew on but he never came out of the brush.

I don't count on venison to survive so I'm not just going to shoot every deer I see. If it would have been 2 weeks ago when the rut wasn't kicking in, I would have shot the doe without hesitation.

 

He is actually correct for a change. My Dad is also a meat hunter who doesn't really get to interested in hunting for a good mature buck. To him if you happen to kill a good buck while filling the freezer thats just a bonus. We have had a few talks about him killing some young bucks but in the end its his choice and you just have to deal with it. If I were you I would try to patch stuff up with your old man because you never know what could happen down the road. Also work on filling the freezer first if thats what he wants. If you pass up a small buck just don't tell him about it. Unless he hunts real close to you just act like you never saw it.

 

Take a step back and look at the big picture.

Fill the freezer with your Dad and then focus on the rest.

 

Old mans land Old mans rules fill his freezer with does early in the season so he's not bothering you about the small bucks your passing.

 

Again I understand what you are saying but when the properties that we hunt are my dads friends and he tells me to get my stuff out of the woods and not to come back, what are you supposed to do?

 

Become a doe slayer! Fill the freezer and shouldn't have to worry about your dad pop'n button bucks!

 

Not sure where your from but I know my old man has a different out look on hunting then most people you talk to today especially Midwest versus the South. I grew up hunting huge properties in the south where if it was brown it was down. Back then big bucks were hard to come by. Now that land management is in affect in most areas the bucks are growing down there. I would say patch it up with him hunt his style there and work on getting your own piece to hunt your way. Your young swallow your pride and go talk to the old man about it and let him know you will hunt the way he wants you to.

 

I had some misunderstandings with my father and spent about 15 years apart. We have been on great terms now for several years. I will never get those years back. All has been forgiven and we talk several times a week now. He is now dying of cancer and I will never forgive myself for those lost years. Someday your dad will be gone as well. Do whatever needs to be done to fix the problem. Even if it means hunting his way. You will have the rest of your life to hunt your way. I understand you passing on young deer and small bucks. But....I say keep the peace and keep your dad. I will do it soon as well.

 

As others have said you should work it out with the old man...you dont know what you have till it's gone....big bucks are great but fathers are way better....the deer will always be there

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Go talk to your ol man! u don't wanna lose a one of a kind hunting partner! I don't hunt with my ol man much, he hunts the big woods in vt which doesn't suit my style. I`m gonna try to get out and hunt with him more this year, cause hes not getting any younger. Luckily, hes a trophy hunter so I wont have the same battle, but if it was the other way around.... He calls me everyday after I get out of the stand to find out what I`m seeing . That's the kind of stuff u don't wanna lose.

 

I can't tell who's at fault here.

First, what kind of father would screw over his son like that? And second what kind of son would just throw in the towel so easily? I mean, you're NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT A HUNTING PARTNER RELATIONSHIP. This will affect your entire relationship w/ your father.

 

I'm not blaming anybody here. To further explain, I guess it might help, My dad has never been a "father figure", we have always been more friends than anything. The reason I am throwing in the towel so easily is because this is not the first time I have heard "we are no longer hunting together" from him, actually it is the 3rd time. The prior 2 times were not because of being a "horn hunter" though. 1 time was because I refused to shoot geese flying 40-50yds overhead with no intention of committing to our decoys.

The prior 2 times I have been the one to put our differences aside so that we can have a functioning relationship. But both times, I was told I was no longer allowed to deer hunt "his" woods. Which is fine and dandy because at that time I was never cranked up about deer hunting. I did it because he enjoyed it. Last year I bought a bow and decided to get serious about deer hunting so that is why I want to find my own place to hunt. That way when he gets a burr up his ***, my hunting season isn't ruined.

 

I understand this. Finding private land is not easy. I would get in my truck and drive country roads. I will approach people at their homes. I would not do it in camo or on days you planned on hunting. I would explain that I am a bow hunter and not a gun hunter and that you would respect their land and their privacy and you would leave their land in better shape than you found it. I would offer to help them with chores or land clean-up and that you kill those pesky animals like coons and coyote. Good luck! If you have money it might be easier to look for land to lease.

 

My old man was the same way when i was growing up. A real pain in my a$@, (or so I thought). I used to rifle hunt with him every year until he passed away when I was 15. I have not been rifle hunting since. There isn't much I wouldn't do to have one last hunting season with him. My point is, right now it's not too late to try and sit down and explain what your thoughts are and smooth things over before it IS too late. Make things right with your dad bro. Side note. My kids are young but when they get older you bet I will have them with me in the woods.

 

I understand, I never had a very close relationship w/ my dad, he never taught me how to fish, he bought me a fishing pole and said "hey have fun", and when I didn't know what I was doing and didn't catch anything, I thought it sucked.

Fast-forward to many years later and dad passing away before we've even really sat down to share a beer, and then you have the time to think about what could have been.

After thinking about it, you're probably right to move on if this has been an ongoing hassle.

 

I would start by writing a letter and printing off a couple hundred copies. Go to a church or town hall meetings in rural areas. Hand out letters with your contact information. Be polite, and be sure to offer to help with chores, buy them a nice dinner, hunt coyotes, whatever they may need. Also make it clear you are bowhunting (bowhunters tend to have a more positive image at least in my area). Explain you will follow any rules/ requests they may have. If you know of some bigger cattle farmers, the coyote hunting may be one of your best cards since farmers hate when coyotes get their calves.

 

Drive around until you find good looking land and start knocking on the door. If the land owner says no send them a thank you for speaking with me card and leave your contact info on it incase they change their mind. This doesnt always work but sometimes it shows your a good guy and maybe they'll call you. Always offer to lend a hand around the property in the summer mow lawns in the fall rake leaves and in the winter shovel snow! If you do get permission when you kill something give them some meat. But not just a couple pounds of hamburger sacrifice a some good suff. I will be giving the guy that owns the farm i hunt a full backstrap, some jerky, some hamburger, and little sausage from the deer i killed this weekend. It helps to keep realationships good so you can hunt the following year.