Hey Everyone, Just had a really bad experience asking for permission to hunt a vacant lot in SE PA. Anyways here's what happened. I found a really good area across the street from a property I already have permission for, and I was noticing bucks from last year that were now at this new spot when I would drive by. It's a little private drive that lines a few farms and I thought I'd drive up and ask one of the land owners. I found a vacant lot with a realstate agents telephone number on it so I called her up at an appropriate hour. Here's how the conversation went: Me: hello mam how are you? Her: I'm well thanks may I ask who's calling? Me: I am Rudi *******, and I was wondering if you could give me the number of the landowner. Her: sure, his name is Pat *****, can I please ask what this is about? Me: absolutely, I was going to talk to him about hunting on his land. Her: (rude tone) oh so you want to shoot things huh? Me: no mam, I just would like to talk to him about possibly hunting deer. Her: absolutely not, I don't need to worry about the liability of someone gettin shot Me: I understand mam, but I would be using archery equipment no guns. Her: I am appalled with you people and you will not be talking to Mr. B****** about his land because he too would be appalled and I know he would never allow it (she hung up) What's her deal guys? Did I do something wrong? I'm only 17, so this is only the 4th time I've asked permission. I've gotten two yes and two no including her but the other guy who said no was a lot nicer about it. Thoughts?
Maybe she had a bad experience with hunters in her past or she could just really hate hunting. I dont think there was anything you could have done to help. Better luck next time.
http://www.smallacrehunting.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-06-15T07:18:00-07:00&max-results=3 Scroll down until you get to the blog about writing a letter. I used a format similar to his. Sent out 3 letters today. We'll see how it goes. As for my experience, I've never had someone be that nasty but I have had people say no. I had one guy pretend he couldn't hear me over the phone and hang up. I hate asking people for anything, let alone ask them to let a stranger on their land. Letters are much less invasive and doesn't put them on the spot.
Brother I just had a similar experience. A buddy of mine's grandfather has some good huntable land and I ask if I could hunt on it. I even agreed to pay the yearly property taxes. He said "no" because he had trouble in the past. I informed him that I was a police officer and woulnd't allow anyone to tresspass on his land. He still said no.
Homerun hitters strikeout sometimes... Maybe a lesson learned- avoid gatekeepers if you can (like a real estate agent). You don't owe them a full explanation, but recognize she doesn't owe you the owner's name either. Look for any win:win proposition. She might recognize potential benefit (helping her get a sale of the property) if Pat had an interest in having some maintenance work (mowed, cleared, etc) done on the property. You don't owe the agent the explanation that you intended to exchange labor on the lot for hunting privs with the landowner. Maybe the landowner still would've said "No", but that's their prerogative. Check to see if you can find the landowner's contact info online via tax assessor records or a GIS.
Yeah you can't win em all. I'm from southeast pa myself and know what its like down there. So many people down there hate hunting and hunters...thats why there are so many deer. Just keep asking around bud you'll find spots. And if you ever need help huntin em look me up! I miss hunting down there.
Don't worry about it bud. Some people just think the worst when it comes to hunters, unfortunately there are plenty of hunters out there that prove their point of views right. Some people simply hate hunting and don't understand it. It's best to just move on. The funny thing about this is that the person or persons that look at the property or buy it will mostlikely be interested in it for hunting.
Call the landowner still. Forget what the real estate agent thinks. Act like the conversation with her never happened.
Sorry to hear about that . Thats sucks but ill be asking around when i get down to college for my first year in champaign IL. so ill probably get turned down a few times i just hope they will be a little better about it than your lady was.
Don't let it shake you. They'll never always say yes. Like said above, this could be a lesson to all of us. Though it was a good idea to get the name and number from the agent, they're looking to line their pocket book and anything at all that may put that in jeapordy, well, they're going to be defensive and use any tatic they can. A better approach would be to get the address, either figure it out from the mailbox or use the flyer lol. You could also use the GIS system as most counties have that now. Simply do a google search for "county, state GIS". This will give you the landowners name and sometimes contact information. Chances are the agent has already told the landowner and put the fear in him that you hunting will mean it will be harder to sell. Let them grow a year and then talk to the new owners like you've always hunted the place.
