Requesting Private Land Access to Shoot???

[Milton02]

LRH members,

Question for you all regarding on the best approach to requesting access to private land for shooting. Being in upstate NY, most ranges tap out @ 300 yards and BLM doesn't exist up here.

Have any of you, in your experience, had success requesting access to private land to simply shoot and if so, how did you go about it? Just trying to find an avenue to scratch the LR shooting itch I caught in NM. Thanks for your time folks, shoot well!!!

-Milton

 

[ATH]

Shooting brings liability. In my experience, you will only get access to shoot if you have a pretty decent personal relationship with the landowner. Knocking on doors is unlikely to get you far.

 

[geo4061]

Hate it, ATH is right.

 

[WeiserBucks]

It's tough, most land owners don't want to deal with the liability and other issues. Most have had a poor experience in the past, people leaving garbage, leaving gates open ect.

 

[Milton02]

I figured the biggest issue would be liability - guess I'll need to make some connections and build some trust.

 

[Canhunter35]

Offer to do something, take care of a varmint problem, etc, that'll help build some trust. I am a landowner and if someone who shoots gophers on my land, I would let shoot long range, but somebody I don't know, sorry

 

[Zen Archery]

I talk all the time about my hobby/interest in the great outdoors and hunting. I've had more than 1 occasion of someone saying "I've got a property..."

 

[geo4061]

Zen you have been lucky and very fortunate. When I was growing up I would grab my gun or bow and just go hunting. Never worrying about property lines or permission. If I bumped into a ranch owner the conversation went like this. "What are you doing young man." "I am rabbit hunting,sir." "OK, just be careful." Now on those same ranches they won't even let the hired hands carry a weapon. You trespass and you will go to jail. I have ask a have a dozen property owners this year who were complaining to me about property damage if I might try to help with their hog problem. No takers. I think one thing that has helped you is your use of thermal. People are curious and even want to hunt with you to try it out. This opens the door. If thermal was legal in Oklahoma I would be first in line to buy one.

 

[blinderthanascope]

Zen you have been lucky and very fortunate. When I was growing up I would grab my gun or bow and just go hunting. Never worrying about property lines or permission. If I bumped into a ranch owner the conversation went like this. "What are you doing young man." "I am rabbit hunting,sir." "OK, just be careful." Now on those same ranches they won't even let the hired hands carry a weapon. You trespass and you will go to jail. I have ask a have a dozen property owners this year who were complaining to me about property damage if I might try to help with their hog problem. No takers. I think one thing that has helped you is your use of thermal. People are curious and even want to hunt with you to try it out. This opens the door. If thermal was legal in Oklahoma I would be first in line to buy one.

it aint like it use to be that's for sure, we use to go about anywhere and shoot, now days it's watch out... you may get lucky go to a country store where farmers meet up and try to get to know them slowly maybe have some skills they may need of, favors gets things done sometimes

 

[Milton02]

Yep, looks like It'll have to be the old stalk and wait! Sounds an awful lot like hunting, just for land - how ironic haha.

I appreciate all the input guys!

 

[Zen Archery]

Business sales practice says you'll get 1:10 to answer a call 1:20 to respond. Figured the more I talk to people about how much I like being outdoors that 1:20 will eventually respond.
Sometimes they are 1 time invites. Others have given me full access to their property. (I still call all of them before heading out to build up the relationship always asking if they need me to take care of anything).
So far I've fixed 3 fence lines, cut down several trees, help deliver 1 calf, loaded multiple head of cattle to sell to the market, learned to drive a tractor (may have accidentally forgotten to hit the clutch that later resulted in a fence line repair.)
Sell your love for the great outdoors people will eventually meet you there.