Question about land access

[texasrig]

Is it bad form to find a piece of property that looks like it would be a good place to hunt, track down the land owner and request permission to lease the hunting rights to the land or possibly just ask permission to hunt free of charge?

There are lots of good areas around me that don't appear to be used for hunting at the moment. I have a friend that lives in Kansas and he said this is how he has gotten most of his hunting areas. With all the money folks spend on leases here in Texas I don't know if it might seem somewhat presumptuous and forward for me to track someone down and ask about their land.

What do you think?

Thanks
Session

[Draco]

I know of people that has worked well for. On the other hand they said that some people get absolutely PO'ed and chew their butts out for doing it. If it worked once it would be great though.

[TxBobcat]

I think as long as your respectful with the landowner it wouldnt be a big deal. I know alot of people that have done that. Usually they offer some money or to do a little work on the place to get hunting rights..you never know if you dont ask!

[ken]

Not bad form but seems like it would be time consuming and not very productive.
You might get lucky though.

[Roamer]

I can remember when that was how you did it.

You just went and knocked on their door and ask for permission to hunt on their place. Usually they would tell you to shut the gate behind you. Watch that ol' bull, and don't shoot the cows.

That would not be followed by and that will be 2500 dollars plus trophy fees.

So heck give it a go.Someone may still let you hunt for free or for a share of the meat.

[BillfromFtWorth]

Not bad form but seems like it would be time consuming and not very productive.

Expect to get some dirty looks and get your @ss chewed out, I know thats what my grandpa would have done and my dad would do if someone they didn't know just showed up and asked to hunt their land.

[texasrig]

I think as long as your respectful with the landowner it wouldnt be a big deal. I know alot of people that have done that. Usually they offer some money or to do a little work on the place to get hunting rights..you never know if you dont ask!

That's kind of what I am thinking. If it works just once it would be worth it.

Not bad form but seems like it would be time consuming and not very productive.
You might get lucky though.

It could definitely take some time. Does anyone know a quick way to find the name of a land owner? I know there are some websites that list that information but I don't recall what they are.

[tagman]

I don't think it's bad form. It might help if you take some time to try and get to know the landowner first, though. Whether you get chewed out or not is really just going to depend on the guy you're asking, but you'll never know until you do ask.

[sailor]

Hey, anybody on this site who can spell "presumptuous" should be able to talk somebody, into letting them hunt on their land.

[Heath]

Sort of like asking a pretty girl to go home with you, the worse she can say is no. The more you shoot, the more you score.

[Bigdeer33]

I used to go door to door when i would see a tank with ducks on it and ask the farmer/owner if we could duck hunt and 85% of the time they would let me hunt free of charge, but in return i would help them around there place or something. All they can do is say no. Be respectful and nice and you might find you a honey hole close to home.

[sqiggy]

That's how we got our lease. My brother put in the leg work by going to the tax office, looking at aerial photos, then looking up to see who own it. Then he contacted them and we've been huntin on over 700 acres going on 20 yrs.
One landowner wouldn't even take any money. So we send them something every Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Besides, if ya don't try, you'll never know. All they can say is no. Or YES!!!