14 Nebraskaland • June 2024
Growing up on a Nebraska farm, I was blessed with an
abundance of land to hunt, but when I moved out of state,
I learned the importance of creating relationships with
landowners. Having been on both sides of the door — being
the one knocking and also seeing what influenced my
family to give permission — has provided me with a unique
perspective. Here are my top takeaways:
Know Who Owns the Land
Just because someone lives adjacent to where you want
to hunt doesn't mean they own it. Resources like OnX or
county assessor GIS maps (nebraskamap.gov) will give you
a good understanding of land ownership. It's also a good
way to identify small properties that might go unnoticed or
to identify landowners with multiple properties. You might
gain permission to hunt several places by knocking on a
single door.
Ask Permission Well Ahead of the Season
Not only does showing up the week before season make
you seem unprepared, you also want the first shot at asking
permission. Most landowners give permission to a single
person. You want it to be you.
Present Yourself in the Best Light
Look respectable, be polite, clearly state where and when
you want to hunt and go from there. If they say no, ask if they
know anyone in the area who might let you hunt, and then
thank them and move on.
Start Small
Not many people are going to give you permission to hunt
giant bucks on their property, but a lot of landowners don't
think twice about squirrels, quail or even turkeys. If you
are hunting to fill the freezer, let them know you are more
than happy to shoot a doe. Some landowners prefer archery
hunters. Establish yourself as a respectful hunter with your
actions.
Be Clear with Your Intentions
Some landowners want to know exactly when and where
you want to hunt. Let them know what vehicle you will be
driving, where you plan to park and give them your phone
number in case they have questions.
Treat Landowners and Their Land with Respect
Don't drive off-road without permission, and don't drive
down roads when it's muddy and leave ruts that will have
to be repaired, or worse, get stuck and have to be pulled out.
Pick up any trash you find as well as your spent shotgun
shells or rifle cartridges. Leave gates the way you found
them and don't invite friends that haven't clearly also been
given permission.
Let Them Know How Much You Appreciate
Hunting on Their Place
Send photos of the success you have and offer them some
of the meat. With these things in mind, you will have places
to hunt for years to come.
By Ryan Sparks
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE DOOR
IN THE FIELD
Asking permission to access someone's land well ahead of
when you plan to arrive builds trust. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
