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Bow
The Privilege Of Permission
My part of the Whitetail's world is more populated than most. Many of the properties where I have asked to hunt have never had bow hunters, ever. The population of deer in my corner of Connecticut needs better control, according to the DEP, and in recent years they have changed the regulations in an effort to increase the harvest of the state's 50,000 to 55,000 Whitetails.

But gaining permission, in writing, is a chore and most hunters I meet are not up to it. Hunting spots must fall into their laps for them to get in. I deal with the public for a living and have a routine that works pretty well. One day recently I batted 3 for 4, that's 75% approval rating. Clinton wishes he had those numbers.

BEFORE YOU ASK
  1. Check your attitude. Some folks are naive about the need for hunting or they may think that bow hunting is inhumane and cruel. They may prejudge you when you ask so you have to fight the stereotype by preparing ahead of time.
  2. Research. Check aerial photos of locations where you know someone or already have permission. Then when you knock on doors you can introduce yourself as "one neighborhood bow and arrow hunter" who has discretely been there for years without incident.
  3. Be ready to quote statistics revealing bow hunting safety. A lot of people are afraid you'll shoot their dog or children. They need to know how it is hundreds of times more likely that their children will be stepped on by an elephant than shot by mistake by a bowhunter. I suggest you find your own statistics, because that one is a little silly.
WHEN YOU ASK
  1. Dress is street clothes, neat. If you have a nice car in the family, use it and park where it can be seen. Don't use a beat up pickup with a gun rack in the window and a bumper sticker that says "How's my driving? dial 1-800-eat-@#$!" .
  2. Don't argue the point with ANYONE. If there is some disagreement between the man and woman of the house about giving permission, simply withdraw the request and retreat. Guess what? If you ask again next year, you will probably be granted the request because of the polite and non confrontational way you were before.
  3. Have permission forms ready, even if not required. It adds a sense of professionalism.
  4. Politely and with political correctness discuss the overpopulation of deer, the need for control, the proliferation of deer ticks ( if applicable ), and the impact deer have on local drivers. The fact is that 130 motorists were killed in deer-vehicle collisions last year and that's more people than were killed by grizzly's in the last century. In my area, bow hunting is in fact the only way, in that guns are not permitted is such densely human populated areas.
IF THE ANSWER IS YES
  1. Don't act surprised, after all, it will be the norm.
  2. Thank them and give them all your information so you will be accountable. A man looks foolish to his wife when he tells them he gave hunting permission to "some guy" . Have a card or paper with your name, address, day and evening numbers, hunting license number, etc. ready and produce it right away. I include a photograph of me, my hunting partner, and my vehicle with the license plate showing. This way there will be no doubt to them exactly who is prowling about the neighborhood.
Send a thank you, for example.......
Dear Landowner,

Thank you so much for the privilege of bow hunting on your property. I can promise you that my wife and I (or my hunting partner Du Jour) will perform our task with the utmost respect for your property, nature, the law and your privacy. We will be so discreet coming and going that you most likely will not know we are there.

We never "burn out" a location by being there too often. The frequency of our visits will most likely be once to twice a week, maximum. Please call anytime if there is any question about anything. It may take a year or two to have any significant effect on the quantity of deer in the area, but selective harvest of specific lead animals may make the large groups less visible very soon.

Feel free to call if you have noticed a pattern in your observations of deer movement that is at all regular, as timely adjustment of an ambush location may result in another successful harvest. We maintain your written permission forms with us, so that any authority can be immediately reassured of our legitimate presence there. You may think of us as an adjunct to your home security.

Sincerely,
Rob and Becky Lucas - Bowhunters

Apply these tips and you are on your way to new adventures in new corners of the whitetails world.

Permission

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