Do any of yall do it? If so, how often? What are some do's and donts of the trade? Or are you completely against bothering people for permission?

In Texas I think it’s a waste of time and a good way to upset landowners.

Direct letters may be a better option.


The last two places I leased for deer hunting the landowners approached, I think making a friend would go further than just straight out asking.

depends in part of Texas. Panhandle door knocking might get you further then say Hill country.

OnX will give you address to write letters

We have a sign. If they ignore it, things get loud ... sometimes.

Do not knock on my door.

Knock with a big bag of coin $$$$$$$$, can't hurt...

I would venture to guess that door knocking would be less effective than 40-70 years ago ... mainly due to modern conveniences that most use these days. I still remember my dad and his main hunting buddy taking a few days to go look for a new lease but that was back in the 1960s-1970s ... with the internet and sites revolving around leases, I would think you would be pretty hard pressed and very low percentages to find a lease using this method.

As a landowner, I agree with this.

I wouldn’t go to peoples homes in the country & knock on their doors.

You’d be better off approaching farmers & ranchers at local feed stores, sale barns & cafes. Most of all cafes.

Solid advice.

Way back when I was active duty Air Force a full time lease wasn't in the cards, but I tried to find a place or two to hunt occasionally. I had poor luck asking for permission to hunt or fish while stationed in Missouri. I didn't door knock but would stop by if a landowner was out on the property. This was in the '60s and I believe a lot of folks were, well, cool toward GIs, IMHO. In southwest Oklahoma on the other hand, I got to know several landowners by dropping by and politely asking to exercise their bunnies/birds, etc. Same for Arizona. Some "DOs" and "Don'ts": Be polite and respectful. Don't show up cammo'd out ready to hunt--talk first. Offer to bring back a part of your harvest--processed and ready for the table/freezer. Gates: if you open it, close it. Assure the rancher that you'll be aware of where the livestock is. Don't litter.

A letter may be your only option for landowners who don't live on the property, also keeping in mind there are people in this world who don't use email.

Still, there are cases where a form of door knocking works well. I was able to make arrangements with a local farmer to break up my food plot this Fall after noticing him sitting under a shade tree in his yard. Now I have another contact and local reference that could come in handy down the road. In fact, I had business cards printed for the purpose of leaving them with neighboring landowners, TPWD officers, and anyone else I might happen across while in the area that I consider a hunting-related contact.

I’ve door knocked to find homes for clients, I’d have no problem door knocking to ask for hunting rights. The answer is always NO if you never ask

I had a brother in law look up a guy on the CAD website and find out his phone # so he could call him. He had 700 acres across from our lease and no one hunted it. The guy got pissed off and wanted to know how he got his name and number. Told him that not one hunted it but friends and family and he wasn`t either one. The guy was filthy rich too. Owned another ranch about 10 miles away that had a mile long runway that he could land his jet on.

I muchhhhh prefer kicking "tires" around town at the feedstores, Co-ops, local restaurants, movie theaters, Walmarts, gun stores, etc..The art of personal conversational engagement is something I try to utilize daily. Two persons just engaging in conversation about a variety of things other than politics and religion of course, lol..As I've stated before, I've been invited to join no less than 5-10 different leases over the past 10+ years in the Graham, TX area by simply talking to like minded hunters over a beer, lunch, etc. during hunting season. I've politely told each of them that I already own my own place and lease another one near Woodson, TX but the opportunities were thrown out there. Like minded, respectful folks can often move mountains or at least "open some doors" for each other.

might also check with the local Chamber of Commerce, Masonic lodge, drug store, feed stores, hardware stores, etc. in the smaller towns ... places the local farmer/rancher might frequent.

Also might put together a short ad or flyer to pin up at the local post office. I found several lost cows that way that flew the coop following a heavy rain that washed out fences

Someone has to drive 1 mile past my no trespassing sign to knock on my door. Needless to say they won't be greeted kindly after doing that and setting off my electronic monitoring system.

My preferred method. If it’s a productive interaction I pay their ticket.

Buy a farmer lunch or give him a free hat & you’ll never get rid of him.

Advertise in local paper, feed store, grocery billboard, hardware store etc. Door knocking is same as sales calls, and post cards from realtors, funeral homes and car dealerships.......all unwanted. If I need their service, I will contact them. Same way, if you want something, cast about the area.

You left out the Jehovah's Witness folks.

Don't you just love it when you are right in the middle of an important phone call and get that knock on the door.

Times have changed. I wouldn't think of it. When I was a kid everyone knew each other. Folks made sure to close gates, etc. You can't blame landowners now a days for not granting access.

I don't know about that stereotype.

But I swear to Gawd.....my FIL (a farmer/rancher) would take Syphilis as long as it was free.

unless it's the game warden of course

in the 60's 70's, in Mo. Ks, I had great luck stopping and talking to farmers, ranchers, WAS not the first ? out of my mounth., back then in Ks, if you had a tx. tag, would get the door slammed in your face, not me, I lived there

Hang a hand-written note on the gate or driveway or mailbox by the road. Be nice and short and friendly. That way you're not invading their personal space. If they're open to leasing they'll give you a call.