I agree with the others when they say if you get permission to hunt a place for free don't extend that invitation to your buddies. I own land and let a friend of mine set up a stand and hunt my place for free. I figured it would be nice to have someone else to hunt with and hang out with. During dove season he brings other people out to hunt and during the winter he brings out other people to sit and hunt hogs in his stand with him. I can't ever remember him asking if I need any help on the farm.

I do, we talked on line in a hunting site. Great guy! Couple bucks on his place

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Been at this game for along time. Certainly all points here hold merit and sound wisdom. I can honestly say 90% of the landowners decision is already made before you ever show up based on thier previous experiences with other hunters. In my neck of the woods DFW yuppies have burned ALOT of bridges I will probably never get to mend. It is very very very unfortunate. Respect is everything in life and there is a fine line between fear and respect. I know for every 25 doors I knock on with sole purpose of requesting to hunt I pick up one. Very discerning. I have designated entire Saturdays to driving the back roads to only go home empty handed. Alot of times someone else owned the property that does not even live in the county. On the other hand every property owner I have built a repore with before ever popping the question I can say I'm probably batting 90%. Even in the day of land agreements, leases and contracts, I
can honestly say every door I knocked on was based on a good ole fashion handshake. You came in the same way you can go, at the drop of a hat.

I will say this too, in life we meet alot of personalities and we use this bases to judge others. The old saying is not too judge a book by its cover but it's human nature. While I get proven wrong I will admit at times I have made a decision on what kind of a person you are before you ever open your mouth. Now I am a very humble individual and fully believe in giving everyone a chance in life to show thier true colors but this judgement is what I default to until you prove me otherwise. Pretty sure most others do the same. This is why first impressions is everything. I know from my travels to different parts of the country hold different values and clicks if you will. Furthermore if your not a local you will spotted a mile away. I also know we have alotta guys and gals here on the forum from other parts of the world but here in Texas we have our own way of doing.... Well everything! Some areas are a bit different like Austin but out here in the sticks most still value a smile and a hand shake. Just remember in the future your actions WILL have consequences on not only yourself but others. Be respectful and honest!

Unless you have a check to send with those letters, I wouldn't bother. The odds of you finding that one last honey hole by knocking on some old farmers door are all but over. The key now is to find a good paid lease and being able to keep it.

I just gave a guy permission to hunt last week for free. Super nice kid.

Thank yall for the responses.

Yes, I was going to offer myself and my truck for some Saturdays a year in exchange for permission to hunt.
Its actually how I acquired a number of tools, good furniture, and such over the past few years (by Bartering services).


I have a coworker/friend that owns property, but with the morale of the company, I'm not sure if its a good time to ask.
With the downturn of the upstream O/G industry, it doesn't look like we'll survive any longer.

From what I have seen as a landowner, people love to take a mile when offered an inch.

If i was a landowner, I probably would not let anyone I did not know hunt my land.

I know POS that own land and hunt on their neighbors property even after he told them no

Why we don't lease any more, but we are also not in a premium area. In general I feel like the "permission" guys take a lot better care then the "I paid my money" guys. Disclaimer I also lease hunting acreage in other states. So I'm not against myself for say just making a general statement.

Not much you can tear up on our place, but we have one strict rule because it can cost a lot of money, If the grass is over 8" don't drive through it.

I used to lease our farm in Illinois for deer hunting to one big family. I had it in the lease that only immediate family members (parents,kids, grandkids) could hunt and I needed the names of everyone in writing before season each year. I would get a list of about 10 people ranging from adults to little kids in the family. We knew this was the case before leasing so we agreed on having 4 hunters on the property at a time for safety sake. We ended up catching them with all the people on the property at once but only 4 had guns. The rest were pushing the farm out for the shooters. They found a way to work around my safety rules. The juice was not worth the squeeze for me so they don't hunt there any more. Last thing I or my insurance needs is a kid getting shot while doing a deer drive on my farm. This was just a symptom of a bigger problem in my eyes and its not worth the hassle to me.

I hunt on my buddies private land. He's a great guy and will always top off our feeders or turn on my SHL Exterminator II feeder light so it is charged before I come up to hog hunt. He is a good friend and lives on the property.

My attitude has changed quite a bit. If there are inexperienced hunters on my place, each one of them requires a full time experienced hunter with them all the time, no exceptions.... Also, if you want to bring your child or teenager to learn to hunt, buy them a rifle or shotgun and take them to the range before they show up..... Not being stingy, but accidents can happen when a new hunter is given a weapon they are not familiar with....

We ALL hunt on someone else's Land.

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Gods Land.

Since moving to Texas from Virginia, I hunted public land for 2 years. However, after the 2d year realized that was not a good option. Got on a lease friends in East Texas and deer are not there in a goodly number. Leastwise where our property was located. Next I signed up with a group lease in Central Texas. Much better hunting as the deer are there in a good number. Now I am the only original hunter on that lease. The owner is a very fine individual. Sure the cost of the lease, some people would consider pricy. However, I certainly do not expect land owner to pay taxes on the property I hunt on. I follow the Lease Agree, to the letter. Right now I have a piece of Texas with some very nice bucks and a camp site away from the crowd. Off a Country Road that has very little traffic. I feel blessed that the Owner leases the property to me.

My buddy in Columbia, TN hunts several small farms. All his contacts came because he attended a small country church and avoided the big ones in Columbia.

I should have clarified. 15-17 yo, used to duck hunt the Paluxy river in Glen rose. Parked on Big bend trail and walked down the hill to the river. Never knew who owned the access property. Knocked on a door of the closest house and it was a preacher in town. He said if anyone asked you who told you, you could hunt tell them preacher so and so said he told you. Sounded good to me. We hunted there for years. Killed hundreds of ducks and many quail. Saw deer a few times but never killed one. One time the river had flooded then gone down, trapping hundreds of "barndoor" crappie. Went to Glen Rose and bought minnows and a couple of 202 combos and pulled every fish we could see out of those clear, shallow holes. Probably kept 200 fish. No joke. Best day of fishing ever. Ended up buying our ranch 35 years later in the same area. Love it down here.

No limit on crappie back in the 70s

Hunted a place the last 3 years. Went and talked to the owner every couple weeks, always took him beer or steaks when I went to see him. And always picked up after myself. One day out of the blue last year he "forgot" he gave me permission and called the law. Good thing I had hundreds of texts for the LEO to read. People can be shady! I believe the law states you must have written permission from the land owner.

I only know that in Harris county you have to have written consent in your possession while hunting others land. Could be other places.

I used to own a property management company. I restored land with livestock tax exemptions to wildlife conservation approved exemptions . It's actually a common practice here in the hill country. The country folks are leaving and the non hunting California and Houston retirees are moving in. They are pretty clueless about that stuff. Most don't approve firearms either. I have 5000 acres to hunt in Wimberley TX. I know I'm blessed to have it even though it's 90 percent bow hunting. They can be tough to deal with at times but are still good people. I kill a few hogs and post pics and they bake me cookies...it's a great thing.
I've sold my management business to my employees who don't hunt. I kept the hunting rights. I've had many people try to go around me and get permission but the landowners only give me the rights which is really nice.

My advice: Get master naturalist certified....it will make you a better hunter anyways. You'll be able to teach them a thing or two when ever they ask.
When you hunt the land never park where the LO sees you or your truck. Honestly just stay out of sight and out of mind. Share TC pics with them and meat if they are interested. Follow their rules to a tee. Don't bring guests. Guests always mess things up for you, I've had the same property rights for over 15 years by following those guidelines

Yes Sir!!! Glory be to God!!! The best LO there is. My lease on life has been a great one. He sure has created amazing animals for us. Thank you Lord!!

Where and how would you get master naturalist certified?

UT offered it a long time ago. I helped a few people who found it offered at Cabelas here in Austin.
The one at UT was great cause they also had just amazing Tax exemption classes there.