As I am now gearing up for a more structured approach to crow hunting, I need some help. I'll be approaching farmers and/or landowners for permission to hunt. I would also like to have some written parameters as to what each party should expect. My thinking is that a more professional approach will open more doors.
For instance, I thought it would be good to have in writing that I will pick up my hulls, dead birds, minimize crop damage, etc. I would also like to ask farmers/owners to disallow crow hunting by others, (if possible) give days when farming will be done in field, etc.
I am also looking for guidance on permission or legal documents for hunting on the land.
Do do any of you have experience or recommendations for wording of such documents? It would be a big help. You may answer here or send me a private message if that works better for you.
Thanks in advance on any help you can give me.
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
New York has these forms already to go on-line. Both parties sign the form and thats it. I do not remember were I found it...Sorry. Search permission forms on the hunting site
I carry a blanket liability Ins. Policy on my homeowners policy that covers me in all activities including hunting, This helps a lot when I ask for permission to hunt when I show the land owner. I got it for additional coverage and it's reasonable in costs. You may already have this but if not you might want to check on it as it helps a lot on gaining permission down here. One of my landowners requires a updated copy yearly. I bought this for other reasons but was pleased to put it to use busting crows.
I personally have never had a land owner (or myself) sign anything. I do like to briefly mention how I will be picking up everything that I bring along in addition to where I should park/how to stay out of the way.
I have asked some hesitant landowners if signing a document similar to above would be helpful and thus far everyone has declined. Seems like most folks that will allow hunting are good-ole-boy types and signing something is way too business like. Also, I have never pushed for "sole permission" to hunt crows. Seems kinda pushy for my taste when I do not want to pay for access.
I do think having a document or insurance papers as described above is a good thing to have in your back pocket, however, I personally would not even bring it up unless the landowner seems unwilling to grant permission.
my landowner is one of the most well known farmers in the county i hunt...using him as a reference has been a gold mine
Ditto here. I have the same sorts of deals with local blueberry farmers who own dozens of separate plots and they all know one another. After schmoozing with them for a few years and not being a slob hunter, I have more properties to shoot on (crows, turkey, groundhogs (soon) and deer) than I could ever use.
BTW, Michigan hunting law has a quirk in that if one intends to hunt within 150 yards of an occupied building, farm building, etc., the hunter must have written permission from the owner. As such, I make certain using the Google Earth "ruler tool," that in all cases, my setup is at least 451' from any structures. The likelihood of running into a Conservation Officer is beyond remote, but it's good to be cautious (courteous) anyhow, in terms of falling shot. The state does not have a form for this, only says "written permission," which in one case, the owner was so interested in getting rid of bandits, he scribbled his "OK statement" on the back of a lunch bag.
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
I agree fully on Good references, they have opened up a lot of hunting spots for me, always have the list with me. But as with the Gentleman that requires my Insurance papers , He lives in Fla. and I have never met him. Only have phone contact and it took paperwork, references the works to gain hunting permission and this spot was worth the effort. Sad to say but things are changing down here and I hope to stay ahead of it.
I'm planning on meeting 4 new owners this week and will have references,paperwork, pictures the works with me but I hope all that they will require is a Gentlemens handshake agreement as we build a long term relationship.
Thanks for all of the good input, guys. It was most helpful and after reviewing the comments, I decided that this is the "package" that I will start using: All of the information is neatly filed into a presentation folder that I can hand to a farmer/landowner. The folder includes the following:
1) My business card showing name, phone & email address and "Free Crow Removal" under the name. It also lists "Peanut fields, Pecan orchards, Dove fields and Melon fields." I had it made on one of those business cards website and it looks pretty professional (affordable, too).
2) A single full color printed sheet of four pictures of successful days, including the photo in my avatar.
3) A single sheet of Hunter & Farmer "Crow Removal Expectations" listed out. Such as "Take only crows...No game animals are to be hunted..." "Use only shotguns with birdshot." "Pick up and remove empty hulls, dead birds..." and on the Landowner list it includes "Disallow crow hunting by others on land to be hunted..."
4) A list of references, including landowners, farmers, etc.
5) A "Release and Indemnification Agreement" to be signed, if requested. My insurance agent says that in this state I cannot buy insurance to cover myself on somebody else's property...their insurance rules.
That is the update. I'll include a photo once I get my business cards in. Thanks again for the ideas. As mentioned by some of you, this alone will not sell hunting privileges...eye contact and handshakes will. That is my next step. Stay tuned for updates.
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
Went today and was 1 for 4, obtained permission on the best one (my opinion only) will be called back on one and no one home on one, and a big fat no on a Corporation owned property. This is the one of the trends I'm seeing here. The permission was references and a handshake, the maybe is the same but only spoke with owners wife, hopefully he will call. The Corporation is ran by "tree huggers" and won't even let wild hogs be trapped much less shot. This will change on hogs or they wont have any land worth working. So was hoping to go 4 for 4 but that didn't happen and 1 is a lot better than none.
Demi,
Look forward to reading how your strategy works, hope it works well for you.
Update: My business cards arrived at home yesterday, but on the way home I stopped at the office of a friend in the fertilizer business. He got interested in the crow hunting details and while there he gave me 5 contacts (calling one and leaving messages for two others)! I tried to give him the package shown in the picture below, but instead he scanned the contents onto his computer so he could send it around! We spent a good half hour talking.
Before arriving home, one of the owners who got his voicemail called and wanted all the details for his peanut farm lands! He is the landowner who leases out his fields to a local farmer who had not been returning my calls, so this was a big turnaround for me!
The business cards were in my mailbox last night, so on the way back to work this morning I stopped by my "fertilizer friend" again to drop off some cards. He pulled me into his office, gave me another lead and then called yet another associate who will put the word out to his farmers-customers in the Aiken area!
Very encouraging so far and as soon as the peanuts start coming out of the ground, I'll be following up with these contacts. The season is already looking very promising!
You are fortunate you still have farms and farming in your area. Here in southern N.H. a farm is almost as rare as a piebald crow. This year's drought and low milk prices are making it very challenging for the few that are left to stay in business.
Update: My business cards arrived at home yesterday, but on the way home I stopped at the office of a friend in the fertilizer business. He got interested in the crow hunting details and while there he gave me 5 contacts (calling one and leaving messages for two others)! I tried to give him the package shown in the picture below, but instead he scanned the contents onto his computer so he could send it around! We spent a good half hour talking.
Before arriving home, one of the owners who got his voicemail called and wanted all the details for his peanut farm lands! He is the landowner who leases out his fields to a local farmer who had not been returning my calls, so this was a big turnaround for me!
The business cards were in my mailbox last night, so on the way back to work this morning I stopped by my "fertilizer friend" again to drop off some cards. He pulled me into his office, gave me another lead and then called yet another associate who will put the word out to his farmers-customers in the Aiken area!
Very encouraging so far and as soon as the peanuts start coming out of the ground, I'll be following up with these contacts. The season is already looking very promising!
A picture is worth a thousand words on crow hunting.Most Pecan growers and cattle folks hate crows with a passion and when most find out you pick up your hulls,carry off crows and close their gates they welcome you back every year.I usually make a picture of the dead crows in a number like 89 and text it to them. I also send the keys backto them in the mail with a thank you note at the end of season and the approximate number of crows killed. 450 crows or 250 breeding pairs
I always get written permission off farmers and land owners. That covers me insurance wise, but also legally, as it has been known for police to try and get a farmer to say "this shooter has no permission to be here" if they have taken a spdislike to someone.
Plod aren't beyond reproach here, and have become very politicall orientated, especially leaning towards being ultra politically correct, I.e. Letting terrorists off, but prosecuting and harassing those that comment about it.
Written permission saves a whole host of aggro
I use the BASC pest control form and just print a few dozen off at a time, they are free to use
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If it moves and is legal but also moral, SHOOT IT !!
An interesting follow-up on written permission for hunting on other people's property. I recently found out from a lawyer friend that , in South Carolina, there is a law that covers such activities.
The gist of the law is encourage landowners to allow certain activities on their property and open up access to others. This law states that if you allow other people to go on your property, WITHOUT CHARGE, for recreation activities such as hunting, fishing, etc. they cannot sue you in the event they are hurt while there.
Written permission is not necessary, either
Don't know if other states have similar laws, but I can get additional information (Name, statute #, etc.) if anyone is interested. Hope this helps.
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
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