Easy Access

By Buddy English

It was nearly 8pm as I sat paitiently 15 feet up a large cottonwood in my Alumni-lok Express. My hopes were high as a friend and I had jumped a large ten-point whitetail on a quick preliminary scouting trip. As I watched squirrels dashing about playfully, I reflected upon my good fortune in finding this new hunting area...

No one said that being in the military would be easy, and it definately has it's effects on one's hunting time. The good side is that there are plenty of opportunities for hunting different states, and as a military member you sometimes get a break on liscensing fees. However, sometimes there are long hours, temporary duty elswhere (TDY), and bad reception by the public.

I had been stationed in North Dakota for one rather disappointing season, but was optimistic about my chances for the upcoming fall. The reason for my optimism? I had made some new friends. No, not hunters, but farmers! You see my lack of success the previous season had stemmed from the fact that the land that I had access to was open to the public and just plain over-hunted! After my initial preview of North Dakota hunting, I was depressed and knew that it was time for a change in tactics. I had heard that the locals had a tendency to deny hunting permission to military personnel. With this in mind, I set out in search of new realms!

I had found that the rumor about the locals couldn't be farther from the truth. Perhaps they were just approached in the wrong manner. When seeking access to private land there are a few things that one needs to remember: First, go there early! No, not early in the morning, early in the season! A landowner is usually more receptive if you approach him about hunting his land long before the season starts. This also gives you the advantage of stopping-in occassionally for a social call. A person is more apt to trust you if they know you!

Second, dress nicely1 I don't mean that you need a three-piece-suit, but I wouldn't suggest that you wear camoflauge to the initial meeting. Let them see that you are just a normal guy (or gal) who likes deer hunting, not some camo-ladden Rambo ready to kill everything in sight!

Third, if your time permits, offer to help aroung the farmstead. A hunting partner of mine, Chuck, and I did some work for an old couple removing dead trees from the shelterbelt around their home. Oh, don't get me wrong, it was long, HARD, work, but it was definately worth it in the end. Not only were we treated to a wonderful home-cooked lunch, but we also gained access to one of our best spots. A wooded area surrounded by several hundred acres of CRP, in which Chuck and I harvested a nine and ten pointer, respectively.

Lastly, follow-up! Don't make them feel like you are just using them. Stop by on the off season for visits and send postcards on holidays. When you drop that big buck, don't forget to offer some of your venison. Some of these folks love venison but may be too busy or too old to collect it for themselves. A little caring goes a long way!

These few points put me here in a treestand overlooking a grove of acorn-laden white oak trees. The snap of a twig behind me brought me out of my daydream. Thinking that it was just another bushytail, I took a quick glance over my right shoulder. WOW!!!! I have never seen a squirrel with that much antler! The huge ten-point came in from the wrong direction. My knees were shaking so bad that I could hardly stand! A few more steps and the 140-class whitetail would offer me a 15-yard broadside shot! As I adjusted for the shot, my boot squeaked on the treestand. The Pope and Young animal looked up at me as I reached full-draw with the old Ben Pearson recurve! I had two choices, let down and try to catch him later in the season, or release and hope that he didn't jump the string. As it was only fifteen yards, I opted for the latter, and of course my 2117 sailed harmlessly over his back! Remaining in my stand until dark, I repeatedly cursed my bad luck and my boots. Numerous sightings of "my" bruiser buck ended with no shot and I later filled my tag with a heavy-horned nine-pointer on the same piece of ground. I would have never even had the opportunity if it weren't for the ties that I had made with the landowner.

Finding new hunting areas can be easy if you go about it in the right manner. The main thing to remember is that landowners are people, too. Show them the same respect that you would want and, if granted permission, treat their land as if it were your own. If you follow these rules you can't go wrong! Who knows, you may end up with more than a nice addition to your trophy room, you may end up with a friend!