What would you do?

[verno]

Here's the deal. I have been trying to score this property since last year. I have seen turkeys on it almost every time I drive by. The name of the farm is the same as one of my Sgts at work, so I got asking him about it and he told me the farm is run by his cousin, and tells me where he lives and when to find him home.
So I go up the other day and knock on the door. Ask permission to hunt and get turned down. He said they dont let anyone hunt the property. I never mentioned the Sgt because he didnt say either way if I could use his name or not, and I didnt mention the fact that his cousin told me that people hunt deer in there. When I got turned down, I just asked about the creek at the south end of the property and if I could fish the steelhead runs come spring, and he told me sure. I thanked him for his time and left.
So I figure, the next time I speak to the Sgt I will mention that I got turned down if it comes up in the conversation, otherwise I wont mention it. And I figure if I take some nice chrome steelies out of there this spring I will filet them, smoke them and vaccum seal them and take him up some fish to say thanks. I figure kill him with kindness and I may score a turkey spot for next year. Would you guys do any different? Would you mention that you know his cousin or anything? I thought he may ask how I knew where he lived but he never did. I told him I didnt need an explanation why, it's his land and he didnt need to justify anything to me.

[graftongal]

When you go there in the spring to fish, stop by the house to let him know you're there. Engage in some small talk and casually mention that you work with his cousin. Once he realizes the credibility of what you do he might change his mind.

[Drew Good]

I agree with Graftongal, not much more you can do than be extremely kind and maybe slip it into a friendly conversation that you know & work with their cousin. Spoil them and maybe they will eventually let you on to hunt.

Hunting property is getting harder and harder to come by these days. In my area people are starting to pay the farmer's to "lease" the land for sole permission. Combine that with poor and unethical hunter's that are ruining it for everyone else (I have been kicked off 2 seperate properties in the last 2 years due to unethical hunters) it make's it tough to score new land to hunt on. I know of one farmer that is now charging 3.50 and acre for permission to hunt his land.

I am even finding it hard to score new area's to train my dogs. That is exactly why I am searching for my own chunk of land.

[Maverick]

Sounds like you are doing everything the right way Verno.
It is tough as heck to get permission now a days.

Mav......