Help!! Tips for asking pemision to hunt a farm!!

[metaldetector101]

Help!! Tips for asking pemision to hunt a farm!!

 

[pepperj]

Knock on the door, stick out your paw, introduce yourself, be polite, be up front and honest. I've always had pretty good luck with a farmer, great folks.

 

[63bkpkr]

md101,

Ask, be polite and if/when refused be polite, say thank you (and mean it) and leave pleasantly. I had this happen once, with me doing the asking and saying thank you, and as I walked away the rancher called me back. He explained that at least I had asked for permission before going on to his property and he must have been impressed with my thank you and goodbye handshake as he let me onto his property. He asked me to please close all gates I went through and not to climb on the fences.

Good Luck, keep trying as eventually you will find a person who will say yes! Then do everything right by them when you are on their property, stop back and let them know you are leaving, maybe explain what you found and say thank you again. At times I've even offered to do an hour of work for permission, no takers on that one.

63bkpkr

 

[Sim_Player]

Being a shy guy, it's harder for me than some.

When I started detecting 17 years ago (and being a young military guy, in a military town) I got mostly yes's).

Be polite and considerate. It always pays off.

Compliment them on their property and home. Tell them you want to learn more about it.

Just try to come across as being friendly and likeable. Most people know a good person when they meet them.

Offers to do work in exchange for permission to hunt seldom work out, from what I've observed, and may imply desperation, arrousing suspicion on the part of the home-owner (just a guess). Some people may not want you around much either.

Make sure that you can leave the property the same, or better, than you found it.

If you find good stuff, check out when you leave and try to get permission to come back. You can do this during the introduction too, if things seem to be going okay.


Good luck.

~Sim

 

[CRUSADER]

Help!! Tips for asking permission to hunt a farm!!

Lots of things;

Try catching them or their workers in the field. It gives you a contact & a route into the conversation (if its a worker) & if its the owner I find them less guarded in the fields. Door knocking & Telephone calls are a little tougher, I don't like strangers on the phone or doorstep & I guess you don't either. However, it has worked on a number of occasions.

All you need is permission off 1 farmer in the area, once he trusts you it can often snowball, as farmers all know each other. This could be your downfall if you upset 1, you may find it impossible elsewhere.

Make it clear that their rules are final, you dance to their tune. Every farmer has different land management issues.

You make it clear they will see everything you find (if they are interested). I offer 50% of any declareable Treasure. You could offer a split of anything valueable or just give them a 'seconds' collection. You could consider a contract, this has got us lots of land.

I have teamed up & we offer a full package of GPS plotted finds on field maps, research done on the land & all the coins/objects, pottery picked up, basically a history lesson of activity on the land etc..

If its a hobby for you & your not in it for the money then it helps to spell out you are interested in the history of the land, you never sell stuff, & hope to share your knowledge of the finds & area.

Take some research of the land (maps etc) & some 'interesting' finds from other land as an example. Spark his interest by suggesting a 'potential' good spot on his land.

Like others say, the important thing is to be polite & honest...

 

[dfx willy]

very good reply cru!! willy

 

[Bum Luck]

Dress clean, but not dress up. collar shirts are good.

Jeans are OK.

Look and act 'normal'. I can relate well with farmers, and have been known to give them a hand fixing equipment. That's always appreciated.

Bring dog treats; dogs like them, and more often than not, you get a smile from the farmer. The dogs - well, they never forget that.

 

[ArkieBassMan]

Lots of good advice in the responses. Allow me to add a little more.

I agree its better to catch the farmer "in the field." A lot of people (myself included) really do not like to be bothered at home. If you can't catch the farmer outside, and have to resort to knocking on his front door, then use common sense. Of course be clean, but do not overdress or under-dress (Personally, I would be more trusting of a guy in a t-shirt and jeans as one wearing a suit and tie). If you use tobacco products, refrain from doing so during your introduction. Most importantly DO NOT arrive at a time when the farmer is likely to be eating dinner. Interrupting dinner is likely to get you a big ol' "NO!" In my opinion, mid-afternoon would be ideal. Assure him that you will remove any and all trash you come across on his property. If he denies you permission, thank him for his time and apologize for disturbing him. This might lead to permission "down the road." Never burn any bridges. Occasionally people lose things and/or need property markers located. He might just remember that "nice guy" that knocked on his door that day. I have purchased business cards for just this scenario, and it has worked a couple of times.

If you obtain permission, treat the property BETTER than you would treat your own, and again use common sense. Follow any and all rules he gave you to the letter. Stay out of fields that have crops planted. Refill all holes - even if its in a plowed up field. Most importantly, if its a bit wet or muddy, DO NOT drive on his field roads. Nothing will incur the wrath of a farmer more than "rutting up" his field roads - either walk in or do not go.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[trixie charger]

Make sure you have Permission in writing, that can save some trouble if the Property is Posted anywhere!!!. Having a background in Law Enforcement this has cut down the headaches for me even with cred's. Like they said everyone knows each other and the Police or Sheriff may not know you have permission!

 

[trixie charger]

Also Baked goods are almost always welcome perhaps a local favorite, or something from walmart too

 

[gwdigger]

I have a pretty good track record in getting permission with farmers. I try and catch them hanging out by the trucks and farm equipment at harvest. Its easier to approach them while they are hanging out than to bother them while they are resting at home. It's also less intimidating than riding down some of those mile long driveways where you just know some dont want to be bothered.

 

[Iron Patch]

Be prepared with answers for all the usual questions. Silence = awkward.

 

[Silver Searcher]

I have quite a good score when it comes to gaining permission but here you have to take few things into account

1..Make sure it's not estate farmland....no chance.

2..Is it a member of the country srewardship..again no chance.

3..Don't go during harvest and ask, Farmers are busy people.

4..Don't ask on a Sunday, that's usually the only day of they get.

5..Offer recovery services, they are always losing parts.

6..If you get a good site and farmer, give him a nice bottle at Christmas.

SS.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Very helpful advice guys. I hope you all don't mind, but I've copied a lot of this
to a "Word Document" to save for my future reference.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[RiverRat3]

After you get permission and if the farmer continues to give you permission always do something nice. We either usually make a relic display of some of the finds on their farm or we get the farmers a gift certificate to a local establishment.

 

[Iron Patch]

After you get permission and if the farmer continues to give you permission always do something nice. We either usually make a relic display of some of the finds on their farm or we get the farmers a gift certificate to a local establishment.

Yes, I agree, and our nice deed is to clean his field of metal.

 

[CRUSADER]

After you get permission and if the farmer continues to give you permission always do something nice. We either usually make a relic display of some of the finds on their farm or we get the farmers a gift certificate to a local establishment.

Yes, I agree, and our nice deed is to clean his field of metal.

Forgot that one...

That is another of our selling points to the farmer. We clear all the large iron/chains/machine parts/rubbish which may damage there farming equipment.