Asking for Permission to Hunt.....

[Viddy]

I have a few friends who I hunt with that have had some trouble getting permission to hunt properties. I am not the 'expert' in tactics and secrets to get permission, but some of the things they told me... the 'mundane' details... I can tell led to their failure.

Here is a list of things that I have found successful to me for getting permission to hunt a property. I am 44 years and have spent the last 20+ years in sales, some tough sales, and have applied some of that experience to asking permission to hunt.....

• Don't be afraid to ask. The worst thing they can say is 'NO!'. You humbly thank them for their time and maybe ask them 'do you know of any places that I maybe able too?' Again, you might get a stern 'NO!' and be on your way, thanking them again. I have, on a few occasions, have them give me some other spots to go try and ask, AND have had them chat about some other probably spots, and then change their mind after they get to know you are more comfortable and let me hunt their yard!
• Don't go to the door all geared up in dark clothes, gear belt on, knee pads looking like the SWAT team. Take off the mirrored sunglasses, as you don't want them to look out the window and think the Unibomber is on their front porch. Take your detector in hand, you look less like a salesman or debt collector. I had people answer the door because they saw my detector and thought I was with the 'gas company' and 'there was a problem'. It got them to the door! Take a step back after you knock, and don't invade 'their space'. Never carry a shovel with you to the door, as there might be the perception that you will be digging pits in their yard. Perception is reality. Introduce yourself by name and state you are 'local'. Familiarity builds trust.
• Welcome them to initially come along and watch and tell them 'they might be surprised at what you will find!'. The clouds of mystery will be lifted about what you are really doing and curiosity is a powerful tool! I had a guy, reluctantly, give me permission to hunt around his old farmhouse. He followed and watched as I hit a few caps and can slaw in the front yard and then hit an old silver spoon. He started laughing hysterically, and then told me that he was born and grew up in the farm house and had lost that spoon when he was a kid digging with it in the front yard and got his butt 'wooped' for it! I gave him the spoon. He took it in the house to show his wife, then came back out later and gave me the location s of an old barn in the woods, a miner's shack, and a log cabin that had burned down on his property.
• Offer to 'split' anything you find with them, IF they hesitate to give you permission, and you can tell there is a slight chance of an 'OK'. 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing!
• Compliments go a long way, and so does being humble. Bragging about your gear, telling them about discrimination, pinpointing, and TDI displays do about as much for them as me confusing you with the next bullet point about 'a Unix program developed for fast conversions between binary and decimal integers when there are other programs by other Matlab-users, dealing with fractions, so they can be useful when the binary numbers are in vector form instead of strings.' Get it?
• If they are hesitant about who, when, where, what, ask for a 'One Shot Deal'. You only want a few hours on their property and that is it. A one day pass! I had a guy who owned a piece of property that an old train station was on. He gave Tylerope, from on here, and me, permission to hunt that day only! I can tell he didn't want to take the chance to find us there every day, a crowd there another day, or us there when he was not home.

Anyone have anything to add?...... please do. I am sure I'd also like to get some tips and up my 'permission percentage'

 

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[Tom_in_CA]

Go about it strictly verbally. Do not think you need a "contract" or "written agreement" unless THEY bring it up. Because otherwise, a contract is the fastest way to get a yes changed to a no. The reason is: it only conjurs up some sort of legal ramifications, or risk, or danger, etc... I mean, think of it: what would YOU do if a perfect-stranger comes to your door, with a contract for you to sign or accept? Doh! So keep it simple, and nothing more than a smile and handshake

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I'm just gonna repeat what I say in other posts on here about "Getting Permission"


Best thing is bring old maps and history of the property you are about to hunt and make it sound like you are more into the historical/archaeology side of things then just wanting to go out and find some artifacts for your personal collection. Land owners really respect that you are interested in their property and the history of it and even finding out information they did not know. Has worked a-lot for me and I am a member of a few historical societies so that has helped me out also

 

[Viddy]

yeah Hut... history appreciation more than a get-rich-scheme

 

[rock]

Most will ask you this question........What are you going to do with your finds? I then respond.......I put them in frames and I have some past finds if you would like to see them. I keep a frame in my truck and it isnt the best quality items. I collect NA Stone Artifacts. I show them the broken frame. When they see the quality they usually say that they look like rocks and I say yes I do collect rocks. Most around here call the artifacts rocks which is fine to me. If they call them rocks then I know they dont like them and there is a much better chance I will find some cause I know they didnt look for them.

 

[m bryan]

Good stuff viddy.......especially about not crowding them when they come to the door....Something I always try to do is smile when they open the door...and when presenting your case nod your head in an approving manner(don't over do it...lol)...old insurance sales trick...

 

[justdon]

I like this post very good advice for a newbie like me.And for others also..

 

[lisagoesmodern]

Good stuff peeps! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! Just working up our nerve to ask for permission for the first time. I'll show this to my husband - since my current plan is to have him ask! lol.

 

[rock]

Yeah sometimes you can finally get the courage to knock and then find out they dont even own it. Somebody else does and they just live next to the field or property. I hate that when it happens.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Yeah sometimes you can finally get the courage to knock and then find out they dont even own it. Somebody else does and they just live next to the field or property. I hate that when it happens.

I have had situations where the renter gives the go-ahead. I don't question that. Because when you think of it, they have certain rights to subrograte or sub-invite others on-to-the-property. You know, like if you're an apartment renter, you can have guests in to your apartment, I would think. So if whomever answers the door, gives a "yes", I don't argue with it

 

[lisagoesmodern]

Great point!

 

[lisagoesmodern]

Good stuff viddy.......especially about not crowding them when they come to the door....Something I always try to do is smile when they open the door...and when presenting your case nod your head in an approving manner(don't over do it...lol)...old insurance sales trick...

So we (I say this term loosely as I DID send my sweet husband to the door) did ask for permission to hunt on someone's property for the time in town! It was a very old home w/ old property. We kind of did it spur of the moment as we were just out on a scouting mission in late afternoon. My husbands last words as he exited the car and I was repeating y'all's words of wisdom about approach was .... "This takes nuts". I thought I would die laughing. Alas three houses later no one was home. Like a helium balloon on a cold day, he went flat. As we pulled off from the third house we saw the homeowner in his garage and stopped. We ended up talking for quite a while. Got permission to dig his yard, his neighbors yard, he will try to get permission from yet another neighbor and his in-laws have a farm they let a couple hunt Indian arrow heads on. So he's going to get us permission too! Guess those nuts paid off!

 

[SeaninNH]

My little bit of input...

I was driving by a house that was the home of a revolutionary war general's that was built in 1766 and I just HAD to stop and ask permission to detect.


I parked in the drive way and went up to the house to knock, but heard someone banging and building something in the back so I went around back and found the guy... I walked up to him and this was conversation word for word:

Me: Hi, my name is Sean Conrad (I extend my hand to greet him)

Him: Hi Sean, Eric (we shake)

Me: Could you tell me who owns this property?

Him: I just bought it.

Me: Wow.. good for you Eric. This is a great old house... I love it. I was wondering if I could have permission to metal detect the property to look for old coins, buckles and buttons and things like that. I like to look for old stuff that was lost long ago and if I find anything significant or relevant to the house I'll be happy to show you.

Him: Sure... have at it.

Me: Thanks Eric I appreciate it. I'm not going to do it today, but I'll be back tomorrow or some time in the next few days. Is there any place you rather me not detect?

Him: Nope have a blast.

Me: Great, thank you!


Simple and to the point... Don't beat around the bush and don't be shy. Just go for it...

A tip.. You want to detect THE property... not THEIR property... It takes away the personal connection.

And offer to show them any finds that are worth showing them right up front. That way they don't have to wonder if you will or not.

I never offer to split finds or anything like that. I don't even mention it. If I find something that I think they would want (other than coins) I will gladly offer it to them. They rarely take it, but it's nice to offer it to them. You DID find it on their property and in all reality it IS theirs.

Once I found a ring that turned out to be the home owners daughter that she lost 4 years ago. I gave it to his wife and she loved it... That's a much better satisfaction than putting it in my treasure box.

If they ask what you will do with the finds just tell them that you keep them and display them as you enjoy history and the connection that you can make with the people from the past through finding their lost items.

 

[treasurehound]

Great tips. I have been in sales for years and with cold calling experience it does not bother me the least asking for permission. Most people are afraid of rejection. Look at it this way.... if you find 10 victorian houses to hunt and only one says yes then you got to hunt a great site and will propably find some great finds. It is up to you to decide where to hunt and yes you are going to get a lot of no's but eventually you are going to get some yes's. Just like sales it is a numbers game. The more doors you knock on the more chances of a yes you are going to get. Get good at asking for permission. I have gotten permission to hunt a 5000 acre farm that allows no one else to hunt. It is on a major civil war battle site. And I just got permission to hunt a 20,000 troop Confederate winter camp this fall. He always turns others down and I don't have to worry about trespassers because he lets his dobermans run loose. I am not a professional permission getter but I ask a lot of people and yes I do get a lot of no's. Some of the things I tell the landowners is that I am not in the hobby to sell my finds. I tell them about the history of the site and I would like to recover and preserve the relics. If I have a very successful hunt I will go back to the owner and see if they would like some of the finds. I even invite them to hunt with me if they would like to. One actually took me up on this and she found a lot of stuff and has invited me back several times. Be very respectful of the property. Dig nice clean holes and cover your holes the best you can. One owner that lets me hunt in the woods actually told me not to worry about filling my holes back in as he has no livestock in there. Well I fill them anyway. I also tell them that if I take any pictures I will not have any recognizable landmarks in it so no one can find out where I am hunting. Most new people want to hunt parks and schools that have already been hunted. So if you really want to find some great finds then get in the habit of asking for permission to hunt sites that rarely has seen a metal detector. Thanks for the post and I hope a lot of people will use these tips to help them.

 

[Frankn]

Lot of good suggestions here. I will add an item I use sometimes. I use an 8.5X10" picture of a successful yard hunt where the owner was very happy with my results. The picture acts as an introduction from a neighbor and proof of good results for both involved. Here is the picture of the neighbors house and some of the items found. The items are on the picture Frank...

IT WORKS!

 

[ToastedWheatie]

Great tips! All relevant and accurate. I'm getting accustomed to knocking, and I'm actually running about 50% giving permission.
I review old maps, and start with a comment like, " I see that this house dates back to the early 1800s. have you ever thought about metal detecting it?"

And start the converstaion from there.

And appearance is everything. Avoid doing this with 3 days worth of beard scruff on your chin and dirt from a 5 hour dig on your hands and clothes.


And ALWAYS ask about the history of the property, and let them talk. It's not only considerate, but you never know when they'll mention things like, "There was a fruit stand at the end of the driveway until 1940", or "Grandpa had a still over that hill". Those are priceless tidbits that can make or break your day.
And I also like to ask if they are aware of any lost items on the property. You may here stories of a long ago cache, or a daughters wedding ring.

I also bring cardboard or a paint roller tray with me when I dig. I put the dirt from the hole in the tray or on the cardboard. Pour it back into the hole with no left over dirt dirtying the lawn.

 

[Ronzie]

Just this morning I took my daughter to the hospital to get her full leg cast off and have a smaller one put on.
I ran into an old neighbor who lived just down the road from me who volunteers there. I grew up with her daughters in the '70's and see them from time to time around. After talking a bit, I ask how long have they lived at their farm. She told me her and her now deceased husband moved in 1963 and the house was built in 1838. I told her I was into metal detecting and love to do old properties and before I went any further she said that she'd love me to come down and do her place. They have over 100 acres of fields, but I'd probably just do around the house and out buildings.
The oldest homes I've ever done were 1880's, so I'm in my glory.

 

[Ronzie]

We're getting a new furnace and the guy came to take measurements and saw my detector just now. He was telling me of a guy on holiday's when he was in Mexico that did the surf and couldn't believe the rings he showed him in just a couple of hours.
He tells me his best friend lives 20 minutes away and has over 200 acres of farm land that he hunts on and says he'll get me out there to detect. Way back on the property there is a bottle dump that's really old, plus the house is over 100 years old but completely renovated.
This has been the way I've been getting permission to hunt for over 15 years. Never knocked on one door yet.
2 in one day.

 

[lisagoesmodern]

Thanks to everyone for all the great comments and suggestions! Have definitely picked up a lot of great tips and ideas. And I am super jealous of some of the properties you all are hunting! How amazing! :-) (Is there a drooling smiley face on here?!?)