Tips for Hunting Private Property in Ohio

Article Excerpt
"Can I Hunt Your Property?"
Ohio Game&Fish 2007

Use Common Sense

Convincing a landowner you're one of the good guys comes down to common sense, especially when approaching property owners you've never met. Here are a few tips:

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  Don't knock on the landowner's door at 5 a.m. the first day of deer season. Call ahead and set up a convenient time to meet.
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  If you're not certain of a property owner's name or phone number, pick an appropriate time to stop by the landowner's home. Saturday afternoons or weekdays before dinner are good bets. Leave a note, if no one's home, with your name and phone number.If a mutual friend or relative is involved, mention their name in the initial introduction.
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  Look the part of the responsible hunter. No torn t-shirts or mud-covered jeans. Remember, allowing a stranger to bring weapons onto your property is a serious decision.
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  Use the "Permission for Hunting and Trapping on Private Land Form" in the back of the current Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet. The form may be photocopied and used by all Ohio hunters. Any written permission is acceptable, but the more professional-looking the agreement, the better the chance of gaining permission.
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  Many landowners are concerned about liability issues related to allowing hunting. According to Officer Rick Louttit, the Ohio Department of Wildlife's Medina County wildlife officer, the "Permission for Hunting and Trapping on Private Land Form" has a release-from-liability statement.