Every year during this time we make our annual trip to Western PA (2D)  to put up treestands and get permission from all the local landowners whose property we hunt on.  This year we happened to pick the hottest day of the year, or at least it felt like it.  Anyway, we take time to personally visit all the landowners and ask them permission to hunt on their property.  I always stress to all hunters that this is very important to get permission, regardless if the property is posted or not.  It is the polite and proper thing to do.  Here are a few tips for guys looking to gain permission to hunt that prime piece of property.

• Stop by every year regardless if they say you don’t have to.
• Give a small gift each year.  I always give a $20 gift certificate as well as stop by and give them some deer jerky or bologna that I made from the deer I took off their property.
• Send a Christmas Card each year.
• Let them get to know you.

A Simple $20 Gift Certificate Can Go A Long Way

My cousin Mike and I put treestands up on Saturday, August 25 starting at 6:30 am and finishing at 8:30 pm that evening.  I don’t know if you remember or not, but it was 92 degrees this day and very humid.  Bottom line was, this was the day we picked and we got after it. We set 5 different stands and cleared out a few trees for our climbers.  We are really excited about a new area that we have permission to hunt as we saw a lot of sign and a bunch of deer.

Couple of different stand set ups.  We use a combination of lean ons and hangers with climbing sticks.

On a side note from hunting, this Monday was my son Colin’s first day of kindergarten. Needless to say it was much harder for me to let him go than it was for him to get on the bus.  All I can say is they grow up fast so get them started in the outdoors as soon as possible.  You’ll notice the camo bookbag!

Me with my son Colin on his first day of kindergarten.

Archery season is right around the corner and I can hardly wait.  I will be hunting in 2D this year as well as 5B.  Get out there and start practicing, it will be here before you know it.  Until next time.