How to Ask Landowner Permission

A note before you start. Access rules, trespass law, written-permission requirements and liability arrangements are set by each state and sometimes by county, and they differ. This article is a guide to the etiquette of asking, not legal advice; we do not give any. Your state wildlife agency’s regulations and, for written agreements or liability, a qualified attorney in your state are the final word.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) notes that over 93% of Missouri’s land is privately owned, so most hunting there, especially deer hunting, happens on private land, and before you go you must identify the landowner and get permission. This guide covers finding the owner, asking, keeping access, and the rules, following MDC, Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and Maine’s hunter safety course.

Find the owner

• Ownership records: MDC says land ownership can be found at the county courthouse, through the assessor’s office or in a plat book, which gives the owner’s name; the assessor’s office can provide the address. Mapping tools used for scouting may also show ownership.
• Ask people you know: a Virginia DWR conservation police officer suggests starting with friends, coworkers and people at your place of worship, asking whether they know farmers or rural landowners who might allow hunting.

Ask face to face, and early

• Visit in person. MDC says don’t just phone: face-to-face contact lets the owner learn about you and put a face and a vehicle to the person who’ll be on their land.
• Pick the time. Visit when the owner is likely outdoors or easy to reach; avoid mealtimes, times when they have guests, and anything after sunset (MDC). Ask well before the season, not the week it opens.
• First impressions count. MDC notes the owner is judging, partly from how you look, act, drive and present yourself, whether you’ll respect their property and livestock. Be courteous even if the answer is no.
• Be polite if refused. Maine’s hunter safety course notes your courtesy may affect future requests.

Ask about their rules and goals

MDC says the most important thing is to ask about the owner’s rules and goals for the property, and help meet them: if they want fewer deer because of crop damage, harvest does; if they want older bucks, pass young ones. Virginia DWR’s officer also suggests asking whether crop damage from deer is a problem and offering to take only does.

Offer something in return

• Help out: Virginia DWR suggests offering to mow, clear brush, cut firewood, repair fencing or put up posted signs, or to come first to hunt coyotes or other nuisance animals.
• Small gestures: MDC mentions stopping by for an occasional chat, offering part of your harvest, helping around the property, or asking to post the owner’s boundaries as a gesture of good faith.

Keep the access

• Report after each visit: Virginia DWR says many landowners enjoy hearing what game you saw; send a short email or text after every visit.
• Notify the owner if you notice anything wrong or out of place (Maine hunter safety course).
• Thank them at the end of the season (Virginia DWR).
• Ask again every year. MDC: permission one year does not automatically mean permission the next.

Trespass and retrieval

MDC is plain about it: buying a hunting permit does not give you the right to trespass. If you don’t own the land or have the owner’s permission, you shouldn’t be there, and that includes retrieving a deer that crosses a property line: ask that owner for permission to search. Maine’s course says never to enter cultivated or posted land without permission.

Written permission

Maine’s hunter safety course notes that some states require written permission from landowners. Check your state’s regulations before the season; where agencies provide a standard permission form, use it. Even where it isn’t required, a short written note of dates, species and method helps both sides remember the same thing. For anything more formal, such as a lease or liability waiver, involve an attorney in your state.

If the doors aren’t opening

MDC suggests that if you can’t get free access, you can consider leasing land, which can secure a property for several years and limit how many people hunt it, or using an outfitter. Many hunters also turn to public land. Our piece on hunting ethics and conservation covers conduct wherever you hunt.

Sources

• Missouri Department of Conservation, Hunting on private land. Read 28 October 2026.
• Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, How to gain hunting permission. Read 28 October 2026.
• Maine Hunter Safety Course (hunter-ed.com), Respect landowners. Read 28 October 2026.