Hunting permission from a golf course
Whitetail Deer
Hi guys, I found a golf course near me that owns 150 acres of forest next to the course. I went and talked to some groundskeepers today and figured out that deer eat the flowers in the landscaping and pigs tear up the green every now and then. They also have no one hunting the property. I am going to talk to the manager tomorrow and see if I can get the spot. I read some of the threads on here about getting permission for properties, but that seemed to be geared more towards individual landowners. Anyone have any tips on how to land this type of spot ?
Stress that you'll be bowhunting only, that you'll be careful about buildings and infrastructure, and that you'll remove carcasses and offal.
For sure remove the offal.
Check this guy out on the cart path... I would say the course is his sanctuary....8^) Photo was taken September 2022... If still alive, wonder what he looks like now?
Tell them that if you have a chance at two deer, you’ll only make a hole in one.
Start by asking,"Who do I need to ask to get permission?"
This allows him to 'flex' a bit. Then make your case. Also, if his boss hunts there, it allows him to say 'no' without feeling pressured.
Good luck.
Have Lee Ellis of Seek1 ask for you.
i have had permission from two different gc owners.
a couple things to keep in mind. many courses have homeowners that live on them. some will be ok with hunters and others will definitely not be ok with hunters. make sure you determine where you are to access the land (unseen from any homeowners) and strictly adhere to it...whether you think it is a prime access point or not. trust me on this one...if soccer mom homeowners see you in hunting clothes carrying a weapon of any kind...you will be reported...period. if complaints become a hassle for the gc owner...no matter how much you are helping keep the critters under control...youre done. no matter how convenient it might seem...avoid being seen on the golf course proper...it will cost you your access...period.
one good thing...deer that live on and around golf courses are used to human interaction every day. not that it makes them stupid...but it does make them more tolerant of human scent.
lastly...homeowners love to feed and watch wildlife. find out which ones are doing it and use it to your advantage.
Very important to tell him how experienced and competent an archer you are. Life membership in the Pope & Young Club and or Texas Bow Hunters will help. If they grant permission the guy will want to know deer will not be appearing at the pond on the fourth hole with an arrow in the side. Tell him about the local venison donation program you’ll be supporting. Good luck.
Take all the residential landowners a gift. Hostas are nice ;)
It is amazing what is available to us if we ask correctly and off season. I contacted an organization last spring. They have a large parcel (800 acres or more). They came back asking for some info. Four of us were granted permission to hunt . We were allow to park in the parking lot . The only restriction I had is I had to tell them in advance what days I planned to hunt.
Also… some state bowhunting organizations include liability insurance with their membership.
Find out if yours does and mention you have that ( if you’re a member)
I'd bet noting you will only hunt from elevated positions, so arrows will never go far beyond any intended target, also would help them feel better about you being out there.
Also… some state bowhunting organizations include liability insurance with their membership.
Find out if yours does and mention you have that ( if you’re a member)
Also remember that the deer you shoot will likely run somewhere you don't want them to when they die,,,, and plan for it! This is how I met one of my next door neighbors this Fall and I was fortunate enough that he was such a gracious guy!
Anybody know if the NRA has liability insurance with their membership?
Bring a kid if you can. First impressions are very important. Dress in clean yet casual clothes. Have your vehicle clean - you don't want to drive up in a truck covered in mud. I went so far as to print out the statute that relives the owners of all responsibility / liability, I had it handy in case they voiced any concerns.
If / when you do get permission to hunt. Ask where you should park so you will be the "least" noticeable upon entrance / exit. "Are there certain days / times that they do NOT want you to hunt?". "Are there certain areas where they do not want you to hunt?" "Where are the main problem areas"?
Great ideas. As stated by Timex directly and, everyone else indirectly, this is your chance to present yourself as a solution. And, not a burden.
You are there to hunt!!!! Heck yeah. We all love it!!! But, you must present that desire in a way that you’ll be received as the guy there to take care of a problem. Discreetly and professionally.
This is where memberships in organizations focused on hunting is going to help you. Be sure to included that in your discussion. It’ll be looked at as accreditations.
Be realistic. If they want deer killed, kill them. If you can’t kill enough, include someone or others you trust to help you kill them. They don’t need to go with you. But, the golf course needs to know you have the capability to kill enough to curtail their problem.
You’ll likely have to carry insurance and you’ll likely have to additionally insure them. Which is no problem. The costs aren’t high.
Be courteous. Be polite. But, be confident. While you are asking for something, the more it appears that you are the answer to their problem, the better your chances become. Good luck.
^^ I guess it's easier to decide it wasn't a good idea after they told you no? What if they told you yes would you have still decided it wasn't a good idea?
“ Ultimately, we decided it wasn't a good idea.”
I can’t disagree….
The thing is, golf courses use a lot of chemistry to keep everything Just So… so (me bein’ me), I would have some questions around what they’re using out there.
I’ve hunted a property where the owner asked me to remove the animals intact; that makes them heavier to drag out, but not much. Beats the snot out of having no place to hunt. And a sled helps a lot. I could usually have them home and gutted within a couple hours, which is quick enough.
I’m glad that I’ve never had to sneak in and out of a property… of course, a compound guy could snag a used golf bag at the thrift store and convert it to a Stealth bow case…. Keep a pair of pants in the side pocket and wear a Hawaiian shirt — all the camo you need, and people will expect to see you wandering into the woods looking for your lost ball…
With a 150 acres of forest I'd probably bring a map with a proposed hunting area identified that is well away from any residences and the course itself. Propose that you will only hunt that area to prevent any disturbance to the neighbors or golfers. Also identify where you would like to park and walk in which should also be a secluded spot. Let them know that you will make every effort to be unnoticed by any players and neighbors.
If you get permission:
When you go in and out don't dress like a hunter, dress like you are going in to do a little tree work or other innocuous activity. Even carry an empty chainsaw case if it helps. Have your bow and gear disguised. Remove deer without field dressing using a cart or sled as if it was firewood. Cover it with a tarp. You do not want anyone to see your bow, camo or a dead deer at any time.
The reason for all the secrecy is that all it takes is one complaint from a neighbor or player and you will lose access no matter how bad the deer are hammering their grounds. If nobody figures out you are hunting out there, nobody will complain.
Focus on how you will be helping them.
Even offer to pay a lease, get a contract (written permission), make it professional, play by their rules.
The first thing you have to do is determine if the deer and hog problem are bad enough that they have any interest in letting you hunt, it may or may not be. We have a similar situation here and the management of the golf course doesn't feel that the problem is a big enough inconvenience to allow hunting. After that, you can decide how to handle everything else.
Like fdp above, Not sure what the deer limit is in Texas , in this situation, but I doubt that killing one or two deer per season will make any difference in the number of deer in the area and their effect on the local vegetation. I would also expect the does out number the bucks so do not think of this as a buck hunt.
The pigs are much more of an issue, so I would probably be shooting mostly pigs.
I'm currently working for a golf course as a subcontractor and can't even get permission to hunt.
around these parts...most golf courses have retired guys cutting roughs and fairways in exchange for golf privileges. i have no doubt you could barter the same way for hunting privileges. golf courses are businesses...speak their language.
i suspect a lot would also depend on where you live...around here most golf courses are closed by mid october so interaction with golfers is a non issue.
Let’s face it, some guys would have a hard time getting candy on halloween night. They just suck at conversation in general.
The “culling” of problematic deer and pigs wouldn’t be the angle I’d take. Good luck.
"Let’s face it, some guys would have a hard time getting candy on halloween night. They just suck at conversation in general."
good point. its been my experience that people tend to help people they trust and people they like. be honest and be likable. if deer and pigs were actually a "problem" to the gc...there would already be people killing them.
“Excuse me……. Sir Sir….. I’d like to talk to you about that back 40”
“Excuse me……. Sir Sir….. I’d like to talk to you about that back 40”
Ace up the sleeve for Timex……
If its pigs go in at night with a suppressed thermal. No one will ever know
As I’m reading Timex’s post, I’m thinking who could say no to Santa. Then I scroll to Caz’s post. That’s hilarious
Owners of the one where I'm working are vegetarian antis.
“Owners of the one where I'm working are vegetarian antis.”
In which case you could actually BE Mohandas Ghandi and you’d strike out! LOL… But that’s why we have the issues that we have here. People by and large know so little about Hunting that they are seriously concerned that their pets and children could be “mistaken” for a deer….
But I’m with Timex on being who you are, whoever you are. If you’re not trustworthy as to what kind of a person you are, why the hell would they trust you to run around their property with weapons??? All they’re probably looking for is someone who knows what they’re doing and can be trusted to know how to avoid causing An Incident….
At this point I don't think he knows if they even have any interest in having any one hunt anything.
