DeerBuilder.com
Private land search
Connecticut
Contributors to this thread:
Pappapete 22-Sep-23
Swamp_Donkey 22-Sep-23
Brian M. 23-Sep-23
Dank 23-Sep-23
Corax_latrans 26-Sep-23
steve 26-Sep-23
longbeard 26-Sep-23
Corax_latrans 26-Sep-23
hami 17-Dec-23
steve 18-Dec-23
nehunter 18-Dec-23
steve 18-Dec-23
Dr. Deer 21-Dec-23
CTBobcat 21-Dec-23
2Wild Bill 26-Dec-23
Ace 27-Dec-23
Don_Keedic 28-Dec-23
Ace 28-Dec-23
Jebediah 28-Dec-23
Dr. Deer 29-Dec-23
hami 29-Dec-23
From: Pappapete
22-Sep-23
Hello my name is Pete, I was wondering if anyone knew of any websites for landowners looking for hunters. I'm striking out on my own in trying to find private land to hunt. Thank you all, and good hunting to you all

From: Swamp_Donkey
22-Sep-23
Sorry to break the news to ya... but good luck trying to find your own private land to hunt by the land owner reaching out to you lol

From: Brian M.
23-Sep-23
It could happen but you need to be in the right place, right time and right conversation. I don't think a website will help unfortunately. One of my best properties came about by mentioning the amount of turkeys in his field. (I met him for a bat issue). He said the field is usually full of deer too, and he'd like to thin them out. I couldn't get a permission slip out fast enough. But, I had no intention of asking him outright. I've actually had two other situations like that too. One was short term due to change BOD at HOA.

Figure out a way to meet people other than knocking on their door. Walk your dog, start a small business or do side jobs, and be friendly to anyone you meet. Stop and talk. Read their personality. Groom them so to speak, lol. Think long game, it could take a while to earn their trust.

I meet 5-15 people a week due to my job, 100% of them contact me for other issues. I've had some good properties fall into my lap unexpectedly. If you work in an office, that's hard to do.

From: Dank
23-Sep-23
So much public land to hunt. Sucks not having the ability to rifle hunt or hunt on sundays but besides that you couldn't hunt everything in this state if you had 3 lifetimes.

26-Sep-23
Man, I’ve been working my in-person social networks for 25 years here, and have yet to come up with a second piece of property that had any deer naturally using it…. Lot of folks who want them gone, but I’m not interested in making their problems net Worse by baiting the animals onto a 2-3 acre property…

From: steve
26-Sep-23
Corax if you have leads on small spots in Fairfield county would be happy to help you out. I don't mind small spots LOL

From: longbeard
26-Sep-23
He’s all talk Steve. Lol. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to kill a big buck with their bow on a tiny piece of land just because they had to lure it to their spot ? Say what? Huh?

26-Sep-23
Oh, c’mon Rich — you know me better than that. I can’t sit still long enough to wait for a “big” buck, and I’m too cheap to run a bait station even if I could.

From: hami
17-Dec-23
I'd say just do the old door knocking routine, use onX maps to make sure you're knocking on the right door, and hope for the best! If you're willing to put up some cash, I think that should help too.

I know this site/app is getting some hype, but I think it's mostly mid-west and west coast states to start? Maybe keep an eye on it: https://www.hunt-hub.com/

From: steve
18-Dec-23
hami, do you really think putting up cash will help???? I have hunted 25 million dollar properties. should I say I can give you a couple of hundred hunt?lOL. A 2 acer spot on fairfield county is over 1 million.

From: nehunter
18-Dec-23
When you lease or pay for hunting rights I believe the landowner is then responsible for all liability. I have to get lease Insurance on the property I lease in KY. (Per landowner).

I'm sure someone knows more about it. Something is written on the permission slip.

From: steve
18-Dec-23
Nehunter you are right when they sign a slip without payment. they are exempt from liabilities.

From: Dr. Deer
21-Dec-23
Historically there are lots of threads on this site about gaining permission, knocking on doors and such. I authored an article in Bowhunter Magazine titled The Privilege of Permission once. That is probably searchable on the net, although I just looked for it and could not find it. Probably too old to be digitally archived. But I stumbled upon lots of other articles on the subject. The take home message is that landowners are not looking for us, we have to look for them. Although with apps like OnX and google maps, pre-scouting good areas has probably never been easier.

From: CTBobcat
21-Dec-23
I use ONX a ton, but success rates of landing hunting spots are super super low.

From: 2Wild Bill
26-Dec-23
Town GIS maps from the town tax assessor's office will get you property lines and owner contact information. Look for the deer first and try to get permission for there or adjoining property.

From: Ace
27-Dec-23
I will never understand why more guys don't buy (or rent) a house with enough land to hunt. That's been a priority of mine since I moved out of my parents house. Even before I got married and bought a house, I lived in a rental with 5+ acres and a pond. Deer rabbits, bass and crappies ... wasn't a bad place to hang out. A small piece of woods behind the house, especially if it borders some open space ... heaven!

I hunt both private and public land in several states, and I have always had a bunch of available places to hunt, but there is nothing like hunting on land that you own. Control access, Less competition, No hikers or Mountain Bikers (ok some trespass issues may arise), fewer people messing with your stands or cameras. ... Wear orange only if and when you want to. I guess it's just not a priority to a lot of people. YMMV

From: Don_Keedic
28-Dec-23
@Ace

Yeah because houses with amlle acreage are so cheap and easy to come by ...

From: Ace
28-Dec-23
It's all about Priorities! I always consider the property first, a house can be built or added to later. Interestingly houses adjoining a swamp or wetlands seem to sell for a discount to those in a busy subdivision or on a corner lot with neighbors on all sides. (Exactly what I'd be looking for if I was thinking of hanging a tree stand in my backyard). I've advised my 3 sons: Spend less than you make, Never finance a depreciating asset and Save your money; eventually a recession/downturn will hit Real Estate and You'll either BE a buyer, or later WISH you were.

From: Jebediah
28-Dec-23
In medium-density housing situations in particular (ie not rural), there’s tremendous value to looking at the GIS map beforehand, and having some targets. You’ve got to know who owns what land. I learned this the hard way, more than once I talked to someone who answered the door and told me they were on a half acre, surrounded by woods that someone else owned.

From: Dr. Deer
29-Dec-23
Sage advice, Ace.

From: hami
29-Dec-23
I heard of a few sites where you can look for private land (not private land looking for you...unfortunately) but not sure how active they are. I've heard some buzz about this one, but not sure if they have gone live? Maybe next year? https://www.hunt-hub.com/

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