Area hunters are truly blessed with State Game Lands encompassing thousands of acres nearby where they can hunt. That acreage has been paid for by money generated by hunting license sales and should remain for hunters’ use for generations to come. But what happens when the forests on that land undergo changes that negatively affect the food and habitat that is there?

Beech trees throughout the state have been suffering for years from beech bark disease, which eventually kills 90-93% of all of the mature trees, thus eliminating beech nuts as a food source for deer, bears, turkeys, grouse, and squirrels. Additionally, beech trees are further stressed by a beech leaf disease.

The ash trees have been attacked by the emerald ash beetle, which is now destroying all of our ash trees.

Wooly adelgid is a small insect that is spreading through our forests and killing hemlock trees.

In recent years the gypsy moths have been on the increase, defoliating oak and other trees. Several years in a row of this defoliation could kill a tree.

And on it goes. Which means that on our Game Lands, you may have to shift from your past “honey holes” to a new location in those tracts of land.

Private property in the forms of farmland and woodlands changes ownership from time to time, either through inheritance, the sale of a property to another individual or to a developer, or the occasional donation of the land to a conservancy. For those hunters who have had great hunting success on private property, there may be the possibility that their hunting access may not be available in the future. There are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to try to line up some private property for future hunting access.

Make a good first impression. Don’t show up on the farmer’s porch steps the day before hunting season and expect to be welcome. Such short notice is disrespectful to a landowner. Over the spring or summer months is the ideal time to attempt to gain access to a new hunting property.

Instead of dropping by just before hunting season, go now in hopes of gaining access to hunt coyotes or groundhogs. Most landowners would be very happy to have someone help eliminate groundhogs that burrow under the foundations of buildings or dig holes in pastures used by their cattle. Very few property owners would balk at the idea of someone eliminating coyotes on their land. Begin a relationship with a landowner by reducing the number of varmints or vermin on his land, and it just might lead to a friendship that will allow access to fall hunting of turkeys or deer.

Farmers are busy and sometimes too busy to take time to hunt. But they very well may like to have some fresh venison steaks or backstrap to serve up for dinner! Sharing your harvest, especially when it comes from their property, can go a long way toward building a long-term relationship.

If you are having a picnic sometime this summer, make sure you invite your new landowner friend and his family to join you. The time you will spend together at a cookout will go a long way in strengthening your friendship.

If you are fortunate enough to gain permission to hunt turkey, deer, or bear, then, for heaven’s sake, offer to share the harvest! Even if the landowner says “no” to the offer of fresh organic meat that came from their property, you can still show up with a nice fresh-out-of-the-oven roast that he can enjoy for dinner.

Above all, be respectful. Make sure you completely understand any particular things the landowner will expect from you. Be certain what you are allowed to hunt and what they would prefer you not hunt. Are there any days of the week that they have already reserved for someone else or a family member, or will you be allowed access anytime? Make sure you know where you can and cannot park a vehicle. Offer to call ahead of time so the landowner knows when you will be there and is not surprised to see you walking out of his woods or through his fields. Are there any places on the property that are off-limits to you? Establishing these boundaries and guidelines shows the landowner that you respect him and will respect his wishes.

Gaining access to a new property for hunting is really not all that difficult when you use common sense, show respect, and act responsibly.