Pheasant Hunters: Get What You Ask For

In the classic baseball movie The Sandlot, a young team of rag-tag ballplayers spend the majority of the film trying to retrieve a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth – one they mistakenly play with and hit over the fence into the jaws of an angry junkyard dog nicknamed “The Beast.”

After a series of misadventures, the boys finally get the ball, defeat the beast and return him to his rightful owner, the supposedly mean Mr. Mertle. They soon find they could have saved themselves a whole lot of grief. “Why didn’t you just knock on the door,” the friendly-as-could-be Mr. Mertle says of the ball, “I’d have gotten it for you.”

Though a fictional story, that line by old Mr. Mertle has stuck with me over the years, serving as my constant reminder that if you want things in life, you need to ask. The same goes whether you’re looking for a date with the pretty girl…or access to John Doe’s pheasant habitat honey hole.

But with private landowners controlling much of the wildlife habitat in the United States, the fact is simply finding spots to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities remains a roadblock for many hunters and anglers.

There is some positive news to report. The most recent Farm Bill contained an “Open Fields” provision that provides $50 million which is already helping states develop and enhance access or “walk in” access programs. While a strong leap forward for hunters, anglers and conservationists, it is still a drop in the bucket.

Conservation groups like Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, along with state and federal natural resource agencies work hard to create public hunting areas. Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), state forests and national forests all provide excellent habitat and sporting opportunities. However, gaining access to private land is an often overlooked and underutilized hunting opportunity.

One of the big differences I’ve noticed between those who get what they want and those who don’t boils down to one simple behavior: Whether they’re willing to ask for it. I’ve read articles ad nauseum about private land and how to gain permission to it. While the art of asking or negotiating is important and can be perfected over time, I suspect the bigger obstacle for many – whether it be the fear of asking or the fear of rejection – is getting over the hump and making “the ask.” It needn’t be “The Beast” we treat it as, and you can take matters into your own hands this fall – literally – by using them to knock on “Mr. Mertle’s” door. There are millions of real farmers, ranchers, and private landowners just as nice as the mythical Mr. Mertle waiting to meet you and me.

I was a teenager the first time I asked a landowner for permission to hunt their property. My buddies and I had targeted a slough so full of northern mallards, it looked like a funnel cloud was rising out of it – and we were the storm chasers. We must have driven around the section a dozen times before we finally mustered up the courage to make our way up the landowner’s driveway, and then proceeded to sit in the vehicle for another eternity arguing which of us should make the death march to the door. Unable to verbally draw straws, we decided the safety-in-numbers approach was the next best option.

Much to our surprise, we were greeted by a kind, elderly woman who not only granted us permission, but seemed genuinely excited about doing so. As I recall, we were invited in for milk and cookies, but politely declined – ducks on the pond and all.

My best friends and I spent that cold, blustery November evening harvesting some of the plumpest ducks I’ve ever seen in my life, and it will forever be one of my fondest memories. The broad smile on her face as we presented her with one of those freshly plucked greenheads has stayed with me equally as long. I’d created a new hunting honey hole for a lifetime.

Living proof that sometimes, you get what you ask for.

Anthony’s Antics Afield is written by Anthony Hauck, Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauck.