I show them this permission slip, of which I carry several (sadly) unused copies with my clipboard:

https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/hunting/documents/permissioncard.pdf

Which explicitly lists who (just me) has permission to trap on the land and explicitly lists the duration (trapping season). I don't leave any ambiguity. I always try to be up-front and honest.

Of course I know that comment is a blow-off, but what can I do about it? I can call them on it, but I don't think that would result in permission. That comment is their way of saying no, and no means no.

LOL, you caught me, Savell. That must be it.

Don't show up with a clipboard. They'll think you're doing a survey, getting signatures for a petition or trying to sell something. That will make them dislike you before you even open your mouth.

Keith

If you're not from the farming community, breaking in is really tough in our area. So unless you own land in the area, are dating or marrying into a family ... having no personal contact isn't going to work unless landowners already have a problem they can't handle themselves. So unless you're in the business of providing established ADC services, as a fur trapper it can be a tough haul. Is that card youre handing out looking like a business? Ads in the local paper ... small success rate, I would guess.

So yes, getting to know them and interacting at the morning meeting place, the feed mill and/or the stock yard/sales barn are the best opportunities when farmers have time and are more relaxed. But it's not a one and done or once a year thing; relationships need to be cultivated over time, trust and respect earned.

Understand, YOU ARE NOT OFFERING A SERVICE as a fur trapper! They are affording you a privilege allowing you on their land! Ask yourself what can you do to prove to them that you are someone they can trust. Express an honest interest to understand what it is that they do. When I moved into the rural community, I was a city slicker. I went out of my way to meet my neighbors, asking if I could spend some time to gain some knowledge and experience, offered to help with milking (dairy area), loading hay into the barns, scraping calf stalls and cleaning the barn/parlor after I didn't ask for pay; but I did prove I wasn't afraid to put in the work to interact with them on their level. After I established a few relationships, generated a few friends in the community, demonstrated that I had their same values, as trapping season approved that's when I asked for the opportunity to trap and educate some farmers as to the tools of the trade and how their property and livestock would be respected and protected.

Realize, all farmers will solve their problem on their own, one way or another. If there is hunting, you probably won't be able to get on the property to trap till after season. Respect whatever limitation/s ( objections ) the owners offer up. It ultimately, how can you have the least impact on their lives and yet solve a inconvenience they may be experiencing know or unknown.

They have trappers already trapping for them; politely ask who they may be. Perhaps you can shadow one or two while they trap. Gaining the respect and goodwill of local trappers will go a long way to opening sticky doors with a casually dropped name or two.

In the sales business, going and pounding on doors is called making "cold calls"; it's not a high percentage game. Far better to develope networks of connected people which can give a positive reference, as you will be talked about in those casual meeting places referenced above, anyway.

Not telling you what to do or how to do it, just been my experience. Of course what works for one doesn't mean it works for everyone in every circumstance.

Does your State require written permission, Michigan did decades ago but stopped requiring it. If your State does require written permission that is your 1st stumbling block right there. Property owners HATE signing chit! If your written permission slips are your idea, chit-can them asap and maybe your no’s will lessen!

NEVER -EVER challenge a property owner!

A bag of crappie fillets never hurts, depending on quality and quantity of the land I'm interested in gaining access to.

Several different idea.Public land.What about your local trapping organization? Fur buyers or a fur sale to meet other trappers.I have used classified ads many years ago and it worked well.But I was experienced.Land owners want you to be able accomplish whatever they need done.Pretty rare for a novice trapper to get permission.Meet an older trapper and offer to follow along to help.NOT to trap.If you can get a trapper to take you under their wing you will not only learn but at some point you might be surprised.

The Parvo Kid.............

Years ago, I would buy topo maps of the areas around me.
Get plat books from the county, and phone books.
Cross reference ponds and lakes on the topo maps with the plat book.
The names of the owners were in the plat books.
Then check their names in the phonebook along with their address.
Call and ask about trapping or hunting.
It also helped if I knew a little history about the property , such as who owned it before hand.

Get rid of Wilbur and make his tag “The Parvo Kid”

Lol

You could drop by your local NRCS office or state forestery office. Ask if they know any landowners with problems. If these agents happen to be receptive, they might get you some introductions.

An addition to the local restaraunt idea - be super nice to the waitress and see if she knows anyone with critter problems.

Do any small town stores have a bulletin board by door for posting things? make a little flyer with your phone number repeatedly listed on the bottom for people to tear off. Then tear off half the phone numbers so it looks like you're popular.

Oh I dunno. Wilbur is pretty fitting too....

Ya gotta have thick skin in this business.

If you lived on my end of the state I could definitely hook you up. No one traps down here and farmers are all pretty easy going.

Wissmiss mentioned going to a feed store and putting up a flyer on a bulletin board. Do this. Go to a local mom and pop feed store if you have any. Or a Rural King, Farm and Fleet, Norby's, or whatever they got upstate. Farmers want to see results and know that you are doing them a favor. Next thing you know their neighbors are trying to get a hold of you to get you to trap their places.

Should you get permission, my number one advice is: make it look like you were never even there. Meaning leave no trace. No ruts, trash, etc.

The thing with places that are leased out to deer hunters is a lot of those agreements on paper stipulate that no one else is to use that land other than the owner and the leasee. There's a guy down here that won't even allow a person to look for arrowheads in his fields in the summertime with the way that his lease is worded with the deer hunters, because it would be breaking the agreement.

You need to meet your local Game Wardens because lots of people call them asking if they know of any good trappers. I'm friends with 2 GW around me that give my number out to people all the time. The GW's don't want to deal with having to deal with the problem of coyotes or even coons, it's much easier to just call you or give your number out and the problems are solved. Also hang out at your local feed stores. Bringing donuts in from time to time helps with getting on peoples good side quickly.

Man the anti's have got you guys tricked good.

You are absolutely offering a service if you are removing coyotes, coons, beavers, or any animal causing damage to crops, wildlife, or property.

Offering this service for free is the gift to the landowner. No crappie filets or baked goods required. This isn't asking for permission to deer hunt or turkey hunt.

Not everyone is cut out for face to face conversation and asking for permission. What Seldom said about 2/3 of Trappers not being allowed to trap my land is spot on.

You just need to get one farmer. Do him a good job and show him quantifiable results. I promise the word will spread. Tuck your shirt in and get after it. Good luck!

Lots of good advice...Massac has some great advice....way too many stories about guys getting permission and then abusing/taking advantage of the land owner.
AND production..ie taking critters...be sure to take pics or physically show them.
Be patient it isn't a FAST process....but worthwhile..I've made a lot of life long friends trapping/ predator calling for folks.
Good luck!

Find an interest in your smaller towns like bowling league, shooting club, darts if you drink the bar places where folks gather. Mention you’re a trapper when you can to get the word out there. What you do for a living might help you barter your services if they are needed.

IL rural communities are very clannish they distrust strangers so much, if you don’t connect with the locals it’s tough. Local trappers have the best places sowed up as they know everyone. Talk to a CO in the area if you can find one they are not available like many other states like unicorns at times finding one.

Do a public trapping trip but again getting away from people in IL is not easy to do. Figure out the needs of the folks you hope to trap on like crop damage or livestock issues not that you don’t have a place to trap they don’t care. Get pics of your catches or you're just talking even if it’s a stack of coons it shows them potential.

Lived in IL for years it’s one of the toughest states to get permissions in hands down one of many reasons I left that place in my rear view mirror and never regretted it. Permissions were spotty then no real decent “line” just a few spots here and there places to set.

Figure out what’s legal for trapping like float trapping, ditch trapping anything to get you started. Here ditch trapping if legal gets you onto places as you meet the locals snooping what you’re doing that can go either way then. Be respectful it goes a long ways I had folks start to get rude thinking I was trapping on their land I calmly said I’m not and wouldn’t do that I can show you my traps are not on your land then was welcomed to trap that same property. If I would have huffed and puffed it never would have been offered then.

Don’t take this personal but IL sucks theres a big world out there to see check it out. If you really want to catch coyotes plan a out of state trapping trip but do your research before you go question everything so you know what your getting into.

I was thinking the same thing

This is a good post.

It just takes one place to make or break you. If you are respectful of the landowner and their land, word will spread. If you are not, word will spread.

Presentation and appearance matter. I would not let some bum on my place. And, do not act like you are doing the landowner a favor.