Hello, sir," I began. "My name is Todd Pridemore, and I just moved to this area." Those few words of introduction started a 15-minute phone conversation that ended as I hoped it would.

If your goal is to hunt mature whitetails, developing a great relationship with the landowner is one of the first things you should do to ensure that you'll always have a great place to hunt. Above all, be genuine and sincere.

"Sure," the landowner concluded, "I don't have any problem with you hunting on my property."

I had never talked to the man before, but that phone call opened the door for me to bowhunt on some prime whitetail habitat on his 400-acre farm. I couldn't have been happier!

If you're not fortunate enough to own or lease your own hunting ground, you can often gain permission to hunt private farms by investing some time with the property owners. But the most important word in that sentence is time -- the kind of time investment that emphasizes building relationships and using good people skills. If you're looking for a privately owned area to hunt this fall, follow these tips about building relationships with strangers. From my experience, I've found that they work.

1) Start Early: Don't wait until the weekend before the season opener to make phone calls or knock on doors. By then, there's a good chance that someone else has already beat you to the opportunity. Ideally, you should seek permission to access private land in the early spring, when you can do some post-season scouting and possibly even discover a shed antler or two. If you wait too long to ask, chances are you'll miss out.

2) Get Your Foot In: If you have a feeling that the property owner might be resistant to your request, think of another way to "get your foot in the door." It might be that they own a fishing pond and would allow you to take your family fishing there in the spring. If they enjoy fish, share some of your catch with them (if they give you permission to keep what you catch).

Another angle could be that you're new to the area, and you simply would enjoy getting to know them. As you get to know them, subtly look for the right time to ask if anyone hunts on their land. If someone else already has that privilege, you might casually let the landowner know that you've been looking for a place to hunt and can't wait until you find it.

This kind of relationship building with new neighbors is increasingly rare, and older generations in particular appreciate this kind of "neighborly kindness." More often than not, a landowner who gets to know you first as a "neighbor" is much more likely to give you permission to hunt later. Always be genuine. Most landowners can see through the facade if you are not sincere.

3) Make A Great First Impression: The first impression you make on the landowner will determine a lot about whether or not he'll help you out. Never show up on a stranger's door unannounced -- that usually puts people on the defensive. Instead, find their number and give them a call first. Introduce yourself politely, and let them know that you'd like to stop by and introduce yourself in person when it's convenient. Some people will respond with a flat "No," but many people will cautiously be open to meeting you at their place.

When you do have the opportunity to introduce yourself in person, don't arrive early or late; be right on time. Also, make sure your appearance doesn't send any negative signals to the property owners. You don't have to wear a three-piece suit, but look presentable. The goal here is to present the image that you are a responsible person -- someone they can trust. Also, make sure you have written down your name and contact information clearly on an index card, so you can give it to the landowner on the first visit.

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