How did you find your permissions?

i just pull in and ask who runs the show

try looking up dairy farms in your area,
and then drive out and talk to them,
sometimes its worth the drive and sometimes it isnt lol

dairy farms are the best,
they are usually covered in birds.

Get to know them 1st. Go to the church soup suppers, fundraisers, street dances. I have a good quality camera in my vehicle when driving rural areas. See a an interesting old outbuilding, barn, homestead? Stop and ask if you can take some pictures. You got a skill a farmer/rancher could use? Weld? Mechanic? Electrical? Swap labor for access. Land owners want to see a face, to size you up, not a piece of paper on a message board.

EDIT: Drive around look for birds on power lines and structures. Word of mouth, ask people.

Local restaurant.. Buy some coffees for the locals..

I suggested to a neighbor that I could eradicate cotton mouths on my property and his if I had access to his two fish ponds. Told him I would only use an air rifle. Within a year another neighbor asked if I could do the same for him. I now have access to forty acres of pasture, ponds, titi swamp, and hardwood hammock. I have permission to hunt it all with an air rifle for small game and pests.
Emphasize the low report and short range of air rifles. Offer to eliminate pests.

One year after I retired I made a BIG pot of ham and beans, enough to feed 2-3 dozen hungry people. I set up a table & camp stove where the grain trucks line up at the local elevator during corn harvest. Sometimes it's a several hour wait to unload. I fed 'em ham & beans, Saltine crackers while they waited. Got more places to pest than time to hunt.

I'm in the panhandle. Still lots of family farms up here. I figure that you're in central FL. Lots of AgriBiz down there. I don't know how to approach those people but it might be worthwhile.

I've got four permissions now at dairy farms - all were by just stopping and asking. I'd observed what appeared to be "bird issues" at these places for quite a while - I drive by them frequently on my way to and from work. Eventually when I see someone in or around one of the facilities I'll stop, get out of the car and inquirer re: "... are you the property owner?" The very first permission I got (and still have) was kind of hilarious . . . . I asked a couple of workers that I spotted who were headed into what appeared to be an office - they told me "the boss" was in there - so I followed them in. Quick intro's out of the way - I explained that I saw what appeared to be a "bird issue" at this place and he about came over his desk at me - "Ya think?!?!" Clearly he was frustrated with the HUNDREDS of pigeons that were infesting his barns and he couldn't get me to start clearing them soon enough. He's a happy camper now and has far (far) fewer pigeons hanging around. ( The hawks, crows, ravens and probably foxes have eaten well in the meantime.

Anyway - as others have said - dairy farms and just stop and ask. Do explain that yes - using an air rifle ( emphasize that ) - NOT firearms. Quiet, accurate, if you have multiple guns - one can be, or already is, de-tuned for low power / inside of barns shooting so as not to punch holes in the roof, etc ...

If I may add a couple follow up questions:

- What do you do with all the dead animals?

- Anyone get paid for their "Permission"?

I reached out to a couple friendly acquaintances who have farms. I am soon to take my footage, gear, and car and travel around to do drive arounds.

wyfly said:

If I may add a couple follow up questions:

- What do you do with all the dead animals?

- Anyone get paid for their "Permission"?

Click to expand...

i always ask if they want me to pick what birds i can,
some will want them picked up,
and some will tell you to leave them lay.

and as for paid,probably not lol

i have entertained the thought of starting an airgun pest control business,
but wouldnt know where to start.

uglymike said:

One year after I retired I made a BIG pot of ham and beans, enough to feed 2-3 dozen hungry people. I set up a table & camp stove where the grain trucks line up at the local elevator during corn harvest. Sometimes it's a several hour wait to unload. I fed 'em ham & beans, Saltine crackers while they waited. Got more places to pest than time to hunt.

Click to expand...

Ingenious plan.

I am related to the property owners of all my permissions.

People with orchards usually want squirrels removed.

starlingassn said:

i always ask if they want me to pick what birds i can,
some will want them picked up,
and some will tell you to leave them lay.

and as for paid,probably not lol

i have entertained the thought of starting an airgun pest control business,
but wouldnt know where to start.

Click to expand...

IF paid you most likely would have a license and Liability insurance to consider . Pest control has license either State or County maybe city or all three ?

customcutter said:

My FILaw was told by a county Ag agent in Georgia that a single squirrel could eat up to 100#'s of pecans a year.

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SO ....... you wait till they get nice and fat Then POW !