Here in Connecticut permission is required to hunt varmints or small game on private land. In northern New England it's only required on posted land but it's common sense to ask someone.

I used to ask "Can I have permission to hunt here". Since professional sales techniques are practiced and rehearsed I improved my approach and first I say "Hi" in a friendly and warm way. This is serious kissing up as I have spent time driving or finding the person and there are not that many places to ask.

Then I say "I would like to hunt woodchucks here" Thats all I say. The conversation may go on to other topics at this point as that's the way we talk here.

I don't offer anything in return. We don't pay here. You might send a magazine subsription later if you become friends or help out with something on the spur of the moment.

Don't go with a buddy or your kids. Go alone the first time and work that in later. Watch where you park and don't even think of driving your 4WD or ATV around on the land.

Good luck

In general, it is proper etiquette to offer a greeting and then inquire as to how the landowner is doing before launching headlong into the sales pitch.

But who am I to talk about etiquette?

As someone who has had countless people asking permission to fish in the lake in my front yard let me say that the number one thing that pisses me off is when someone comes by themselves the first time and gets permission to fish. Then he returns a second time with a buddy. Then the buddy shows up by himself and doesn't ask permission just fishes like he has the right to.

So what I'm trying to say is that when you bring a buddy make sure that buddy knows not to just showup next time by himself.

My experience with this has been with people fishing on the river that runs across land rented for cattle. When approached, most would claim to have received permission to fish the river a few years ago from the previous renter and assume the property is still open to them. Most people where I live will grant permission to hunt or fish but want to be ask before they find someone already on their property.