Thought I would share this with everyone......a few people in the right places can lead to a lot of tips on locations of swarms and cut-outs. Contact your local animal control, fire department, police department and tree removal services, board of education, as well as local exterminators (not the big guys like Orkin and such). These are usually the ones that are often contacted by individuals when they see a swarm of bees. They will be glad to pass the information on to you. It has resulted in numerous call in the past for me.
Go ahead and make contact with the big exterminator companies also, craigs list, flyers on the bulletin boards at the farm stores / co-op, county ag extension agent, parks department, truck stops (yep just think of how many trucks come through there from southern states), our university also has a list for swarms and cut outs, your local bee club, internet sites.
I agree other than avoiding the big guys. Local offices of the big guys may be one of your best referrals. About 70% of my calls come from exterminators, many from Orkin, terminix, ETC. Most don't do live removals and are glad to have a beekeeper to remove them. Killing honeybees is not popular with the public any more.
I would also list Agricultural Extension office, and bee clubs. Most bee clubs that have websites have swarm lists you can be added to. The first name listed on our local club list only wants so many, then he starts calling others on the list when calls come in. I get 2 or more calls from him every year.
EDIT: G3 was typing the same time, but beat me to the post button. :roll:
Also, have some business cards with you at all times, you never know when a situation will pop up where you can hand one out. I saw a chain saw fall off a tree service truck the other day and flagged the guy down (It was obviously a one man operation I had never heard of, I have already contacted all the ones in the phone book.) He wanted to give me some money, but I told him "You don't owe me anything, but the next time you run into bees, you know who to call." and gave him one of my business cards.
jc