re: Guided Waterfowl Hunts

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I just don’t understand paying anyone to kill a duck.

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I travel to distant locations for most of my hunts and usually only go there once, opting to explore other places instead of returning. A guide is essential to what I am doing, but everyone’s situation is different

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Yes. Higher. The ducks aren’t in full color yet if that matters. I think it was 8 ducks / day when I went and a very high number for geese.

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That is what I thought. That would be a badass trip. The plumage thing isn't a big deal but it might be hard going from always seeing them down here and being able to tell what they are and figuring out what you're shooting at up there on the fly quickly. I guess that is what the guide is for.

As for Louisiana outfits, I have always heard of a place near Opelousas called Land of Lake's Sportsman's club. is that still a thing/any good? Also Dave's Bayou up near Winnsboro, they have a little social media presence and seem to kill birds.

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Grosse Savanne or Gordon Markel

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I have been with Grosse Savanne multiple times before and after their lodge got wiped out. I have yet to kill a bunch of ducks with them but they do have a kick arse marsh and bass lake so there is that and the lodge is awesome now. Also, Gordon is a friend. He has the some of the best blinds on the farm on 15 and has access to legit timber but he has struggled a lot the last few years, but when it is on, I am sure it can be really on at both spots. The property they both have is probably the best in the area but at the end of the day it is a gamble whether you kill.

As for guiding in general, that is all we do now. There are 4 of us that used to be on a lease South of H-town that as all really good leases typically go, we ended up losing it to a higher bidder. We all had wheelers, SXS's, decoys, boats, mud motors, and all the intangible shite you need to be on a lease plus the cost of the lease itself and when that fell through, we decided to say frick it and we sold all of it. Now, we hunt with one, maybe 2 outfitters on the East side of Houston. We hunt 3 or 4 timed during teal which is usually fantastic and then maybe 7-8 during big duck. We typically do pretty good since thi outfitter has really good property and then we make a road trip to Oklahoma or Kanasas every January.

Nebraska is cool as shite. The confluence of the north and south platte is there. Also, lake Mcconaughy holds an ungodly amount of mallards that roost there and jump out every morning. Quite the spectacle.

Nebraska also has some cool little towns with some Wild West history. Kearney is the sand hill capitol of the world but you cannot hunt them there.

My only help can be dont go by social media or website photos. Get some personal referrals.

Also ask how big of groups they hunt. For me shooting ducks 12 deep isn't fun at all.

Out in the midwest you are hunting farm land that they get permission to hunt. If they cant get permission to hunt where the birds are then you are screwed.

Other places own land but the birds may not be there.

Its more common to only shoot a couple than get limits on these hunts. You are booking months out, the weather can kill you on the 3 days you are there.

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I have been with Grosse Savanne multiple times before and after their lodge got wiped out. I have yet to kill a bunch of ducks with them but they do have a kick arse marsh and bass lake so there is that and the lodge is awesome now. Also, Gordon is a friend. He has the some of the best blinds on the farm on 15 and has access to legit timber but he has struggled a lot the last few years, but when it is on, I am sure it can be really on at both spots. The property they both have is probably the best in the area but at the end of the day it is a gamble whether you kill.

As for guiding in general, that is all we do now. There are 4 of us that used to be on a lease South of H-town that as all really good leases typically go, we ended up losing it to a higher bidder. We all had wheelers, SXS's, decoys, boats, mud motors, and all the intangible shite you need to be on a lease plus the cost of the lease itself and when that fell through, we decided to say frick it and we sold all of it. Now, we hunt with one, maybe 2 outfitters on the East side of Houston. We hunt 3 or 4 timed during teal which is usually fantastic and then maybe 7-8 during big duck. We typically do pretty good since thi outfitter has really good property and then we make a road trip to Oklahoma or Kanasas every January.

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Who do you use on the East side of town?

I just want to say I really enjoy these threads

It seems like every guided duck hunt I have been on is roughly 50/50 chance of being great or crappy.

I have only been on guided hunts in Canada though.

Go out of state ! More for your buck .

The more you go, the better the spots. Find a good crew and go a couple times a year-preferably weekdays. They will typically work harder, be more accommodating to repeat customers. Also, be nice to the guides.

Also, If you are flexible with dates many crews will tell you when to come.