Guide - Moses lake Geese

[hunter12]

Just looking for opinions;
I hunted with a guide a few days ago. We hunted a field right off Moses lake. Being so cold the lake had iced over which pushed the geese north of this area into the open water.  I felt the guide did not scout the fields the days before.  We had zero flying in to the decoys. just a few migrating birds flying with the airplanes!!!
Here's my question. Wouldn't you think the guide would discount or even invite you out on another trip? I was going to book a few more trips but after this not going to use or recommend him.  I even mentioned to him that we would be interested in a few more trips b4 we even started hunting.

I have been on several guided trips fishing and hunting. When it was OFF the guide always offered something to get repeat business. maybe things are changing?

 

[curtdiesel]

I have seen this happen with goose guide outfits as well.  Last year I went out with a service and we had a nice pit blind but very few geese.  Our guide worked hard and is a champion caller but was only able to get one flock to come in to shooting range.  I got a double and the other guys with us each shot one goose.  They were all lessers.  After that nothing the rest of the afternoon and we packed it up early.  No offer for a discounted repeat.  Maybe if we called the officer or something?

This year I went out with eagle lakes once before Christmas this year and at very first was a little disappointed that they didn't have pit blinds and were using "cheap" decoys.  We got setup in the layouts which I really don't like but it didn't take long and the geese were coming in and in and in.  We limited out and I changed my opinion.  Eagle lakes guides scout a lot can call well and know where to take their hunters.  It is really great being on the "X" and with them I felt that we were.

I understand there is a lot of luck involved but at least with fishing guides it still feels like if you have a really crappy day they at least offer to take you back out at 1/2 cost another time if you have a bad day.  It seems to me it is in the best interest of the guide to get positive word of mouth and happy customers.  There is nothing worse than paying big money to go out and get skunked anyway.  It is also extremely great to go out with a guy that knows what he is doing learn a lot quick for the money and have an excellent day of hunting/fishing getting limits or close to and having stories to tell.

Curt

[hunter12]

I totally agree. Word of mouth sells trips. I have heard good things about Eagle lakes.



I know they have to run a business but make the big money on the good trips. Maybe brake even on the crappy trips.  Quote from the guide " Geese are creatures of habit" scouting is everything when weather changes. 

[wildweeds]

There's a 17 year old kid on here who goes by Chukarchaser,he's a guide down in the tri cities,he works for Mike Franklin(can't remember the  biz name) who has been guiding for alot of years,I see the kids  pictures on Facebook quite often.The kid seems to always be in the birds as evidenced by the piles of ducks/geese and smiling hunters.As to the disappointment,not everything is guaranteed in an outdoor experiance of fishing or hunting,if it was it would be called "Catching and Shooting".I went on a guided trip for Geese 3 years ago and had a great time,was there alot of birds and shooting? Not really but the guides were great,the company hilarious)I went with 5 guys I didn't know and one that I did)My dentist,the rest were stockbrokers/investment bankers/oral surgeon,Sign buisness owner and one redneck welder(That'd be me).We had about 4 opportunities to shoot and I made the most of them.The other guys not so much,whole lot of flat out missing went on,they were in it more for the cigars/smut books?jokes and laughs.As to the scouting,our guide pulled some buddy favors and we went to another guides spot for the day as his area was devoid of birds as the weather had run the birds off in his area.I'd go with that guide again in a minute.

[mkcj]

The only guide I have ever used over there is Aaron Echternkamp ( Eastern Washington Guides) never matters what time of the season we have always had lots of birds to shoot at, 1 time we were on a goose trip that we had trouble getting geese to come in but we stayed out until dark and shot a whole mess of ducks to go with the handful of geese. I know things don't always work out as planned but when they have a really bad day I don't think it would kill them to at least give the clients that day a 50% off trip next season.

[hunter12]

I hear ya. I didn't expect a free ride just a come back and make it right or even a sorry guys we just weren't in them today so...........
we spent a 1000.00 plus tip.

I have been on several other trips good and bad success rates. we always had the guide offer something. We had one drop us the next day in a blind (self Guided) with his dekes because he was booked.

if I thought this guy did his homework I would be fine with it. but when things freeze up the geese and ducks change their habits. so should have this guide.

[moocher97]

Going with a guide USALLY gets you birds but what they offer is a chance to hunt its not about always shooting the biggest pile of birds sometimes. I went with a guide last year who scouted well but booking in advance didn't account for the thick fog that rolled in and pushed the birds above the cloud cover. It stunk really bad only heard one flock in the distance that flew by. So we cut our losses and paid the guide 100 bucks a person and went for an evening hunt in our public spot nearby and actually knocked the s*** out of ducks and a goose. Moral of the story it not always about the birds but the opportunity to hunt!!!!!!

[aaronoto]

If you spent $1,000 with a guide (presumably bringing him a group of 4 guys at that cost) and didn't even get an opportunity to shoot a bird, I'd be ticked that I wasn't offered any sort of discount for a future trip.  You aren't paying a guide for an opportunity to hunt, there are plenty of free opportunities to hunt.  You are paying a guide for their legwork to find the birds, pattern them, and the access to the land that will hold said birds.

[Tealer]

Knock on wood, our worst day in the field with clients left us three birds short of a 4 man limit. We scout everyday after the hunt and set up on the best location we can. That said not every hunt is going to be a burner. I'm sure I'll get skunked one day, hopefully when that day comes I hope the guys still have a good time.

When we get skunked on a fishing trip (other then springers) we always offer a to schedule another trip on our dime.

I know when I book a hunt or a fishing trip I'm looking for the best opportunity the guys can provide. That's all you can ask for.


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[EWUEAGLESHUNTER]

I know of a few guide services in the Moses Lake area that advertise if you dont see any birds they will give you another hunt. Guiding is an interesting business, there are some real nice guides out there that do a good job, then there are some questionable ones, I guess like any other profession out there. When you talk about scouting and guides knowing their stuff, interesting guide story/ experience I had earlier this year. Some private property that I am able to hunt was loaded with geese in late October, geese in the thousands. Long story short, the land owner was driving around checking his fields saw a pickup he didnt recognize  with a trailer behind it parked at this field that was loaded with geese. So he called the couple guys that he lets hunt his fields, none of us were out there. So he approached the group of guys who were all set up out there. Come to find out it was a Guide, taking paying clients out on his property, trespassing. The guides excuse was he thought he was on another farmers land....... Clearly this guide had been scouting this land to know it had been loaded with birds, it was no mistake he was there. Anyways, like I said earlier not all guides are bad, but maybe a few need to re-examine their business philosophies.

[hunter12]

maybe this guy had a bad day. but at least offer up something. I could have hunted on my own with same or better luck. That's why I hired a guide to hunt scouted land that would be better than what I could do on my own. I don't have the time to scout like they do.

[cowboycraig]

The only guide I have ever used over there is Aaron Echternkamp ( Eastern Washington Guides) never matters what time of the season we have always had lots of birds to shoot at, 1 time we were on a goose trip that we had trouble getting geese to come in but we stayed out until dark and shot a whole mess of ducks to go with the handful of geese. I know things don't always work out as planned but when they have a really bad day I don't think it would kill them to at least give the clients that day a 50% off trip next season.

I have to do a shout out for Echternkamp. Aaron is a good guy truly and all the guides I have met of his "can call and shoot" and like to teach others. It seems to me their goal is to teach you to hunt yourself, but know you will always come back now and then because they are the best. Honestly can day "You cannot go wrong" with Echternkamp.

[hunter100]

I'll be honest. I don't think you deserve a discount. I live on moses lake and drive by a corn field that is in city limits everyday. This field will have thousands in it one day and none the next and these are geese never hunted in this field or pressured. Point is geese can change patterns from one day to the next. Its hunting not killing, no guarantees. If you want guarantees maybe look at a canned pheasant hunt? You said you were right off moses lake? There isn't many fields right off moses lake that are not good options. Seems like with all the weather changes like this snap freeze the birds changed patterns. It happens and they can change from day to day. You should be able to tell if your guide is good. Answers questions knowledgeable, sets a nice spread, pays attention to hide, can call etc. If this is the case then I would chalk it up to mother nature.

[Fowlweather25]

  some days are good and some bad. All depends on mother nature and the birds and mother nature. Ive been hunting waterfowl for going on 17 years. Ive never had a day where someone in my group didnt kill something. 3 days in a row this weekend at my best spot didnt produce a single shot opportunity let alone a bird. Its hunting, not killing. Too many people get the idea that a guided hunt means the animal is tied to a tree. Those people couldnt be farther from the truth. Just to clarify,i would have offered a discounted hunt. However, that doesnt mean the OP is entitled to one.

[full choke]

Just looking for opinions;
I hunted with a guide a few days ago. We hunted a field right off Moses lake. Being so cold the lake had iced over which pushed the geese north of this area into the open water.  I felt the guide did not scout the fields the days before.  We had zero flying in to the decoys. just a few migrating birds flying with the airplanes!!!
Here's my question. Wouldn't you think the guide would discount or even invite you out on another trip? I was going to book a few more trips but after this not going to use or recommend him.  I even mentioned to him that we would be interested in a few more trips b4 we even started hunting.

I have been on several guided trips fishing and hunting. When it was OFF the guide always offered something to get repeat business. maybe things are changing?

I don't think the OP was asking for a free hunt because there were no birds on his hunt. I think all he is asking for was a little consideration and price break on a future hunt. I agree in this instance the guide should have either cancelled or rescheduled this particular hunt. I know things happen, and it is hunting not shooting, but when you are paying money to someone with the expectation of shooting birds, to be put in a field that has not been producing birds is wrong. The guide undoubtedly knew that the field was not going to produce. Any guide would have scouted and known that those birds were gone from the lake. He should have moved locations or rescheduled the hunt. I guess your recourse is to not patronize that particular operation anymore. Make sure your friends stay away too.

[Fowlweather25]

So whos to say the guide didnt scout and see a pile of birds the day before. The weather changes and poof, the birds are gone. Now the guide deserves to lose business because hes not privy to the birds or mother natures plan?

[hunter100]

This year the lake froze quick. Within a day or two. It's entirely possible that the guide had a good spot and some open water froze the night before the hunt and the birds moved. Again Its hunting not killing and these things can happen. Same as fog rolling in.

[hunter12]

I get weather change. I was in the area for two days prior not knowing where we were going to hunt. The lake was frozen then! The money wasn't important to me. If I pay a guide I expect scouting and if you have a bad day just offer up another future option. I have had bad days with guides both Waterfowl and Fishing this was the first guide to not offer up another trip or hey guys just pay me this....... it was a bad day all around, I know if I ran a business I would bank on the return customers and word of mouth.  this is my opinion only.

[eastsidemallard74]

I don't see how people can honestly get mad at guides(Only My 2 cents) A good guide scouts for hours all week, puts alot of time,money,etc into making sure they have the prime fields/areas. Weird weather over night can change animals routines, and when your up at 1,2,3 Am to get set up, you dont know unfortuanetly until it's mid way through the day.The guide company owners don't ever do it puposely, it called hunting. I know from personal experience, we had a spot in Moses, that we shot 150+ ducks in 3 days, same spot same set up ,etc. Day 4 weather shifted slightly and never shot more than 10 ducks over the next week there. And as far as getting a discount, I once gain go back to the "it's hunting" guides can't control what the birds do. Just a comment from a p/t guide!!!

[Odell]

I don't see how people can honestly get mad at guides(Only My 2 cents) A good guide scouts for hours all week, puts alot of time,money,etc into making sure they have the prime fields/areas. Weird weather over night can change animals routines, and when your up at 1,2,3 Am to get set up, you dont know unfortuanetly until it's mid way through the day.The guide company owners don't ever do it puposely, it called hunting. I know from personal experience, we had a spot in Moses, that we shot 150+ ducks in 3 days, same spot same set up ,etc. Day 4 weather shifted slightly and never shot more than 10 ducks over the next week there. And as far as getting a discount, I once gain go back to the "it's hunting" guides can't control what the birds do. Just a comment from a p/t guide!!!

I can it's easy to understand why people get frustrated with guides when it appears the guide is doing what he can to make it happen. I went on a guided hunt with a very well known guide, 4 of us in the blind on a small pond. Wind is exactly wrong and the ducks are having difficulty finishing to the decoys. It would take 10 minutes to move the very portable blind to the other side of the pond and change the decoys but the guide doesn't want to.  We sit there all day and kill only a few. Another time with the same guide, he tells us he has more clients coming in that weekend and so we can't hunt as long, doesn't want to overshoot the pond…? We are here today paying good money!

I've had other guides call me and cancel because they didn't have birds. But not all of them operate that way.

[hunter12]

my intention was not to knock all guides. I get all the hard work and scouting. I get the early mornings and catering to people inexperienced to the pros. I know the cost of lease and dekes and sweat equity. My experience was not great.

1. I was in the area 2 days prior I knew the lake was froze up
2. I told the guide this end of the lake is now frozen.
3. the money wasn't the point. I get its hunting.  He just basically sitting by his truck waiting for the money. He spent most of his time txting in the layout blind.
4. he lived hour from hunting area and drove over the night before.
*censored*ty planning is all.

he had great equipment. He was decent caller but couldn't them from across the lake a few miles away!

Most of the local guys work hard and get birds.  Weather really wasn't the factor. I have been out on foggy days with no luck and the guide offered a plan B.  plan B worked out.

The trip was fun either way. just frustrated by lack of plannning

[wildweeds]

Just because a sherpa is involved it's not an absolute.I've been on 4 guided outdoor outings,3 fishing one hunting One fishing trip was a lame duck,when you get in the boat and your told prior that everything is provided and there are 3 poles and 3 spinners and that is the extent of the tackle,you know it's going to be a handicapped day.One guy crackered off a spinner and then there were two lines to share between 4 fishers.That was a company sponsored trip,as well as another trip we took to Ucluelet,which was far better.The absolute best guided trip I went on was a Tuna trip out of westport with Deep Sea Charters,Capt Cliff on the Deluxe,he stood on the deck and told us that even though we had paid for 2 days fishing the fish were farther offshore and to really get into them we could fish one day and kill them or fish 2 days and catch but just a few.We opted for one day of killing them and 22 of us caught 397 albacore.I described the hunt I took earlier in this thread.Of the 4 outings I would repeat 3 in a second.