good guide services

[mendozer]

Been contemplating buying decoys or just spending the money on a guided service.

I don't know when the best time to hunt is, where to go, etc etc. So for this year it might be money well spent to pay a guide. It's 250 or so for geese from what I've found. That's about how much I'd be putting down on dekes anyways. Any recommendations for guides?

[chester]

I'd say spend the money on decoys but I always learn things the hard way so take it for what it's worth.


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[vandeman17]

Watch the classifieds on here as well as Craigslist. I have spent a good amount of money on nice dekes but also bought my share of cl that I still hunt over.  If you want to get into waterfowling, start small and gradually upgrade. 

[Spuddieselwwu]

http://www.easternwashingtonguides.com/

Aaron is the best IMO.

[jamesfromseattle]

No helpful input but am going to tag along here. Would like to get into some ducks but don't have a clue what I am going and was considering going w/ a guide this year.

[Rainier10]

Here's a thread from early this year with a couple of names to try.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=189121.0

The benefit of a guide is they do all the setup, they have the spot already and they pack everything up and store it.

If you are going to go every weekend investing and storing all the dekes is a better move.  If you are only going to go once or twice a year a guide is a way better route in my mind.

[mendozer]

I would like to do it more often, but I feel like it might be worth the investment to try a guide at least once to learn the ropes. I'd just hate to pay the money and they have an off day and don't produce.

I have been scouring CL and right now have a line on some duck dekes. Not many good goose ones.

[bulldogs40]

Im interested in doing a guided trip this year too. Field hunting for geese sounds like a blast but I have never done it before.

[Copperwood]

Bill Saunders runs an awesome outfit. I've been on a dozen hunts with him and his crew and I have never been disappointed.

http://www.billsaunderscalls.com/guidedhunts.htm

[greenhead_killer]

Here's my advice, pony up and go with a guide once or twice. It's amazing what you can learn just by watching how they operate. It's hunting, not killing though, nothing is a guarantee. I've been on guided hunts that we did ok on, not great, just ok, and others that were so lights out I could be satisfied if that was my last experience with that type of bird.(snow geese,200 in two days by 6 guys) then like said before, but some decoys. Get a dozen floaters and a jerk cord set up. Down the road add a wing spinner decoy. It can be an expensive start up, maybe 500$ minus gun/shells, but once set up its just gas/shells/time from then on. There will be days you get ten minute limits and others that you might scratch out 3/4. If you don't have time to scout ahead of a hunt, expect that scenario. It's addicting but I would probably choose duck hunting over any other style.

[bulldogs40]

I'll agree with the addiction part. I deer hunted my whole life and 2 years ago moved to washington. I didn't really have enough time to scout and tried duck hunting. Most fun Ive ever had in the outdoors. I was over seas all last hunting season and didn't draw any tags this year. I would love to smack a deer for some meat so I'm going out for modern, but Im making up for lost time and selling out on ducks this year!!!

[Mfowl]

I'd recommend looking into the Mardon Duck Taxi. They have guided and unguided hunts in the sand dunes of Potholes reservoir. They hunt on public land, you take part in placing/picking up decoys and they cook a meal in the blind. It's kind of a hands-on guided trip, could give you a good idea of what it's all about. 

[mendozer]

That Saunders one is a good price considering it's a combo of goose and ducks. I've seen Duck Taxi before and thought of doing the unguided ones. But I think it'd be prudent to do that AFTER learning how to call (by watching guides haha)

[bulldogs40]

Ive thought about the duck taxi as well. I would like to get out and hunt potholes this year. Does anyone have any experience with ruckus outfitters?

[Wingman509]

Doing the guided thing would he fun. I was in your situation 4 years ago. I bought the dekes, a hunt washington chip, the lab and lots of gas. The best thing I ever did though was in my second season and that was finding the right guys to take me under there wing. Find some experienced hunting buddies. I know people on this forum sometimes take people under their wings or learn the ropes together with someone else new to area or new to the sport. However I have spent a lot of time and money!  :chuckle:Very addictive but not much I would rather be doing.

[mendozer]

Cedarville only has two non-member hunts and they're raffled through WWA. I've been on the open seat thread a few times but find it hard to pair up with an experienced hunter to borrow wisdom from.

[Tealer]

Cedarville only has two non-member hunts and they're raffled through WWA. I've been on the open seat thread a few times but find it hard to pair up with an experienced hunter to borrow wisdom from.

I won't do open seats anymore. I got burned one (hundred) to many times.


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[h2ofowlr]

Cedarville only has two non-member hunts and they're raffled through WWA. I've been on the open seat thread a few times but find it hard to pair up with an experienced hunter to borrow wisdom from.

I won't do open seats anymore. I got burned one (hundred) to many times.

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That's smart as I have had the same experience.  Besides, it's not worth showing someone you don't know a good spot so they can bring everyone else the next hunt.  That is what wisdom has taught me!   

[mendozer]

I figure that's the general consensus regarding that. That's why I resort to talking with folks on here (or in person) about what to look for to find another spot of my own. I don't want to leech off someone and steal their mojo. I want my own mojo!

[greenhead_killer]

Gas, good pair of binos, and a hunt chip showing public and private. Lots of windshield time. There are a lot of open areas. And quite a few different styles. Watch videos, read books, magazines, anything to gain more info.