$200 per day for turkey hunt?

[nw_bowhunter]

If you were new to turkey hunting would you pay to go out on a guide hunt? If so does $200 per day seem reasonable?

I found a place yesterday and wasa thinking it migh be fun to try once.

[Gutpile]

Depends. It'd have to be good private ground. My thought is that you'll hopefully get a learning experience out of it. I don't think I'd be able to pay for a turkey hunt since there's so much public land to hunt but for guys pressed with time who use it to learn a little something I think it sounds ok. Some guys are anti guide period. I actually considered it because by the time I add up my fuel costs throughout the season it far exceeds $200.00. Just personal preference I guess. I have never used a guide, and probably never would but I have kicked it around a bit.

[nw_bowhunter]

He told me he hunts all private land. $200 seems pretty pricey but then again I would assume I would not do it more than once. If I knew I could get a bird, and get the exp I guess I could justify once.

Thanks for your input

[Thenewguy]

what outift are you talking about?

[blackhorn]

I was thinking of doing the same thing. I think it was even the same outfit, if it was the one advertised on craigslist in Klickatat. It does seem like a lot, but it might pay off considering gas and experience.  At the same time I like to learn through trial and error and pay my dues the hard way which is probably what I will end up doing.  So if you all see some knucklehead out there looking and sounding like a an idiot because he thinks he can shoot some dumb bird, it is probably me.     

[nw_bowhunter]

did not see it oin craigslist, met the guy at a sporting goods store.

[Moose Eyes]

Depending on the guide there is no real guarantee you will actually learn anything useful.  You may even be exposed to some bad habits if he doesn't know what he is doing. 

I would ask questions about his experience both as a turkey hunter and a turkey guide.  I would also want to know what type/style of hunting you will be doing and where (does he actually have permission to hunt private property?).  Have him make some calls for you so you can hear him before you pay him.  These are just a few examples of what I would want to know before hiring someone.

Whatever you decide though it is your money and if you can afford it and want to do it then don't let us talk you out of it!

 

[shoot-em-dead]

I was thinking of doing the same thing. I think it was even the same outfit, if it was the one advertised on craigslist in Klickatat. It does seem like a lot, but it might pay off considering gas and experience.  At the same time I like to learn through trial and error and pay my dues the hard way which is probably what I will end up doing.  So if you all see some knucklehead out there looking and sounding like a an idiot because he thinks he can shoot some dumb bird, it is probably me.     

Or me, but I got lucky once and called in 2 big toms. Got 1 with a 9.5 inch beard. Sometimes they like us knuckleheads.

[Diehard0123]

Hell, I will take you out for $200 a day

[Jerbear]

Who is the guy in Klickitat County.  I live here and have heard there are two of them.  Haven't heard a good word about either.  Let me know.
If you watch some of the turkey hunting outdoor programs on tv, get a call and practice
you can do it your self.  Come to my place and I will point you in the right direction as to where to hunt.  I live next to the Klickitat Wildlife Area. 16,000 acres of public land.  What ever you decide, let me know the name.  There is one guide, first name of Tom that is probably alright, but other than that, forget it.

[Houndhunter]

wow 200$ for a turkey, i'd guide a guy to a bear if he'd pay me that much $$$

[nw_bowhunter]

His name is Tracy, seems like a pretty nice guy.

I have never looked into turkey guides before so I wanted to ask about prices.

adventurefishing.net

[TeacherMan]

I have nothing against guided hunts, some day I would love one for elk, probable will cost 5-6K. But no I would not pay 200 a day for turkeys. But I not be the one to take advise from because I see them every day.

Check, a lot of times there is a 2-3 day minimum

[turkey slayer]

If you really want to use a guide for your first turkey hunt ask him for references for his turkey hunting not fishing. I don't no any full time guides that just do 1 day trips there is no money it it for them. Just watch out do your research. If I was you i would DIY it for the first year, see how you like it.
My thing with guides are that they are out there to get a bird for you and then send you home. Try to find someone that will teach you something, how to scout, when to scout, how to set up, where to set up, when to call, when not to call and how to call.
But it your choice, there is so much info just on this site that can help you get a bird on state land or pay a farmer 200 dollars to hunt on there property

[strutnrut1984]

thats what i used to charge when i guided on successful hunts

[Turkeyman]

150 to 200 is the going price for guided turkey hunt. There are allot of so called guides out there trying to make a buck. If i where you do your home work and ask for references and talk to people that have been out with the guide.

I guided for a outfitter in the blues and worked my butt of teaching and trying to get my clients birds. The outfitter promised the world to my clients, like all our hunts are on private ground which i found out was not true. It was all about getting the clients a bird with the outfitter which is OK but he promised that all hunts would be on private ground and he over booked people. I ended up taking people out on public ground hunting and scouting i taught my clients allot about turkey hunting, calling, scouting, set ups etc. Be carefull and ask questions.

Does this guide live on the klick.river? I think i know who he is did you say his name is Tracy?

[nw_bowhunter]

sent pm to you

[Machias]

If your a first time turkey hunter I'd be more then happy to take you out a couple of times.  I have turkey hunted for the past 31 years.  It will be on public land and I will not garantee you a thing other then you will learn a bunch.  I try to take one or two new guys every year.  Of course you'll have to agree to being blindfolded on the trip into a couple of my spots,    just kidding.  I don't have any problems hiring a guide for a time or two, but like everything that was said above check them references and talk with the outfitter and ask him if his guide would be willing to not only try and call a bird into range, but if he will instruct you as you go.  Good luck whatever route you take.

[dirty.dan4]

I will throwdown on fuel and food Machias.  I have never been and would love to learn

[Machias]

Nope no fuel or food needed...other then your own stuff.  I'd be more then happy to take you out, just send me a PM.  Only thing you can be sure of is having fun!! 

[Moose Eyes]

Very cool.

[Tom Tamer]

If your a first time turkey hunter I'd be more then happy to take you out a couple of times.  I have turkey hunted for the past 31 years.  It will be on public land and I will not garantee you a thing other then you will learn a bunch.  I try to take one or two new guys every year. 

 That right there is one of the most intriguing things about turkey hunting, I think  turkey hunter sare more willing than most other sportsmen at giving newbies a chance. I could be wrong but when it comes to fishing and big game hunting those the " Know" seem like they clam up but not turkey hunters and that is what the sport is all about. I've even witnessed a guy once that just moved to this State and was excited about Salmon fishing and so he went down to a sporting goods store "to remain nameless" In Fife. and tried to ask how, what, where and was bluntly told, hooks, water and that was it how rude! and especially when you're trying to sell a product and basically told a potential customer to " Pound sand" Kudos to thos Hunter and fishers that care more about the sport than the catch Didn't mean to jack the threadwith this rant.

[brewzer13]

 I dont think that I would pay for a turkey hunt, to a guide, unless it was guaranteed success and you could take 2 birds. I would rather take something to a landowner in exchange for the priveldge to hunt on their land (some Salmon, deer, elk or moose meet, bottle of booze, or a gift card to a local business). This along with getting in touch with a local chapter of the NWTF to learn the Do's and Dont's, and maybe and invite to go along with an experienced hunter, would be a far greater experience for your time and effort.   

[NWTFhunter]

Brewzer well said, BUT there is no gaurantee in taking game weather you do it solo or with a guide.
I have gone solo and struck out many times, have taken guys or buddy's out and slammed it and also struck out.
Its all part of learning the Do's and Donts, and putting those into the next hunt.

[Moose Eyes]

And with turkeys what worked like a charm yesterday will be the worst move you can make tomorrow.  You just never can tell how those buggers will respond!

[nw_bowhunter]

Machais I sent you a PM. Very nice offer. I have to say there are some pretty cool guys on hear and have offered some good advice and help. Appreciate it!

[brewzer13]

Totally agree with both of you on that, a learning experience each and every time you go out. We have had the same luck as you NWTFHunter, with hit or miss, but no matter what, we always have a great time being in the woods.

[NWTFhunter]

Absolutely !!  They will test your nerves on a daily basis !!!!

The very first time I went turkey hunting, I was taken under the wing of a skilled turkey hunter and the night before the opener we put them to bed. Feeling like the morning was going to be one of the best days....HAAAHAA.

We snuck into our spot where they had flown down the morning before and those birds didnt want anything to do with that spot come daylight.  We were quiet, and didnt make any calls prior to fly down. But they didnt want to be there. 
So, we tried another spot.  Nope they didnt want to come in at all.  We tried everything we could think of and nothing was working that morning.
And this was on private land with no pressure at all.
I have hunted them there over the years and they will change their patterns daily for no reason at all.

So if your new to it, your in for some education and mind boggeling tactics.

Oh but there is that guy who has never done it before, calls like crap, doesnt know the first thing about it and Slams his bird right out of the gate 

[Turkeyman]

NW Bowhunter you will learn more about the sport of turkey hunting with a guy like Machais than the guide you where talking about. Machais you are a true sportman passing on the tradition of turkey hunting that's what this great sport is all about. Its not about killing a bird its about learning this great sport, spending time with family and Friends and passing on the tradition. Good luck with your hunt you will learn more in one day than just going out and killing a bird on private ground.

[Machias]

That is one of the things I am really starting to enjoy about WA turkey hunting, the birds are finally getting smarter.  I would rather go out and do battle with an old longbeard and not harvest him and come back and throw something different at him.  Just when you think you have a bird figured out they make you look like you never hunted birds before.  Tatics!! Gobblers, if they could smell you'd never kill one.  IMO. 

My most memborable turkey hunt was in the Ozarks of Missouri back in the mid 80s.  I roosted a bird the night before, slipped in before daylight and he was starting early, probably gobbled 60 times before I ever gave him a yelp.  Gave him a soft tree yelp and he cut me off and triple gobbled,  I slapped my hat on my leg several times and boom gobble gobble.  Then he flew down, soiunded like he was going away from me, but I knew from past experience of busting toms that sounded like they were going away when in fact they were coming right in, I sat stone still.  I gave him some yelps and bam pretty much non-stop gobbling as he headed in.  I had a decoy out, I was sitting at the end of a long ridge, and he was gobbling all the way in.  Just about the time I figured he was going to pop out, it got quiet.  Oh so quiet, just me and my beating heart.  I was leaned up against a huge oak, probably 4 feet wide.  I started wondering, do I call, did he see something, should I go after him, what to do, what to do!!  About 10 minutes into this quiet, I see this huge black blob materialize out of the corner of my left eye. He starts spitting and drumming from about 3 or 4 feet away.  He'd dropped off over the side of the ridge and circled around me and come in from behind me.  I was an absolute statue.  He takes a step and then I feel this beady little eye bore a hole in the side of my head.  I can seen the huge black blob is getting smaller as his feather start to come out of his strut.  Busted, I think for a second he paused and laced up his sneakers, he spun and took off running for the drop off of the ridge.  I swung up and around a little sapling and rolled him end over end about 5 feet from going over the edge.  23# pound eastern, What a hunt!!!!!

[NWTFhunter]

Nice story Fred !!

I had a Tom down in the bottom of a canyon one morning that I stubbled upon searching for a gobble while down in Cali last year.  He cut me off with a double on my first strike, so I knew he was horny.  I didnt call for about 3 minutes and he was screaming at me to locate me.  I gave him a soft purr and a couple of soft yelps and he was comming out of his feathers.  I estimated him to be about 400 yards down the canyon and I wasnt going after him !  I called once more and he blasted back, at which time I shut up completely.  He sounded off 2 more times wanting me down there but I wasnt budging.  About 5 minutes later he blasted out a gobble from the bottom and I gave him a soft yelp and he cut me off again.  I waited about 5 more minutes and gave him a cutt and yelp followed by a gobble and that guy came completely undone!  He was gobbling non stop up that hill looking to kick the crap out of that Jake that just sounded off with his girl.  It didnt take him long to come out of the bottom and about 20 yards out and still below the crest of the hill he sounded off looking for her.  I gave him one last soft yelp and one scratch and I could hear him running in the leaves.  With my gun up and waiting and waiting and waiting wondering why he wasnt in my sights, I got that feeling of him burning that eye into my head too.  Out of the corner of my eye I see him, and he strutted out.  At that time I swing to my right, and he catches me and gobbled at me!!!!! That was his last gobble as I cut him off in mid gobble.  Thats one of the ones that will last forever !!

Love turkey season !

[Tom Tamer]

Is it just me or did everyone's heart start racing while reading that tale......

[Phantom Gobbler]

I think my heart stopped last year when we were setup and 5 tom's were fighting it out below us!! 

Guided hunts can be well worth the price if you are in a new area, and don't have anyone knowable to go with.  I agree that a person has to do their homework and check references.  Last year I went on a semi-guided hunt on private land in Kansas and it was will worth the cost.  I was able to harvest a three year old Eastern the first afternoon of day one.  Washington and Oregon both have some great guided hunting if you don't have some honey holes already dialed in.

[elkkiller]

I would ask for last year's client's phone #'s and talk to them and I would also offer him less money and see what he would say, maybe he would cut you a deal considering economic condition's. It Be worth a try.

[Dustin07]

The majority of the Turkey hunts I have seen are $500/hunt. So I'd think $200 is fair. Most waterfowl hunts I have seen are a MINIMUM of $150+, but usually $350+ (from what I have seen).

You need to talk to the guide to find out what his guide SERVICE includes. a day without a turkey can still be worth $200 if the guide is a fun guy to hang out with, gets you into a new area to hunt, has some turkey related stuff to talk about, and a bottomless thermos of coffee.

A guide that puts you into birds but sucks on the service side will still feel over priced at $135... ask me how I know:

[PA BEN]

I wouldn't wast my money on a guide. There's tons of turkeys out there. Rent video's, learn to call and do your home work. Knock on farmers doors and ask to hunt.